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 Administrator

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.

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 has been teaching for over 15 years at Montessori schools in Sri Lanka and United States.

Natalie Teng – Primary Lead Teacher

Natalie is a Montessori certified teacher for 3-6 year olds. She has a Bachelor’s in Business from Higher Learning of Management Institute in Jakarta, Indonesia. She has been working with children at Montessori Schools in the area for the past 6 years.

Mary Grace Buduru – Pre-Primary Lead Teacher

Mary Grace is a Montessori Certified Toddler Teacher. She also has a Primary Teaching Certificate and a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. She has over 10 years experience working with children.

Gloria Monge – Primary Lead Teacher

Gloria is a candidate for Montessori Certification, with over 10 years experience working with children. She has a Masters Degree in Special Education. She currently teaches Movement (Yoga) to all the Pre-Primary and Primary classes.

Lindsay Kane – Primary Lead Teacher

Lindsay is a candidate for Montessori Certification through NorthEast Montessori Institue at Belmont Greene in Ashburn. She has experience working with children with special needs.

Sherine Fawzi – Primary Lead Teacher

Sherine is a candidate for Montessori Certification through NorthEast Montessori Institute at Belmont Greene. She is an experienced Toddler Lead teacher from another Montessori School in the area. She has also been teaching GRACE Art for the past three years in the Fairfax County School system. Sherine has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the American University in Cairo.

Tanya Orta – Pre-Primary Lead Teacher

Tanya is a Montessori certified teacher through North Carolina Center for Montessori Teacher Education (CMTE). She is also working towards a degree in Early Childhood Education. In addition to working at MCDB as a Toddler teacher for the past year, she has also been working with children of all ages for the past four years at the Reston YMCA.

Amee Dalugdug – Primary Assistant

Amee is a candidate for ECE Montessori Certification from NCME-NE. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science.  

Tanuja Saney – Extended Day Teacher

Tanuja has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, a Master’s Degree in English Literature, and a Montessori Teaching Certificate from India.

Mapi Roncal – Extended Day Coordinator

Mapi has been responsible for the children staying with us for the full day. She is loved by children and staff alike. She has worked as a Child Care provider for the past 14 years.

Wyndy Frederick – Music Teacher

Wyndy has been working as a Music Teacher for over 10 years at various Private Schools in Loudoun County and Virginia Beach. She attended Stratford College and Pfeiffer University for a degree in Music Education. She directs a local children’s choir and teaches private lessons in Piano and Guitar.

Stephanie Hando - Primary Assistant

Stephanie is an experienced ESL and Language Arts Teacher. She has a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from Mary Washington College, and a MAT in English Education from Boston University. She taught English as a Foreign Language in a Cameroonian High School while working in the Peace Corps.

Teresa Sowa – Primary Assistant

Teresa has been teaching Spanish and English as a second language to children in the area for the past four years. She is fluent in French, Spanish and Italian. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from University of Alabama.

Shaleena Shukla – Pre-Primary Assistant

Shaleena has been working as a Toddler Assistant at another Montessori School in the area for the past four years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce.

Aradhana Chandra – Pre-Primary Assistant

Aradhana has been working with the Pre-Primary children at our school for several months. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Lady Shri Ram College in India.

Hiroko Lin – Pre-Primary Assistant

Hiroko has been working as an assistant in Montessori schools in the area. She has an Associates Degree from Hillsborough Community College.

Liliana Rocha – Extended Day Teacher

Liliana has been working with children staying with us for the full day. She is loved by children and staff alike. She has worked as a Child Care provider since she came to the US from Peru.

Heather Toth – Office Administrator

Heather has been working as a classroom Assistant for children ages 2-6 for the past three years. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Radford University.