MIDDLEBURG MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Cassella Slater is the Financial Officer, Elementary Classroom Lead Guide, and pedagogical director of the Upper School. While teaching agriculture in Ghana for a year, she unexpectedly fell in love with teaching and the adolescent age. She has a B.S. in Animal and Poultry Sciences from Virginia Tech, and completed her NAMTA/AMI Adolescent Training in Chihuahua, Mexico. She earned her AMI 6-12 Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota. She has also earned her Masters of Education from St. Catherine's University.

Maria Valdivieso, YCC Lead Guide, earned her AMI 0-3 Diploma at the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis. She is passionate about her work. In the YCC environment she speaks solely Spanish, allowing our children to be immersed in the Spanish language throughout their day. She has completed her AMI Primary Assistant training and is a loving Montessori mom of two!

Lupita Gutierrez has energy that is unmatched. Lupita has earned her AMI 6-12 Assistant Certificate. She makes the each day engaging and exciting for the children. With a smile always on, the children love her! In the upper school and extended day environments she speaks solely Spanish, allowing our children to be immersed in the Spanish language throughout their day.

Elizabeth has always had a passion for children. She enjoys the difference in growth and development with every age. She has been working with children since 2011 and is still growing her knowledge of always doing what is best for children. She enjoys speaking Spanish to children. Love, support and helping the children see their full potential and abilities is her priority.

Sarah has been at MMS since the summer of 2023. She has worked in many different classrooms here and has been a wonderful asset. She loves connecting with the children and watching the continue to grow.

Kaitlyn Lehan has earned her AMI 3-6 Diploma at MINT, and a B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Child Development from Bridgewater College. She loves working with children and helping to foster their development each and everyday. She wants to make known that learning is a joyful and exciting experience we get to take part in everyday.

Andrea is a Registered Nurse from Columbia with a specialization in the neonatal intensive care unit from the University of La Sabana Colombia, with more than 10 years of experience. She is proud to witness the physical and intellectual development of the young children, and is dedicated in her vocation to care and protect the children with her enthusiasm, empathy, happy and loving energy. She believes the youngest children every day give you something new from their wonderful world. She is currently in her training as an AMI assistant (0 to 3 years old) at the AMI Montessori Stoppani Guide Center.

Alejandra has been working with MMS since 2019. She has been an amazing addition to our staff and loves working with the children each and every day. Alejandra speaks solely Spanish throughout the day so the children have an immersive experience with two languages. The children love being around her positive and happy energy.

Melissa has been working with children since 2017. She currently holds an Associates degree in Psychology, and is pursuing her B.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Child Development at George Mason University. Melissa speaks Spanish in the classroom to give the children exposure to both languages in the environment. She loves working with children and watching them accomplish new things everyday!

Ryan just joined our team in October as an assistant/marketing manager. She has a B.S. in Strategic Communications and Marketing. This is Ryan's first time working with children professionally and she has been learning so much. She has loved getting to know the children and learning all about child development.