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Our diverse group of faculty and staff help us to practice actively celebrating cultures from throughout the United States and around the world. While a few of our teachers were born and raised in other nations, many more have spent time living abroad. These experiences in other cultures are easily integrated into their roles as Montessori Teachers.

Elementary Teacher

Director of School

I have taught at Montessori Children’s House for the past 16 years, working with children in the Elementary program. I have also served as Director of MCH for the past four years. My Montessori training was done at the Seacoast Center in Scituate, Massachusetts. I earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from Brown University, and a Bachelor of Arts in history and philosophy from Bucknell University. Other teaching experiences include working as a Social Studies teacher in the Providence Public Schools and Community Preparatory School. I also taught for Youth for Understanding, an international exchange organization for high school students. My first teaching experience was as an English language instructor in Japan.

I was born in Egypt and lived there until the age of fifteen, when I came to the USA. I attended John Jay High School, in Brooklyn, NY. After graduation, I went to Kingsborough Community College and received an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts. I then moved to Massachusetts and attended the University of Rhode Island., where I graduated with a B.A. in Psychology in 1983. I went on to get my Montessori training at the Center for Montessori Teacher’s Education in 1988.

I first taught at St. Joseph Montessori School in Fall River, MA. After five years there, I spent eight years at Montessori School of the Angels, in Westport, MA. In 2000, I was hired to work with Mary Jane O’Neill at the Montessori Children’s House, as a Primary Teacher. I have been a member of the American Montessori Society since 1988.

Outside of school, I love to read about different cultures, learning their customs and traditions. I also enjoy cooking, baking, and learning new short cuts to old recipes.

I have been a teacher for ten years. I began by teaching art in after-school programs. I earned my Montessori credential in 2004 from Northeast Montessori Institute and have been at Montessori Children’s House since then. In addition to classroom teaching, I lead the Wednesday afternoon Lunch Bunch, which includes a music and movement program.

I grew up in Texas, majored in graphic design in college, and eventually worked in the graphics industry in the Seattle area, where I met my husband. We had a son, now in high school, who first taught me how to nurture and foster the learning of children.

Primary Teacher

I joined the teaching team at Montessori Children’s House in 1998 as in teacher in the Primary classroom.  I completed my AMS certificate for Early Childhood Education fro the Northeast Montessori Institute in 2000. I have taught in three other Montessori schools prior to teaching here at MCH. These schools were in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. I began my teaching career in Montessori in 1984. In addition to classroom teaching, I was a private reading tutor for over six years. Teaching has been a big and fulfilling part of my life for 25 years. I can honestly say that I love my job.

When I’m not working at MCH, I spend my time volunteering at a local soup kitchen, walking, bike riding, and dancing. My hobbies also include different types of crafts, especially those that may involve children. I also enjoy cooking and planning family functions.

I have returned to college in the evenings to pursue my Bachelor’s degree.

Head Elementary Teacher

I have been at MCH since 1995, first in the capacity of teacher in the pre-primary class and beginning in 1999, as Head Teacher of the elementary class. I received m BA in Psychology and Education from Rhode Island College, an AMS certificate for Early Childhood Education from Northeastern Montessori Institute, and my Elementary Montessori training from AMS in Andover, MA. One of the highlights of my educational experiences was travel to Japan under a “Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund” grant, in 2006. This gave me the opportunity to study the Japanese educational system. I have just finished my Master’s thesis, “Cultural Value Systems and their Influence on Education in American and German Societies.”

My leisure time activities include painting, model making, writing, reading, swimming, pilates, playing golf , and watching old movies.

Art & Art History

I am the art and cultural studies teacher, and have been working at the school for the past 20 years. I have a BFA degree from the University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, and an MAT degree from Rhode Island School of Design. I am currently an adjunct instructor at Rhode Island College where I teach a Methods and Materials in Art Education course. In the past, I have worked as a public school art instructor in Watertown and Newton Massachusetts. I have also taught in various educational programs at the RISD Museum, and was an instructor in RISD’s Precollege Foundation Program. Illustration is an interest of mine. Along with freelance work, I have completed the illustrations for one educational book, If You Lived with the Sioux Indians, published by Scholastic, Inc.

Music

After earning my Bachelors of Art degree in Music, English, and French from the University of Massachusetts, I obtained a Master of Public Administration from Northeastern University. I am certified in Suzuki piano instruction and a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas. I have been teaching music at Montessori Children’s House since 1988 and have also provided various levels of piano instruction to both groups and individuals, ranging in age from three to 86. In the late 1970s, I spent a year in Senegal, teaching English for the Peace Corps.

Creative Movement

Clare Vadeboncoeur has a Bachelor’s in elementary education and a Master’s degree in Drama and Theater. She is a certified dance teacher for preschool through fifth grade. Clare has worked with inner city, special needs, and preschool children. She began her work in creative movement at MCH in 1984 and has been with us ever since. Through a mixture of dance, yoga, and acting, she encourages students to use their bodies and voices to tell stories, as she reads them.

Jing has a Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the Queen's University in Canada and a bachelor's in Economics from Beijing, China.  She has taught Chinese over the past six years to children 5-17 years old.  Jing also has served as a teacher at The Wheeler School and is a private Chinese tutor.  She is the recipient of the STARTTALK Chinese Culture and Curriculum award for innovative and effective teaching lessons.

Wildlife Rehabilitator

Mr. Rose, our visiting wildlife rehabilitator, comes to Montessori Children’s House every other Friday morning, bringing live animals. Mr. Rose’s gentle way with animals and fascinating stories make him popular with both students and staff. We learn information about an exciting variety of animals. Among other animals, Mr. Rose has brought in a Nanday Conure, a Leopard Tortoise, a Blue-Tongued Skink, a Brazilian Rainbow Boa, a Silkie Chicken, a Spiny Mouse, a Ball Python, and a Barred Owl.