Meet Our Team
Village Montessori School takes tremendous pride in our staff of quality teachers and professionals.
Toddler Community
Andrea Capuano received her BS degree from Universidad Iberoamericana in Nutrition and Food Science and worked in that field until the birth of her children. With her first child, she was introduced to Montessori and began a 15 year journey. Her then toddler, is now in high school and paved the Montessori way for his younger sisters. Eventually, with three children in Montessori, Andrea had the opportunity at their school to enroll in the AMI Infant Program Training.
Andrea says, “it was a life changing experience”. “It opened my mind and understanding of education and life itself. Montessori is not only a method or system, materials or experience, it is a life philosophy.” Andrea’s youngest child is still enrolled at Village Montessori. She lives in Alpharetta with her husband and three children.
Andrea says, “it was a life changing experience”. “It opened my mind and understanding of education and life itself. Montessori is not only a method or system, materials or experience, it is a life philosophy.” Andrea’s youngest child is still enrolled at Village Montessori. She lives in Alpharetta with her husband and three children.
Danielle Edwards
Danielle was born in Guatemala, a beautiful country filled with family traditions and costumes. She moved to the United States when she was 15 and lived in Miami for 11 years. She moved to Georgia in 2006. While in Miami, she started her bachelor's degree in early childhood education, which she later finished in Georgia.
In 2010, she came to an Atlanta area Montessori school as an assistant and was there for eight years. She immediately fell in love with Maria Montessori and her philosophy. Watching the toddlers be independent and capable changed the way she perceived small children. The Montessori method became her passion and taking the AMI A to I training was the next step in her career. Danielle is the mother of three children. She loves being a part of the community at Village Montessori.
Danielle was born in Guatemala, a beautiful country filled with family traditions and costumes. She moved to the United States when she was 15 and lived in Miami for 11 years. She moved to Georgia in 2006. While in Miami, she started her bachelor's degree in early childhood education, which she later finished in Georgia.
In 2010, she came to an Atlanta area Montessori school as an assistant and was there for eight years. She immediately fell in love with Maria Montessori and her philosophy. Watching the toddlers be independent and capable changed the way she perceived small children. The Montessori method became her passion and taking the AMI A to I training was the next step in her career. Danielle is the mother of three children. She loves being a part of the community at Village Montessori.
Primary Teachers
Rose O’Toole is originally from England where she earned a BA in Art History and English Literature. From her first moments in the Montessori classroom she realized there was something unique about the method. Montessori was a breath of fresh air and this was reflected in the calm classroom where children were purposefully engaged. She worked as an assistant for 3 years in a primary class before completing her primary training at the Montessori Institute of Atlanta in 2005.
Rose is a certified Musikgarten teacher for children aged 3-5 years and babies and toddlers. She has Orton-Gillingham training and experience as a staff tutor. In her spare time, Rose enjoys yoga, gardening and travel and spending time with her family.
Rose is a certified Musikgarten teacher for children aged 3-5 years and babies and toddlers. She has Orton-Gillingham training and experience as a staff tutor. In her spare time, Rose enjoys yoga, gardening and travel and spending time with her family.
Yoshi Hansen is originally from Japan, and has lived in the US since 1983. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Psychology, and began her first staff teaching job at Japanese/English bilingual school in San Francisco. After relocating to Atlanta, her son began attending a primary class at Village Montessori, and graduated from the upper elementary program. During that time Yoshi was an assistant in the toddler and primary classroom. In 2000 she took the AMI primary training at the Montessori Institute of Atlanta and taught primary for five years at Village.
Taking a leave of absence from Village, Yoshi led a classroom in a Japanese speaking preschool program in Atlanta for two years. When she returned to Village Montessori, she worked as an assistant in the lower elementary classroom for three years. When the opportunity arose, she took a position once again to teach in the primary class in 2011 and remains there at this time. Her vast experience with many different age groups is evident in the classroom. She is also certified with Orton-Gillingham for children with language difficulties. With her spare time, Ms. Yoshi enjoys going camping and baking.
Taking a leave of absence from Village, Yoshi led a classroom in a Japanese speaking preschool program in Atlanta for two years. When she returned to Village Montessori, she worked as an assistant in the lower elementary classroom for three years. When the opportunity arose, she took a position once again to teach in the primary class in 2011 and remains there at this time. Her vast experience with many different age groups is evident in the classroom. She is also certified with Orton-Gillingham for children with language difficulties. With her spare time, Ms. Yoshi enjoys going camping and baking.
Tiffany Brown grew-up in Lawrence, Kansas and attended Montessori as a child. From an early age, she knew she wanted to work with children. After graduating from Kansas University with a degree in Early Childhood Education, she obtained her A.M.I. Primary diploma from the Washington Montessori Institute (then located in Washington D.C.) in 1997 and went on to obtain her Masters in Education from Loyola College in Maryland. The same year she started her career at the same school where she had been a student. In 2005, she moved to Georgia to work at a local Montessori school. In her spare time, she volunteered to check students’ work at the local training center. Tiffany came to Village in 2017 and worked as an assistant in the toddler room and then leading a Primary environment.
Tiffany is a certified Music Rhapsody and has Suzuki violin teacher training. She also has Orton-Gillingham training and tutors. She enjoys gardening, sewing & crafting and spending time with her family outdoors.
Tiffany is a certified Music Rhapsody and has Suzuki violin teacher training. She also has Orton-Gillingham training and tutors. She enjoys gardening, sewing & crafting and spending time with her family outdoors.
Lower Elementary
Siobhan Medina attended a Montessori school as a child and knew from a very early age that she would like to pursue a career in this field. Siobhan studied science at University College Dublin for one year before transferring to Sion Hill Montessori College to complete her studies in Primary and Elementary training. She was also awarded the Benincasa Montessori Diploma in special education.
Siobhan came to the United States in 1983 to take up a job offer in Long Island, New York. She has been teaching continuously since then, spending one year in a Toddler program, one year in a traditional classroom and the rest between Primary and Elementary. Siobhan is the mother of two children – both Montessori graduates. Her hobbies include reading, hiking, yoga, and spending time with her family.
Siobhan came to the United States in 1983 to take up a job offer in Long Island, New York. She has been teaching continuously since then, spending one year in a Toddler program, one year in a traditional classroom and the rest between Primary and Elementary. Siobhan is the mother of two children – both Montessori graduates. Her hobbies include reading, hiking, yoga, and spending time with her family.
Upper Elementary
Emmie Thompson holds AMI certifications in both Primary and Elementary. She has been working with Montessori for 27 years. She began in the Toddler environment and worked her way through Elementary. She spent time working with the after school programs and summer camps as well.
Her hobbies include singing, writing and composing music, volunteering through church, and currently a soloist for a state wide choir. She is married and has two adult children, both of whom attended Montessori through 8th grade.
Her hobbies include singing, writing and composing music, volunteering through church, and currently a soloist for a state wide choir. She is married and has two adult children, both of whom attended Montessori through 8th grade.
Middle School
Lindsay Hill came to Village Montessori in 2011 as an assistant in the Lower Elementary classroom. She received her BA in Applied Linguistics in the Summer of 2015. Starting in the Fall of 2015 she began working in the Adolescent program instructing Language related subjects including: English, Reading, Writing, and Poetry. In 2016, Lindsay became certified in AMI Montessori Orientation to Adolescent Studies in Ohio, which led her to the lead teacher position in the Adolescent Program at VMS.
Administration
Patricia Craft-Heuer has been an AMI trained Montessorian since 1984. Before taking the Montessori training Patricia received a Master’s Degree in Sociology with a concentration in family counseling. She taught several years in the Chicago area before moving to Atlanta and founding a Montessori School at Cross of Life Lutheran Church in Roswell.
She left that school in good hands and moved on to be Director of Admission at First Montessori in Atlanta. She spent time working as the Administrator of the Montessori Training Institute for Primary training, IMTI with Joen Bettmann, in Atlanta before joining us at VMS. Recently, she completed her AMI Consultant training is a now a certified AMI consultant in addition to her work as Director at VMS.
She left that school in good hands and moved on to be Director of Admission at First Montessori in Atlanta. She spent time working as the Administrator of the Montessori Training Institute for Primary training, IMTI with Joen Bettmann, in Atlanta before joining us at VMS. Recently, she completed her AMI Consultant training is a now a certified AMI consultant in addition to her work as Director at VMS.
Annmarie Gever has degrees in Early Childhood Education, Business Administration, and Nursing. She taught pre-school through kindergarten as staff in Coral Springs and Plantation, Florida. She was a surgical nurse in Boca Raton Florida from 1982 through 1988.
After the birth of her second child in 1989, she became the office administrator and clinical coordinator of surgical and gastroenterology practices before moving to Georgia in 1995. Annmarie conducted “Mommy & Me” classes at Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta, Georgia. She has been a member of our staff at VMS since 2003. As the School Coordinator, Annmarie makes sure all aspects of the school run smoothly.
After the birth of her second child in 1989, she became the office administrator and clinical coordinator of surgical and gastroenterology practices before moving to Georgia in 1995. Annmarie conducted “Mommy & Me” classes at Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta, Georgia. She has been a member of our staff at VMS since 2003. As the School Coordinator, Annmarie makes sure all aspects of the school run smoothly.
Teaching Specialists
Melanie Cramer-Fuller, Music
Melanie Cramer-Fuller is a flutist who has been performing in the Atlanta area for over 30 years. She was a co-founding member of the Atlanta Chamber Players for 14 years. This group allowed her to play chamber music, educational workshops throughout the Southeastern, tour cities in the NE including New York, Boston, and Washington DC.
Ms. Fuller has an undergraduate degree in flute performance from Florida State University and a Master’s degree in flute performance from SUNY at Stony Brook. Additionally, she has extensive training in the Suzuki Flute method and the Orff Music program.
Her career branched out to include teaching early on. Melanie is a part-time instructor at the University of West Georgia, the Georgia Academy of Music, and the Atlanta Girls School and teach classes at other Montessori School in Georgia. She has a private studio in her home and often does workshops for high school bands.
Ms. Fuller has an undergraduate degree in flute performance from Florida State University and a Master’s degree in flute performance from SUNY at Stony Brook. Additionally, she has extensive training in the Suzuki Flute method and the Orff Music program.
Her career branched out to include teaching early on. Melanie is a part-time instructor at the University of West Georgia, the Georgia Academy of Music, and the Atlanta Girls School and teach classes at other Montessori School in Georgia. She has a private studio in her home and often does workshops for high school bands.
Giulietta Prato Glade, Spanish
Giulietta Prato Glade was born in Lima, Peru. She attended American schools and was bilingual at a very young age. She moved to Washington DC where her father worked in an international Organization. She completed her education at the University of Maryland were she received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in advertising and graphics arts with a minor in art history.
Her love for Montessori education grew from having her children attend a Montessori School. This gave her the background and knowledge to create a Spanish program with the tradition and teaching principals of Montessori education.
Her love for Montessori education grew from having her children attend a Montessori School. This gave her the background and knowledge to create a Spanish program with the tradition and teaching principals of Montessori education.
Suzanne Cook, Art |
Suzanne earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Georgia. After twelve years of working as a professional artist/designer, she fell in love with the Montessori theory through her daughter's education. She went on to become a successful children's book illustrator. Suzanne credits much of her daughter's success to her Montessori upbringing.
Suzanne has been an active member of the Montessori community for 20+ years. She began as an involved parent, then became an Elementary Assistant, and finally the past 10 years has been an Art Teacher Specialist exclusively for Montessori schools. She teaches art with a Montessori approach by explaining art theories in engaging ways, clearly demonstrating new skills, and then letting the student lead through exploration. Sharing ideas, asking questions, and trying a new way are all accepted in her classes. She asks questions to offer reflections on the student's effort, confidence level, likes/dislikes and satisfaction with their work. Follow through is encouraged as a practice to becoming better. Art, unlike other activities, nurtures one's inner desire to create something of one's own making to contribute to the world of beauty in which we all live.
Suzanne has been an active member of the Montessori community for 20+ years. She began as an involved parent, then became an Elementary Assistant, and finally the past 10 years has been an Art Teacher Specialist exclusively for Montessori schools. She teaches art with a Montessori approach by explaining art theories in engaging ways, clearly demonstrating new skills, and then letting the student lead through exploration. Sharing ideas, asking questions, and trying a new way are all accepted in her classes. She asks questions to offer reflections on the student's effort, confidence level, likes/dislikes and satisfaction with their work. Follow through is encouraged as a practice to becoming better. Art, unlike other activities, nurtures one's inner desire to create something of one's own making to contribute to the world of beauty in which we all live.
