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Administration/Office Staff

The administrators, Adele Fondo and Muriel Owens, are the owners and on-site directors.  They are at their desks daily to ensure your needs are met, as is the vision and mission of Maitland Montessori School.  During operating hours, you can almost always expect to reach a live human (no elaborate phone menu to navigate!) and receive a prompt answer to your questions.  We are responsive and always welcoming to feedback.
Adele Fondo
DirectorAdele Fondo

American Montessori Society (AMS)

  • Teacher Education Action Commission, 2006-2013
  • Degree Task Force, 2009
  • Conference Committee, 2011-2013
  • Serves as an onsite team member for school accreditation, 2010-Present
  • Course Director/Lecturer for Teacher Education, 2006-Present

National Center for Montessori Education (NCME)

  • Course Director, 1999-2006
  • MACTE representative for NCME, 1999-2006
  • Integration Team Member, 2005-2006
       Coordinated merging of NCME and AMS

National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

  • Served as an on-site team member for school accreditation, 1991-2004

Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE)

  • Charter member of Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE), 1991
  • Represented and served as an official on-site evaluation team member for schools to complete accreditation for MACTE
  • Commissioner, 2000-2006

Montessori St. Nicholas Centre

  • Served as workshop coordinator, assistant, senior tutor, and examiner for St. Nicholas College, 1987-1999
  • Hosted St. Nicholas College, Course One, 1987-1991
  • Hosted St. Nicholas College, Course Two, 1991
  • Lecturer and examiner of Advanced Elementary course for Teachers, 1993
  • Lecturer and examiner for St. Nicholas College Foundation and Advance Course, 1991
  • Elected secretary and U.S. membership chairman for St. Nicholas Montessori Teacher Association of North America, 1991
Muriel Owens
DirectorMuriel Owens

American Montessori Society (AMS)

  • Board Member, 2006-2008
       Worked with staff to integrate NCME with AMS in the field of Montessori teacher education program credentials and school accreditation
  • Co-Chair, School Accreditation Task Force, June 2006
       Reviewed protocols and standards within the AMS organization
  • AMS School Accreditation Commissioner, June 2006-2010
  • Course Director/Lecturer for Teacher Education Program, 2006-Present
  • Serves as an on-site team member for school accreditation, 2010-Present

National Center for Montessori Education (NCME)

  • Course Director, August 1999-2006
  • Board Member, 2001-2006
  • Integration Team Member, 2005-2006
       Coordinated merging of NCME and AMS

National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

  • Served as an on-site team member for school accreditation, 1991-2004

Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE)

  • Charter Member, 1991

Montessori St. Nicholas Centre

  • Practical Examiner, 1989-2001
  • Lecturer, 1991-2001
  • Area Representative, 1991-2001
  • Tutor, 1994-2001
  • Course Director Montessori St. Nicholas 3-6 Course, 1987-1999

Our office staff includes:

Lydia Dunkle, Education Assistant and Registrar
Tina Leslie, Office Administrator
Stuart Owens, Business Administrator
They are here to answer billing, enrollment, policy, and events questions; resolve IT issues; schedule appointments and parent-teacher conferences; and more.  You can expect to be treated with courtesy and respect and that requests will be fulfilled in a timely manner.

Our Teachers

The staff of Maitland Montessori School is dedicated to helping your child become the person he/she is meant to be.  What makes this team so special?
  • Teachers are well trained in Montessori philosophy and materials.
  • Low staff turnover means you have consistency over the three-year cycles.
  • Teachers are trained for the level at which they teach, and some are trained for multiple levels.

Preschool/Kindergarten

Kathy Beresheim
Luann Bertizlian
Guinevere Brightwell
Joselyn Concepción
Tara Crosby
Carrie Manthe
Lourdes Pacheco
Hernández
Debbie Sanchez-Barre
Arathi Kota Srinivas

Elementary/Middle School

Grades 1-3
Wendy Babinchak / Yelimar Becerra / Becky Flanagan / Migdelis Hanja / Danielle Marcum / Esther Prado

Grades 4-6
Stephen Owens / Laura Pingston / Sunny Day Talbert

Grades 7 and 8
Angela Mathis

Our Specialists

Specialists enhance the Montessori curriculum with their expertise and talent.

Our specialists are:
Greg Little, Music and Band
Mrs. Migdelis Hanja & Ms. Laura Pingston, Art
Esther Prado, Grades 1-3 Spanish
Becky Sego, Chorus
Yarimel Suazo, Grades 4-8 Spanish and P.E.

Parents and PTO

Our team of experienced administrators, office staff, teachers, and specialists our joined by our school parents and the PTO.  With volunteer activities and support, they further enhance our curriculum and special activities like WinterFest and our end-of-the-school-year musical.

After-School Activities Instructors

Your child has the opportunity to take advantage of after-school instructors’ expertise through a variety of optional after-school activities.*  Most of the instructors are not part of our regular staff. The instructors are appreciated for the quality of their classes and instruction.

Our on-campus after-school activities instructors are:
Ozlam Bostanci, French
Rustin Davis, Rhythm and Rhyme, and Tumble Time
Becky Flanagan and Angela Mathis, Book Club
Lorna Forster, Ukulele
Mr. Owens, Alternative/Graffiti Art Club
Ericka Roberts, Yoga
Kevin Sibbitt, Chess Club
Sunny Day Talbert and Yelimar Becerra, Robotics Club
Mel Veazey through Impact on the Road, Drama Club and Pre-Ballet

Our off-campus after-school activity instructor is:
Kenny Bonnett, Jr. through Dreadhead Sports, Soccer and Track

* Please note there is a fee separate from the Maitland Montessori School fees and tuition for each after-school activity.  The fee for each activity is determined by the respective instructors.  Also, not all activities are offered for all age groups.
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236 N Swoope Ave, Maitland, Florida 32751

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3-6 Year Olds

6-9 Year Olds

9-12 Years Olds

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