Meet Our Team
Village Montessori School takes tremendous pride in our staff of quality teachers and professionals.
Toddler
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 also serves the Toddler Level Lead.
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 also serves the Toddler Level Lead.
Danielle Edwards 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.
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
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.
Lola Leman grew up in the metro-Atlanta area and is a graduate of Village Montessori School where she attended Primary through Upper Elementary levels. She then went on to a local Montessori school for middle school. Lola graduated from the University of Mississippi with a B.A. in Psychology. She discovered her passion for working with children soon after graduating college. After working at a local Montessori school, Lola began her Montessori training at the Montessori Institute of North Texas, where she graduated in 2021.
Lola loves animals and her hobbies include reading and baking which she loves sharing with children! She loves being back home at Village Montessori School.
Lola loves animals and her hobbies include reading and baking which she loves sharing with children! She loves being back home at Village Montessori School.
Luz Lugo was born in Mexico, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts. During her studies, she worked as an assistant teacher and loved the experience of working with children.
After becoming a mother, she researched different education methods and fell inlove with the Montessori philosophy. After working as an assistant guide, Luzearned an AMI Primary diploma from Montessori Institute of North Texas and alsocertification in Positive Discipline for Early Childhood Educators.
Luz is passionate about Spanish Language and Literature and holds a master's degree in teaching Spanish Language and Culture from Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca. When she isnot working, she likes to be with her family, read, cook, and travel. Luz is excited to be part of the Village Montessori community.
After becoming a mother, she researched different education methods and fell inlove with the Montessori philosophy. After working as an assistant guide, Luzearned an AMI Primary diploma from Montessori Institute of North Texas and alsocertification in Positive Discipline for Early Childhood Educators.
Luz is passionate about Spanish Language and Literature and holds a master's degree in teaching Spanish Language and Culture from Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca. When she isnot working, she likes to be with her family, read, cook, and travel. Luz is excited to be part of the Village Montessori community.
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 also serves the Elementary/Middle School Level Lead.
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 also serves the Elementary/Middle School Level Lead.
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 was born and raised in Dunwoody, GA. After graduating from Wesleyan High School, she attended the University of Mississippi. She holds her bachelor’s degree in Applied Linguistics and a master's degree in Early Childhood Education and Leadership. She has been at VMS since 2010. She began her career as an assistant in the Lower Elementary Program. In 2016, she received her training in AMI Adolescent Studies and became a certified Montessori teacher. As the lead guide of the program, Lindsay is responsible for putting together a curriculum that supports the adolescents in all domains of development. Lindsay’s son is currently enrolled in the Primary program at VMS.
Director of Operations
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 Director of Operations, 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 Director of Operations, Annmarie makes sure all aspects of the school run smoothly.
Teaching Specialists
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.
