Only the Best

Dedicated to Helping Every Child Reach Their Full Potential

SNHMA is proud to employ a faculty of certified Montessori teachers. As an educational institution, SNHMA is affiliated with the American Montessori Society. We are also affiliated with and a member school of both the NH Montessori Association and Montessori Schools of Massachusetts. More importantly, our entire staff follows the authentic Montessori philosophy and its singular method of interacting with and supporting children at their most critical stages in development and education.
Our low student-to-teacher ratio gives teachers time and opportunity for instruction that is authentically individual. They observe and interact one-on-one to determine strengths, uncover weaknesses and support each appropriately. With teachers as guides, learning occurs in small groups or with students in partnership as mentors.

Meet Our Staff

 

Head of School
Debra Hogan

Debra Hogan

Head of School

Debra’s discovery of Montessori began when searching for a school for her son where he would flourish.  She was enraptured with the Montessori philosophy and the rest is history!  Here we are, 14 years later at Southern NH Education Center.  As our matriarch, she is the answer to any Montessori questions, parenting advice, and so much more.  A wealth of information and connections as our Head of School, she brings the foundation that began our SNHEC Montessori Community.  Debra holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership, is certified in Positive Discipline as a Parent Educator, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Human Development.  Debra is the proud mother of a blended family of five children and eight grandchildren and two Portuguese Water dogs. A few of her favorite pastimes include reading, gardening, cooking and visits to Cape Cod.  Debra’s favorite Montessori quote is: “The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.”

Administration
Anja Markusic

Anja Markusic

Head of Infant Toddler and Director of Programs and Staff

Anja found Montessori while she was living in Shanghai, China when she and her daughter toured a Montessori School. She was in awe of the environment, the materials, and the peacefulness that seemed omnipresent in the classroom. Anja continues to be inspired by the independence of the children, especially at such a young age, and the freedom for the child to explore independently within clear structure. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with a Montessori concentration. Anja completed her Montessori training (birth to age 3) at the Montessori Institute – New England. She is currently pursuing her Administrator Montessori Certification degree at Westside Montessori School in New York City.  She was a participant of the American Montessori Society Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program.  She loves to travel the world and experience different cultures. She especially loves hiking and skiing with her family.

Laura Couch

Laura Couch

Office Manager

Laura was drawn to the Montessori approach in her college classes while studying Elementary and Special Education.  In her teaching years, she realized she naturally fostered Montessori philosophy through differentiated seating, peace curriculum, and including practical life lessons in her classroom.  Encouraging students to learn at their own pace, pursue their own interests  and encouraging a person to be their true self is an important part of her own personal philosophy and personality.  She holds a master’s degree in School Counseling and Preventive Mental Health from Creighton University.  She loves to craft, draw, write, and game in her spare time.  She looks forward to traveling more with her husband and enjoys spending time with her family, and two fur children.

Zandra Morris

Zandra Morris

Learning Support Assistant

Zandra Morris is our Learning Support Assistant for the Early Childhood and the Elementary programs  Her love for Montessori started when she saw how Montessori philosophy gives children the freedom they need to be passionate about their education.  An important piece of Montessori for Zandra is how expressive arts and nature are at its core.  She grew up in New Hampshire and studied Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern Maine.  She has over five years of experience working with children in various settings including previously working as a preschool teacher.  She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences and is interested in pursuing a Masters Degree in Expressive Arts Therapy.  Her favorite getway is the mountains of New Hampshire and the coast of Maine, where she is most at peace in nature.

Infant/Toddler
Matt Rosenberg

Matt Rosenberg

Lead Infant Teacher

Matt Rosenburg is our Lead Infant Teacher. He found Montessori by enrolling his child here at SNHEC, and he was drawn to the Montessori philosophy that takes as a given intelligence and autonomy of children.  He went to the University of New Hampshire and received a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and in Literature.  His undergraduate work included Creative Writing and Literary Studies at Beloit College. He previously worked at NHTI as an Adjunct Professor of Early Childhood Education and has been working in Early Childhood Education for over twenty years.  He enjoys  spending time with his wife and children, playing music and musical instruments, and working in his vegetable garden.  Matt is particularly fascinated with pumpkins and addicted to crosswords.

Christine Ferguson

Christine Ferguson

Toddler Assistant

Christine Ferguson’s introduction to Montessori started when she began her journey with us.  She adapted to the Montessori philosophy with ease most likely because she has worked with young children infant through 12 years old for over 20 years.  Christine attended Rivier College earning her Bachelor’s in Human Development, and also attended Johnson and Wales University for Culinary Arts.  Christine fosters a love for play and interactive activities in our Toddler classroom, and is almost always surrounded by awe filled faces.  She enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, and has three cats.  Christine enjoys traveling and someday she would love to travel to the Middle East.  A few of her hobbies include running, swimming, eating, and traveling.

Candis Arsenault

Candis Arsenault

Assistant

Candis found Montessori through researching Montessori schools for her own daughter who attends SNHEC.  Becoming a mom sparked her interest in education and Candis is in awe of watching the children’s (including her own) growth and development.  Candis not only has child experience being a mom, but she also has an abundance of experience in the business world before finding her niche in Montessori.  She used to be a youth cheerleading coach and loves being able to work with our students.  Candis has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services and minored in Criminology.  Like many of us, she has a favorite pastime of reading books.  Candis describes herself as a bookworm, and always has a book on her person.  Her dream is to be able to write and publish a book someday, and to be able to backpack travel through Europe one day.

Brittany DeFrancesco

Brittany DeFrancesco

Infant Assistant

Brittany (Bee) is an assistant in our Infant program.  Bee started as a parent in our SNHEC community and fell in love with Montessori as a parent and now as a staff member.  She has over a decade of experience in the care field with a variety of care experiences which range from infants to elderly patients and even animal care.   She is currently studying for her degree in Animal Studies.  Montessori appealed to Bee because children are given the chance to explore and taught to love and respect all life.  As a Montessori mom, she loves seeing the children describe new project ideas and giving her own daughter the space and tools to create.  Bee hopes to someday study animals in Costa Rica with her daughter, and plans on visiting Japan.

Yvonne Evans

Yvonne Evans

Toddler Assistant

Yvonne is an assistant in our Toddler program. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature and has an Early Childhood Education Lead Teaching certification. She has over eight years of experience in Education, and is also one of our parents in the SNHEC community. Yvonne was inspired by Montessori because the children are encouraged to explore in this environment, and taught to respect themselves and others. This gives Yvonne hope for the future. In her personal time, Yvonne enjoys spending time with her family. Yvonne loves to read and write fiction and poetry. Yvonne’s favorite getaway is Rye Beach, and hopes to one day travel to Japan and Ireland.

Emilee Plumer

Emilee Plumer

Infant Assistant

Emilee Plummer is an assistant in our Infant program.   She first learned of Montessori in her Child Development class, and immediately fell in love with the idea of students being involved in their education and education being student-led. Emilee has over five years of experience working with children and she is very interested in pursuing her Montessori certification.  She was in the National Technical Honor Society at Pinkerton Academy and has lived in New Hampshire her whole life.  She enjoys spending time with her family of six other siblings.  She loves all/any forms of art, enjoys hiking trails and mountains, and she loves animals.  Emilee’s favorite getaway is Franconia, New Hampshire where she can hike the mountains and finds it most peaceful in nature.  She hopes to one day travel to every continent to experience other cultures.

Ruthie Way

Ruthie Way

Assistant

Ruthie is an assistant in our Toddler program.  Ruthie has over 14 years of experience working with children of all ages and has worked with children in foster care and with special needs.  The Montessori philosophy appealed to her because each child is encouraged to follow their interests and learn at their own pace.  She also loves the approach that each child is treated as a capable individual and enjoys seeing interdependence fostered in the classrooms such as putting on shoes, slippers, and coats.  Montessori’s peace, grace, and courtesy approach inspires Ruthie and gives her hope for a kinder, more loving and peaceful future.  In her down time, Ruthie loves to write, listen to music, and enjoys painting.  She hopes to one day write a children’s book, and she dreams of hiking Mount Machu Picchu and the Appalachian Trail.

Early Childhood
Jody Papandrew

Jody Papandrew

Head of EC

Our very own joyful Ms Jody, came to Montessori as a parent for her own children.  After falling in love with Montessori she became a volunteer and then an assistant.  Continuing her journey, she began her training at Northeast Montessori Institute, and she finished her Master’s degree of Education in Early Childhood Montessori.  A wealth of experience and knowledge, Jody is well versed in all things Montessori and her very being is composed of peace and love for nature.  She has over twenty years of experience in education and Montessori philosophy.  From the moment you step foot into the Early Childhood program, one can see Jody’s passion and love for every single child.  Montessori is at the very root of Jody’s being. Her favorite pastime is walking on the beach enjoying the sights and smells of the ocean.  She hopes to see the Grand Canyon and visit Italy and the Galapagos Islands someday.

Maria Gylphe

Maria Gylphe

Co-lead EC Teacher

Maria is our Co-lead teacher in the Early Childhood Program.  Ms. Maria has worked with young children for over 18 years, and has a passion for education. She has also worked as a caregiver for the memory impaired and elderly.  She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education at the Grand Canyon University and has recently finished her Montessori certification.  While studying for her Bachelor’s degree, she discovered Montessori and was enraptured by the philosophy.  One of Maria’s favorite places is Hampton Beach and she enjoys sitting out on her deck to spend time reflecting.  She enjoys spending time with her “Brady Bunch” family and loves meeting new people.

Aimee Hazard

Aimee Hazard

EC Assist

Aimee Hazard is an Assistant Teacher in our Early Childhood program.  She was drawn to Montessori because the children are able to learn everyday tasks for themselves and become independent workers and thinkers.  Her favorite Montessori moments are when children exclaim, “I did it!”  She grew up in New Jersey and attended Trenton State College where she received her Bachelors in Sports Administration.  In addition to supporting our Early Childhood program, Aimee is a Swim Coach for students aged 12 and under.  She is a busy mom to two sets of twins, and she enjoys taking her dog on walks, boating, and swimming laps.  She hopes to spend time in the Caribbean Islands and one of her favorite places is Bermuda.

Krystal Murphy

Krystal Murphy

EC Assist

Ms. Krystal is an assistant in our Early Childhood program.  She has worked with children for over eight years and has worked with children aged 6 weeks to 6 years old.  She has studied child development and brain development and the many different ways children learn and grow.  She found Montessori when searching for a school for her own son, and immediately was enthralled with the philosophy.

Elementary
Ramya Balasubramaniyan

Ramya Balasubramaniyan

Elementary Lead Teacher

Ms. Ramya is our Lead Elementary teacher and has over ten years of experience working in Education and schools centered in Montessori philosophy.  She is AMS Montessori trained and certified in Elementary Education.  She is also trained in Early Childhood Education and has a Master of Science degree in Chemistry from Bharathiar University.  Ramya personally loves teaching because she gets to see the smiling faces of the children everyday.  The Montessori curriculum inspires her by walking the child from concrete to abstract as they grow from birth to an individual.  Ramya enjoys traveling to new places, and dreams of visiting the Himalayas one day. As a true Montessorian, she also enjoys nature and spending time with her family.

Joey Wedge

Joey Wedge

Elementary Assist

Mr. Joey is our assistant in the Elementary classroom.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History and has worked with children for over five years.  Montessori appealed to him through the learning environment which includes incorporating educational activities and lessons outside in the natural playard environment available to our students and SNHEC community.  Joey’s favorite Montessori moment is when a student is engaging with materials and they are excited to share their project with the classroom.  Our very own music and history guru, Joey also teaches Music and Spanish to our Elementary students and started a recycling club with the elementary students.  In his free time, Joey enjoys playing basketball, kayaking, camping, and playing musical instruments.

Adjunct
Jill Hartmann

Jill Hartmann

Reading and Educational Consultant

Ms. Jill is our Reading and Educational Consultant, and is the Director and owner of Hartmann Learning Center.  She holds certifications in Elementary Education (K-8), General Special Education, Specific Learning Disabilities, and is a Specialist in the Assessment of Intellectual Functioning.  Jill has been in the field of education for over twenty years and has a wealth of knowledge to bring to us.  Not only is she an experienced teacher, she is an educational evaluator, and has contributed to several educational publications.  Jill is a current member of Decoding Dyslexia, and she has served on the International Dyslexia Association Board for New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. In addition, she has been the Chairperson of the Association of Specialists in the Assessment of Intellectual Functioning.  We are honored to have her support our students at our school.

Janice Walsh

Janice Walsh

Elementary Art Teacher

Jan is our Elementary Art Teacher with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education with a K-12 certification from Notre Dame College.  Though new to Montessori,. Jan has over twenty years of teaching experience in a wide variety of art classes and substituting.  She is involved in many different activities such as being the Vice President of Friends of the Library, and has collaborated  with dance clubs, art clubs, art shows, and more.  Our very own Mr. Joey was one of her students, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity of having her work with our Elementary students in Art Class.