Faculty
Barbara Ball, Children’s House After Care Teacher, joined our faculty in fall of 2023. Barbara has enjoyed many years as a Kindergarten Teacher in Arizona and Massachusetts. We are thrilled she is joining us this Fall as our Children's House After Care Teacher. We are impressed by her experience and how she exemplifies her love for teaching and enthusiasm for working with young children. From her references we learn that Barbara has an "incredible amount of experience working with early childhood students" and is "always willing to help out and go the extra mile".
Brittany Burbank, Elementary Fitness Teacher, joined our faculty in the fall of 2022. Britt has many years experience working with children. Britt spent eight years at the Riverview School coaching special needs Olympic sports and helping to develop the school’s wellness program. In 2019 she opened her own business, Yoga Jamboree. Her desire to keep children moving extends beyond yoga. Her goal is always to show students that movement is fun and important.
Charnette Buckhoff, Children’s House Classroom Teacher, joined our faculty first as a substitute and then as a full-time teacher in fall of 2022. Charnette has been a loyal parent at our school since 2009 when her first daughter, Dailynne, joined our Children's House. Since then, we have also welcomed Emmaline, Fern, and Cedar. Charnette has always kept her foot in teaching by continuing to take Early Childhood and Child Development classes throughout her education. She knows Montessori from the parent perspective and is a nurturing and peaceful presence in the classrooms. Most recently she has completed her Montessori 3 to 6 certification through the Northeast Montessori Institute.
Odile Buoncristiano, Children’s House Assistant Teacher, joined our faculty in the fall of 2022. She brings with her undergraduate studies in Biological Sciences with a concentration in conservation biology and ecology from Arizona State University. She is currently earning her Montessori 3 to 6 certification from the Northeast Montessori Institute. She is eager to marry her love of early childhood education with her passion for the outdoors, opening children’s eyes to the bigger world around them.
Agnes Cavanagh, Children's House Classroom Teacher, Kindergarten Enrichment Teacher, joined the Bridgeview Montessori faculty in 2011 as a Montessori Intern in the Children's House classroom. Having first learned about our school as a mother while looking for a school for her children, Agnes fell in love with the Montessori philosophy and began to pursue her own Montessori training. She was born in Barlinek, Poland, and is a resident of Bourne. She earned a B.S and M.S. degree in physical education from AWF Gorzow Academy in Poland. Before starting her training and coming to Bridgeview, Agnes worked at the Riverview School for three years. She earned her Montessori certification in early childhood from Northeast Montessori Institute and is licensed at the Teacher level by the Department of Early Education and Care. Most recently Agnes completed her Orton-Gillingham training as she strives to utilize different tools to connect with different kinds of learners. Agnes is also a parent of two Bridgeview Montessori Elementary aged children.
Rebecca Cohen, Elementary I Teacher, joined our faculty in the fall of 2018. A Cape Cod native, Rebecca joins us having taught in traditional elementary schools in Marblehead, Revere and Plymouth. She earned her undergraduate degree from Colby-Sawyer in Communications and Early Childhood. She also holds a Masters from Lesley University in Elementary Education. She has a certificate in animation from NYU and runs a well-loved stop-motion animation after-school program for our students. Rebecca joined our faculty knowing there was a better way to reach students; she found that way in our Montessori classrooms. She has completed her Montessori six to nine training and has strengthened her repertoire with Orton-Gillingham training. Rebecca’s enthusiasm for teaching with us is only matched by her love of animals, the outdoors, and young people.
Julie Davis, Children's House Director, Children's House Classroom Teacher, joined the Bridgeview Montessori faculty as a substitute teacher in 2011, eager to get back to working in Montessori education where her teaching passion lies. In 2012, she began as Children's House Co-Director as well as classroom teacher. Currently she is our full time Children's House Director which allows her the opportunity to connect with all Children's House children and support our teachers. Most recently, Julie along with members of our Children’s House team completed her Orton-Gillingham training. Julie holds a B.F.A. in painting from the University of Hartford in Connecticut. Her interest in Montessori began at home. Her mother, a Montessorian, welcomed Julie while a sophomore in college into her school to serve as an intern. Julie took her Montessori training in 1987 at the Center for Montessori in New Rochelle, New York. Before coming to Bridgeview, Julie taught for 15 years at the Montessori Discovery School in Norwich, Connecticut as well as in traditional preschools. Julie is licensed at the Lead Teacher and Director levels by the Department of Early Education and Care.
Jolie Drury, Elementary II Teacher, joined the faculty at Bridgeview Montessori in the fall of 2014. Jolie received a B.S. from Lesley University in 1999, earned a MA teaching certificate for Elementary Education and began her teaching career at the Chickering School in Dover, MA. Prior to moving to Cape Cod in 2012, she taught at the Andover School of Montessori in Andover, MA, where she helped shape a young Middle School program by writing curriculum and putting it into practice with her co-teacher and students over the course of six years. She also spent two years teaching Upper Elementary, where she gained practical experience with Montessori materials and completed her Upper Elementary Certification training through the North American Montessori Center. To give her more tools in her toolbox, Jolie recently completed her Orton-Gillingham training.
Kathleen Finucane, Elementary II and Spanish Teacher, joined our faculty in the fall of 2014. Kathleen graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in Religion. After graduation, she worked for eight years with infants and toddlers at an innovative software company that provided onsite Montessori education for employees' children. During that time she was fortunate enough to receive the first international Montessori training in the US designed specifically for infants and toddlers. Kathleen went on to earn her Montessori elementary training and worked for eight years at the Durham Montessori School in Durham, N.C. After relocating back to the northeast to be closer to family, Kathleen worked as a Montessori elementary teacher at the Sandwich Montessori School for twelve years. During that time she also earned her M.Ed. from Lesley University in elementary education in 2003. A Montessorian in every way, lifelong learner Kathleen recently completed her Orton-Gillingham training.
Courtenay Harrington-Bailey, Music and Drama Teacher, joined the Bridgeview Montessori faculty in the fall of 2008 after serving five years as a parent volunteer and substitute teacher at the school. Courtenay received a B.A. in both vocal music and theatre arts from Hartwick College and then worked professionally in musical theater for many years before moving to Cape Cod in 2004. In 2005 she designed and created an award winning after-school enrichment program for students ages 4 and up entitled Dramafun, which she continues to own and operate today. Courtenay is a proud member of the Actors Equity Association and Music Teachers National Association.
Samara Jordan, World Languages Teacher, rejoined the Bridgeview Montessori faculty in the fall of 2022 after previously serving as a substitute teacher, intern and parent volunteer at the school from 2015 until 2019. Samara worked as a bilingual teacher for five years teaching children ages 3-16 in Brazil before moving to the U.S. in 2015. She received her Teacher Training Certification through The Kids Club in Sao Paulo, where instructors learn to teach children world languages in a fun and play-based way. In 2019 she received her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Cape Cod Community College. Most recently, Samara worked as a lead preschool teacher at Cadence Academy in Bourne and as an assistant teacher at the Waldorf School of Cape Cod. She lives in Plymouth, MA with her husband and two young children.
Suzanne Lawson, Assistant Head of School / Director of Admissions, joined the faculty at Bridgeview Montessori in 2008 after spending several years raising her two children. Prior to that time, Suzanne had spent many years in teaching, curriculum development, and faculty development in independent boarding and day schools, most recently at the Shady Hill School in Cambridge. She is very familiar with Montessori education, having been a Montessori student herself from age 3 through the 5th grade at the Whitby School in Greenwich Connecticut. Her children also attended Bridgeview Montessori, each for 7 years. With their strong Montessori foundation, her children are both thriving in Vermont colleges (Middlebury and UVM). Suzanne holds a B.A. in English from Northwestern University as well as a M.A. in teaching English from Columbia University Teachers College. She is the Kindergarten Librarian and also manages our marketing and outreach. When not at school, Suzanne can be found doing barn chores and riding horses.
Tami McGeough, Elementary I Co-Teacher and Elementary Yoga Instructor, joined our faculty in the fall of 2019 as our Elementary Yoga teacher. She is one who had been on our radar for years as a gifted Montessorian; we were just waiting for her timing and our timing to finally match. As a Yoga teacher, Tami impressed us with her holistic approach as well as her kind, warm and peaceful demeanor - that of a true Montessorian. When we were not able to continue with Yoga class during the 20-21 school year, we were afraid that we might lose Tami going forward. Lucky for us, she was available to begin again with us in the fall of 2021. She now serves as an Elementary I co-teacher as well our Elementary Yoga instructor. Tami brings her Montessori training and her firmly held philosophy as an educator. In Tami’s own words, “Everything in life is a lesson and for every problem there is a solution. The child intuitively knows this. When we follow the child, honor the planes of development, commit to a growth mindset based in kindness and mutual respect and humbly extend our patience, we flow more joyfully with them, usefully supporting and encouraging every step of the way.” Lucky for us…. lucky for our students.
Caitlin McKay, Elementary After Care Teacher, joined our faculty in the fall of 2023. Caitlin is currently attending Southern New Hampshire University remotely. Caitlin has six years experience working with children and was enthusiastically recommended by three supervisors. They all agreed. She is kind, compassionate, intelligent, fun-loving and energetic. Additionally, Caitlin was recommended as “professional and trustworthy."
Kelly Morrison, Elementary I Assistant and Rotating Substitute Teacher, joined our faculty in the fall of 2023. Kelly is a licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked with children in many settings since 1997. Her compassion and respect for children is evident in how she works with them. As her reference explains, "She is enthusiastic about bringing learning opportunities to children and is a great person to work with." Kelly will continue her work with Cape Cod Children's Place as Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Coordinator along with supporting our Elementary I Program. Kelly’s daughter also a member of our school community.
Sandra Nickerson, Head of School, Director of Elementary, Elementary II Art Teacher, became our Head of School in 2008 while serving as our Elementary art teacher and Director of Elementary. She has been a part of our school since its inception in 1999. As Head, she has guided our school in its transition to a nonprofit which included hiring central new faculty, overseeing the purchase of our building, developing a fundraising philosophy, empowering our Bridgeview families and volunteers, and inspiring our faculty to do our very best work each day. Most recently, Sandy has been working with all constituents in our community to create and implement a three-year strategic plan. She is passionate about our school and leads by example. She holds a BFA from Syracuse University with a painting major and education minor. She also completed Montessori Whole-School Management: A Professional Development Course for Administrators. She is certified at the Teacher level by the Department of Early Education and Care.
Vanessa Ring, Children’s House and Elementary I Art Teacher, joined our faculty in the summer of 2019. She holds both her undergraduate degree and Masters in Art Education from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. She has presented at both the Massachusetts Art Education Association conference as well as the National Art Education Association Convention. Having spent 14 years in public school, Vanessa explains that she is ready to leave traditional schooling for the opportunity to teach at our school where the Arts are as important as anything else that goes on during the day. Having been a parent here, she knows Art Studio and Art History play integral roles in the lives of our students. Her passion for reaching students through Art curriculum and our mission-driven desire to have creative process central in the lives of our students seem ideally aligned.
Matthew Rowe, Elementary II Science and Assistant Teacher, joined the Bridgeview Montessori faculty in the fall of 2023. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a B.S. double majoring in Physics and Philosophy. Later, he went on to receive his Ed.M. in Philosophy and Education from Columbia University Teacher’s College. As an experienced STEM educator who has taught at Montessori, IB, and AP schools for over a decade both domestically and abroad, he continues to use his background to develop curricula that cultivate a love of learning and foster curiosity in young minds. His teaching mantra is that students need to understand that the very path they take toward solving a problem or formulating a solution is more valuable than the answer itself.
Amy Saggese, Administrative Coordinator, joined Bridgeview Montessori in January of 2023. Amy is agraduate of Suffolk University with a degree in Business Management. She spent her years after college in advertising and marketing roles at both Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company and Saucony athletic footwear. Amy and family relocated from Massachusetts to Darien, CT where she spent 22 years there raising her 2 sons. Amy held numerous PTO positions at her sons’ elementary, middle and high schools and served on the Board of the Darien Depot, the local teen center. She ventured back out into the workforce as a teacher for 10 years at Maureen Bloom Playdates in Darien, a nursery school program designed for children ages 18 months – 3 years. Amy and her husband moved back to Massachusetts in 2020 where she continued to work from home as an Administrative Assistant for MB Playdates. In her new role at Bridgeview Montessori, Amy loves getting to know all of the amazing faculty, students and their families
Alison Van Keuren, Bridge Program Coordinator and Learning Specialist, joined us in the summer of 2021. She holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Northeastern University and a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Tufts University. She has worked in early intervention, outpatient rehabilitation, private programming and in the public school system. She spent the school year of 2020-2021 homeschooling her children. Alison is drawn to Montessori for kinesthetic, child-led learning in a nurturing environment. Alison believes that support services are meant to be integrated in the classroom with close family engagement rather than provided in isolation. She believes children benefit from support services to make deeper connections in learning following their personal learning style for optimal attention and confidence. A lifelong learner, most recently Alison completed her Orton-Gillingham training.
Our Founders:
Jean Rice, the late Co-founder of the Bridgeview Montessori School, had a B.A. degree in English and Philosophy from Dominican College and an M.B.A from Northeastern University. She had extensive experience in managerial functions in established companies and as a vice president of a successful high tech start up, as well as teaching business courses at Northeastern University and at the Women's Technical Institute. Jean completed substantial course work and an internship in the Art Therapy program at Lesley University. Her interest was in keeping the school vision clear.
Palmer True, the late Co-founder of the Bridgeview Montessori School, was intimately involved in all aspects of the administration of the school between 1999 and 2007. He has over forty years of executive experience in a wide variety of managerial functions in a number of businesses, both large and small. He is a retired vice president of an international high technology company. Palmer earned both an MBA degree and a BS in economics from Northwestern University.