Dr. Montessori believed that teachers should focus on each child as a person, not on the daily lesson plan. Montessori teachers are taught to nurture and inspire the human potential, leading children to ask questions, think for themselves, explore, investigate, and discover.
Marci Martindale: Head of School
Welcome to The Children's Tree Montessori School. I founded this school over 7 years ago, out of my home, with the goal in mind to provide an alternative educationally based option for preschool age children. My dreams are coming true with the expansion into our new facility and elementary program. After the birth of my second daughter I discovered the montessori method of teaching. I went back to school and became a certified teacher for the preschool and elementary aged students.
Rachel Butler: Primary Teacher
Rachael discovered Montessori while doing her internship for her degree in Sociology at Ithaca College. As a result she worked for Elizabeth Anne Clune Montessori School in Ithaca, New York for four years, obtaining her Montessori Certification during that time. She relocated to Connecticut in 1999 to join her husband in Branford, and worked for the Montessori Community School of Brookfield until the birth of their first child. After five years at home with her two boys, Rachel is excited to john the Children's Tree Staff. In her spare time Rachel enjoys running, cooking, and relaxing with her family in Short Beach.
Teresa Fiorentino: Primary Teacher
Teresa has a BA in education with an interest in special education and is a state certified teacher with years of experience in both the public and private sector. She started working in the yellow room last year as she began her training for Montessori Certification. She has mastered the majority of this work and will complete her training next summer. Teresa has also been speaking and teaching Spanish with the primary students.
Deovinda Swaar: Elementary Teacher
DeeDee is a certified Montessori teacher with many years experience working with children from 18 months to 14 years old. DeeDee is finishing her student teaching this year to receive her BA in Education and plans to pursue her masters in Montessori. She has worked in many fields from family social work to overseas Girl Scout camp director and being a team member at the Jacksonville Zoo. DeeDee has also run her own in-home Montessori Toddler program while living in England. She brings to us an incredible wealth of knowledge and the students love learning from her.
Kerry Darby: Elementary Teacher
Kerry is a state certified teacher and taught elementary school for many years in California and Connecticut before taking a break to raise her own children. She is a board director of a nursery school in her home town of Portland where she lives with her husband and four children. Kerry is passionate about literature, research studies, and language arts. Kerry is very enthusiastic about her new opportunities to grow at The Children’s Tree Montessori School.
Pam Gozzi: Primary Teacher
Pamela Gozzi started with The Children's Tree in 2006 as an assistant teacher. Pam is a busy wife and mother of two children who lives in Westbrook, CT. She currently runs a decorating company with her sister called Treasured Rooms. She also owned her own dance studio for several years that specialized in preschool and elementary aged children. After being introduced to the philosophy of montessori learning she was thrilled to be able to work with the children at the Children's Tree.
Jennifer Wilson: Primary Teacher
Jen has volunteered regularly as an assistant teacher at The Children’s Tree Montessori School, which inspired her to go back to become a Montessori Teacher. She has taken three classes so far and is looking forward to finishing her certification, while remaining the office manager for Music Together.
Wendy Jajlarado: Primary Teacher
Wendy was an assistant teacher at Oak Grove Montessori School for three years while she was studying at UCONN. Since working at Oak Grove, Wendy has raised her now five-year-old daughter in a Montessori Home. Recently relocating to the area, Wendy has searched for a program for her daughter that matched her own Montessori philosophy. After enrolling her daughter in our program, we discussed the possibility of Wendy joining our team. Being a nutritionist in private practice, Wendy meets with her clients in the evening and with Josephine in school full-time, Wendy is excited to get back into the classroom, where teaching comes so naturally. She plans to further her credentials to include her Montessori certification in the near future.
Anastasia Lapore: Music Together
Anastasia is in her seventh year with Music Together and her 4th year with The Children’s Tree Montessori School. Her natural storytelling skills creatively enhance her classes. She is a lifelong musician and infuses her work with plenty of guitar playing. A pied piper with kids and adults, Ana creates a relaxed playful atmosphere for lots of family music making. Anastasia has achieved Certification I for teaching mastery of Music Together. She has added improve comedy to her resume, this girl has got it going on. www.musictogetherct.com or 860-227-4203
Judy Chappell: bookkeeper
Judy Chappell resides in Westbrook, CT with her husband Bruce. As Marci's mother she has been the book keeper for The Children's Tree since the beginning. Judy has a business degree with a focus on accounting. When she retired she decided to pursue a more peaceful career and became a licensed medical massage therapist. She currently owns and operates A Therapeutic Touch in Westbrook.
