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Faculty & Staff

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Head of School:

David Stettler joined Oak Meadow in the summer of 2005 as Head of School. Mr. Stettler holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Politics from Princeton University and a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership from Columbia University Teachers College. At The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY, where he previously worked, Mr. Stettler held numerous teaching and administrative positions including Assistant Head of Middle School, Director of Admission and Financial Aid, and Assistant Head of School. Before establishing his career as an educator, Mr. Stettler owned a firm that specialized in architectural renovations and restorations of old homes and historic buildings. Mr. Stettler serves on The Board of Directors of Montessori Schools of Massachusetts (MSM), and The Board of Directors of The Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE).

Assistant Head of School:

Kristen Ancker comes to Oak Meadow Montessori School after spending seven years at Summit Montessori School in Framingham. Kristen completed her 3-6 Montessori certification at Northeast Montessori Institute in 2000. She started the first Children’s House classroom at Summit that year. As Director of the Children’s House, she then helped to open two more Children’s House programs. Mrs. Ancker received her Masters of Science of Education at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. Kristen went to the University of New Hampshire for her undergraduate degree in Child and Family Studies and was also a Division One field hockey player at the University of New Hampshire.

Administrative Assistant to the Head of School:

Jeanne Atkins joined Oak Meadow in 2000 as an Administrative Assistant to the School Director. Prior to joining Oak Meadow, Ms. Atkins worked in the financial services industry for many years before joining the private school sector in 1997. Ms. Atkins is a graduate of Chandler Business School, Boston.

School Nurse:

Sally Blute, R.N., joined Oak Meadow in 2001 as a full day substitute assistant and School Nurse. This year Mrs. Blute will be in the Health Office full time. For the past five years, Mrs. Blute has been a pre-school assistant in Children’s House as well as Oak Meadow’s afternoon nurse. Mrs. Blute is a Registered Nurse licensed in Massachusetts with many years’ experience in Emergency Room nursing.

Director of Admission:

Joanna DeStefanis joined Oak Meadow’s administrative staff in 2003. Mrs. DeStefanis has served as a substitute teacher and parent volunteer at Oak Meadow since 1999. Mrs. DeStefanis holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and has completed graduate course work in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She attended the Early Childhood Overview at Northeast Montessori Institute. Prior to joining Oak Meadow, Mrs. DeStefanis worked in the computer industry as a Curriculum Developer and Course Instructor, and for North Adams State College as an Admissions Counselor. Her two children graduated from Oak Meadow in 2003 and 2006.

Financial Manager:

Peggy DiSarcina joined Oak Meadow in 1995 as Business Manager. Prior to coming to Oak Meadow, Mrs. DiSarcina worked as a cost accountant for a major medical company for several years, as a secretary for a local law firm and as a bank teller. Mrs. DiSarcina graduated as a Dean’s List Student with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accountancy from Bentley College, Waltham. While at Bentley she was a member of the Women’s Volleyball Team. Peggy is also new member to the National Business Officers Association which is an organization that provides professional development and information to independent school business officers.

Director of Technology:

Anna Kritselis Howard joined Oak Meadow in 2003 as a Technology Coordinator. Prior to coming to Oak Meadow, Mrs. Howard worked in the private sector for 20 years in a variety of systems-related and management level positions. Mrs. Howard is currently an adjunct faculty member at Middlesex Community College where she teaches microcomputer applications and computer programming classes. Mrs. Howard graduated from West Chester University with a B.S. in Music Education and then from Northeastern University with a M.S. in Information Systems.

Purchasing Manager:

In addition to her position as a Children’s House Lead Teacher, Ellen Miras has the responsibilities of Purchasing Manager for Oak Meadow. Prior to her teaching career, Ms. Miras worked as a Purchasing Manager for a small toy company in Vermont.

Facility Manager:

Jeff Nelson Jeffrey Nelson joined Oak Meadow in 2003 as Facilities Manager. Prior to joining Oak Meadow, Mr. Nelson worked in the construction business for over 20 years. Mr. Nelson has been in business for himself since 2003, running a small construction business.

Director of Development and Parent Relations:

Erin Palmer joined Oak Meadow in the fall of 2006 as a Children’s House Lead Teacher and part-time in the newly created position of Director of Development and Parent Relations. This year Erin continues as Director of Development and Parent Relations in a full-time capacity. Erin earned her Masters in Education and Early Childhood Montessori certification from Xavier University in Cincinnati. She is a certified instructor of Redirecting Children’s Behavior and Redirecting for a Cooperative Classroom encouraging positive approaches to parenting and teaching. Erin earned her BS in Arts Administration with a dance concentration from Butler University in Indianapolis. Erin remains involved with the performing arts as a consultant for Center Stage Youth Theater in Westford.

Director of Communications/Front Office Manager:

This year Susan Peyton will be filling the newly created role of Director of Communications/Front Office Manager. She came to Oak Meadow as the Receptionist in 2004. In her new capacity she will not only continue her duties in the Front Office, but she will also be actively involved in keeping the website up to date and working with the Directors of Admission and Development on marketing programs. Mrs. Peyton grew up in CT and received her BS in Fine Arts from Skidmore College. She and her family have lived in Groton, MA since 1981. She has a customer support and marketing background in a variety of industries including banking and computers, as well as retail and wholesale sales. She has also been an active volunteer and has held a number of leadership positions in local civic and school organizations.

Director of After School Programs:

In addition to her responsibilities as a Lower Elementary Lead Teacher, Cindy Puleo is also responsible for our After School Programs. Cindy Puleo is the mother of a Montessori student; her daughter attended Oak Meadow Montessori School from Children’s House to Middle School. Cindy Puleo graduated from Wayne State University in Michigan with a B.S. in Human Development. She is Montessori certified (6-9).

Before and After School Care Coordinator:

Donna Sibley re-joined Oak Meadow in 2006 as a Before and After School Care Coordinator. Previously Ms. Sibley was a preschool assistant and substitute teacher at Oak Meadow from 1998-2002. Ms. Sibley worked at the Hudson Youth Center for over 8 years and substituted at private schools prior to joining Oak Meadow.

Middle School Teachers:

Karen Kelly Karen Kelley joined Oak Meadow in 1998 as a Middle School teacher. Prior to coming to Oak Meadow, Mrs. Kelley taught in both private and public schools for over seven years. Mrs. Kelley graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a B.A. in English and Humanities, and from the University of Denver with a M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction with a cognate in International Relations. Mrs. Kelley has completed the NAMTA Orientation to Adolescent Studies program at the Hershey Montessori Farm School in Ohio. Mrs. Kelley’s two children attended Oak Meadow from ages three to twelve and four to thirteen.

Barbara Orlowitz joined Oak Meadow in 2002 as the Middle School math and science teacher. She has a B.S. in Engineering from Purdue University and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Boston University. Mrs. Orlowitz has been tutoring middle and secondary school math for the past eight years and has taught at the Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School. Mrs. Orlowitz attended the Montessori Seacoast Center for Education in the summer of 2005 where she participated in the 9 -12 math seminars. She is certified in the state of Massachusetts in mathematics to teach grades 5 – 8. During the summer of 2006, Mrs. Orlowitz attended a College Preparatory Mathematics seminar. She has also attended “The Schools Attuned Program” by Mel Levine. Mrs. Orlowitz has served as Vice – Chair of the AISNE/AMS accreditation during the 2006 – 2007 school year and will serve as Chair of the accreditation during the 2007 – 2008 school year.

Kirsten Wright joined Oak Meadow Montessori School in 2007 as a Middle School science teacher. She comes to Oak Meadow with 25 years of experience working with adolescents at the middle and high school levels. Kirsten's undergraduate studies culminated in a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with a Minor in Biology from the University of Vermont. She continues her post graduate work with the ongoing pursuit of a wide variety of study in the fields of Psychology, Education, Science and Communications. Kirsten's dedication to nurturing a community of considerate citizens and cultivating personal and academic growth within her students is evident in her success with connecting student learning outside of the classroom to the larger community through internships, work study and experiential learning.

Upper Elementary Teachers:

Ron Gagnon Ron Gagnon has joined the upper elementary team for the 2007/08 school year. Ron joins Oak Meadow with Children's House and Lower Elementary teaching experience as well as a deep love and commitment to Montessori educational philosophy. Ron has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from UNH and is currently enrolled in a M. Ed. in Elementary Education program at Lesley University. Ron has taken Children's House Training at NEMTEC and Lower Elementary Training at CMTE and will be completing his 9-12 Montessori training at Seacoast Montessori Training Center this summer.

Julie Trani joined Oak Meadow in 2000 as a substitute/Children’s House Teacher’s Assistant in our Children’s House and Elementary classrooms. Since that time Mrs. Trani has taught at both the Lower Elementary and the Upper Elementary levels. Mrs. Trani received her B.S. in advertising with a minor in English from the College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida. Mrs. Trani received her Montessori Certification (6-12) through the Seacoast Montessori Training Center.

Sarah Winn joined Oak Meadow in 2006 as an Upper Elementary Lead Teacher. Prior to coming to Oak Meadow, Ms. Winn taught Upper Elementary for four years at Acorn Montessori School in Lebanon, NJ. While at Acorn, Ms. Winn was responsible for developing and starting the upper elementary program. Prior to Acorn, Ms. Winn taught lower elementary for two years at Richmond Montessori School in Richmond, VA. She possesses a Master of Education from Loyola College of Maryland, an AMI elementary diploma (6-12) from Washington Montessori Institute of Loyola College, and a B.A. in history and American Studies from Dickinson College located in Carlisle, PA. In addition, Ms. Winn attended Ruffing Montessori in Cleveland, Ohio from ages three through fifth grade.

Upper Elementary Assistants:

Rani Tremblay joined Oak Meadow in 2006 as an Upper Elementary Assistant. She has worked for the past six years as a substitute teacher, lunch assistant, and assistant teacher in the 3-6 and 9-12 Montessori classrooms. Mrs. Tremblay has a B.A. in Psychology and Business Administration from DePaul University. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Human Resources from Northeastern University.

Anneke Nordmark joined Oak Meadow in 2007 as an Upper Elementary Assistant. She comes with past experience in special education and environmental education. Ms. Nordmark holds a B.A. in History from the University at Albany and an M.A. in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program.

Lower Elementary Teachers:

Suzanne Berrier helped launch the Lower Elementary program at Oak Meadow back in 1986 when Oak Meadow Montessori was originally located in Boxborough. She spent the next ten years as a Lead Teacher. After starting her family, Mrs. Berrier returned to Oak Meadow in 2000 as a Children’s House Lead Teacher. She is now a Lead Teacher in the Lower Elementary program. Mrs. Berrier graduated from Norwich University with a B.A. in International studies, and received her M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Lesley College. She is Montessori certified (6-9).

Mary Louise Fidrych joined the Lower Elementary team in 2006. Prior to this, she served in a variety of capacities at Oak Meadow, including Middle School Humanities teacher, Upper Elementary Teacher Assistant, and Children’s House Assistant and Field Trip Coordinator. Before working at Oak Meadow, Mrs. Fidrych was employed by the Rhode Island Heritage Commission as Program Development Coordinator. She graduated from Salve Regina College with a BA in History/Political Science and Providence College, with a Masters Degree in History. Mrs. Fidrych is currently working toward her Lower Elementary Certification through the Seacoast Training Center.

Gretchen McKay will become Lead Teacher in the Lower Elementary program in September 2007. Mrs. McKay’s love of Montessori education began as a Children’s House student at Scuola Maria Montessori in Bergamo, Italy. Mrs. McKay received her Master’s Degree, specializing in Montessori Education from the College of Notre Dame, Belmont, CA. Mrs. McKay did her undergraduate work at Wellesley College and Dartmouth College where she received her B.S. Degree in psychology and a Massachusetts Teachers Certificate (K-8). She has also received the A.M.S. Preprimary Credential (3-6 years) and the A.M.I. Montessori Diploma (6-12 years).

Cindy Puleo joined Oak Meadow in 1996 as an assistant teacher and joined Lower Elementary in 1997 as a Lead Teacher. She is the Team Leader of Lower Elementary and Director of After School Programs. She is also the mother of a Montessori student; her daughter attended Oak Meadow Montessori School from Children’s House to Middle School. Mrs. Puleo graduated from Wayne State University in Michigan with a B.S. in Human Development. She is Montessori certified (6-9).

Elizabeth Wise Elisabeth Wise joined Oak Meadow in 2005 as a Lower Elementary Lead Teacher. Her Montessori experience began when she was a child at a Montessori school from ages 3 to 12. Miss Wise is originally from Cincinnati, OH where she received her Bachelor of Science in Montessori Elementary Education with a minor in Theatre Arts at Xavier University. She lived and taught at a Montessori school in the United Kingdom for three years. Miss Wise developed and implemented an elementary drama program for Montessori schools which has been offered as an after school program at OMMS. Miss Wise completed her Upper Elementary training in Colorado in 2005.

Lower Elementary Assistants:

Michele Strobel joined Oak Meadow in 1999 as a Napper Care Coordinator and Children’s House substitute teacher. Since 2000, Mrs. Strobel has been a Children’s House Teacher Assistant. In 2006, she added Lower Elementary to her Assistant responsibilities. Mrs. Strobel has completed the Assistant Overview Training at Northeast Montessori Institute. She graduated from Wheaton College with a BA in Government/Political Science. Mrs. Strobel enjoys camping and other outdoor activities with her family.

Children’s House Teachers:

Suzannah Coughlan joined Oak Meadow in 2001 as a Children’s House Lead Teacher. She attended McGill University in Montreal and received her AMI certification from the Toronto Montessori Institute. Ms. Coughlan had the privilege of being trained by Renilde Montessori, granddaughter of Maria Montessori. She taught in Montessori schools for 15 years in Toronto, prior to moving to New England. Ms. Coughlan was involved with the Toronto Montessori Institute for several years assisting in the examination of student teachers and serving on panel discussions. She held the position of Primary Administrative Assistant for five years at her last school in Toronto and she has been the Children’s House Team Leader at Oak Meadow since 2004.

Elizabeth Hickey joined Oak Meadow in 2004 as a Children’s House Lead Teacher. Prior to joining Oak Meadow, Mrs. Hickey was a Montessori teacher in Maryland. Previous to training in Montessori education, Mrs. Hickey was a founder and Coordinator of the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland College Park, working on Environmental issues. Mrs. Hickey worked for ten years in the commercial and investment banking industry in New York and Chicago. Mrs. Hickey received the Master of Public Management Degree from the University of Maryland College Park and a B.S. Degree in economics from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. Mrs. Hickey completed her American Montessori Society Early Childhood training with the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies at the Barrie School in Maryland.

Shuyee Huang joined Oak Meadow in 2001 as a Children’s House Lead Teacher. Mrs. Huang has two children who attended Stoneybrook Montessori School and had Ms. Miras for a teacher. Mrs. Huang first became interested in Montessori education when she volunteered in her daughter’s classroom. Since then she has gone on to complete her Montessori training and received her Montessori certification in 2001. Mrs. Huang enjoys teaching and has held various teaching positions for over ten years including Assistant Teacher at Oak Meadow from 1998-1999. She also loves music and cooking in her leisure time. Mrs. Huang earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Tamkang University, Taiwan.

Ellen Miras became interested in Montessori education after enrolling her own children in Montessori schools. She joined Oak Meadow in 1996 as a Children’s House Lead Teacher. Prior to coming to Oak Meadow, Ms. Miras taught in Montessori schools in Vermont and Massachusetts. She graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.A. in French. She received her Montessori Certification from the New England Montessori Teacher Education Center. In 2005, Ms. Miras started a summer camp program for Children’s House students. In addition to her love of teaching, she also enjoys gardening, music and reading.

Donna Siedlar joined Oak Meadow in 2001 as the After School Care teacher. She re-joined Oak Meadow in 2003 as a Children’s House Teacher’s Assistant and After School Care teacher. In the spring of 2004 Mrs. Siedlar was appointed Lead Teacher in the Children’s House Program. Since 2005 Mrs. Siedlar has helped to coordinate and participate in the summer camp program offered at Oak Meadow. Previous Montessori experience has included working as a Montessori Toddler teacher at Concord Montessori and working as an assistant at Stoneybrook Montessori. She graduated from Endicott Junior College and Salem State College and has completed her course work at Northeast Montessori Institute to obtain her Montessori Certification (3-6). Besides teaching, Mrs. Siedlar enjoys plants, animals and cooking.

Beth VanWassenhove joins Oak Meadow in 2007 as a Children’s House Lead Teacher. She is originally from Columbus, OH. Miss VanWassenhove received her Bachelor of Science in Montessori Early Childhood Education and certification from Xavier University in 1998. She has taught in Montessori programs in Cincinnati, Columbus and Charlottesville. She introduced and implemented a peace education curriculum in her previous schools. Miss VanWassenhove is a past presenter at the National American Montessori Society Conference.

Children’s House Teacher Assistants:

Elizabeth Anderson joined Oak Meadow in 2006 as a Children's House Teacher's Assistant. Mrs. Anderson will be the morning Assistant in Miss VanWassenhove’s full day classroom. Mrs. Anderson taught preschool for five years at a private school in Lexington, MA and she home schooled her two children for twelve years. She attended New Mexico State University where she studied horticulture and home economics.

Richelle Dupont worked at Oak Meadow last year as a Lunch Assistant and Substitute Teacher. She also volunteers after school as a Girl Scout Leader. A former professional modern dancer, choreographer, and dance teacher, Richelle holds a B.A. in Psychology from Boston University. Outside of school, her current passions are photography, scrapbooking, swimming, and cycling.

Noelle Durda joins Oak Meadow in 2007 as a Children’s House Assistant in Ms. Coughlan’s classroom. Ms. Durda was a Lead Teacher at The Needham Children’s Center for the past two years. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Developmental Psychology from Framingham State College.

Antonella Fuchser has worked in many capacities at Oak Meadow Montessori including substitute teaching, After School Care teacher, and lunchroom helper. Most recently, Mrs. Fuchser has taken on the responsibility of Children’s House Assistant, Lower Elementary Assistant and Napper Care Coordinator. Mrs. Fuchser, who is a native of Switzerland, is a trained Waldorf kindergarten teacher and has many years of experience working with children of all ages.

Sharon McNamara joined Oak Meadow in 2000 as a Napper Care Coordinator and substitute teacher in the Children’s House Program. Her responsibilities were expanded to include teaching assistant as well as supervising the Children’s House After School Care program. Prior to coming to Oak Meadow Mrs. McNamara worked as a Principal Aid for four years at Robinson School in Westford. Mrs. McNamara has completed the Assistant Overview Training at Northeast Montessori Institute. Mrs. McNamara loves to read and enjoys spending time at Cape Cod.

Claudia Shoemaker joined Oak Meadow in 2005 as the Children’s House Spanish teacher. This year, Mrs. Shoemaker has taken on the additional responsibilities of teaching Lower Elementary Spanish as well as working as an afternoon Assistant in Mrs. Hickey’s classroom. Claudia Shoemaker is from Bogota, Colombia, where she attended a bilingual school. Since 1989, she has lived in the United States, working with children of all ages, teaching Spanish, English and arts. Claudia has worked at the L.A.W. Elementary School in Shirley, MA teaching Spanish from pre-school through fifth grade and she has also held her own after school Spanish program at the Hazen Memorial Library in Shirley.

Patti Spawn joined Oak Meadow in 1998 as a Children’s House Teacher’s Assistant. Prior to joining Oak Meadow, Mrs. Spawn was an assistant in Montessori classrooms in Chelmsford and Amherst, MA. She has two daughters, one of whom graduated from Oak Meadow and will be attending Brown in the fall.

Teachers of Special Subjects:

Fernanda de Figueiredo joined Oak Meadow in 2002 as a Spanish teacher, after substitute teaching at the school the previous year. Señora de Figueiredo has been teaching languages to children since 1997 and is fluent in four languages. Prior to teaching, Señora de Figueiredo was a Cross-Cultural Counseling Psychologist working with immigrant populations in a community mental health setting. She graduated from the Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil with the Degree Psicóloga and from the Boston University Graduate School of Education with a M.Ed. in Cross-Cultural Counseling Psychology in 1982. In the summer of 2006 she received training in TPRS (Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling), and has introduced in the elementary grades that method of teaching foreign languages. Señora Fernanda, as she is known by the Oak Meadow community, is also the proud parent of an Oak Meadow Middle School graduate, now a Freshman in college!

Music teacher, Sue Gleason, joined Oak Meadow in 1998. Ms. Gleason is also on the faculty of Indian Hills Arts Center, where she teaches flute, recorder and Children’s House music. Ms. Gleason performs with Wind Chimes, a flute and harp duo, which has recorded and have available five CDs. She is a founding member of the Indian Hill faculty baroque ensemble, “The Meadow Lark Consort”. Ms. Gleason graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music. She is Montessori certified.

Catherine Karp joined Oak Meadow in 2002 as an Art Teacher. Mrs. Karp earned a B.A. from Kenyon College in Art and Art History and a M. Ed. from Lesley College in Elementary Education. Prior to joining Oak Meadow, Mrs. Karp taught as a classroom teacher and art teacher for ten years in both public and private schools and has worked in the advertising and graphic design business.

Deb Larson joined Oak Meadow in 2000 as a Physical Education and After School Program Teacher. Ms. Larson attended Adelphi University in Long Island, NY on a full athletic scholarship and graduated with a B.S. in Physical Education. Prior to joining Oak Meadow, Ms. Larson taught physical education in the Connecticut school system along with coaching three sports at both the high school and collegiate level.

Wendy Stuart joined Oak Meadow in 2004 as the Middle School drama teacher. Ms. Stuart studied acting with Sandy Meisner and at London's Central School of Speech and Drama. She has directed Shakespeare at the Fayerweather Street School for the past seven years, as well as directing numerous productions at other private and public schools.

- Oak Meadow Montessori School - 2 Old Pickard Lane, Littleton, MA 01460 - 978-486-9874 - F: 978-486-3269

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