Meet Our Staff
Lina Masri Founder & Director
Lina has over twenty years experience teaching and directing Montessori schools in North America and Europe. She started her Montessori career teaching at Richmond Hill Montessori School in Toronto, Canada and has since taught and directed at the Lighthouse Montessori Nursery in Oxford, England; Papillion Montessori Nursery in Ringwood, NJ; Monarch Montessori School in Little Falls, NJ; Young World Day School in Mahwah NJ; and currently the Founder and Director of Mindful Montessori since it's inception in 2021.
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AMI Montessori Certification (Centre for Guided Montessori Studies, Sarasota, Florida)
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Masters of Arts in Teaching (Montclair State University). Dual certification in P-3 and Teacher of Students with Disabilities. (December, 2015)
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Alternate Route Program for P-3 Certification at Montclair State University (August,20113)
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Montessori Certificate for the Infant Toddler Course from Montessori Centre International, London, England
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Montessori Diploma for Children ages 0-6 from St Nicholas Training Centre, London, England
Alexandra Lipov Assistant Director & Office Manager
Alexandra holds a Bachelor degree in Marketing Management and most of her professional experience comes from the hospitality industry, working for the historical New Yorker Hotel and a Hilton property in Stamford, CT.
When her older son Daniel was born she decided to become a Stay-At-Home Mom. Though it came with challenges, it was the most rewarding experience she could have ever asked for.
Alexandra moved to Old Tappan with her husband and her two boys in 2021 when the Montessori school just opened, and her younger son, Evan, became one of the very first students at Mindful Montessori.
Alexandra often volunteers in Evan's school and she serves as one of the leaders for her towns' Boy Scouts. She enjoys reading novels, exercising, spending time outdoors and vacationing with her family.
She is genuinely thrilled to have this opportunity to be part of the Montessori family and is extremely excited to get to know all your wonderful children
Laura Elmini Montessori Teacher
Laura Elmini is a NJ certified teacher holding a BA in Elementary Education and an MA in Education with a concentration in Early Childhood. She taught in the Newark Public Schools for 7 years where she taught Kindergarten and opened her school’s very first public school PreK program. During her time there, she was selected to train with mentors from Bank Street College and the Children’s Literacy Institute of Philadelphia. Her classroom became a model for the district.
In 2003, Laura chose to leave the profession to raise a family. During that time, she had a part-time, home based business selling jewelry and trained a team of more than 200 women. She chose a Montessori education for her son and told friends and family that if she ever went back to teaching, her dream would be to teach in a Montessori school. The stars aligned in 2015 when she met Lina and joined her classroom as a part-time teacher. She has now been training under and teaching with Lina for 7 years.
Outside the classroom Laura enjoys crafting, decorating, spoiling her dogs, and spending time with her husband of 22 years and their growing children.
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BA in Elementary Education, William Paterson University
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Masters of Arts in Early Childhood Education, William Paterson University.
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Nine years teaching Montessori
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Montessori Diploma from NAMC
Continuous Education: Completed Montessori Teacher Training from North American Montessori Center.
Kelly Lafflin Montessori Teacher
Kelly Lafflin received her diploma from the State University of New York at Cortland college, and went on to pursue her Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Queens College and Grand Canyon University, in Phoenix, AZ. Kelly received her Montessori certification form North American Montessori Center and taught middle school Math and History at Resurrection Ascension in Queens, NY for four years before transferring to a school closer to her home in Long Island. It was there Kelly spent over a decade teaching Pre-K-3rd grade. After relocating to Rockland County in 2019 Kelly began teaching at Sacred Heart School in Suffern, NY.
When Sacred Heart unexpectedly closed, Kelly recognized it as an opportunity to focus on her true passion. She deeply believes in Dr. Montessori's philosophy and pedagogy and has since been working with infants and toddlers using Montessori. She feels it is vital to give children the skills to solve conflicts peacefully, care for themselves and their environment, and become responsive global citizens.
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Kelly, her husband and her three children moved from Long Island, NY to Suffern about three years ago. Her oldest daughter is a freshman at the University of Massachusetts and her two sons attend Suffern Middle School. Kelly is honored to join the Mindful Montessori team and cherishes the opportunity to have an impact on the children.
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Continuous Education: Montessori Teacher Training from the Center For Guided Montessori Studies.
Simona Sanan Montessori Teacher
Simona is a dedicated and experienced educator with a strong foundation in Montessori teaching methods and classroom management skills. Her commitment to nurturing open lines of communication between parents and teachers has been instrumental in creating a collaborative and supportive learning environment.
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Having not only led insightful discussions on essential topics in education but also received comprehensive classroom and parent training in positive discipline, She is well-equipped to promote a positive and enriching learning experience for students and a harmonious partnership between educators, parents and administrators.
Montessori Experience
Brooklyn Heights Montessori School/ Head Teacher
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
Brooklyn Heights Montessori School/ Assistant Teacher
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
Education
St. Catherine University / Master of Arts in Education 2012, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA
Monterey Institute of International Studies / Master of Arts in International Policy Studies / Commercial Diplomacy Certificate 2001, MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
Florida Atlantic University / Bachelor of Arts in Political Science 1999, BOCA RATON, FLORIDA
CMTE / AMS Montessori 3-6 Teacher Certification 2008, CMTE, NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK
Courtney Chamberlain Montessori Teacher's assistant
Courtney has 10 years experience in all facets of Child Development and Education. She has previously worked at Laurel Plains Elementary School in New City, NY as an after care teacher through the YMCA Youth Program, as well as St. Paul’s School in Congers, NY as a Teachers Aide for their Pre-K class. She has also spent 4 years as a full time nanny.
She has always had a passion for teaching and is working towards her degree in Education.
Courtney considers Montessori methods especially beneficial because they allow teachers to reach students at their own level and foster independence and confidence.
She desires to help children reach their potential and guide them toward meaningful growth.
She is so excited to join the Mindful Montessori team and can’t wait to meet all the students and their families!
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Continuous Education: Completed Montessori Assistant Teacher Training from the Center For Guided Montessori Studies.
Tanya Moya Montessori Teacher's assistant
Tanya is a dedicated professional with a diverse background in administration, production coordination, and sales support. With a passion for education and child development, Tanya is thrilled to join the Mindful Montessori team as teaching assistant.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Tanya brings a deep personal commitment to advocacy for special needs children, gained through her role as a devoted advocate for a family member since 2014. This firsthand experience has provided her with invaluable insights into the challenges and joys of providing therapy and care for children with special needs.
With a genuine appreciation for the importance of nurturing young minds, Tanya draws inspiration from her role as a loving parent to two wonderful children. This parental perspective has deepened her understanding of the trust and responsibility involved in caring for children and supporting their development.
As a Montessori teaching assistant, Tanya aims to leverage her personal experiences as a parent, alongside her professional skills, to create a positive and enriching educational experience for all students. She firmly believes in recognizing and celebrating the unique strengths and talents of each child, fostering an environment where they feel seen, heard, and valued.
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Continuous Education: *Completed Montessori Assistant Teacher Training from the Center For Guided Montessori Studies.
*Montessori Teacher Certification from North American Montessori Center
Myra Quizon Montessori Teacher's assistant
Meet Myra, a passionate Teaching Assistant at Mindful Montessori. With a deep commitment to enhancing the developmental journeys of young learners, Myra brings a wealth of dedication and expertise to her role. She thrives on celebrating the unique creativity of each child, fostering an environment where individuality is cherished and every student can flourish. Myra has previous teaching experience in her hometown of Manila, Philippines, where she employed foundational Montessori beliefs in her very own classroom. She embraced this particular method of learning to students who may not have been given the opportunity otherwise, and helped initiate self directed, collaborative play in the school she taught in, on the other side of the world!
For decades, Myra has been dedicated to helping each child, across varied developmental ages and perspectives, discover their own path to growth and learning.
When she is not in the classroom, Myra enjoys spending time with her family, or taking a stroll with her fluffy dog, Bamba. She enjoys rainy days, karaoke, and warm matcha lattes.
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Continuous Education: Montessori Assistant Teacher Training from the Center For Guided Montessori Studies.
Melissa Janelli is a dedicated childcare professional born and raised in Germany, with extensive training and experience in early childhood education and caregiving. In 2019, Melissa completed a 5-year "Erzieherausbildung" (early childhood education training) in Germany, which included hands-on internships in eight different childcare settings, such as nurseries, preschools, and children's homes.
After finishing her training Melissa started working in a children’s home, caring for children aged 0-16, further broadening her expertise in supporting children with diverse needs.
In the summer of 2022, Melissa married her husband and relocated to New York.
Melissa is passionate about creating a nurturing and stimulating environment where children feel safe, valued, and inspired to grow. With her international experience, professional training, and warm personality, Melissa is committed to providing exceptional care and fostering the development of every child in her care.