A Country Day For Children Montessori teachers role is more that of a guide or a facilitator rather than a “teacher”. She guides the children through the curriculum sequences by providing lessons and key experiences that peek their interests, encourage further exploration, and thus allow children to make their own discoveries.

Dr. Montessori considered the science and art of observation to be a fundamental necessity for teachers to understand and support the individual development of each child. Therefore, our teachers become a “student of the child”. They utilize various observation techniques and assessments tools as they evaluate and record information about each child. From these, they are able to make individual lesson plans for each child while remaining alert to changes in the child’s interest, progress, mood, and behavior.

Meet Our Teachers

Educational Horizons Charter School

Suzanne Bryan – Reading Teacher Kindergarten
Education:
   BS Social Science/Education
MA Education/Early Childhood Education
Experience:
   Head Start Lead Teacher
   Early Childhood Learning
   Instructional Assistant BPS
   Kindergarten Reading Teacher, EHCS
Certification:
   Florida Temporary Certification Elementary Education Pre K-3rd

Christina Caldarola – Lead Teacher Grades 3 and 4
Education:
   BA Psychology, St John’s University
   MS Childhood Education
Experience:
   Lead Teacher grades 3 and 4, EHCS
   Teacher grades 1-3 PS Bronx, NY
   Teacher grades 1-7 Villa Maria Acadmey
Certification:
   New York State Certification in Childhood Education
   Florida Certification Elementary Education K-6

April Etter – Teacher’s Assistant
Education:
   BS Science Business Management
   SPJC Business Administration focus
Experience:
   Preschool Teacher’s Assistant
   Kindergarten Teacher’s Aide EHCS
Certification:
   DCF 40 hours Certification

Kathy Herbert – Computer Instructor
Education:
   BS Psychology, Florida State University
Experience:
   Educational Horizons, Teaching Assistant
   Indian Harbour Montessori, Computer Lab and Language Lab Instructor

Megan Jantomaso – Fine Arts Teacher
Education:
   AA Liberal Arts
   BA Educational Studies, Warner University
Experience:
   Teacher Grade 1, Polk County
   Lead Teacher Grades 1 and 2, EHCS
Certification:
   Florida Certification PreK to grade 3, ESOL and Reading Endorsement

Amanda Kassabian – Reading Teacher Grades 3 and 4
Education:
   BA Public Relations, University of Florida
   MA Elementary Education, Rollins College
Experience:
   Teacher grades 1-4, Charter school experience, Level 2 advisory teacher for online grades 6-12
Certification:
   Florida Certification Elementary Education K-6
   Tennessee Certification Elementary Education K-6
   Missouri Certification Elementary Education 1-6

Lonna McTaggart – Lead Teacher Grades 1 and 2
Education:
   BA English
   MA in English Speakers of other Languages
Experience:
   BPS substitute teacher, home schoolers Japanese teacher
   Taught English in Japan for four years
Certification:
   Eligible Florida Teaching Certification K-6

Suzanne Mann – Reading Teacher Grades 1 and 2
Education:
   BS Business Management, Springfield College
   BA Elementary Education, Central Connecticut State University
Experience:
   Teacher grades 1-4 BPS
   Private Tutor
   Reading teacher grades 1 and 2 EHCS
Certification:
   Florida Certification Elementary Education 1-6
   ESOL Endorsement

Mary Miller – Lead Teacher grades 5 and 6
Education:
   BS Elementary Education, University of Nebraska
Experience:
   Teacher grades 2-8th, learning specialist and tutor
Certification:
   Florida Certification Elementary Education K-6; Math 5-9

Heidi Murphy – Montessori Lead Teacher Grades 1 and 2
Education:
   BA Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Central Florida
Experience:
   Country Day for Children – Montessori Assistant
   Teacher grades K-2, EHCS
Certification:
   Florida Certification Elementary Education K-6
   American Montessori Society Elementary I Credential

Melissa Richardson – Lead Montessori Teacher Kindergarten
Education:
   BA Early Childhood Education, Southern Illinois
Experience:
   Family owns a Montessori School
   Traveled all over the world teaching Montessori
Certification:
   Montessori Primary & Lower Elementary Certification, NAMC
   Florida Certification PreK-3rd

Lavita Saldanha – Reading Teacher Grades 1 and 2
Education:
   BS Education and BA Psychology, University of Bombay, India
Experience:
   Kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 Reading Teacher – EHCS
   Assistant VPK Teacher Imagine Schools
   Teacher- Mumbai and Pune, India
Certification:
   Florida Certification PreK-3rd

Greg Smallwood – Physical Education Teacher
Education:
   BS in Kinesiology, West Texas A & M University
Experience:
   BPS substitute teacher PE and general education
Certification:
   Florida Temporary Teaching Certification Physical Education K-12

Julie Snow – Administrative Assistant
Education:
   Business Courses, Eastern Florida State College
Experience:
   Bookkeeper, School Board of Brevard County (retired)

Aileen Tapp – ESE and Gifted Teacher
Education:
   BS Elementary Education, Slippery Rock University
   MS, Ed. S. (Educational Specialist), Florida Institute of Technology
Experience:
   Teacher Grades k-6
   Program Coordinator Montessori Charter Schools
   Principal Educational Horizons Charter School
Certification:
   Florida Certificate Elementary Education 1-6, General Science 5-9, Gifted endorsement
   ESE certification

Cheryl Turner – Principal Educational Horizons Charter School
   Administrator Country Day for Children Preschool
Education:
   MAT El Ed 1-8, Kent State University
   BA General Studies/Sociology, Kent State University
   AS Design and Drafting Valencia Community College –
Experience:
   Educational Horizons Montessori Teacher grades 2 and 3
   St Joseph School, Ohio Teacher grades 2 – 8
Certification:
   Florida Certificate – Elementary Education K-6 ESOL endorsement
   American Montessori Society Elementary I Credential
   Staff and Director Credentials with VPK Endorsement

Brevard County Support

Denise Dyal – Staffing Specialist
Jennifer Ringleb – Psychologist
Lynn Gourley – Behavior Analyst
Marina Schutte – Speech
Megan Moroney – Occupational therapy
Alexis Shrock – Physical therapy

Country Day for Children Preschool

Teacher and Staff Credentials

Jacquelyn Barclay – Lead Montessori Preschool/VPK Teacher
Education:
   AA Greenfield Community College, Montessori Credits from UBSB
Experience:
   Educational Horizons, Kindergarten
   Country Day for Children, Preschool to VPK
Certification:
   American Montessori Society – Early Childhood Credential
   Birth through Five
   Staff Credential

Kathy Herbert – Aftercare Elementary Students
Education:
   BS Psychology, Florida State University
Experience:
   Educational Horizons, Teaching Assistant
   Indian Harbour Montessori, Computer Lab and Language Lab Instructor

Shelly Pasik – Administrative Assistant
Education:
   AS Early Childhood Education
Experience:
   Suntree Montessori, Odyssey Charter
Certification:
Staff Credential
   American Montessori Society – Preprimary Credential

Tiffany Tucker – Aftercare for Preschool and Kindergarten
Education:
   AS General Studies, Brigham Young University
Experience:
   Aftercare, Instructional Assistant, Head Start, Substitute teaching, (BPS and Especially for Children)

Carol Tucker – Instructional Assistant for Preschool
Education:
   AA Early Childhood Education, Eastern Florida State College
Experience:
   Preschool teacher, VPK Assistant, Substitute Teacher
Certification:
   FCCPC Birth through Five
   Staff Credential

Cheryl Turner – Principal Educational Horizons Charter School
Administrator Country Day for Children Preschool
Education:
   MAT El Ed 1-8, Kent State University
   BA General Studies/Sociology, Kent State University
   AS Design and Drafting Valencia Community College –
Experience:
   Educational Horizons Montessori Teacher grades 2 and 3
   St Joseph School, Ohio Teacher grades 2 – 8
Certification:
   Florida Certificate – Elementary Education K-6 ESOL endorsement
   American Montessori Society Elementary I Credential
   Staff and Director Credentials with VPK Endorsement