Faculty & Staff

Teachers at Alexander Montessori School have many options, but this is the place they have chosen to be.  Here they are able to fulfill their professional aspirations to teach and to help children in an orderly environment where the objective is education.  Here, teachers are not merely employees, but partners in an important mission.

Teaching at an independent school is very special, and our staff chooses to be here because it is professionally rewarding, and it is where they can see children prosper under their tutelage.  In order to prepare themselves to teach in a Montessori School, these teachers are required to complete a rigorous training program in an approved training course and then spend a long period of internship under the direction of an experienced teacher.

Red Road Campus
(Preschool, Ages 3-6)

Mrs. Maria McGuire
BA in Liberal Arts from Florida International University, Miami, FL.  AMS Montessori 3-6 Teacher’s Certificate from MTTI.  She speaks English and Spanish.

Ms. Brenda Orihuela
BA in Criminology, University of Miami, Miami, FL.  AMS Early Childhood Education Certificate (MTTI).  Speaks English and Spanish.  Spent 2 years as a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps and is an alumna of Alexander Montessori School.

Old Cutler Road Campus
(Montessori Toddler Program, Ages 2-3 and Preschool, Ages 3-6)

Ms. Mirnely Borrero
BA in Elementary Education from Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.  AMS Montessori 3-6 Teacher’s Certificate from MTTI.  Speaks English and Spanish.

Ms. Sharon Dalton
Attended SUNY at Plattsburgh, NY.  Has both her AMS 3-6 and Infant-Toddler Credentials.  Taught at schools in Alaska, California, Washington, and Florida.  Consulted for many Washington schools.  Has been a Montessori Infant-Toddler Trainer for programs in Seattle, WA, Boulder, CO, as well as at Native American Tribal schools.

Mrs. Marta Demmer
BS, Florida International University, Miami, FL.  AA, Miami-Dade Community College.  AMS Montessori 3-6 Teacher’s Certificate from MTTI.  Mrs. Demmer speaks English and Spanish.

Ms. Maria Luisa Ferro
BS in Early Childhood Education from Universidad Metropolitana in Caracas, Venezuela.  AMS Montessori 3-6 Diploma from MTTI.  She received Montessori training in Mexico, and taught Montessori for six years.  Speaks English and Spanish.

Ms. Soraya Penate
BA in Education, Barry University, Miami, FL.  Mrs. Penate attended Miami-Dade Community College and Florida International University.  She holds an AMS Montessori 3-6 Diploma from MTTI.  She speaks English and Spanish.

Mrs. Grecia Perez
MS in Early Childhood Education with ESOL endorsement and BS in Exercise and Sports Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL.  Professional Director’s Credential; AMS Montessori 3-6 Diploma from MTTI.  Speaks English and Spanish.

Mrs. Beatriz See
BA in Education, Barry University, Miami, FL.  Taught First Grade in Bogota, Colombia for three years.  Mrs. See attended Miami-Dade Community College.  She holds an AMS Montessori 3-6 Diploma from MTTI, and speaks English and Spanish.

Mrs. Maria Teresa Vicens
BA in Modern Languages from Fordham University, New York City, NY.  She holds AMS Montessori Certificates at both Infant/Toddler and 3-6 Levels from the North Carolina Center for Montessori Teacher Education.  She speaks both English and Spanish.

Palmetto Bay Campus
(Montessori Toddler Program, Ages 1½-3 and Preschool, Ages 3-6)

Ms. Milagros Aponte
AA in Early Childhood Education, Community College, New York City, NY.  AMS Infant/Toddler Certificate from South Florida Montessori Education Center, Miami, FL.  Ms. Aponte has worked with the Alexander Montessori School Toddler Program for five years.  She speaks English and Spanish.

Ms. Pamela Earl-Parler
BA in Sociology, Univeristy of Manitoba.  Montessori 3-6 Diploma from AMI Centre, London.  AMS Montessori Infant-Toddler Certificate, CMTE, NY.  Pam has taught in the Virgin Islands and at Alexander Montessori School since the Toddler Program’s inception in 1989.

Mrs. Linda Habich
BA, Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL.  AMS Montessori 3-6 Certificate from MTTI.  Mrs. Habich speaks English and Spanish.

Ludlam Road Campus
(Lower School Elementary, Ages 6-9 and Middle School Elementary, Ages 9-12)

Ms. Cynthia Arboleda
BS in Education, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL.  Florida State Certified in Elementary Education and Florida State Certified Masters Program in Gifted Education (K-12).  Ms. Arboleda has taught Gifted Education in the Miami-Dade County Public School System.

Ms. Anne Becton
MS, Education, BS, Psychology, University of Miami and is an Alexander alumna (Class of 1972).  Mrs. Becton worked as a psychometrist in private practice for six years and joined our staff in 1993.  She is the Academic Coordinator and also runs the Reading Lab.

Mrs. Melanie Carlson
MS, Barry University, Miami, FL.  BS, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.  AMS Montessori 6-9 Certificate (CMTE, New Rochelle, NY), AMS Montessori 6-12 Certificate, Barry University, Miami, FL.  Adjunct Assistant Professor, Barry University, 1996; Adjunct Professor, Palm Beach Community College, Montessori Teacher Training.

Mr. Michael Depew
BA, History, Minor in Education, Florida International University, Miami, FL.  AA, Accounting, University of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD.  Mr. Depew coached soccer and basketball for the YMCA, was a General Manager in the hospitality industry, and is an avid marathon runner.

Mr. Stephen Falk
BA, Music, Oakland University, Rochester, MI.  Mr. Falk has been a Music School Teacher, a Middle School Band Director, and a Music Director at a variety of independent schools.  He is also a professional musician and a church accompanist.

Ms. Lessie Fleischfresser
Graduate of Liberty University in ESOL, Child Psychology, and Early Childhood Education.  Has been teaching ESOL since 2000.

Mrs. Jennifer Grant
MS, Education, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS.  BS, Biology Pre-Med, Belhaven University, Jackson, MS.  Prior to joining Alexander, Mrs. Grant worked in public, inner-city schools for 11 years in Mississippi, Virginia, and California.  She currently teaches 4^th and 5^th Grade Science.

Ms. Ines Hanna
BS in Secondary Education and French, University of Chile.  Has lived in the USA since 1972 and has taught Spanish and French from Preschool through High School in Los Angeles and Miami.

Mrs. Ismary Hassun
MS, Elementary Education, Barry University, Miami, FL.  BA, Elementary Education, St. Thomas University, Miami, FL.  AMS Montessori 6-12 Certificate, Barry University.  Mrs Hassun is an experienced Montessori Teacher.  She taught Elementary Montessori in Miami-Dade public schools for 8 years.

Mrs. Caroline Jacobellis
MA in Library and Information Science, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.  BS in Elementary Education, Florida International University, Miami, FL.  She holds a Florida Certificate in Elementary Education and an ESOL Endorsement.

Mrs. Gail Jacobs
MM in Music Therapy, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.  BM in Music Education, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY.  Mrs. Jacobs joined the Staff in 1983 after working as a Music Therapist with the mentally challenged, and as Music Director at several Preschools.  She gives private piano lessons to children and adults.

Mrs. Ellen Kahn
MA in Learning Disabilities, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.  BA in Special Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.  Florida State Certified, K-12.  Mrs. Kahn has taught in public schools in Pinellas and Miami-Dade Counties and was Placement Specialist for MDCPS.  She was Lower School Curriculum Coordinator for seven years at Alexander before joining the Middle School Preparatory Staff.

Mrs. Mary Kucera
MS in Exceptional Student Education, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, FL.  BFA, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY.  Florida Teacher’s Certificate ESE, K-12; 3-6 Elementary Montessori Training, Florida Institute of Montessori Studies.

Mrs. Maria Claudia Libreros-Kondrat
Is a mixed-media artist who earned her BFA at Florida International University, Miami, FL, with additional minors in Psychology and Art History.  She also has an AA in Art Education.

Mrs. Robbie Lukes
MS, BS in Elementary Childhood Education and a Specialty in ESOL, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN and Southwest Nova University.  Mrs. Lukes has over 25 years teaching experience and has been at Alexander Montessori School since 1990.

Mrs. Nina McClendon
MS Ed., University of Louisiana, Lafayette, LA.  BA, William Patterson College, Wayne, NJ.  AA, Middlesex County College, Edison, NJ.  AMS Montessori 6-9 Certificate (CMTE, New Rochelle, NY).  She speaks English and Spanish.

Mrs. Inna Mladenovic
BA, Elementary Education and Choreography, Kirovograd State Pedagogical University, Kirovograd, Ukraine.  Mrs. Mladenovic joined Alexander Montessori School as the Dance Instructor for Summer Camp in 2003 and was the Music Teacher Assistant for 3 years, teaching dance, arranging choral riser movement, and choreographing dance numbers. 

Mrs. Colette Myers
Baccalaureate Techniques de Gestion, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, France.  Certificate of Advanced Studies, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Glendale, AZ.  In 1986, Mrs. Myers created a specialized French Program for Alexander Montessori School children, ages 4-12, and continues as the French Instructor.  Prior to that, she instructed in children’s French language programs for the Miami French Consulate and the Miami-Dade French Magnet Program.

Mrs. Patricia Pittaluga
BS in Education, Universidad Sagrado Corazon, Lima, Peru.  Mrs. Pittaluga taught from Preschool through Elementary in Peru and in Miami.  She has studied Computers in Peru and at Florida International University, holds Teacher’s Certificates from Peru and the State of Florida, and has taught Visual Arts.

Mrs. Cecilia Richter
BA in English, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH.  Mrs. Richter worked as a writer and editor before pursuing a career in education, and previously worked as a Substitute Teacher at Alexander Montessori School and Palmer Trinity School.

Mrs. Julie Romero
MS Ed., BA, Psychology, University of Indiana; AMS Montessori 6-9 Certificate from MTTI.  Over 20 years of teaching experience.  Taught non-native Spanish before moving to Lower School Elementary.

Mrs. Sandra Salinas
MS Ed., Georgia College, Milledgeville, GA.  BA in Geography, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL.  AMS Montessori 6-9 Certificate (CMTE, New Rochelle, NY).  Mrs. Salinas is an experienced Elementary Teacher and has also taught at the junior college level.  She speaks English and Spanish.

Mrs. Janet Sanson
BA in Communication and Journalism, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Colombia.  She has teaching experience from Elementary to High School in Colombia and Miami.

Mr. Samuel Steele
BS in Business Administration, Florida International University, Miami, FL.  Mr. Steele directed programs for the YMCA for three years before joining the Alexander Faculty, and is a nationally certified youth soccer coach as well as a state certified high school soccer coach.

Mrs. Lauren Stern
MS in Montessori Education, Barry University, Miami, FL.  BA in Psychology, University of California, Irvine, CA.  AMS Montessori 6-12 Certificate, Barry University.  Completed a 2-year Internship in Alexander’s Lower School Program before joining the Faculty.  Mrs. Stern is an alumna of the school.

Mrs. Gladys Tirse
BS in Communications, Trinity International University (cum laude), Davie, FL.  Mrs. Tirse holds a Florida Certificate in Elementary Education.  Prior to joining the Alexander Faculty, she taught Language Arts and Writing in the Miami-Dade County public school system.

Mrs. Virginia Vaca
BS in Elementary Education, Florida International University (cum laude), Miami, FL.  Florida State Certified, K-6, ESOL Endorsement, AMS Montessori 6-9 Certificate, Summit Questa Montessori.  Mrs. Vaca completed her Internship in Alexander’s Lower School Elementary Program prior to joining the Faculty.  She speaks English and Spanish.

Ms. Jodi Veillette
USPTA Pro; Ms. Veillette has created and directed programs in Michigan and Florida.

Administrative Staff

RED ROAD
Ann Blau, Campus Secretary
Jennifer Dipolito, Accounts Payable/Staff Accountant
Gioconda Dynes, Accounts Receivable
Maria Franco, School Secretary

LUDLAM ROAD
Odalys Fernandez, Campus Secretary
Jose Casares, Director of Maintenance

OLD CUTLER ROAD
Marta Valdes, Campus Secretary
Carol Wolcott, Administrator

PALMETTO BAY
Cathy Rapport, Campus Director