HILLTOP MONTESSORI - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Lower Elementary Associate Teacher
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Akari moved up to Vermont in 2021 to join the Lower El community as an assistant. Now, in their third year, and as a classroom teacher, Akari is working on completing a 6-12 Elementary certification through AMI. Prior to Hilltop, Akari taught first grade in Brooklyn and attended Bates College in Maine where they doubled majored in Gender & Sexuality Studies and Politics.
Akari loves to run outside year round, go hiking up mountains, and make lots of little herbal remedies from the garden and woods.
Born on a commune in Guilford, Vermont, and raised in Marlboro and Bennington, Ani attended a constructivist alternative school as a child, eventually going to Sarah Lawrence College. She then moved to New York City, where she lived for thirteen years, to pursue a full career as a conceptual choreographer and dancer. After traveling extensively in Asia, Ani went on to receive a Masters degree in architecture from Pratt institute. She then worked in sustainable design. After being in the classroom since 2007, in 2012 she got her MSEd. from Bank Street College. There, she focused on student centered, emergent curriculum and creative curriculum design. She is a licensed Vermont educator with almost fifteen years of experience working in public and private progressive Pre-K, elementary, and middle school classrooms, as well as running after school, outdoor, and summer programs. She has worked in both urban and rural schools, and with homeschooling families and in educational consultation with adults. Ani continues to work with Vermont Wilderness School as an outdoor education consultant and schools liaison. She is currently in the midst of completing her Montessori Adolescent Diploma with the International Montessori Training Institute, to be completed in July of 2024. Ani is the mother of two highschoolers.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Water Systems Operator & Facilities Staff
- Children 's House Assistant & Extended Day
Annie joined the stellar Hilltop community in 2018 and is excited to bring her love of children and teaching experience back to Hilltop for a fourth year.
She studied Education and Child Development at Marlboro College, where her thesis focused on the ideals of early childhood education and the importance of play in child development. She began her teaching journey in Early Headstart programs, and continued on to teach in Waldorf schools, while earning her Waldorf teacher training. She then spent a year as lead Kindergarten teacher, leading a Forest Kindergarten nature-based class, outdoors in the beautiful Vermont woods, throughout the seasons.
She continued her teaching and training at a Waldorf Kindergarten in Colorado, leading the rest and afternoon program for two years, before moving back to Vermont in 2017.
Job Titles:
- Health Counselor at the Children and Parents Project
- Member at Large
Asher lives in Westminster West with his wife, Re, and their three children. Finnegan graduated from the Middle School in 2021, and Oona and Ezra are in Hilltop's Middle School. Asher has been inspired by Hilltop's demonstrated commitment to help children sustain their curiosity for lifelong use and to develop a solid sense of who they are in community.
Asher is a mental health counselor at The Children and Parents Project, where he has been part of the team since 1995. At CAPP, Asher provides individual, couples, family, and group mental health counseling for children, teenagers, and adults as well as consultation for educational and mental health providers and organizations.
Asher tends to have fun working with others and all the more so when that work is aimed at creating and supporting healthy, accessible spaces for children's minds. For this reason and out of gratitude for his children's education at the school, he continues to participate on Hilltop's Board.
Job Titles:
- Learning Specialist Assistant
Born and raised in Southern Vermont, Ashley knew she wanted to work with children from a young age. For her third year at Hilltop, Ashley transitioned from the Birch room in Children's House, and is excited to work with Wendy as the Learning Specialist Assistant. She is currently enrolled at Community College of Vermont and working towards an Early Childhood Education degree, but is interested in exploring the idea of earning a Special Education degree in her new position. Outside of school, Ashley enjoys spending time with her partner Davek, going outside with her cats Astro and Pluto and guinea pig Duke, or playing soccer/ snowboarding. Connecting with family and friends, painting, hiking, and gardening are enjoyed too!
Job Titles:
- Montessori Curriculum Coordinator
Ashlyn completed her BS in Environmental Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and her MA in Education at Loyola University in Baltimore. A world traveler who finally found her calling in a Montessori classroom, she then completed her AMI Elementary training in Portland, Oregon in 2015. Besides working with children, Ashlyn also enjoys any kind of adventure that gets her exploring the great outdoors, reading historical fiction, and playing her ukulele.
Avery joined the Brattleboro community in 2014 as a cofounder of Hermit Thrush Brewery. He met his wife Angela here, and their daughter Acacia is joining the Toddler Program in the fall. Avery has been an active member of the Brattleboro Town Finance Committee, the Southern Vermont Economic Development Strategies board, and the Vermont Brewers Association. Prior to moving to Vermont, Avery studied Physics at Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, MA , studied Music at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA, and worked as a Paramedic in Upper Darby, PA. Over two decades, he was also a participant, volunteer, and consultant for Destination Imagination, a global creative problem solving organization for kids pre-K through university. Avery currently spends his free time sharing his hobbies with his family and friends including vegetable fermentation, foraging, music, and kite flying.
Barb and her family made Brattleboro their home in 2019 after living 4 years on the beautiful island of Saba in the Dutch Caribbean. There she and her husband TJ owned and operated a successful small business where she managed the finance and office responsibilities. Barb was born and raised in Maine and spent 11... Read More
Becky joined the Hilltop Montessori staff in the summer of 2014 as an Elementary Assistant and AfterCare leader for Elementary aged children. In 2015, she joined the Middle school team, bringing an enthusiasm for math and health science. Becky has a BS in Mathematics-Physics from Keene State College and an MS in Leadership for Sustainability Education from Portland State University in Oregon. In her free time, she gardens, swims, hikes, plays bocce, and reads.
Cheryl has been teaching in the Children's House program since 1986, she is truly a "Master" Montessori teacher. She has a BS from Lyndon State College and has both her Primary (age 3-6) and Lower Elementary (age 6-9) AMS (American Montessori Society) certifications as well as her elementary education state certification from Franklin Pierce College. Whether in the classroom or out in the natural world, Cheryl brings out the joy of learning unique to each child.
When she is not in the classroom Cheryl is busy visiting her children a few hours North, gardening or sugaring, and caring for animals on her small farm.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator
- Administrative Coordinator & Front
Desi joined Hilltop in 2021 after 14 plus years at Grace Cottage Hospital. A local Vermonter, Desi had lived in various towns throughout the state before settling in Brattleboro, where she is happy to be close to family. Although Desi has deep roots in Southern VT, she loves traveling both internationally and domestically. So far, Desi has a dozen countries under her belt, and has big aspirations for more adventures in the future. A self described "crazy cat lady", Desi loves kayaking, spending time near the water, and burying her nose in a book.
Dora earned her Master's Degree in Peace Building and Conflict Transformation from the School of International Training, and a Bachelor's Degree and Graduate Diploma in Educational Psychology from the University of Rwanda. She is a former Member of Parliament in Rwanda. She was the Director of Memos, an NGO dedicated to educating youth and community members about non violence and genocide prevention. She was deeply involved in the Truth and Reconciliation processes in Rwanda, and was a lead organizer of international exchange programs and logistics coordinator for field studies courses with those visiting from Smith College, Johns Hopkins University, Zen Peacemakers, and the School for International Training, among others. She was a visiting fellow at the Greater Falls Community Justice Center, supporting and developing programs aimed at providing restorative justice alternatives to incarceration. She is skilled at leading circles for conflict transformation and harm repair. She first joined the Hilltop community as a parent to her young son who started in the Toddler Program and is now entering Lower Elementary.
Doug is a father of two children: Eliza is a younger in the children's house, and David is a 1 year old eager to join Hilltop when ready. He moved to Brattleboro in 2016 where his wife, Sarah, grew up.
Doug holds degrees in biomedical engineering and biotechnology, and he is an associate director of applied technologies at Moderna. His interest is in strategic planning, finance, and continuing to enable Hilltop to deliver on its promise to develop caring, curious, and thoughtful students.
In his free time, Doug enjoys baking (and eating!) French patisserie as well as hiking with his family and dog Cleo.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Water Systems Operator & Facilities Staff
Finn grew up in the Brattleboro area. He went to the Putney School and is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College where he focused on 19th-century Literature, Philosophy, and World Peace. After working in publishing and graphic design in New York City he moved back to Vermont where he worked at Sandglass Theater in Putney as technical director and associate artist while forming his own theater, Company of Strangers. Finn has performed and taught all over the world with his theater company. Mentored by Kevin Campbell, he began teaching in the Middle School in 2000. Finn says, "It is the raw passionate creativity of middle school students that makes me love my job. Every one of my students is about to discover the meaning of the universe, every one is walking the tightrope of self awareness, grappling with the potential of abstraction and metaphor. There is no place, I can imagine, where the potential for humanity is more evident."
Geneva Morse's twin sons, Emery and Bennett, are in Children's House, where the family has also happily taken on weekend and vacation care of the prized classroom rabbit, Cocoa Cinnamon Bun Bun. Geneva's career has been built in the Human Resources and Recruitment field; after scoffing at a college career counselor who advised her to pursue HR based on a personality assessment, she has savored building, developing and engaging with teams of people throughout her career. She currently works for a renewable energy consultancy based out of Denmark, where she leads HR for the Americas region.
Geneva is a graduate of Smith College who has lived in Washington DC, Philadelphia and Boston before moving to Vermont in 2017. Geneva and her family are residents of Guilford, where her husband, Skye, grew up. Her family enjoys biking, hiking, visiting much-loved bakeries and coffee purveyors, and reading many books. The Morse's are proud to be part of the thriving Hilltop community!
Job Titles:
- Birch Room Assistant Teacher
Haley loves seeing our young students become part of our community! She grew up locally in Jamaica, VT and has always wanted to work with children and stay in Southern Vermont.
She's settled in Westminster West now. In her spare time you can find Haley hiking, reading a good book, writing or spending time with friends and family.
Job Titles:
- Upper Elementary Assistant Teacher
Izzy Snyder is joining Hilltop in Fall 2023 as an Upper Elementary assistant. In this role, she will provide one-on-one and small group support to students, help create Montessori teaching materials, and assist the teachers in group lessons. An alumna of Hilltop herself, she recently graduated Oberlin College in May of 2023 with a bachelor's degree in computer science. Her experiences teaching printmaking at a Montessori-inspired summer camp and tutoring computer science students at Oberlin instilled her with a passion for education, and she is excited to apply and grow these skills in the Upper Elementary classroom. During her free time, Izzy can be found birdwatching, doing jigsaw puzzles, walking in the woods, and diving into elaborate art projects.
Jade joined the Hilltop community as Elementary Art Teacher in 2018, joyously providing a TAB-inspired (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) studio space that resonates beautifully with Montessori philosophy. In their art studio, students behave as true artists: choosing their project and media, practicing techniques, and exploring their unique artistic voice. Students create in a supported, gently guided environment as they absorb technique, learn about artists in the world, reflect, and delight in the creative process!
Jade received her BFA in art and creative writing from New College via The Union Institute. She has taught art to children of all ages. She enjoys exploring new methods of art-making and specializes in comics, sculpture, graphic design, and fiber arts. She and her family love going on adventures in the woods, on bikes, at the ocean, and inside books.
Job Titles:
- Music Teacher
- Music Teacher ( on Medical Leave )
Jay has been the school's musical pied piper since 1996! He has a BA in Music from Middlebury College and plays an array of instruments. Jay enjoys instrumental and vocal improvisation, and plays bass, keyboard and sings with his bands, Jazzberry Jam and Hipfunk Associates. He introduces rhythm, movement and song to our youngest students; recorder, drums, ukulele, ensemble playing, music technology and collaboration to our elementary students; brings us all together for All School Gathering sings; and does everything possible to have music be integrated into the life of Hilltop Montessori School.
Job Titles:
- Interim Music Program Director
Jennifer's dual teaching interests have woven together both elementary classroom teaching and music. After growing up on the west coast, Jen finished high school and college in Texas, then spent a decade in D.C. working in public affairs before turning her sights on teaching. She holds M.A.'s in Latin American Studies and Education, and she completed her Montessori AMI elementary training at the Washington Montessori Institute. After teaching Upper Elementary in the D.C. area, she moved with her family to Brattleboro, where her husband attended SIT and daughter Natasha landed at Hilltop (graduate 2008). In Vermont she became a licensed music teacher and taught part time in VT and NH area schools while raising children, before joining Hilltop as an Upper Elementary teacher in 2013.
As the specials music teacher at her first Montessori school and later in this region, she has also come to value the approaches of the Kodally and Orff music pedagogies. This year, Jen is loving the opportunity to return to music teaching and to work with multiple age groups, again in a Montessori environment. It is a supreme pleasure to experience the ubiquitous nature of learning and discovery at Hilltop - among students and teachers alike.
Job Titles:
- Toddler Program Assistant Teacher
Jessica grew up in Southern New Hampshire and moved to the area in October of 2022. Jessica developed a passion for working with children during the Covid-19 pandemic as a nanny. During her time as a nanny Jessica learned about the Montessori philosophy and strongly agreed with its principles. After leaving that job to move to Walpole, New Hampshire she eventually found her way to Hilltop. In the future Jessica hopes to earn a degree in early childhood education and eventually become certified in Montessori education.
Juliette is the mother of two students in Children's House. She works as a Family Nurse Practitioner in primary care and integrative medicine at Grace Cottage Family Health. She also writes and teaches nationally on topics related to herbalism and integrative medicine. She is involved in numerous social justice and professional organizations, most recently founding and coordinating West River Valley Mutual Aid and serving as Co-Chair of the Legislative Advocacy Committee of the American Nurses Association-Vermont, among others, and has earned awards for her advocacy work. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, hiking, and skiing with her family.
Returning to her New England roots after a lengthy absence, Kate and her husband, Sergei, with their sons, Sig & Sasha, have settled here in Brattleboro and could not be happier. It is wonderfully serendipitous that Kate finds herself a neighbor of HMS! Montessori education has been ever present in and foundational to Kate's life from the time she was a very young child. As an HMS board member, Kate brings the benefit of her deep understanding of and commitment to Montessori philosophy. She is thankful for the opportunity to work with the other HMS board members in support of the Hilltop Montessori School community. After graduating from the California Institute of the Arts, Kate worked professionally as an actor for thirty years, ultimately settling in Seattle, Washington where she and Sergei worked and raised their two sons. Currently, Kate focuses her energy (other than attempting to tame the wildly overgrown garden at her new home) on raising awareness about neurodivergent learners, with a focus on students with language based learning differences; a matter close to her heart.
Job Titles:
- in 2019 As a Member
- Upper Elementary Associate Teacher
Kathy joined Hilltop in 2019 as a member of the AfterCare team. She also provided support for the Upper Elementary and Children's House classrooms. Starting in 2020, she became a member of the Upper Elementary team. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Ecology and Environmental Studies and is passionate about both science and education, born from all her experiences outdoors and in the classroom. Before coming to Hilltop, she worked in a variety of educational capacities including seasonal work for the Appalachian Mountain Club and the YMCA, and provided full time academic support for a public charter school and a public elementary school in Massachusetts.
Over the years, Kathy has also incorporated travel into her work as a wildlife field technician, getting as far away as South Africa, a remote island off the coast of California and as near as the Connecticut coast researching great white sharks, elephant seals, and salt marsh sparrows respectively.
Job Titles:
- Facilities and Water System Consultant
Kegan joined the Hilltop Community in 2016 with experience in remodeling and property maintenance. They have been building community creativity since 2003; from local food production to youth leadership development, from garment construction to community organizing, who provides an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving and skilled hands to get the work done.
Kegan moved up to Vermont in 2012 and is glad to be rooted into the Kwanitekw river valley, learning how to be a good neighbor to the Abenaki peoples and other settlers making home here in the N'Dakina.
Job Titles:
- Lower Elementary Director
Kerstin joined Hilltop in the Lower Elementary in 2010. She holds a BA in English Literature from Clark University and completed her 6-9 Montessori teacher training during the summer of 2013 at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education (CMTE). Kerstin also has her certification in elementary Waldorf education.
She attended the Enfield Montessori School in Enfield, CT, from age 2 1/2 to 9. She has lots of fond memories of those early days, including tracing her finger on those scratchy sandpaper letters and polishing her shoes. Kerstin is an avid swimmer in her life outside of school, and also enjoys hiking, baking, reading, writing, visiting museums with her daughter, Siri '19, and spending time with her friends.
Job Titles:
- Early Education Program Partnership Director
When Laura moved to the Brattleboro area over eight years ago her goal was to teach at Hilltop Montessori School and her path led to our doors in 2020. As an early childhood educator of over twelve years now, she loves the respect that the Montessori model has for the work of every child and... Read More
Job Titles:
- Upper Elementary Director
Lifei and her family moved to Brattleboro in 2016 because of Hilltop Montessori School. She is AMI credentialed in Infant/Toddler, Children's House, and (soon to be) for Elementary also! She is dedicated to Montessori, not only as a teacher, but as a lifestyle. In Beijing, China, she was a Montessori school director and ran a Montessori teacher training center. Recently, she has developed a Chinese Language and Asian Culture program for both Hilltop After School Enrichment Programs and another local school. Her three children are students at our school, and now she will also bring her dedication to Montessori to our Upper Elementary program.
Job Titles:
- Program Director
- Toddler Program Director
Though she was born and raised in NYC, she has spent most of the past 20 years in Vermont and in 2010 Louisa started Big Picture Farm in Townshend, VT with her husband Lucas Farrell. Big Picture Farm is a small hillside dairy and farmstead confectionery selling confections and cheese to thousands of stores across the country. In addition to being 100% solar powered they are very proud to be Animal Welfare Approved and practice sustainable and regenerative forms of agriculture. She graduated from Middlebury College and has an MFA from CalArts.
She is mom to Maisie who will be entering her 5th year at Hilltop as an younger in Lower El this fall and Minna who will start her 3rd year at Hilltop as a younger in Children's House. She loves how happy and confident her kids have become as Hilltop students and enjoys diving deeper into the Hilltop community by being on the board.
Job Titles:
- Social Emotional Learning ( SEL ) Coordinator & LE Associate Teacher
- Social Emotional Learning Coordinator & LE Associate Teacher
Malindi (she/her) will be joining the Hilltop community for the second year as the Social Emotional Learning Coordinator and Lower Elementary assistant teacher. Born and raised in Vermont, Malindi was home-schooled until 5th grade and feels that many of the values of Montessori were integral to her early education. After graduating from Hamilton College with... Read More
Malindi (she/her) will be joining the Hilltop community for the second year as the Social Emotional Learning Coordinator and Lower Elementary assistant teacher. Born and raised in Vermont, Malindi was home-schooled until 5th grade and feels that many of the values of Montessori were integral to her early education. After graduating from Hamilton College with a degree in Anthropology and Education, she moved to Hong Kong to teach and travel. After six years teaching early childhood and Elementary students in Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan, she felt drawn home to Vermont to be closer to friends, family, and her home community. Malindi is excited to learn from the experienced team of Hilltop educators, to contribute her educational experience to the holistic support of students' learning and wellbeing. Philosophically, Malindi has always believed that everyone can enter a classroom as both a learner and a teacher and is looking forward to all that the HMS students have to teach her. She is excited to continue in both of her roles and to be able to support students with all of their needs.
Malindi loves to play ultimate frisbee, spend time with friends, share good food, travel, and be in nature.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Water Systems Operator & Facilities Staff
Marco joined Hilltop in 2015 as an After Care and Children's House assistant, after seeing what a positive effect Hilltop had on his two children, who are currently in the Lower and Upper Elementary Programs. He moved to Brattleboro in 2014 from his home country of Ecuador. In Ecuador he taught language through music to preschoolers... Read More
Job Titles:
- Willow Room Assistant Teacher
Megan grew up in Southern Vermont and is rejoining the community by way of Rhode Island. She originally left the state to volunteer with AmeriCorps in a service learning program at a charter high school in Austin, Texas. There, she started taking classes at community college with an eye toward education. She completed her associate degree when she moved to Rhode Island and then her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies at URI. Since starting in AmeriCorps and moving beyond, Megan has worked in a range of learning environments with a diversity of populations and age groups. She is passionate about creating an environment for children that fosters their independence and curiosity.
But Vermont has always been Megan's home. She returns to the community of Southern Vermont and of Hilltop, being an alumni of the middle school herself. The things Megan loves the most about Vermont, Texas, and Rhode Island have been exploring and being a part of the natural landscape. She enjoys hiking, swimming, camping, and especially gardening. She is a curious observer of nature and gets great satisfaction from witnessing the living things that inhabit her yard, especially hummingbirds.
Job Titles:
- Toddler Assistant Teacher
- Toddler Program Assistant Teacher
Miranda grew up in Northern Virginia and moved to Colorado in 2008. Just recently, she and her family moved to Vermont to be closer to her East Coast family and feels so grateful to have landed here at Hilltop! She has two littles that will be at Hilltop, too.
Miranda studied Early Childhood Education and started working with toddlers at a Montessori school in 2013. She worked in this environment for four years before getting her yoga teacher certification. She owned and taught yoga to children at Mindful Warriors and additionally taught meditation, restorative, nidra and prenatal yoga to parents. After the birth of her first child, she became a certified Postpartum Doula and worked with mothers, and their babes, integrating mindfulness, breathwork and body awareness until returning to the Montessori classroom in 2022.
She is currently receiving her Infant and Toddler credential at Montessori Education Center of the Rockies. She is very passionate, and excited, about teaching children, parents and guardians about tools to use for nervous-system wellbeing and all things Montessori!
Job Titles:
- Director of Professional Learning at the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools
- Outgoing Board Chair
Nancy Dickson is an alumna of Hilltop from its early Congregational Church and High Street days; a mother of three; a spouse to a Montessori-trained middle school teacher; and a daughter of Tonia and Whit Wheeler. Nancy joins the Hilltop board eager to contribute to a school that dominated her family's dinner table conversation for most of her childhood.
In her professional life, Nancy serves as the Director of Professional Learning at the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, where she strives to provide responsive and relevant professional development opportunities to CAIS's 90 member schools and over 6000 CAIS school employees. Prior to joining CAIS, Nancy worked at a number of independent schools in San Francisco, New York City, and Baltimore, serving in roles ranging from English teacher to Director of Admissions to Upper School Principal, and earned her MA in Private School Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia.
Nancy lives in Wallingford, Connecticut with her husband, Elliot, and their three elementary-aged children, but remains a Vermonter at heart. She returns to Brattleboro regularly to spend time with her parents and recharge. In good weather, she's outside gardening or watching countless kids' soccer games (in bad weather, too). She also loves DIY home improvement projects - when they run smoothly.
Nora (class of '00) grew up in Brattleboro, attending Hilltop for nine years. She completed her BA at Oberlin College and received a masters in environmental studies with a science teaching certificate from Antioch University New England. She returned to Hilltop in 2009 to care for the new campus and quickly found her home in the Middle School teaching math and science. After a two year hiatus to explore her passion for sheep, fiber, and sustainable agriculture, she has rejoined Team MS and is excited to bring some of those passions into the classroom. When not singing the quadratic formula with her students, Nora can be found wandering the woods with her dogs, knitting small woodland creatures, and messing about in boats.
Rebecca Baldini, a self-described Minnesotan/Montanan, settled in New England in 1998 and never looked back. She was a small business owner while she raised three Montessori children. Drawn to the Montessori materials and the philosophy, and ready for a career change, Rebecca received her AMS Early Childhood credential in 2009 and her MA in education with an emphasis on Montessori education in 2020. In the classroom, she is especially interested in music/literacy connections, peace education, and feeding children's natural appetite for beauty in art, music, and nature. In addition to her role as a classroom teacher, Rebecca is an active musician who teaches and performs on harp. She enjoys teaching young beginning violinists and initiated Hilltop's kindergarten violin program in 2022. When not thinking about Montessori, literacy, or music, Rebecca enjoys boating, paddle boarding, and time with her husband, especially in Italy.
Sarah has spent a career managing US government-funded international development projects around the globe. She received her B.A. from NYU's Gallatin School in Development Studies and Human Rights, followed by an M.A. in Poverty and Development from the Institute of Development Studies in the UK. She took her first job in 2008 in Hanoi, Vietnam... Read More
Sarah has spent a career managing US government-funded international development projects around the globe. She received her B.A. from NYU's Gallatin School in Development Studies and Human Rights, followed by an M.A. in Poverty and Development from the Institute of Development Studies in the UK. She took her first job in 2008 in Hanoi, Vietnam supporting the administration and award of HIV/AIDS programs and has since spent most of the last 15 years abroad managing large, complex USAID-funded programs. She most recently was based in Kyiv, Ukraine where she served as the Operations Director for USAID's $150+ million energy security project - and where her youngest, Nico, was born. Prior to Ukraine she was in South Africa in the role of Deputy Chief of Party for Program Management supporting the USAID-funded Power Africa project, focused on increasing energy access and ending energy poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. Her two daughters, Ariya and Layla, were born in South Africa and Sarah discovered the beauty of Montessori when her oldest daughter started attending a Montessori daycare at 12 months old. She quickly fell in love with the philosophy and began educating herself on all things Montessori. She completed the AMI Montessori 3-6 Orientation course last year and is excited to bring the skills she has honed in her career to the position of Development Director. Sarah, her husband, Markus, and their three kids, are thrilled to be part of the Hilltop community. Sarah hopes to devote her free time to pursuing artistic ventures, learning how to garden, and spending time outside.
Shelley is the owner of The Nutmeg, a hospitality business in Wilmington, VT. She is the mom of Harry who is in Lower Elementary and the wife of Paul. Before emigrating to the US in 2011 Shelley was general manager of a restaurant in London and prior to that was a journalist in South Africa.
Job Titles:
- Head of School
- Administration
Tamara Mount joined Hilltop as Head of School in the Summer of 2013 excited to combine her management and Montessori experiences. She began in Montessori as a two year old and attended through Lower Elementary at a school where her mother was the Head of School. After transitioning to a traditional school she then went to the University of Virginia, majoring in English and Environmental Science. After graduating, Tamara worked for a leading consulting firm in the Washington D.C. area providing environmental management consulting for ten years. She then shifted gears and worked at The Seeing Eye training guide dogs and blind students to work together.
After having children, she delved back into the educational system that had always seemed right to her. Tamara obtained her Montessori Lower Elementary credential in 2008 from the Princeton Center for Teacher Education. She was the lead teacher in a Lower Elementary class for six years.
Tamara's son Darwin is a Hilltop graduate, class of 2016, and Huxley graduated in the class of 2018. Tamara is honored and enthused to be able to lead this quality school with a close knit community as it continues to develop and grow in bringing the best of Montessori to the Brattleboro area.
Tom has been teaching in the Upper Elementary at Hilltop since 1993. He "grew up" in Cleveland and received a BA in Music Theory from Kenyon College. He and his wife Leslie moved to New Orleans where he began a career in woodworking in a small custom cabinet shop. They later moved to Bratttleboro so Leslie could attend SIT. Tom caught the teaching bug in a refugee camp in Panat Nikhom, Thailand, where they taught Laotian and Khmer refugees from 1985 to 1987. After returning to the states, they built a house in Westminster West and Tom received an MS in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England. He completed Montessori training courses at the Seacoast Montessori Training Center and the upper elementary Montessori certification program at CMTE. They have 2 children, both of whom, in their opinion, have turned out pretty well in part as a result of their time at Hilltop (Evan, '02 and Claire, '03). Tom enjoys singing with the River Singers, taking care of the animals at home, and puttering around the house and the school.
Job Titles:
- Athletic Director
- Facility Manager
- Facility Director & Athletic Director
- Fitness Teacher
Travis Thiele was born in Brattleboro, grew up in Westminster West, attended Wesleyan University in Connecticut, and has worked in Costa Rica, New Zealand, Lake Tahoe, and Park City. He is a certified ski and snowboard instructor since 2001 and has taught thousands of lessons around the world to predominantly clients with disabilities. He was the national team coach for Belgium at the snowboarding's debut at the Paralympic Games in Sochi Russia and has coached athletes with disabilities at the US Open, the X Games and IPC World Championships around the world. He is passionate about the outdoors and believes strongly in the power of sport and nature to soothe the soul, strengthen the body, instill confidence and engender awareness of the environment and one's community. He also has extensive experience in facilities maintenance, construction, renovation, and repair. He enjoys skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing, mountain biking, soccer, camping, tree climbing, apple pressing, carpentry, foraging wild mushrooms, and spending time in the woods with his three children and partner in Jamaica, Vermont.
Job Titles:
- Learning Specialist Director
Wendy is our in-house Learning Specialist Director. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education and is a certified Wilson Reading Instructor. She has been teaching for over 30 years including more than 20 years working with children who need additional support in order for them to be successful in the classroom. Her Special Education experience has been both within the school and classroom setting, and also as a tutor outside of the school and classroom environments. In addition to her teaching experience she has a wealth of knowledge gained from professional development workshops and conferences focused on academics, behavior, and differentiated learning. Her passion is teaching children to read and equipping them in all areas so that they are able to fulfill their dreams for their lives.
Wendy has been married to her husband Steven for more than 30 years and has been a resident in Vermont for as long. Together they have raised two daughters, Aubree and Julienne, who are both married, live out of state, and have recently had children of their own! In her free time Wendy can often be found capturing memories and beauty through the lens of a camera. Her ultimate dream is to incorporate her photography with reading. Teaching reading and seeing children learn remains one of the foremost passions of her life.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Director
- Teacher
- Willow Room Assistant Teacher
- Willow Room Director
Job Titles:
- Admissions Director
- Admissions & Enrollment Director
Hilltop has been an integral part of Zoe's life since birth. From staff kid (daughter to long-time LE teacher Jessica Thomas), to student (class of '08), to Afternoon/AfterCare Assistant, to Administrative Coordinator, and now Admissions Director, Zoe feels a strong connection to Hilltop, Montessori pedagogy, and all that it entails. She is so grateful to be apart of such a lovely team on such a beautiful campus.
When not at Hilltop, Zoe can be found swimming or skating (depending on the season), driving around dirt roads admiring houses, or in Westminster West, where she and her husband, Ian (a fellow Hilltop alum, class of ‘01!) are building a timber frame house to live in with their daughter, Nico (a future Hilltopper), and beloved cats, Babs, Billy, and Janet.