The quality of the team of teachers is fundamental to the success of any school. The experience, knowledge and skills of the staff are our most valuable assets. We are very fortunate to have on our staff the following individuals:
Deepa Simlot - Owner and Director
Deepa is a Montessori Certified Teacher for 3-6 year olds. She has 3 children, all of whom are Primary Montessori graduates. While volunteering in her children’s classes she discovered the beauty and power of Montessori philosophy and materials, and decided to make it her career. She worked in the telecommunications industry as a computer engineer for 15 years before discovering that she would rather be around children than computers.
Lisa Turner - Assistant Director
Lisa holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, with a major in Sociology and a minor in Education. As a parent of two students who attended Montessori of Chantilly, Lisa was an active member of the Parent Guild for four years and served on the Board as both Secretary and Treasurer. Lisa has 11 years of business management experience, and has her Professional Certification in Human Resources (PHR).
Caroline Shibley – Pre-Primary Lead Teacher
Caroline is a Montessori Certified Teacher for Infants and Toddlers from North Carolina Center for Montessori Teacher Education (CMTE). She has a Bachelor’s in Arts from Marshall University. She has been working with children since 1995, and has been a Lead Teacher for Toddlers since 2001.
Tanya Clark – Pre-Primary Lead Teacher
Tanya is a Montessori certified teacher through North Carolina Center for Montessori Teacher Education (CMTE). She has a degree in Early Childhood Education from Kendall College. She has been with MCDB since 2005.
Stacy Montandon – Primary Lead Teacher
Stacy is a Montessori certified teacher for 3-6 year olds through Northern Virginia Montessori Institute at Belmont Greene, and has a B.S. and M.S. degree in Psychology. Before Stacy became a Montessori teacher, she was a Special Education teacher for the elementary age children in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma.
A. Chandrika Fernando – Primary Lead Teacher
Chandrika holds a Montessori Teaching Certificate from Good Shepherd Training Center in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and a diploma in Child Psychology and Child Development. She is also a Child Development Associate through the CDA National Credentialing Program. She has been teaching for over 20 years at Montessori schools in Sri Lanka and United States.
Amee Dalugdug – Primary Co-Lead Teacher
Amee holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from De La Salle University in Philippines, and a Montessori teacher certificate from National Center for Montessori Education in New England. She has been with MCDB since 2006. Her older son is a graduate of MCDB, and her younger son is a current student at our school.
Lisa Marie Donato – Primary Co-Lead Teacher
Lisa Marie is a Montessori Certified Teacher, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Boston University. She holds Kindermusic and Orff Level I certifications. She has over 5 years of teaching experience, and loves to utilize literacy, culture, music and arts in the classroom.
Ingrid Jordan – Primary Co-Lead Teacher
Ingrid holds a Montessori Teaching Certification from Northern Virginia Montessori Institute. She has a degree in Pharmacy from Brazil. She has been with MCDB since 2007.
Donna Cary – Music Teacher
Ms. Donna has been teaching music and movement for the past 25 years, 4 years in a Montessori School. She was a music director at a home for troubled teenagers for 2 years. She has held multiple music training workshops for Headstart teachers, helping them incorporate music in their classes. She is a guitarist, and a singer/song-writer.
Taruna Bhagwandas – Yoga Teacher and Extended Day Teacher
Taruna has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, a Master’s Degree in English Literature, and a Montessori Teaching Certificate from India. She has a Yoga Alliance certification through Radiant Child Yoga Immersion Program.
Bianca Laura Fisch – Pre-Primary Assistant/Art Teacher
Laura has a Montessori based teaching degree from Catholic Institute Santa Doretea in Venice, Italy. She has been teaching adults and children in the area for the past several years. She also holds a Diploma in Fashion Design from Callegari Institute in Venice Italy. She teaches art to our Kindergarten children.
Hiroko Lin – Primary Assistant
Hiroko has been working as an assistant in Montessori schools in the area for a few years. She has an Associates Degree from Hillsborough Community College. She has been with MCDB since 2006.
Liliana Rocha – Primary Assistant/Spanish Teacher
Liliana has been working as an extended day teacher, a Pre-Primary Assistant and a Primary Assistant at MCDB since 2006. She has worked as a Child Care provider since she came to the US from Peru.
Maria Vassalotti – Primary Assistant
Maria has been working as a Montessori Assistant since 1995. She has an Associates Degree from Rhode Island Community College in Warwick, RI. She has been with MCDB since 2008.
Melinda Peele – Primary Assistant
Melinda is currently a Junior at George Mason University, and plans to enroll in the Montessori Certification program in 2012. She has been working with children in Pre-School environments since 2006.
Miyuki Yoon – Primary Assistant
Miyuki is a native of Japan, and has been living in the United States for more than 18 years. She has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Strayer University. She has been with MCDB since 2008.
Pamela Wood – Primary Assistant/Spanish Teacher
Pamela has been working with children since 2003. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Design and Merchandising from Lima, Peru. She is currently working towards a degree in Early Childhood Education.
Shaleena Shukla – Pre-Primary Assistant
Shaleena has been working as a Montessori Toddler Assistant since 2003. She has been with MCDB since 2006. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from India.
Latha Muppidi – Pre-Primary Assistant
Latha has worked as a Toddler Lead Teacher at another Montessori School in the area for a few years, and has been working with children since 2006. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts in English Literature and Psychology from Andhra University in India.
Suguna Mary Saka – Extended Day Teacher
Suguna has been working with Kindergarten and Elementary age children in this country since 2000. Before that, she worked with high school children for more than 15 years in India. She has a Master’s Degree in Economics.
Katie Stewart– Office Administrator
Katie has been working with children ages 6 weeks to 14 years since 2002 as a lead teacher, Director and Assistant Director of various programs. She is currently working towards a degree in Early Childhood Education.
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