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Faculty | Middle School

Meet the Middle School teachers
Program Coordinator, Spanish, Design, Individuals & Societies

Nuria Perez

Nuria Perez joined Princeton Montessori School in 2014 and currently teaches IB MYP Design, Individuals & Societies, and Spanish. She is a conference teacher in the Middle School and also serves as the educational coordinator for the Middle School program.

Nuria greatly enjoys teaching language and culture. Her goal is to have students participate actively in class and she strives to develop a love of discovering other cultures through experiential activities, and real-life connections.

When not teaching, Nuria enjoys spending time with her son and husband, exercising outdoors, and traveling.

Nuria received a BS in Sociology from the University of Barcelona (UB), Spain, a Postgraduate Degree in Marketing from New York University (NYU) and studied Montessori Philosophy and Child Development through the Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE), NJ. Her IB MYP training levels and areas include Spanish (Category 1 & 2), and Design (Category 1 & 2) and has her MMUN training certification.

Science and Design

Memusi Dutt

Memusi joined Princeton Montessori School in 2023 and currently teaches Science and Design classes and supports the Mathematics curriculum. She is a Middle School conference teacher.

As an engineer who focused on sustainable building design in her former profession, Memusi is excited to share her passion for science and design with Middle School students and help them embrace the idea that they can be part of the solution.

In her free time, Memusi enjoys spending time with her husband, four children, and their dog. She loves to run and has entered the Princeton Half Marathon again this year. She always has a couple of books on the go and is working on starting a backyard vegetable garden.

Memusi received a Masters in Integrated Engineering from Cardiff University, UK. She completed the IB MYP Science CAT1 and is currently completing IB MYP Design CAT2 and the AMI Adolescent Montessori Orientation.

Environment and Sustainability

Gery Juleff

Gery Juleff joined Princeton Montessori in 2021 and is the Environment and Sustainability Educator for Middle School.

Gery teaches MS Environmental and Sustainability Studies, using the NWF Ecoschools program as a framework. Gery loves the outdoors and nature and classes will involve lots of hands-on work, visits to farms and the Sourland Mountain, and a focus on project work. Gery also teaches Ecology to LE and UE students, takes After School and is the school Sustainabiloity Manager.

Originally from N Ireland, Gery served as a British diplomat, mainly in Africa and Brazil, before coming to NJ with his family 10 years ago. Since arriving here, he has been a biofuels consultant, environmental radio show host, led and co-hosted a series of environmental discussions at the D&R Greenway Land Trust, worked as a farm manager and substitute teacher, taught history and environmental subjects as a volunteer tutor and been a Board Member of the Sourland Conservancy and the United Front Against Riverblindness.

Gery has a BA and MA in Modern History from Trinity College, Dublin.

Language & Literature

Jerome Keeler

Jerome joined Princeton Montessori School in 2023 and currently teaches Language & Literature. He is a Middle School conference teacher.

Jerome leads the Language & Literature and Leadership components of our IB MYP Humanities program.

He loves helping students discover the joys of learning and cultivating an appreciation of language, a sense of curiosity about books, and an understanding of the many ways each student can grow as a reader and writer.

In his free time Jerome enjoys tennis and bouldering - which involve a strong focus on technique and problem solving.

Jerome holds a BA in English -from the University of Denver, and an MFA in Creative Writing from Southampton College.

Health & Fitness

Amy Krupa

Amy Krupa joined Princeton Montessori School in 2004 and is the Middle School Fitness teacher and a conference teacher in the Lower Elementary classroom.

Amy loves working with children in a Montessori environment, and enjoys her role in Middle School.

When not teaching, Amy enjoys fitness coaching, boating, camping and being outdoors with her three sons. She is also passionate about her role as a Scouting Cub Master for the Boys Scouts of America organization. She volunteers as a leader that aims to promote character

Amy received a B.S. in Business Administration from Rider University (Lawrenceville, NJ). She holds a level 1 & 2 IB Middle Years Program certification for Physical and Health Education and an American Montessori Society credential in Elementary I through the Princeton Center for Teacher Education.

Math

Daylin Li

Daylin joined Princeton Montessori School in 2024 and currently teaches Math.

Daylin has extensive published research and is familiar with Montessori math materials as used in education. Her calm demeanor and commitment to education are an asset to the Middle School program.

Daylin holds a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS and a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. She is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Iowa State University studying Human Development & Family Studies.

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Health

Bridget Manley

Bridget Manley joined Princeton Montessori School in 2005 and is a conference teacher in the Upper Elementary program and teaches health and gender studies in the Upper Elementary and Middle School programs.

Bridget brings her counseling skills to the “gifts & challenges” class and enjoys empowering students to problem solve issues independently. She leads on the school’s Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program, and teaches health and gender studies in UE and MS.

In her free time Bridget enjoys spending time with her immediate and extended family from the Midwest, keeping up with friends, exercising, and making her famous brownies for all.

Bridget holds an MS in School Counseling from Sage Graduate School, NY and a BA in Social Work from Siena College, NY. She has an American Montessori Society credential in Elementary I and Elementary II through the Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE), NJ. Her previous experience includes counseling middle school and high school students.

Music

Alex Mitnick

Alex Mitnick joined Princeton Montessori School in 2000 and currently teaches music to students in Elementary through Middle School and is the Rock Band Advisor.

Alex loves sharing his passion for music and music making with children of all ages. His unique approach to music education combines singing, movement, percussion and songwriting in a stimulating and fun way that leaves students energized and inspired.

In addition to teaching music at Princeton Montessori School, Alex is an Emmy® Award winning children’s performer with six albums of original music and his very own TV show “Alex & The Kaleidoscope.”

Alex received a BA in Jazz Performance from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA, and has received multiple awards for excellence in children’s entertainment including the New York Emmy® Awards, The Parents’ Choice Foundation, The Film Advisory Board and the American Library Association. Alex's IB MYP training levels and areas include Arts (Category 1 & 2), and Global Contexts for Teaching and Learning training.

He is an instructor for the Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE).

Secondary Placement Coordinator

Dr. Amanda Rose

Dr. Amanda Rose joined Princeton Montessori School in 2019 and is the Secondary Placement Coordinator for the Middle School.

Dr. Rose brings over 20 years of experience in working with students to prepare them for the SSAT and other standardized tests. She has also worked with Montessori Schools to ensure their students receive the very best preparation for the high school application process. Previously, Dr. Rose served as executive director of Stanford Coaching Inc. (now Inspirica), New York’s premier SAT and academic one-on-one tutoring company.

In her position at Princeton Montessori School, Dr. Rose will work to prepare students for the SSAT and possible independent high school interviews and support parents with the high school admissions process. She will provide a balance of instruction and guided practice to allow students to master fundamental test-taking techniques.

Dr. Rose is a graduate of Princeton High School, and holds a B.A. in English from Cornell University, an M.A. in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University and a doctorate in Organizational Psychology from Rutgers University.

Art Teacher

Lisa Stolzer

Lisa Stolzer joined Princeton Montessori School in 1992 and teaches art to Upper Elementary and Middle School students.

Lisa enjoys the energy and spirit the students bring to the art room, as well as their passion for creativity. An avid writer, Lisa strives to help the students to find their own creative outlet as they begin to discover the influence of art on culture. Her love of travel and world cultures is an asset in helping the students understand their own place in the world.

In her spare time, Lisa loves to cook, garden, kayak, make things, and go hiking with her husband.

Lisa has previous experience teaching at the Toddler, Primary, Elementary, and Middle School levels. She holds a BA/BS in Elementary Education and English from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) and received her Elementary credential from Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE), NJ. Lisa also completed the IB Middle Years Programme training for Visual Arts I and II.

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What Parents Are Saying

The other day I came downstairs and my 4-year-old son was listening to 'Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart' on Alexa. He told me that Mozart's dad was named Leopold and his sister was Nannerl (it took him a second to remember her name and it sounded made up, so my husband and I googled it. Sure enough he was right). We asked what else he had been learning and he rattled off Antonio Lucio Vivaldi’s full name and referenced The Four Seasons. I think my jaw is still on the floor. It turns out that the Primary children have been learning about composers this fall and listening to their music. What incredible exposure for these young children!

Princeton Montessori is the very epitome of the principles of Maria Montessori. The School offers a nurturing, creative, academic, and well-rounded development for each child. As a parent, we cannot offer our daughter a more valuable first gift.

The faculty are, bar none, the absolute best. The teachers are very knowledge both about the Montessori philosophy and the best ways to work with children. I ask for their advice and insight for any issues we’re having at home, quite often. They’re also incredibly warm and nurturing with the children in a way I have not seen at any other school.

I’m struck by how much better the Montessori toddlers are at playing and working peacefully with their peers than toddlers in other nursery school programs. I credit the gifted PMonts teachers, and the Princeton Montessori educational approach, for how confident, happy, and collaborative toddlers in the PMonts program seem.

Our son is so proud of being a third-year Primary. He has attended this incredible school since he was one year old. He had absolutely wonderful Toddler teachers and flourished under their care. Now, he is a third-year Primary and we know he will be more than ready for Lower Elementary. Thank you to all the Teachers & Staff!

The school runs with one philosophy and so every faculty member and admin personnel share the same vision for the child. This consistency is unique in our area to Princeton Montessori. Combined with the integration of the teacher training program, we can proudly say that the spirit of Dr. Montessori’s principles permeates every aspect of our school. That’s what I value the most about our school!

Education is both a gift and a right. I feel the teachers at PMonts help our children to appreciate the value of their education. Understanding the value involves looking beyond school and appreciating how education is a tool that will allow them to explore challenging goals, to grow as individuals and most importantly, chase their dreams.

This is our first year at Princeton Montessori and my daughter is in the toddler program. It’s been nothing short of amazing. Teachers are phenomenal and my daughter has learned so much already!

I will never cease to be amazed at the capabilities of the young child. In the Montessori environment, the very youngest students show incredible independence and competence. At Princeton Montessori School the teachers truly help the children to “help me do it myself”.

When I think about my personal philosophy on education I can check all the boxes with regards to the education my daughter is receiving at Princeton Montessori. I feel the teachers motivate the students by focusing on appreciating the value of education and the diversities of peoples around the world while stressing and leveraging the power of the uniqueness in each individual student. Ultimately, the role of an educator is to shape a new generation that will create a safer and better world for the future.

Princeton Montessori School is a school that exceeds any expectations imaginable. The school follows each and every child on an individual basis and nourishes each child’s academic, social, and emotional needs. It is a school where teachers appreciate all unique qualities each child brings.

Our daughter loves being at school. She confidently reported that she was happy with the safety measures in place, and that she felt “safe” at school. This was HUGE.

Princeton Montessori School turned out to be the best investment ever. We made some sacrifices in our lifestyle in order to be able to afford sending both children all the way through 8th grade, but now we are proud to note that we have two capable, confident, well-mannered young adults who are a pleasure to be around and who continue to love to work hard in their studies.

EXCEPTIONAL is the carefully chosen word to describe Princeton Montessori School. Our family has been part of the PMonts community from elementary through middle school. If I could give every child a gift that gift would be for them to experience the joy of learning every single day at PMonts. The multi-age classes provide the advantage of older students leading younger students and younger students watching the wonderful examples of the older children. The children recognize the strengths of others as being positive and not competitive. Princeton Montessori is much more than academic college prep - it is life prep!

Our child previously attended a reputable public elementary school. During that time, she often complained that she was bored at school. I was concerned that the school's 'one-size-fits-all' education model was gradually dimming her thirst for knowledge. I wanted the flames of her engagement and curiosity to be fanned, not extinguished. She is now back at Princeton Montessori and I am happy to report that she is no longer bored. In fact, her inner flame has never been stronger!

Our daughter has been in the infant center for only six months, but we believe it has been the most transformative and influential time of her life. The Infant Center teachers planted a little seed in our daughter’s heart, and it has grown and blossomed into a beautiful, resilient flower with their warm love and care. ...We have observed her world expanding astronomically, filled with beautiful memories of her teachers and friends. We have been thoroughly impressed and constantly reassured by the quality of education and care the teachers provide.

We have always been thrilled with our PMonts experience, and this fall term has sent us through the roof. We are in awe of the tireless work of the faculty and administration, who have made possible such an inspiring in-person program. I have always been broadly grateful for the PMonts education my children have been so lucky to receive; this summer and fall, I felt grateful each and every day.

As a parent (and faculty member), Molly and I are beyond grateful for PMonts. Our children are SO happy here. I am more of a believer than ever before. Miles was fine at his public school but the difference is really clear - here, he is not just fine - he is totally thriving and so happy! I'm amazed.

"Princeton Montessori School students are open to diverse backgrounds, curious to learn new things, strong in their leadership and presentation skills, and confident. Thank you for providing an educational environment that encourages a child's total development. We know it is an incredible gift." -Middle School Parent

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