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
I was born in Guatemala, a beautiful country filled with family traditions and costumes. I moved to the United States when I was 15 and lived in Miami for 11 years, then moved to Georgia in 2006. While in Miami I started my bachelor's degree in early childhood education, which I later finished in Georgia.
I began working at a Montessori school in 2010 and worked there for eight years. I immediately fell in love with Maria Montessori and her philosophy. Watching the toddlers be independent and capable changed the way I perceived small children. The Montessori method became my passion and taking the AMI A to I training became the only step to follow. I am the mother three, a 12 year old son, and two daughters ages 5 and 2. I am excited and eager to work at Village Montessori and be a part of such a wonderful community.
I was born in Guatemala, a beautiful country filled with family traditions and costumes. I moved to the United States when I was 15 and lived in Miami for 11 years, then moved to Georgia in 2006. While in Miami I started my bachelor's degree in early childhood education, which I later finished in Georgia.
I began working at a Montessori school in 2010 and worked there for eight years. I immediately fell in love with Maria Montessori and her philosophy. Watching the toddlers be independent and capable changed the way I perceived small children. The Montessori method became my passion and taking the AMI A to I training became the only step to follow. I am the mother three, a 12 year old son, and two daughters ages 5 and 2. I am excited and eager to work at Village Montessori and be a part of such a wonderful community.
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.
Watching her nieces and nephews blossom in the Montessori classroom, Dixie Reusse-Schrock sought the same experience for her son. This led her to her own journey into the Montessori philosophy. First as an assistant for three years in the primary classroom, after which time she chose to pursue her Montessori degree. Dixie received her primary certification from the Montessori Institute of Atlanta in 2005. Since then she has been a Montessori guide at Village Montessori School.
Dixie holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Psychology from North Georgia State College and State University. She enjoys incorporating her love of these two subjects in the classroom. Her connection with nature and the outdoors is evident throughout her teachings. Dixie is also certified with Orton-Gillingham and her interests include photography, gardening and pottery. She is very dedicated to Montessori teaching and philosophy.
Dixie holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Psychology from North Georgia State College and State University. She enjoys incorporating her love of these two subjects in the classroom. Her connection with nature and the outdoors is evident throughout her teachings. Dixie is also certified with Orton-Gillingham and her interests include photography, gardening and pottery. She is very dedicated to Montessori teaching and philosophy.
Xiaoting (Sarah) Shu received her AMI Primary Diploma at Montessori Institute of North Texas. With a BA degree in English Education, she started teaching English in high school in China. When she first visited a Montessori school, she was impressed with the materials, the way the guide approached the children and the way the children responded. After working with children for over two years, she decided to take the AMI training and become a Montessori teacher. Upon graduating, she accepted a job opportunity at VMS.
Montessori once said, “The important thing is that real and external objects help the mind to work in a natural way and connect with the external world. This is how the mind experiences the world.” Deeply touched by Montessori’s wisdom and enthusiasm, Sarah believes it’s going to be a great journey to be a Montessori guide. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, travel and working out.
Montessori once said, “The important thing is that real and external objects help the mind to work in a natural way and connect with the external world. This is how the mind experiences the world.” Deeply touched by Montessori’s wisdom and enthusiasm, Sarah believes it’s going to be a great journey to be a Montessori guide. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, travel and working out.
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 started working at Village Montessori in 2011 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.
Extra Curricular Teachers
Melanie Cramer-Fuller is 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 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.
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