Faculty | Infant & Toddler

Vandana loves the enthusiasm and energy that toddlers bring to the classroom each day. She enjoys sharing her passion for music, dancing, and yoga with the children.

When not at school, Vandana enjoys long walks and spending time with her two children. She practices meditation and says it is the key to her daily life.

Vandana received an MBA with specialization in Human Resources and a BS in Environmental Science from St. Joseph’s College of Business Administration, India and holds an American Montessori Society credential in Infant/Toddler through the Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE), NJ. She is a field consultant and an Infant/Toddler instructor for PCTE.

Melissa has experience in caring for children and as a caretaker for the elderly. She loves the energy of young children, and their eagerness to learn and discover new things. When not working, Melissa enjoys hiking, baking, listening to classical music and reading books.

Melissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexico and is also a Licensed Certified Nurse Assistant in Pennsylvania. She holds an American Montessori Society credential in Infant/Toddler through Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE), NJ.

Delmy is a gift to the Infant and Toddler program as she embodies the Montessori philosophy in her kind nature, patient disposition, and gentle guidance of our youngest children.

Delmy generously shares her love of music and cooking in her everyday interactions with the children. She enjoys introducing the children to her native Spanish through song and dance and special classroom materials in Spanish.

In her spare time, Delmy enjoys spending time with her four grown children, relatives, and friends. Frequent trips ‘home’ to Guatemala keep her connected to her extended family.

Delmy studied Montessori Philosophy and Child Development through the Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE), NJ.

Maris is responsible for preparing healthy and nutritious lunches in the Toddler program. When not preparing meals, Maris assists with supporting the teachers in the Infant and Toddler programs.

Two of Maris’s three adult children attended the Princeton Montessori school when they were younger. Her nurturing, joyful, and kind disposition is an asset to the team.

Yoana is originally from Colombia, South America. She has more than 10 years of experience as a teacher in Colombia, and most recently as an online educator.

In her free time, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her family.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Basic Education with an emphasis on Spanish language and Humanities from Magdalena University, Colombia. She obtained her Master's degree in Education and virtual learning environments from the Cuahuhtemoc University, Mexico. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Education Sciences from Magdalena University, Colombia.

Sandhya Bemby brings patience and understanding to the classroom environment, so that the children feel welcome and accepted. She believes that, like the children, it is also her responsibility to grow and learn everyday. Sandhya enjoys coming up with new creative activities to keep the children engaged.

Outside the classroom, she loves spending time with her family, which includes going hiking, visiting new places, and cooking with them. Sandhya has spent 12 years pursuing Bharatnatyam, an Indian classical dance.

Sandhya majored in microbiology at the University of Bombay. She holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential for Infant/Toddler and an American Montessori Society credential in Infant/Toddler through the Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE), NJ.

Livia has a genuine love for working with children. As a former ballet teacher and an alumna of Princeton Montessori School, she is committed to nurturing children and making a positive impact on their growth.

Livia graduated from Whitmore Online High School with Highest Honors.

During the academic year, Livia is a Trainee at New Jersey Ballet in Florham Park, New Jersey. She enjoys photography, practicing classical music on the piano, and sketching.

Chiara enjoys working with the Infants and Toddlers, and believes in bringing respect and patience to the children and to the environment around them. She enjoys sharing her love of nature and the outdoors, as well as her passion for playing the piano, with the children.

When not at school, Chiara enjoys exploring what mystery and beauty nature holds by spending time outdoors and camping with her two school-aged children. She loves cooking healthy nutritious food, and also enjoys playing the piano together with her family. Chiara is bilingual and fluent in Italian.

Chiara received her Bachelors in Education with a focus in Child Development from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She holds an American Montessori Society credential in Infant/Toddler through the Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE), NJ. She also holds certification as Holistic Health Counselor.

Carla is passionate about early childhood education. She is a Mother of two and enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and discovering new cultures.

She holds an AMI Montessori Diploma(3-6yrs) from the institute de formation Maria Montessori in Geneva, Switzerland.

Rebeca has a passion for making each day count with everyone,especially the children. She is a positive and joyful person who loves coloring, drawing, and enjoying music.

In her free time Rebeca loves outside activities, especially hiking and she enjoys cooking. She is very involved with her church, especially the children’s ministry.

Rebecca received her nursing degree in 2014 in Brasil.

Raphaelle finds immense joy in the Montessori setting, viewing it as an extended family where education aligns closely with her values. She nurtures a respectful environment that celebrates each child's uniqueness, guiding them toward independence and holistic development. Her interests in nature, literature, and French cuisine enrich the children's experiences.

Outside of work, Raphaelle indulges in nature photography and enjoys exploring different cultures through travel. Having lived in France, Burkina Faso, the Netherlands, Canada, and now the USA, she values meeting new people and cherishes gatherings with loved ones.

Raphaelle holds teaching diplomas for elementary and primary education from France, with experience mainly in ages 3 to 8. She also possesses an AMI diploma for ages 3 to 6 from the Montessori Training Centre of British Columbia in Vancouver and is currently undergoing her AMS internship to become a certified infant/toddler teacher.

Shemi always has a warm smile to brighten the child's day. Shemi loves to stimulate curiosity and love of learning in young minds and thoroughly enjoys when children accomplish their goals.

When not at school Shemi loves to travel around the world and explore new places and countries with her husband and son. She practices sustainable living and truly believes in giving back to nature. She enjoys crafting and yoga. She loves gardening and growing her own fruits and vegetables.

Shemi holds an American Montessori Society credential in Infant/Toddler through Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE) and an Early Childhood credential through Christopher Academy, Scotch Plains, NJ. She has a Bachelor Degree in Functional English from Calicut University, Kerala, India and Masters Degree in English from Pondicherry University, India

Mira is a full-time classroom assistant with over seven years of experience in the education field. She has a true passion for working with young learners, and she works to create an inspiring and engaging learning environment in which children feel safe and secure, providing what students need in order to become lifelong learners.

In her free time she enjoy reading, cooking, music, relaxing at the beach, and spending time with friends and family.

Mira received a BA in Arts and Education from Egypt and holds a Collins workshop certification for best practices of teaching Math, reading and writing inside the classroom. In 2016 she completed the Cambridge Global Learner training conducted by Cambridge International Examination.

Olena enjoys seeing the way children explore the world and learn new things. She loves to watch how their personalities develop and the way in which they observe everything around them.

In her free time, Olena enjoys reading and sports, especially running. She likes to hike and explore the local area with her daughter.

Olena holds a B.A. in Accounting and Audit from the National Academy of Statistics.

Oleksanda brings a positive attitude to the classroom. She enjoys working with children and is fond of their energy and excitement to learn and explore the world.
In her free time she likes to garden an to sing.
Oleksandra has many years of experience working in Ukraine.

Elena Kurnov joined Princeton Montessori School in 2000 and is a teacher in the Toddler program.
Elena enjoys working in the Toddler program because of the amazing, rapid growth that occurs during this period of a child’s life and the unique relationships she is able to form with each child. She brings enthusiasm and energy to the classroom and loves singing and dancing with the children.
In her free time, she enjoys being with her family and friends and taking long walks with her dog. Elena is also a translator for Ukrainian teachers when they come to the Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE) to study.
Elena received a BS and an MS in Chemistry from Byelorussian State University, Minsk, Belarus and an MA in Teacher Education from Technion (Israel Institute of Technology), Haifa, Israel. She holds an American Montessori Society credential in Infant/Toddler through Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE), NJ.

Sanchita is a caring and sincere individual, who brings warmth and kindness to her role. She has a genuine passion for creating a vibrant and engaging learning environments for children.
Outside of the classroom, Sanchita is a music enthusiast, dance lover, and avid traveler. She a proud mom of two daughters.
Sanchita holds a B.A. and a B.Ed. from the University of Mumbai, India. She also has ESL Certification.

Alona loves working with infant and toddler aged-children because of their passion for exploring the world. She brings her cheerful disposition and love of reading, singing, baking, and painting to the classroom environment.

Outside of school, Alona is a freelance photographer. In the summer, she enjoys travelling abroad in search of breathtaking pictures, and her work can be found in local restaurants. She also helps with her daughter’s photo collection in raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She also volunteers at SAVE Animal Shelter.

When at home, she enjoys gardening, cooking Italian food, and making Italian desserts.

Alona holds an American Montessori Society credential in Infant/Toddler through Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE), NJ. She is a PCTE Instructor and Field Consultant and a frequent parent workshop presenter on the topic of Preparing a Montessori Home Environment for the Young Child.

Arleene enjoys helping children develop their independence as they explore the work in the classroom and discover the world around them.

She enjoys spending time with her family and going to the gym.

Sue is passionate about playing an important role in children’s lives as they explore, grow, and reveal themselves at such a precious and tender age. As a mother and grandma of five, she brings her motherly knowledge and compassion with eagerness and excitement to the Montessori community.

Sue enjoys living a healthy lifestyle and listening to classical music, both of which can be found in her classroom environment. She also loves taking in the beautiful aura one finds in the Princeton area!

Sue received a BS in Business Administration from Alexandria University, Egypt, and holds an American Montessori Society credential in Infant/Toddler through the Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE), NJ.

Sue joined Princeton Montessori School in 2008 and is a conference teacher, PCTE I/T Instructor, and Field Consultant.

As a former Teacher’s Assistant for the Toddler Program, Marcia is very familiar with Montessori’s Philosophy. The importance of observation, and taking care of the environment in which the child will develop their inner experiences is the number one priority for her.

As a family who loves to travel and discover new places, Marcia took full advantage of living in Mexico City and Madrid, Spain to travel to different cities to enrich the experiences for her children. She especially enjoys hiking and biking with her family.

Marcia holds a Bachelor in Business Administration from IPAE, Peru. She holds an Assistant Teacher certification from The Pan American Montessori Society and has completed the Montessori Assistant teacher course, and the Child Development and Montessori Philosophy courses through PCTE. Marcia completed a ESL class at Hunter College, NYC.

Olga loves working with toddler children because she enjoys being a part of their development. Each day holds new beginnings and amazing growth. She brings her love of the Spanish culture and her bilingual talents to the classroom by singing and reading in Spanish to the children.

On the weekends, Olga enjoys long walks, and swimming and biking with her husband and two sons. She is also known for raising chickens and gathering their eggs for her family and the community.

Olga received a BA in Special Education from the Universidad los Libertadores in Colombia, South America and holds an American Montessori Society credential in Infant/Toddler through the Princeton Center Teacher Education (PCTE), NJ.

Shomaila has many years of experience in Montessori environments and vast knowledge of child development, psychology and Montessori methods. She loves music and the joy it can bring to a child. Somalia tries to incorporate singing into the daily classroom routine. She loves working with toddlers because of their curiosity, eagerness and desire to explore the environment around them. She is very organized and able to adapt to the child’s needs in the classroom.

Shomaila has three young daughters and outside of school, she loves to travel, bake, go for long walks and enjoying time with her family.

Shomaila holds a Bachelor of Computer Science degree from Karachi University, and an AMI Montessori Primary and Toddler Training Diploma.