Lower and Upper Elementary

To access our lower and upper elementary teachers’ biographies, click on the “Learn more about” link, then click on the “Show less” link to hide the information.

Lower Elementary One

Anna Rook

Montessori Certified Teacher
Email address: anna@montessoricenter.org

[su_expand more_text=”Learn more about Anna” height=”0″ link_color=”#586067″ link_style=”button” link_align=”left” more_icon=”icon: list-alt”]Anna was raised in Georgia and attended Emmanuel College where she graduated with a B.S. in early childhood education.

She moved to North Carolina after graduation and taught in a public school for two years. Her family relocated to New Jersey where she worked at a Montessori charter school in New Brunswick for three years and was voted Teacher of the Year by her peers. It was here that her passion for the Montessori method was ignited.

Her family moved back to North Carolina, and she continued work as a 2nd-grade teacher at Lincoln Heights Elementary in Fuquay-Varina where she was once again voted Teacher of the Year.

Deciding to stay at home once she began having children, Anna began researching Montessori for herself so she could transform their home into a place that was truly accessible and engaging. When her oldest of two sons was ready for kindergarten, she began homeschooling him determined to use as much Montessori materials and methods as possible.

Toward the end of his 1st-grade year, she realized that their next step was to find a school at which they could both continue their Montessori education. Caleb and Daniel both fell in love with The New School. Anna completed her AMS Montessori teacher training in the summer of 2019.

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Ryan Shands

Montessori Certified Teacher
Email address: ryan@montessoricenter.org

[su_expand more_text=”Learn more about Ryan” height=”0″ link_color=”#586067″ link_style=”button” link_align=”left” more_icon=”icon: list-alt”]Ryan was born and raised in Charlotte, NC, and attended North Carolina Central University. He graduated with a B.S. in family and consumer sciences with a concentration in child development.

Ryan’s Montessori journey began in 2001 at SAS Institute in Cary. Starting as an intern, he worked his way up and became a certified Montessori primary teacher. While there, he received his 3-to-6 years AMS credential at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education (CMTE) in 2007. Ryan then transitioned to Heartwood Montessori School in 2018 to become a lower elementary teacher. As of August 2020, he will hold an AMS certification in lower elementary from CMTE.

Wanting to continue his growth in the Montessori field, Ryan pursued an opportunity to join The New School Montessori Center community. He hopes to make a difference in guiding the youth of the future. Ryan has always had a passion for teaching children and watching them develop.

When not working on his do-it-yourself home projects or playing chess, Ryan enjoys spending quality time with his wife and two daughters, both of whom attend Montessori schools in Durham, NC.

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Lower Elementary Two

Laurel Leavesley

Montessori Certified Teacher
Email: laurel@montessoricenter.org

[su_expand more_text=”Learn more about Laurel” height=”0″ link_color=”#586067″ link_style=”button” link_align=”left” more_icon=”icon: list-alt”]Laurel was born in Tallahassee, Florida. From two weeks of age, she grew up in a Montessori atmosphere with her mother as head teacher and director of the school.

Those early years of working in a hands-on, diverse environment left a very strong impression on her. This solidified Laurel’s idea of what school was for her — a fun place to look forward to each day, full of friends young and old who worked together to learn and play.

After nine years in this progressive community, Laurel transferred into public school where assigned desks, blackboards, and textbooks with tests were foreign to her. She then attended a project-based, private middle school and later graduated from a traditional public high school where she sang in a competitive choir and learned American Sign Language. Today, she actively incorporates ASL into her teaching.

Before graduating from Florida State with a B.S. in child and family sciences and a minor in education, she also earned her AMS certification for three to six-year-olds. She felt honored to complete this at her godmother’s Montessori school that was started with her mother before she was born.

From 2004 to 2011, Laurel was lucky enough to teach alongside her mother at Seminole Montessori School in Tallahassee. In 2011, she moved to Woodbridge, Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C., to work at Cardinal Montessori School. Here she received her AMS certifications in lower and upper elementary at the Barrie School where she met her husband Lionel, who had taught for many years in London. They visit Washington often and now enjoy introducing their young son London to all the adventures the city has to offer in and around it.

While creating a cohesive learning community for her classroom, Laurel takes grace and courtesy very seriously and enjoys instilling these qualities into her young learners in both conflict resolution and classroom stewardship. She also loves to incorporate movement, dance, yoga, singing, music, and nature into learning whenever possible.

She enjoys living in the state she used to vacation in each summer on Asheville camping trips. Laurel embraces being part of a large Montessori community and delights in working alongside so many talented teachers and enthusiastic Montessorians.

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Nancy Faber

Montessori Certified Teacher
Email: nancyf@montessoricenter.org

[su_expand more_text=”Learn more about Nancy” height=”0″ link_color=”#586067″ link_style=”button” link_align=”left” more_icon=”icon: list-alt”]Nancy was born in Suffolk, Virginia, and has lived in North Carolina since high school. She graduated from Elon University with a B.A. in elementary education.

She spent five years teaching K-3 and Head Start in Caswell County. She also worked as an office manager for an engineering company in Cary. She completed her 6 to 9-year-old AMS credential at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in July 2002 and has taught with her husband Hank since 2001.

Nancy has a passion for teaching children a love for learning. She enjoys reading, gardening, strength training, water aerobics, and shelling at the beach.

Favorite Montessori Quote

The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.
∼ Dr. Maria Montessori

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Hank Faber

Montessori Certified Teacher
Email: hank@montessoricenter.org

[su_expand more_text=”Learn more about Hank” height=”0″ link_color=”#586067″ link_style=”button” link_align=”left” more_icon=”icon: list-alt”]Hank lived in Miami, Florida, until he moved to Chapel Hill to attend UNC. He served on a U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker that traveled to the the Arctic Ocean and Antarctica.

He graduated from Elon University and worked for the IRS for several years. After leaving the IRS, he started a nationwide business helping people with tax problems.

Hank has coached youth baseball, taught children’s church, and has been a Special Olympics volunteer for many years. His love of children led him to teach.

He began teaching at The New School in 1999, and he earned his 6 to 9-year-old AMS credential in July 2000. He and his wife Nancy have been teaching together since 2001.

Favorite Montessori Quote

As soon as children find something that interests them, they lose their instability and learn to concentrate.
∼ Dr. Maria Montessori

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Crystal Burdick

Support Teacher
Email: crystal@montessoricenter.org

[su_expand more_text=”Learn more about Crystal” height=”0″ link_color=”#586067″ link_style=”button” link_align=”left” more_icon=”icon: list-alt”]Crystal is originally from West Palm Beach, Florida. She and her family live in Fuquay Varina. They enjoy camping, reading, fishing, playing chess/games, and going to the movies.

Crystal has experience working as a baker/chef and barista, along with having worked in administration, customer service, and childcare. Currently, she is CPR/First Aid/SIDS certified and has successfully completed her Montessori assistant teacher training course. She also plans to further her Montessori education.

Crystal has one daughter who has been attending TNS since preschool and is currently enrolled in the upper elementary program. She began taking a greater interest in the Montessori methods as she volunteered in her daughter’s classes and became more familiar with the philosophy and materials. She began working in the after-school childcare program. Her decision to become a Montessori TA followed quickly, as the opportunity to work in Children’s House became available.

Crystal has always loved working with children of all ages. She is a very warm-hearted person and is able to multi-task well. She’s enjoyed her time at The New School very much thus far and is looking forward to working with the students for many years to come.

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Krista Tsigalnitsky

Support Teacher
Email: info@montessoricenter.org

[su_expand more_text=”Learn more about Krista” height=”0″ link_color=”#586067″ link_style=”button” link_align=”left” more_icon=”icon: list-alt”]Krista is the mother of two, a three-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl. She has been working with children in some capacity since 2002. She has been a Pre-K teacher, an early childhood STEM teacher, a park aide, a Tinkergarten leader, and a nanny.

Krista has a bachelor’s degree in parks and natural resource management from NCSU and is currently pursuing her Lower Elementary Montessori certification. She was initially drawn to the Montessori method because of its power to support a variety of learning styles and ability levels by following the child. Her love of nature and humanity also drew her because the curriculum promotes peace, community, and the interconnectedness of all living creatures. She is looking forward to helping guide your child on this Montessori journey and hopes to learn and grow with your child for years to come!

Krista is a huge “Doctor Who” fan and used to watch the original show on PBS as a kid. Her interests include hiking, tubing, going to amusement parks, visiting historical sites, nature and environmental education, and reading and watching sci-fi and fantasy. She also loves to learn, explore, and have adventures!

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Upper Elementary

Sheldon Clark

Montessori Certified Teacher | Upper Elementary Coordinator
Email: sheldon@montessoricenter.org

[su_expand more_text=”Learn more about Sheldon” height=”0″ link_color=”#586067″ link_style=”button” link_align=”left” more_icon=”icon: list-alt”]Sheldon Clark has been involved in Montessori education since the early 1990s. He has served in administration as well as in the classroom and was the founding Upper Elementary Director of Follow the Child Montessori School in Raleigh.

Sheldon joined The New School in 2011 as its Upper Elementary Director and served in that role through the 2013-2014 school year. He took the AMI/NAMTA Orientation to Adolescent Studies in the summer of 2013 and opened TNS’s Montessori Adolescent Program in the fall of 2014.

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Nancy Butterfield

Montessori Certified Teacher
Email: nancyb@montessoricenter.org

[su_expand more_text=”Learn more about Nancy” height=”0″ link_color=”#586067″ link_style=”button” link_align=”left” more_icon=”icon: list-alt”]Nancy, a North Carolina Teaching Fellows scholarship recipient, graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina State University with a B.A. in English education in 1994. She taught world literature and American literature classes at Riverside High School in Durham and was honored as their Teacher of the Year and a semifinalist for Durham public school’s Teacher of the Year in 1999.

While in graduate school at NCSU, Nancy taught both Academic Discourse and Learning to ESL freshmen and Writing Skills I and II in the Agricultural Institute. She also worked as a full-time tutor for the men’s basketball team and served as a university supervisor for Wake County student teachers in secondary English education.

She became captivated with the child-centered educational approach of the Montessori Method when she enrolled her oldest daughter, Elizabeth, in Children’s House at Southern Wake Montessori School. She worked as an assistant in their toddler community for two years.

Joining The New School Montessori Center in 2015, Nancy received her Upper Elementary credentials in 2018. She became licensed as an amateur radio operator that same year and completed the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology in Newington, Connecticut, two years later.

Her oldest daughter, Elizabeth, attended The New School for eight years and was a member of the inaugural MAP class. Her younger girls, Susan and Sally, are currently students at the school. 

Nancy enjoys spending time with her family, which includes two dogs and their adopted hedgehog Esmerelda. Growing tomatoes, acrylic painting, and weather-spotting for SKYWARN are a few of her favorite hobbies.

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Lisa Jahn

Montessori Certified Teacher
Email: lisa@montessoricenter.org

[su_expand more_text=”Learn more about Lisa” height=”0″ link_color=”#586067″ link_style=”button” link_align=”left” more_icon=”icon: list-alt”]Lisa earned her B.A. in advanced technical theatre from SUNY New Paltz. She also holds a nonprofit management certificate.

After 12 years of professional work as a costume designer and theatre technician in New York City, Lisa and her husband moved to North Carolina to raise their lovely twins, Milo and Lola.

She joined The New School in the spring of 2012 as an administrative assistant. After subbing in the class many times, Lisa decided to pursue her Montessori training on the Children’s House level and graduated in the summer of 2013. With this firm background in Montessori education, she then decided to pursue training at the lower elementary level, which she completed in the spring of 2014.

Lisa enjoys camping, bread-making, sourdough experimentation, and designing and building costumes for her twins.

Favorite Montessori Quote

A leader, therefore, is not somebody with a sense of great authority, but somebody with a sense of great responsibility.
∼ Dr. Maria Montessori

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Art Pierce

History and Social Studies Teacher
Email address: art@montessoricenter.org

[su_expand more_text=”Learn more about Art” height=”0″ link_color=”#586067″ link_style=”button” link_align=”left” more_icon=”icon: list-alt”]Art was born in Rhinebeck, New York, and relocated to Albany, New York, at an early age.

Upon completion of two years of studies at Ithaca College, Art moved back to Albany to pursue a career in music with the band he co-founded in high school. After scratching the surface of success with a significant amount of airplay, major label interest, and the opportunity to open for some of the biggest rock acts of the time period (Collective Soul, Fuel, Cracker, Gin Blossoms), he and his wife Beth decided to settle down and start a family.

While obtaining his A.A.S. in teacher education, Art taught private drum lessons to over 55 students a week. In November 2006, he and his wife Beth, along with their newborn son Aidan, relocated to North Carolina to pursue new opportunities.

While teaching elementary-aged and adolescent students music lessons, Art realized his long-time passion for teaching and decided to pursue a degree in history, obtaining his B.A. in historical studies from SUNY Empire State. He also recently completed the NCTeach certification program through NCSU and is looking forward to broadening his long-term educational skills and goals within the Montessori environment.

In addition to playing drums and listening to music, Art enjoys carpentry, gardening, reading, volunteering, and spending quality time with his wife and two children, both of whom have attended TNS.

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Nicole Seward

Math and Science Teacher
Email address: nicole@montessoricenter.org

[su_expand more_text=”Learn more about Nicole” height=”0″ link_color=”#586067″ link_style=”button” link_align=”left” more_icon=”icon: list-alt”]Born and raised in Raleigh, Nicole spent her youth working as both a lifeguard and swim coach for children of all ages. When she graduated from NC State with a B.A. in communications, she worked as the marketing director for a small local business. She quickly realized that education was her passion and returned to NCSU for her teaching license through their NC Teach program. Once certified in 6th-9th grade mathematics, Nicole spent the next five years teaching at both Wake county and Durham public schools.

She held multiple leadership positions during her time in both districts, including team leader and leader of several math PLTs. She was also the boy’s soccer coach at North Garner Middle School. She helped the math department plan and implement a math night for parents. And she also created a cultural awareness door-decorating contest for classrooms to each research and present a festival or event from a different country around the world.

Nicole and her husband live in Fuquay Varina with their son Orion and dogs Brady and Penny. She likes to craft, run, travel, read, and play board games. She also enjoys listening to and playing music (her favorite, the piano!). Her family travels to the lake and the beach often where she could happily spend all her free time in the water! Nicole loves to take her son to the park and walk the trails. When stuck inside, she introduces her son to music and helps him explore math and science with his favorite STEM toys.

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Alli Mapes

Classroom Support
Email address: alli@montessoricenter.org

[su_expand more_text=”Learn more about Alli” height=”0″ link_color=”#586067″ link_style=”button” link_align=”left” more_icon=”icon: list-alt”]After moving around much of her adult life from cities such as San Diego, Austin, and London, Alli achieved her life-long desire of moving to North Carolina. Two years ago, she and her family settled down right here in Holly Springs.

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