MA Education – St. Catherine University
BS Accounting – St. John’s University
Montessori Certification (Infant through 1st Grade) – St. Nicholas Center, London (MACTE)
Montessori Certification (1st through 3rd Grade) – N.A.M.C.
Corporate Assistant – Katherine Gibbs School
Seleste has worked as an executive assistant in the business community and joined our school in 2001. She has been a parent in our school since 2006. She has worked in various administrative roles and is also a certified Redirecting Children’s Behavior instructor.
BS Mathematics – James Madison University
Ann previously worked for 18 years as a software engineer for an insurance company. She joined Cherry Blossom in 2019.
BFA – Centenary College
Montessori Certification – AMS Infant & Toddler, Princeton Center for Teacher Education
Stefanie joined Cherry Blossom Montessori as a teacher in 2004 and has been a parent at the school since 2006.
Raritan Valley Community College
Montessori Assistants Training Course – Princeton Center for Teacher Education
Diana has worked in the Stepping Stones, Primary and Elementary Programs since December 2015.
BA Economics – Bharathiar University
Bachelors in Education – Allahbad University
Montessori Credential – AMS Early Childhood, Princeton Center for Teacher Education.
Maneesha has worked at Cherry Blossom Montessori School since 2003, as both a parent and a teacher. She has taught in both the primary and elementary programs. Maneesha has worked as a field consultant for the Princeton Center for Teacher Education program.
Montessori Credential – Early Childhood Program – N.A.M.C.
Montessori Assistant Training Course – New Rochelle, New York
Carol has taught in our Primary Program since 1993. She became a grandparent in our school in 2014.
Montessori Credential – AMS Primary Program – MCTD
BA in Early Childhood – Expected December 2018
Melissa joined CBM in 2018 and has worked in a Montessori Primary Program since 2015. She is a parent in our school.
Montessori Credential – AMS Early Childhood, New Gate School
Stacy has worked at Cherry Blossom Montessori since 1996.
BA Early Childhood Education, New Jersey City University
Montessori Credential – Early Childhood Program – N.A.M.C.
Cindy has been with Cherry Blossom Montessori since 2000. She began as the Head of our After School Program and started our Stepping Stone Program in 2003. She has taught in both the primary and toddler classrooms.
MA Education, University of Phoenix, BS Biology, N.S.S. College, Associates Degree in Computer Science, Middlesex County College
Montessori Credential – AMS Early Childhood, Princeton Center for Teacher Education
Anu joined Cherry Blossom Montessori in 2003 as an employee and as a parent. She has worked as a field consultant for the Princeton Center for Teacher Education program. Anu teaches Hindi in our after school enrichment program.
BA Psychology – University of San Diego
Montessori Credential- AMS Early Childhood and AMS Elementary I, Princeton Center for Teacher Education
Nancy has worked at Cherry Blossom Montessori School since 2003. She has taught in both the Primary and Elementary Programs. Nancy has worked as a field consultant for Princeton Center for Teacher Education. She has been a parent in our school since 2008.
BS Fine Arts – University of Wisconsin, Madison
Montessori Credential- AMS Early Childhood and AMS Elementary I-Princeton Center for Teacher Education
Deborah joined CBM in 2018. She has taught in both the Primary and Elementary Programs. She has taught Fine Art Programs at multiple art centers. Deborah teaches Fine Art to our Lower Elementary Students.
BS Elementary Education/ Biology – Murray State University
Montessori Credential – AMI certified in Early Childhood/Elementary I
Elementary II, and Middle School – Washington Montessori Institute, Washington D.C.
Carol joined Cherry Blossom Montessori in 2009. Carol has experience as a Montessori consultant, curriculum director and teacher trainer. She has set up Montessori Elementary Programs throughout the United States.
Raritan Valley Community College
Montessori Assistants Training Course – Princeton Center for Teacher Education
Diana has worked in the Stepping Stones, Primary and Elementary Programs assisting where needed.
BA in Health/Physical Education and Recreation K-12 with a minor in Information Technology/Computer Science, Kean University
NJ State Certified Driver Education instructor
Eric joined our school in 2020. He has previously taught in public and charter schools for grades K-12. He has coached girl’s high school lacrosse and currently coaches baseball for children ages 8-18.
MA Spanish Linguistics – University of Medellin
BA Pedagogy – Javeriana University
BA Modern Languages- University of Antioquia
Sandra is a native of Colombia, South America and joined our school in 2002 as an employee and as a parent in 2005. Before joining Raritan Valley Montessori and Cherry Blossom Montessori, she taught at both the Elementary and High School level.
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Centenary College
Montessori Certification – AMS Infant & Toddler, Princeton Center for Teacher Education
Stefanie joined Cherry Blossom Montessori as a teacher in 2004 and has been a parent at the school since 2006.
BA, Psychology, Marketing – Muhlenberg College
Nancy joined our faculty in 2005 and is responsible for Stepping Stone, Primary, and Elementary music education. Music has always been the main course of her life, studying piano, vocal performance, and extensive music theory in college.
Seleste McDaniel
Assistant Administrator
A.A. Corporate Assistance – Katherine Gibbs School
Seleste worked at Merrill Lynch as an Executive Assistant in Princeton and NYC. She has been with our school since 2001 in many different roles of administration. Seleste is currently an Assistant Administrator at our Hillsborough site and is certified as an RCB instructor.
Renata Bladek is an Assistant in our Stepping Stones Classroom and is the Head Teacher in the Aftercare Program. She attended school in Poland. Renata has worked as a child care provider and studied English as a second language at Bergen Community College.
Stefanie Fedora is the Head Teacher in our Stepping Stones Classroom. She has her BFA from Centenary College and received her Montessori certification from Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE). Stefanie has been with our school since January 2004.
Joanna Byra is a Co-Teacher in our Primary Program and has a Master’s Degree in Economics. She has worked as a child care provider and studied English as a second language at Seton Hall University. After becoming a US Citizen, Joanna began working for The Cherry Blossom Montessori School in 2006. She obtained her Early Childhood certification from Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE).
Stacy Catoggio is a Lead Teacher in our Primary Program and is our Kindergarten Enrichment Teacher. She has worked at our school since 1996. Stacy completed her Montessori training at New Gate School in Sarasota, Florida.
Cindy Fonzetti is a co-teacher in our Primary Program and has been with our school since 2000. She has a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, has been teaching pre-school children for 31 years and has supervised after-school programs for elementary children. Cindy opened our first Stepping Stones Program.
Anu Krishnan is a Head Teacher in our Primary Program. She is Montessori certified in Early Childhood from Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE) and has been with us since 2001. Anu has her BS in Zoology and her Associate Degree in Computer Science. She also obtained her Masters degree in Education from the University of Phoenix. Before becoming a teacher, Anu worked as a computer program analyst.
Richard Cruz has a B.S in K-12 Physical Education from SUNY Cortland. He is a Co-Teacher for the Elementary program as well as the Physical Education Teacher at The Cherry Blossom. Richard has coached many sports including soccer, basketball, T-ball, baseball, and flag football for ages of 3 to 16. His certifications included Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid/, Physical Best Certification, NYS Professional Coaching Certification, CARR and SAVE Certification and Concussion Certification.
Nancy Tamburello has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of San Diego. She is the Head of our Lower Elementary Program. Nancy has her American Montessori credential in Early Childhood Education for ages 3-6 and Elementary Education from Princeton Center for Teacher Education. She has been with our schools since 2003.
Carol Young is the Head of our Upper Elementary Program. She has been a Montessori directress for over three decades. Carol has a B.S. degree in both education and science from Murray State University. She is AMI certified in ages 3 to 12 years old and AMS certified in ages 12-15. Carol is experienced as a Montessori consultant, curriculum director and teacher trainer. She has been traveling and setting up Montessori Elementary Programs in New Mexico, Arizona and Florida for over ten years.
Renata Bladik is the Head of our Aftercare Program. She attended school in Poland. Renata has worked as a child care provider and studied English as a second language at Bergen Community College.
Nancy Cesta joined our staff in 2005 and is responsible for Stepping Stone, Primary and Elementary music education. She earned her B.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Marketing from Muhlenberg College. Music has always been the main course in her life, through the many years of studying piano, vocal performance and extensive study of music theory in college. Prior to joining our staff, Nancy spent over 15 years as a market researcher.
Michael Godleski joined both sites in 2015 as a teacher of Physical Education and Technology. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Health from William Paterson University, and also holds an Elementary Education certification. Prior to joining our staff Michael was a high school soccer coach, electronics sales consultant, and continues to run his own swimming school.
Sandra Hurtado teaches Spanish to our Primary and Elementary students. She is originally from Colombia, South America and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Pedagogy and a Bachelor Degree in Modern Languages. Sandra has a Masters Degree in Spanish Linguistics. Before joining our school, she taught at both the Elementary and High School level.
Carrie Ward has a B.A. in Art History from Rutgers University. She is a Head Teacher for the Primary Program at our Bridgewater Site. Carrie teaches Elementary Fine Arts at both our Bridgewater and Hillsborough sites. She is certified by the American Montessori Society in Early Childhood Education for ages 3-6 from the Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE). Carrie has been with the school since 2005.
Dr. Maria Montessori