Meet our Educators
Dedicated, Caring and Certified
"The greatest development is achieved during the first years of life, and therefore it is then the greatest care should be taken." - Maria Montessori
Aja-Nicole Hope
Dragonflies Lead Teacher
Ms. Aja first joined MDS as a substitute and floater teacher in 2012. She fell in love with the Montessori philosophy and the MDS community, and in January of 2015, she became a full-time Co-Lead Teacher. In the spring of 2012, Aja-Nicole graduated from Hunter College with her bachelor’s in English Language Arts. She went on to pursue her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, and in the Spring of 2015, she graduated from Hunter College.
She obtained her Montessori Teacher Certification in 2016. Aja-Nicole has worked with children for over fifteen years, including working at summer camps, teaching dance and drumming classes to children of various ages, and running/organizing after-school programs for children from 8-16 years old. Ms. Aja loves the community here at MDS and continues to look forward to sharing her love, excitement, and joy of learning with every student.
Angeline Faulk
Dragonflies Assistant Teacher
Ms. Angeline, a Brooklyn native, Angeline has worked at MDS as an assistant teacher since 1994. She has a special fondness for facilitating “messy art” projects with her students. Ms. Angeline has one son and loves to ride her bike, skate, go to movies, bowl, and plant flowers.
Cheryl Denner
Bumblebees Assistant Teacher
Dedree George
Sparrows Assistant Teacher
Ms. Dedree has been with Montessori Day School since 1998. She enjoys teaching through the Montessori method. She loves seeing the children happy and working hard. Ms. Degree is currently completing her Child Development Associates Certification. She is very interested in trauma-informed care for children. Ms. Deedree has a great interest in music & loves to travel.
Ms. Cheryl has taught at MDS since 1988. She was born in Trinidad, where she studied business administration at St. Mary’s College. Cheryl has worked with every age group at MDS and is a certified Montessori teacher. In 1992 she became the lead teacher of our first infant/toddler class, The Puffins, and held that position for the next 14 years. In 2002 Cheryl was awarded ”Woman of Distinction” honors by the Y.W.C.A. for her dedication and contribution to the community. “Each day is a joyful experience for me as I prepare a peaceful learning environment in the classroom, and I am always looking forward to working with each child’s unique approach to learning as they follow their independent ideas.” Cheryl lives in Brooklyn with her daughter, and enjoys traveling, costume design, music, and story-telling combined with music and art.
Entisar Ali
Doves Assistant Teacher
Ms. Entisar, originally from Yemen, began teaching at MDS as an intern in 2017 before becoming an assistant teacher in 2018. She has an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. “I love watching children grow to become independent and critical thinkers, and I appreciate the Montessori method for emphasizing that every child has unique needs where they learn at their own pace.” She has two wonderful children of her own, and she enjoys swimming, gardening, and traveling in her spare time.
Kris Jermyn
Doves Lead Teacher
Ms. Kris has taught at MDS since the summer of 2015. She joined as a student intern before being offered a teaching position in the Summer Program, Extended Day, and as a Community Helper. Ms. Kris graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brooklyn College, earning double Bachelor's Degrees in Early Childhood Education and Children/Youth Advocacy. She has taught at the Goddard-Riverside Head Start program, was a tutor at Reading Partners, and was a Staff Coordinator at TheraCare, an Early Intervention Center. Ms. Kris became a Doves Co-Lead Teacher in 2019. Her classroom motto: Teamwork makes the Dream work! Born and raised in Morningside Heights, she lives with her husband of 22 years and their pup, enjoying tacos, cosplay, and ping pong.
Poppy O'Neill
Seagulls Lead Teacher
Ms. Poppy joined the MDS staff in August 2015. She grew up in the great state of Maine and moved to Brooklyn upon graduating from Vassar College. Previously, Ms. Poppy taught English Language Arts in a middle school in Brooklyn. After working with her own children and seeing them flourish in MDS classrooms (one in the Seagulls and one in the Dragonflies), Ms. Poppy transitioned to teaching early childhood. She received her Master's in Early Childhood Education from Brooklyn College and her Montessori certification in the Primary age group (3-6) from West Side Montessori School Teacher Education Program. When not teaching, Ms. Poppy loves to read, quilt, bake, spend time crafting with friends, and go on adventures with her family.
Joy Simms
Seagulls Assistant Teacher
Ms. Joy, originally from Jamaica, has been teaching at MDS since 2001. “Knowing I’m making a positive difference in a child’s life makes teaching wonderful work,” she says. Joy earned her certification in Montessori teaching and an Associate’s degree in child development, with additional credits toward a B.A. in early childhood education. Outside of school Joy enjoys crocheting, reading, and spending time with family.
Marion Mitchell
Seagulls Assistant Teacher
Ms. Marion came to MDS by way of Trinidad where she helped run a daycare and studied telecommunications. She has been with MDS since 2004. “I love seeing the kids overcome a difficult task and achieve goals. It’s a joy to teach here.“ Marion loves dancing (especially to reggae music), spending time with her two kids and doing hair.
Pamela Riera
Bumblebees Lead Teacher
Ms. Pam has enjoyed teaching and leading children from the young age of 14. Over the last six years, she has taught in a Montessori setting and has been passionate about working with children in all areas of their development. She has a strong background in Bilingual Spanish Immersion classrooms. Ms. Pam received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from John Jay College and is currently pursuing a Masters in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Bilingual Education from Brooklyn College. As a first-generation immigrant, she knows the struggles that can come with cultural differences and emphasizes diversity and respect within the classroom. Ms. Pam enjoys utilizing her creativity and art skills to find new approaches to teaching and ensure that each child has a memorable interactive learning experience. Through her creativity and art skills, she focuses on guiding and empowering each child as they grow in their independence.
Nina Garland
Doves Assistant Teacher,
Movement Instructor
Brooklyn native Ms. Nina has been with MDS since 1989. After studying Montessori philosophy, she instituted the school’s movement program, now an integral part of MDS culminating in an annual performance. She’s studied ballet, tap and jazz and worked as a choreographer and performer for over 40 years, working with a host of theater, dance, and music luminaries including Max Roach, Ben Vereen, Katherine Dunham, Ozzie Davis and many others. Her favorite part of teaching, she tells us, “is watching the children grow and discover the world around them. It’s a source of joy and wonder that just never dies.” When not teaching she likes sewing, embroidery, and going to the beach.
Sasini Thakolchaisri
Penguins Lead Teacher
Ms. Sasini is a graduate of Bank Street School of Education and Westside Montessori, WSMS- TEP. She enjoys getting to know each of her students, working with their strengths, and helping them with their challenges. Since starting in the Penguins classroom in 2014, she has accumulated a good amount of penguin themed items. She enjoys snacking, mixed media collage,and the NYTimes games, particularly Wordle!