Staff

Primary Team (PreK/K)

Alizey Gonzalez, Primary Classroom Assistant (Maple)
alizey.gonzalez@elmcitymontessori.org

Alizey (she/her) is a born and raised New Haven native, graduating from NHPS. A recent graduate gaining her Associates’ Degree in Early Childhood Education, she has worked with children since 2019 from ages 0-13. She has an almost 2 year old daughter Jayeliz who is her world, and two pets Neeko (dog) and Midas (kitten)! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with loved ones, coloring/drawing, or playing video games!

Carolina Silva, Primary Guide (Maple)
carolina.silva@elmcitymontessori.org

Carolina (she/her) is originally from Venezuela. She has lived in Connecticut for the past 25 years and has a BS in Individual Study/Child Study. Carolina has 19 years of experience working as a Preschool teacher, including 11 years at Montessori on Edgewood. In 2018 she started in ECMS as a Primary Assistant. In January 2022, she stepped in as a Primary Guide in the Maple classroom, a role that fills my life with joy and satisfaction. She is a defender of animals; wolves are my favorite.

Erin Burgett, Primary Guide (Sassafras)
erin.burgett@elmcitymontessori.org

Erin (she/her) is a native of New Haven who has been teaching for nearly 20 years in the US and abroad. Her passion for education was strengthened during her earliest teaching experiences in Connecticut (in 1997!!). After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, Erin moved to Florence, Italy where she earned her TEFL certificate and began teaching English to children of ages spanning pre-K to high school. Additionally, during her seven years in Italy, she worked as a lead teacher in an early childhood center in Florence and participated at several Reggio Emilia educational conferences. After concluding her working and living experience in Florence, Erin returned to the United States to pursue her graduate degree in Education from Bank Street College of Education in New York, where she graduated Cum Laude with a dual Master’s in Early Childhood and Childhood education. Upon finishing her graduate degree, Erin accepted a position at Cold Spring School in New Haven where she taught in a combined second/third grade classroom. In 2017 Erin joined Elm City Montessori, and began a new educational journey. She completed her Montessori training and received her AMI certification in 2020.

Farha Abubakar, Primary Swing Assistant (Maple/Mulberry)
farha.abubaker@elmcitymontessori.org

Farha (she/her) came from the country of Eritrea and she loves exploring different cultures. Her hobby has always been reading since she was young, and reading books in her native tongue, Arabic, brings her comfort. Her greatest joy in life is her family.

Julie Laqueur, Primary Assistant (Cherry/Sassafras)
julie.laqueur@elmcitymontessori.org>

Julie (she/her) was born and raised in New York, and graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a B.A. in psychology. She is currently attending Quinnipiac University and studying for her master’s in social work. She has worked with children in a school setting since 2023, and would love to become a school social worker in the future. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her friends, going for long walks outside, listening to music, journaling, and art and crafts.

Kait Torres, Primary Assistant (Cherry)
kait.torres@elmcitymontessori.org

Kait (she/her) is from Bridgeport, CT and has always wanted to be an educator. She became trained as an AMI primary guide through MTCNE (Montessori Training Center of New England) in 2021 and was fortunate to work in a private Montessori school where she learned from experienced Montessorians. She’s also an advanced kids yoga teacher with Deep Play for Kids and has taught kids yoga throughout Bridgeport. Kait is passionate about Public Montessori and couldn’t be happier to be apart of the ECMS family. She believes in every child’s right to know joy and self-confidence and she brings that optimism to every child she meets.  She loves practicing her Spanish skills, spending time at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, and raising her toddler with her husband. 

Kyoungsook Song, Primary Guide (Mulberry)
kyoungsook.song@elmcitymontessori.org

Kyoungsook Song (she/her) holds an LLB from Seoul National University in South Korea and AMI diploma in Primary education from the Montessori Training Center Northeast (MTCNE). She has her Masters of Education in Early Childhood Education through University of Hartford. She has been with ECMS since the school opened in 2014. She has also worked as a Sunday School teacher for 1-5 year-old children at the New Haven Korean Church and as a Korean language teacher at the New Haven Korean School since 2008.

Marifrances Cooney, Primary Guide (Cherry)
marifrances.cooney@elmcitymontessori.org

Marifrances (she/her) has been involved in Montessori education since 1994. She holds an AMS Early Childhood certification for the Center for Montessori Education/NY, a B.A. in Psychology and Child Studies from Charter Oak State College, and an M.Ed. in Montessori Early Childhood Education from the College of New Rochelle. Marifrances is the Early Childhood Practical Life presenter and a field consultant for the Center for Montessori/NY. Previously she was a founding member of Great Beginnings Montessori school in Fairfield, and a head teacher and assistant primary coordinator at Hudson Country Montessori in Danbury.

Mia Estadella, Primary Classroom Assistant (Sassafras)
mia.estadella@elmcitymontessori.org

Mia (she/her) is a native New Yorker and proud graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory where she earned her B.F.A in Music Theatre Performance. She is a certified sailing instructor, a small business owner and has been an early childhood educator for ten years. When Mia isn’t supporting young minds, she enjoys songwriting, discussing currents with her cat, Oliver, spending quality time with loved ones, learning from nature, and making new and lasting connections. 

Nicola Watterson, Primary Guide (Hickory)
nicola.watterson@elmcitymontessori.org

Nicola (she/her) brings her passion for education and dedication to children to the Hickory classroom each year. She has experience working in private Montessori schools both in her native Scotland, and her adopted home here in Connecticut, and has worked at ECMS since 2018 first as an assistant as she earned state certification and then as a lead guide when our newest primary classroom opened in 2019. Nicola earned a BS in Psychology from University of Stirling (Scotland) and a primary AMI diploma from MTCNE in Hartford. She is proud to be an ECMS parent and teacher and is committed to providing an authentic Montessori experience to the children who join the Hickory family

Reena Thakur, Primary Assistant (Hickory)
reena.thakur@elmcitymontessori.org

Reena (she/her) grew up in Varanasi, India. She has been living in New Haven since 2005. She holds a Masters degree in Hindi language. She is passionate about working with children and loves cooking and going on long walks.

Tiffany Watson, Classroom Assistant (Mulberry)
tiffany.watson@elmcitymontessori.org

Tiffany (she/her) is the swing assistant for Maple and Mulberry. She has over 20 years experience working with children and their families in a variety of Pre-K to 8 settings. She is committed to creating a safe, loving, enjoyable and inclusive learning environment for all students. Beyond the classroom, she is a proud mother of 4 amazing children, an illustrious Brooklynite, a lover of music and dance, and a novice painter. 

Yeon Young, Primary Assistant (Hickory)
Yeon.Young@elmcitymontessori.org

Yeon Young (she/her) grew up in South Korea before coming to the United States as an international student, and has since called Pennsylvania, Chicago, and now New Haven home. She studied Fine Art with an emphasis on Photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and loves bringing her creativity into the classroom. Inspired by her journey as an ECMS parent, Yeon Young is passionate about nurturing children’s curiosity, growth, and joy in learning. When she’s not in the classroom, she enjoys practicing art, cooking, camping, and spending time outdoors with her family.

Eliza Caldwell, Lower Elementary Assistant (Cedar)
eliza.caldwell@elmcitymontessori.org

Eliza (she/her) grew up in Bethany Connecticut. She has a Spanish teaching license from Southern. Since 2011, she has worked in various roles with children: summer camps, after school programs, language instruction and improv classes. She loves working with the Cedar students and seeing them learn and grow every day. In her free time, she enjoys identifying plants, admiring insects, and doing improv comedy.

Joelle Rosenbuell, Lower Elementary Guide (Chestnut)
joelle.rosenbuell@elmcitymontessori.org

Joelle (she/her) grew up in New Haven, CT.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Teaching from Clark University. After working in traditional public education, Joelle found Montessori and her passion for teaching was reignited. The joy for learning and creating in the Chestnut classroom makes each day feel new and exciting! She now has the pleasure of also being an ECMS parent and watching her own child blossom in the Montessori environment.  Joelle enjoys spending time with her family out in nature, crafting, sewing and reading a good book.

Julia Mannarino, Lower Ementary Guide (Willow)
julia.mannarino@elmcitymontessori.org

Julia (they/she) has spent most of their life in Connecticut and currently lives in East Haven. They are majoring in University Studies with a concentration in Elementary Montessori with a minor in Psychology at the University of Hartford. Julia has spent the last 5 years working in Montessori classrooms at the primary and lower elementary levels and is very passionate about Montessori education! In their free time they enjoy rollerblading, yoga, sunsets, and spending time with their bird, Sage and other loved ones.

Laura Salazar, Lower Elementary Guide (Cedar)
laura.salazar@elmcitymontessori.orgLaura

Laura Salazar (she/her) is originally from Mexico, she has called Connecticut home since 2015. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education, a Connecticut teaching certification earned through the University of Hartford, an American Montessori Society (AMS) Early Childhood Credential (Ages 3–6) from the New England Montessori Teacher Education Center (NEMTEC), and an Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Elementary Diploma (Ages 6–12) through the Montessori Training Center of Northeast. (MTCNE).

As a public Montessori Lower Elementary Guide, Laura believes that every child is naturally curious and capable of constructing their own knowledge. Through careful observation, a thoughtfully prepared environment, and purposeful lessons, she nurtures students’ independence, confidence, and lifelong love of learning. Guided by the principles of Cosmic Education, she encourages children to explore the interconnectedness of people, nature, and the universe while developing a deep sense of responsibility, respect, and stewardship for the world around them.

As a bilingual educator, Laura is committed to creating an equitable, inclusive, and culturally responsive learning environment where every child feels valued, challenged, and supported. She believes that strong partnerships between school and home are essential to a child’s success and looks forward to working collaboratively with families to support each student’s academic, social, and emotional growth.

Pablo Uribe, Lower Elementary Assistant (Willow)
pablo.uribe@elmcitymontessori.org

Pablo (he or they) is overjoyed to join staff and community at ECMS this year. He grew up in Los Angeles and in Medellín, Colombia, where his family is from. Pablo is a certified bilingual teacher with 5+ years of experience teaching mostly kindergarteners in play and nature-based private programs in New Haven and at a public school in Santa Cruz, CA. Pablo loves to laugh and learn with children and adults. Outside of school Pablo loves reading (especially poetry), playing sports recreationally (especially basketball), and making new friends and connections in our city and beyond. 

Tahjay Rowe, Lower Elementary Assistant (Ginkgo)
tahjay.rowe@elmcitymontessori.org

Tahjay (he/him), originally from Jamaica, moved to New Haven in 2015, graduating from Wilbur Cross High School in 2018. He has enjoyed getting to watch each child’s unique personality emerge. Tahjay is currently working to become a veterinary assistant, and in his free time, he enjoys trying new foods, enjoying calm sceneries, going on hikes, and spending time by the water

William Shelton, Lower Elementary Assistant (Chestnut)
william.shelton@elmcitymontessori.org

William Shelton has been living in New Haven the past year, but is originally from Nashville, TN. He graduated from Dillard University with a B.A. in English and received his MFA in Writing from Columbia University. He enjoys writing prose, as well as screen and playwriting, and has spent the past two years in the classroom under various roles. In his free time, he cherishes hanging out with loved ones, going to coffee shops, watching sports and sitcoms, and listening to music while walking through the city. 

Heidi Crosby, Upper Elementary Guide (Pine)
heidi.crosby@elmcitymontessori.org

Heidi (she/her) has an elementary teaching degree from the Association Montessori Internationale and has been using it teaching and assisting at Elm City Montessori since 2018. When she is not living and breathing all things Montessori, she is making art, cooking and laughing with her children, or walking the family dog, Milo.

Jordan Bacon, Upper Elementary Guide (Oak)
jordan.bacon@elmcitymontessori.org

Jordan (he/him) grew up in Milford and has lived in CT all his life.  He graduated in 2018 from Fairfield University with BA in Studio Art with a double Minor in Education and Classical Studies. He is an active painter, loves learning and teaching and is very passionate about ABAR work. Jordan is currently training to earn his Masters in Education with a focus in Montessori at the University of Hartford. He hopes to be finished by the end of 2024.

Lena Pancheco, Upper Elementary Guide (Birch)
lena.pacheco@elmcitymontessori.org

Lena (she/her) graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies, where she received the Helen Warren Smith Award for outstanding leadership and service. Immediately following graduation, she joined Teach For America, launching her 8 years as an elementary school teacher in the greater Hartford area. During that time, she earned her Masters in Mathematics Teaching.  She then went on to serve as the Director of Education for the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.  After becoming a parent, Lena fell in love with the Montessori method and earned her Montessori Elementary Certification for ages 6-12.  She is especially interested in interested in the intersections of progressive pedagogy, equity, anti‑racism, and neurodiversity‑affirming classroom practice.

Outside of the classroom, Lena is an accomplished martial arts instructor and practitioner. She currently holds the rank of 2nd degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate, Level 1 Jeet Kune Do Instructor Certification, and Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She also enjoys the arts, particularly drawing, painting, and Latin and Ballroom dancing.

Miguel Benitez, Upper Elementary Guide (Pine)
miguel.benitez@elmcitymontessori.org

Miguel Benitez (he/him), born in New Haven, grew up in the multicultural landscape of the Elm City. He
graduated in 2013 from Southern Connecticut State University with a BS in Studio Arts with a Concentration in Ceramics and went on to earn his MAT from Maine College of Art and Design in 2020. Miguel has taught throughout New Haven, from engineering schools to theater camps, and has drawn on his background as a performer to bring art enrichment to his students and colleagues. For his service in the academic and arts community, Miguel was recognized and granted a 2021 Annual Arts Award from the Greater New Haven Arts Council. He enjoys martial arts, Broadway musicals, cycling, model building, anime, Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and instructing at the New Haven Pottery Studio on weekends.

Yelena Muralles, Classroom Assistant (Birch)
yelena.muralles@elmcitymontessori.org

Yelena (she/her) is a New Haven native who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Cultural Identities from the University of Connecticut. She is passionate about creating classroom environments that foster independence and give every child an equal opportunity to learn and grow. Her approach is shaped by her work with children through various nonprofit organizations in New Haven, as well as her time participating in academic exchanges in Sweden and France, where she observed different teaching styles and the power of cross-cultural learning. Outside of her work, Yelena enjoys hiking with friends, reading, and traveling whenever she can. She is excited to be at ECMS and looks forward to growing with the community.

Deja Scott, Erdkinder Math Guide
deja.scott@elmcitymontessori.org

Deja (they/them/Teacher Scott) is a proud Philadelphia native and passionate Social Sciences educator entering their sixth year of teaching in schools across New York and Connecticut. They hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Temple University and a Master’s degree in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education. Their work is grounded in creating safe, inclusive, and transformative spaces where all students feel seen, supported, and empowered to grow. Deja is especially passionate about honoring and creating space for all student identities while co-creating learning environments that prioritize both academic and character growth. Outside of the classroom, Deja enjoys spending time in nature, reading, playing board games, dancing, working out at the gym, and connecting with others. They are super excited to be part of the ECMS community and look forward to getting to know everyone!

Samm Leska, Erdkinder Humanities Guide
samm.leska@elmcitymontessori.org

Samm (she/her) has taught for the past nine years in middle and high schools in New Haven and Westport. She loves the relationships she develops with students and watching students blossom in their thinking and learning. She has a BA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College in Boston and has minors in Philosophy, Sociology, and Political Science. After teaching for two years, she went back to graduate school at the University of Toronto where she earned a degree in Curriculum Studies and Teacher Development and an additional focus in Education Policy. Samm now lives in Westville with her husband, Brendan, her daughter, Cici, and her dog, Oscar. She loves to swim, spend time with her family and friends, and cook delicious food!

Christie-Lynn Beaton, Special Education Teacher (Upper Elementary)
christie-lynn.beaton@elmcitymontessori.org

Christie-Lynn Beaton (she/her) brings a powerful combination of personal advocacy and professional expertise to her work in education. She is a proud mother of two alumni of Hyde Leadership School, crediting the devoted staff and the New Haven school system for their instrumental roles in her sons’ successes. She currently resides in Ansonia with her husband and their two cherished rescue puppies.

With a career in education spanning back to 1999, Christie’s extensive academic background includes degrees in Early Childhood Education and Psychology, complemented by a Master’s in Special Education. This deep commitment is reflected in her varied professional journey, which has been rooted in supporting students and families across multiple roles.

Outside of her professional life, she finds joy in spending time with family and her dogs, and actively pursuing outdoor interests, including hiking, fishing, gardening, and enjoying nature.

Cristin Gress, Special Education Teacher (Lower Elementary)
cristin.gress@elmcitymontessori.org

Cristin (she/her) has lived in Connecticut for most of her life. She has an undergraduate BA from Paier College of Art and a Master’s degree in Special Education from Central Connecticut State University. She has previously worked in another district managing a resource room for 7 years and a self contained classroom for 3 years. She is passionate about working with young students with disabilities and helping them gain the skills they need to become lifelong learners. She enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, hiking with her dogs, art projects and reading. 

Coriel Gaffney, Special Education Teacher (Primary/Erdkinder)
coriel.gaffney@elmcitymontessori.org

Coriel Gaffney (she/her, AKA Ms. Cory) is a proud New Haven native, a daughter of NHPS educators, and a graduate of NHPS herself (Go Governors!). She just returned home after two decades teaching in Brooklyn, NY, the past five leading a neurodiverse Universal Prekindergarten classroom. Coriel has also served as a CUNY Adjunct Professor, as a Curriculum Writer and as a middle school Teaching Artist. She holds an MSEd in Early Childhood Development and Learning: Diverse Children and Families from the City University of New York (CUNY) and an MFA in Creative Writing, also from CUNY. She is dually certified in General Education and Students with Disabilities (SPED) and is excited to be joining the Academic Support team. She hopes to make learning accessible, meaningful and joyful and to leverage the strengths of all of the children with whom she will work. Coriel has two children of her own, a kindergartener (who attends ECMS) and a third grader. In her spare time she enjoys hanging with her family, biking, walking, being outside as much as possible, listening to education and psychology podcasts, reading novels and exploring her old/new town. 

Jennifer Mayanja, Academic Support Interventionist
jennifer.mayanja@elmcitymontessori.org

Jennifer Mayanja (she/her) brings diverse educational experiences to Elm City Montessori, grounded in a BA in English/Creative Writing with an emphasis in fiction writing and a deep commitment to student-centered learning. Over four years at a Bridgeport charter school, she served as both a reading specialist and academic interventionist, creatively leveraging her English background to enhance middle school math learning. Internationally, she taught for several years first-year university students in Berlin, focusing on the intersections of music production, cultural studies, and artist development, drawing on decades of creative practice in the music industry. Her foundational educational philosophy centers on meeting students where they are, with consistent respect and empathetic understanding of individual needs.

Though relatively new to the New Haven area, Jennifer has personal connections to the community, with her young adult children currently attending local high school and college. She is passionate about her current role at Elm City Montessori, where she aims to empower students by cultivating their self-belief and determination, through mathematical learning.

Maria Mariani, Reading Interventionist
maria.mariani@elmcitymontessori.org

Maria (she/her) comes to ECMS with over 14 years of teaching experience and has her CT Teaching Certification in Elementary Education. She is passionate about guiding children toward strategies that help them become confident readers.  Her teaching career began in the Bronx, where she grew up, and then onto the North Shore of MA. While in MA she began a hiatus to raise her children and then moved to CT to be closer to her large extended family.  Maria found her way back to teaching by working part time as a reading tutor in the New Haven and Bethany Public Schools. She is thrilled to learn and grow within the ECMS community.

Social Emotional Learning Team

Emily Sorensen, SEL Coordinator
emily.sorensen@elmcitymontessori.org

Emily (she/her) grew up in Washington state and spent 7 years living in Tokyo before moving to the East Coast. She earned her Master of Social work degree in 2023. She has professional experience in both school and clinical settings, supporting adolescent well-being. Emily is passionate about helping young people understand themselves and build skills for resilience and connection. Outside of work, she enjoys pottery, knitting, baking, and spending time with family.

Holly Stemphowski, SEL Coordinator
holly.stemphowski@elmcitymontessori.org

Holly (she/her) has worked with young children and their families in West Haven and Hamden since 2012. She graduated from Post University with a B.S. in Child Studies and is a fellow of the UCONN PreK-Grade 3 Leadership Program. She serves as a board member of the Greater New Haven Region Chapter of CTAEYC (CT Association for the Education of Young Children), and has a passion for improving young lives and encouraging their healthy social and emotional development. Holly is a long time board member and cheerleading coach for the West Haven Seahawks Youth Football and Cheerleading League. In her down time, Holly enjoys baking, reading, and beach days with her 7 year old twins, and spending quality time with good friends and family.

Jennifer Langlois, Social Worker
jennifer.langlois@elmcitymontessori.org

Jennifer (she/her) has her Masters degree in Social Work from Fordham University. She did her undergraduate work in Social Work at Southern Connecticut State University. She was born and raised in West Haven Connecticut and truly loves the neighbor city of New Haven. Before coming to ECMS  Jennifer worked at a preschool for 4 years, supporting children through developmental stages and gaining skills in social and emotional learning. Jennifer fell in love with ECMS when she learned the Montessori philosophy allows the children to guide the work. Jennifer is committed to helping the ECMS community grow in their social and emotional learning. 

Operations Team

Dave Weinreb, Leader of School Operations
david.weinreb@elmcitymontessori.org

Dave (he/him) is passionate about building effective school systems, championing adult learning and human resources, and enriching school life with partnership and connection. Since moving to New Haven in 2015 he has taught 5th grade Spanish-speaking newcomers at the Fair Haven School, founded the City of New Haven’s LGBTQ Youth Task Force and Yale’s Code Haven, served as a Board Member of the Fair Haven Community Management Team and as adjunct faculty at Relay Graduate School of Education and Quinnipiac University’s School of Education.  He currently serves on the executive board of the New Haven Federation of Teachers. Previously, he worked as the founding high school placement director, staff recruitment lead, enrichment coordinator, and technology enthusiast for The Equity Project (TEP) Charter School in Washington Heights, NYC. He earned his M.Ed. in School Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, M.A. from Johns Hopkins University, bilingual/TESOL cross endorsement via ARCTELL, and B.A. in History and Urban Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.

Victoria Rodriguez, Business Manager
victoria.rodriguez@elmcitymontessori.org

Victoria (she/her) comes to us with more than ten years of experience working as a paralegal and managing an office. Originally from Mexico, she moved to the United States at five years old and identifies as a true native of New Haven! She enjoys writing, reading, working out and volunteering within the community. She is fluent in Spanish and has a passion for children and immigration rights and has children attending ECMS!

Yuliana Mallard, Operations Associate
yuliana.mallard@elmcitymontessori.org

Yuliana (she/her) was born in the Dominican Republic and is fluent in both Spanish and English. Her professional background is in operations, with a passion for creating thoughtful workflows and systems that help people and communities thrive. Outside of work, Yuliana enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring new places, practicing yoga, and continuing to learn and grow.

Leadership Team

Amy Schlank, Assistant Principal
amy.schlank@elmcitymontessori.org

Amy (she/her) grew up in Bethany, Connecticut. She holds her B.A. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut and her M.A. in Elementary Education from the University of New Haven. She also holds her Sixth-Year 092 Administrative Certification in Educational Leadership from Southern Connecticut State University. She has always believed in the mission of this school and in the ability of purposeful education to have an impact on communities. In her free time, she enjoys quilting, hiking, photography, and cooking!

Julia Webb, Principal 
julia.webb@elmcitymontessori.org

Julia Webb (she/her) has a BA from Dartmouth College and an Ed.M. in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College Columbia University. She attributes her passion for teaching and learning to her own experiences as a child in a Montessori School and later as a student in New Haven Public Schools. Julia has spent the last 15 years as a teacher and leader in public schools in New York City and New Haven. In this work, Julia has developed systems for coaching teachers and for student social emotional growth and mastery of skill and content. Julia is committed to creating meaningful and challenging learning environments for adults and children to grow.

Sade Jean-Jacques, Director of Culture & Community
sade.jean-jacques@elmcitymontessori.org 

Sade (she/her) has worked as a social justice educator in higher education and with school districts across the state of Connecticut. She comes to us with over 10 years of experience working with faculty, staff, students, administrators and community members on issues related to equity and inclusion. Sade values the intersection of wellness and equity and doing work that allow for people to live well and whole. She is also an interdisciplinary doula with Earth’s Natural Touch: Birth Care & Beyond as well as a certified lactation counselor. Sade received her bachelor of science in Community Health Education and her master of arts degree in Community Social Psychology both from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Additional Educators & Coaches

Fatima Kazmi, Montessori Coach
fatima.kazmi@elmcitymontessori.org

Fatima (she/her) was born in California and raised in Connecticut. She holds a BA in English and Writing from Eastern Connecticut State University and an M.Ed. in Elementary Education from the University of Hartford, along with Elementary Montessori AMI training from the Montessori Training Center of Northeast. For the past ten years, she has worked in Hartford Public Montessori Schools and is passionate about creating inclusive learning environments where every child can thrive. As a bilingual English and Urdu speaker and a proud mother, Fatima values community, connection, and nurturing young minds. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and being outdoors.

Greer James, Building Substitute Teacher
greer.james@elmcitymontessori.org

Greer Jame (she/her) is a current student at CT State Community College, taking classes to sharpen her skills to be as much of an asset as possible to the school community. She is a fierce advocate for children and families, and serves as a board member of Connecticut Parents Union, attending protests and rallies and giving speeches at the State Legislative Office Building in Hartford, CT. A native of Queens, NY, she has also lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and currently resides in Westville. Her passions include cooking, writing screenplays, and spending time with her children. She has been an ECMS mom for 4 years, has two sons in lower elementary, and is also a member of the FTO.

Jegbe Fasoranti, Environmental Educator
jegbe.Fasoranti@elmcitymontessori.org

Jegbe (he/him) has been leading young people for over a decade in a variety of activities, from creative writing to capoeira to outdoor exploration and plenty in between.  His passion is empowering inquiring minds to question, investigate, and problem solve in the most joyful way possible.

Lars Boyle, Music Teacher
lars.boyle@elmcitymontessori.org

Lars (they/them) graduated from The Hartt School with their Music Education degree in 2021, and has since participated in a variety of musical and educational experiences. They are passionate about making music interesting and accessible to all, and they’re excited to bring that to Elm City Montessori School. Outside of school they enjoy performing, cooking, and hanging out with their cat.

Krista Anderson, School Nurse
nurse@elmcitymontessori.org

Krista (she/her) is a registered nurse with a BSN. She received her ADN from Becker College in 2015 and went on to earn my BSN from Southern New Hampshire University in 2016. She has had the pleasure of working in pediatrics for the past 10 years. She loves being able to care for children and their families and make a positive difference in their healthcare experiences. She enjoys spending quality time with husband and our three children. She also loves
travelling and making new memories with her family. She is excited to be a part of this community and is looking forward to getting to know everyone.

Ryan Lajoie, Physical Education/Health Guide
ryan.lajoie@elmcitymontessori.org

Ryan (she/her) is from Norwalk, CT and joined the ECMS team as a Physical Education teacher in August 2022. She graduated from Southern Connecticut State University and is in the process of getting her Masters in School Health Education at SCSU now! She has played sports since she was five years old and started coaching softball when she was 18. She is very excited to start her teaching journey here and has had an amazing time getting to know her students, coworkers and the parents at this school!

Tenzin Youdon, Yale Intern
tenzin.youdon@yale.edu

Tenzin Youdon (she/her) is a sophomore at Yale University majoring in Political Science while also pursuing a certificate in Education Studies. Growing up in the New Haven community and New Haven Public Schools she has always had a passion for serving public schools. She is committed to building a bridge between Yale and New Haven funneling the resources she has at Yale to help New Haven schools Flourish. Outside of that, she serves as the president of Yale UNICEF and currently interns for the CT Secretary of the State. She began volunteering for Elm City Montessori last year and is excited to be back.