Christine Kovago is the Director of Pincushion Hill Montessori School, now celebrating her 33rd year of devotion to the school. She began her career at Pincushion in 1978 after completing a BA in Early Childhood Education with a triple minor in Elementary Education (grades 1-6), Art History, and Special Education from Worcester State College. She did extensive studies of fine art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Worcester Art Museum. She also received her LPN certification from the St. Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing in Worcester. She worked at St. Vincent Hospital in the Trauma Ward and at Worcester City Hospital in the Geriatric Unit. Christine received her Montessori training at Boston College in 1979. She was in the first graduating class of the New England Montessori Teacher Education Center here in Massachusetts, and she taught for 14 years at Pincushion both in the Children’s House (ages 3-6) and Elementary (ages 6-9) classrooms before becoming the Director of the school. She has served as the Director for 16 years. Her hobbies include life-long learning, reading, gardening, snorkeling, walking, practicing yoga and meditation, and world traveling. She looks forward to many more successful, happy and prosperous years here at Pincushion!

Agoston (Gus) Kovago has been with Pincushion Hill since 1993. He and his family came to South Grafton, MA in 1956, after escaping the Hungarian Revolution. He attended Quinsigamond and Worcester State Colleges, earning a BA in Business. He ran a retail gifts and home decor business with his father from 1964-1984. He currently serves as Pincushion’s Co-director. His passions include photography, travel, biking and snorkeling.

Michelle Cowell - Assistant School Director

Michelle Cowell graduated from Framingham Sate College with a B.A. in Psychology and Elementary Education. She has begun working towards her Master’s degree in Special Education. Michelle has worked for 15 years in various social work fields including working with homeless teenage mothers, supporting adults with developmental disabilities, and managing a residential program for adults with mental illness.  Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, reading, the ocean and working in the garden.

Lisa Wyman - Business Manager

Lisa Wyman is Pincushion Hill’s Business Manager. She attended Northeastern University, majoring in Accounting. Previously, she worked in the insurance industry for fourteen years.  Then she worked at a law firm where she maximized her skills with numbers.  She has two daughters that are twenty years apart! In her spare time, she enjoys sports, the beach, her many pets and spending time with her family and friends. She loves all Boston sports teams, but especially the Red Sox!

Lise Molander - After-School Coordinator

Lise Molander joins Pincushion Montessori as the After-school Coordinator and Marketing Director. She holds a B.S. in both early childhood education and moderate special education from Lesley University. She has taught in many different environments including private school, public school and childcare. She has worked with developmentally challenged adults; language delayed and behaviorally disordered children and typically developing children from 6 weeks old through teenagers. She was the preschool behavioral specialist in Newport Public Schools for 5 years as well as a director of a preschool for more than nine years. She brings more than 20 years of experience working with children to her new position. She is excited to learn from Pincushion’s rich environment as well as bring some new ideas when needed. Please feel free to share any thoughts, ideas or concerns with her; she loves input. She has three children, three cats and one dog. She enjoys reading, cooking, being with friends and the beach. Go Pats!

Anna Kritselis-Howard - Technology

Anna Kritselis-Howard has been consulting on technology for Pincushion Hill Montessori School since 2007. Prior to her work with Montessori schools, Ms. Kritselis-Howard worked in the private sector for 20 years in a variety of systems-related and management level positions. Ms. Kritselis-Howard graduated from West Chester University with a B.S. in Music Education and then from Northeastern University with a M.S. in Information Systems. She also provides IT consulting to various other Montessori schools, including Andover School of Montessori, Keystone and Oak Meadow.

Hiral Desai - Montessori Teacher

Hiral Desai has completed her training for AMS certification from New England Montessori Teacher Education Center. She received her masters in Mathematics from M.S. University, Baroda. She taught Math and Computer for 3 years in India in Central Board School from grades 1-9 and has been working in Montessori classrooms since 2003 in Massachusetts. She attended many workshops at AMS conferences and has also taken training in Redirecting Children’s Behavior. She considers herself fortunate to have the opportunity to satisfy children’s curiosity and thirst of knowledge and help them learn. She has her Masters in Indian Classical Music from Akhil Gandharva University, Bombay and has training in Yoga. She enjoys contributing her skills and knowledge in the classroom and working with “little wonders.”

Linda Cebrowski - Montessori Teacher

Linda Cebrowski has a masters degree in education, a MA professional early childhood teaching license, and an AMS Montessori certificate. She has worked in a variety of educational settings in her 25 plus years of teaching–from a parent/teacher cooperative nursery school to the kindergarten classroom at the Wellesley Community Children’s Center at Wellesley College, an integrated (special needs) preschool, and as a kindergarten teacher in a public charter school. Then, finally, she discovered the Montessori method. She found that this is the education philosophy that best fulfills her desire to guide each child to learn at his or her own pace, and gain a respect for him- or herself and for the environment. She has authored guides for teachers and parents including “Creating a Classroom of Enthusiastic Authors: Interactive Writing in Kindergarten,” “It’s Not Just Fun and Games: The Vital Role of Play in Children’s Learning,” and a comparison of the MA public school mathematics standards and the Montessori mathematics curriculum. Linda enjoys taking day trips to investigate areas of New England, relaxing on the beach, swimming, reading, and laughing (especially when she can do these all together!) Every year at Pincushion brings new surprises, challenges, and joys. She can’t wait to begin her sixth year at Pincushion Hill!

Stephanie Taylor - Montessori Teacher

Stephanie Taylor received her BS in Psychology in December 2004 from Worcester State College. She is also working towards a Masters of Education at Assumption College in Worcester. Stephanie has many years of experience working with children of all ages in the classroom and in the administration field. She is married with two children and enjoys pilates, yoga, the outdoors, shopping and volunteering.

Kara Stegeman - Support & After School Staff

Kara Stegeman is a recent graduate of New England College where she received her degree in Education. She was introduced to the Montessori approach during a semester-long internship at Meeting House Montessori in Bow, New Hampshire. It was through that internship that she learned more about the Montessori philosophy and realized it was the perfect fit for her. She is currently receiving training for the three to six age group through the New England Montessori Teacher Education Center. Kara is excited to further her education in the Montessori approach and begin her teaching at Pincushion Hill Montessori School. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, running, shopping, and spending time with her family and friends.

Lauren Hawkes - Montessori Teacher

Lauren Hawkes earned her Massachusetts Elementary Education certification in 2000 from Regis College in Weston. She also attended Simmons College in Boston, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. In addition, she has completed graduate courses at Framingham State College along with a semester of EMI-Empowering Multicultural Initiatives – a teaching course developed by METCO to counter racism. Most recently, Lauren attended the Rising Stars Early Childhood 3-6 Overview, a program offered to teachers through the Northeast Montessori Institute. She completed her Montessori training in the summer of 2007 at the New England Montessori Teacher Education Center (NEMTEC). For several years she worked at the Loker Elementary School in Wayland servicing students within a wide range of ages and learning abilities from grade 1 through grade 5. Prior to entering the field of education, Lauren was at home full-time raising her four children.

Laura Strauss - Montessori Teacher

Laura Strauss graduated with a B.A. degree in Psychology and an Elementary Education Certification from UMass Dartmouth. She also earned a M.Ed. in counseling from Northeastern University. When her first son became a Montessori student at age 3, she decided to train at the MECA-Seton Montessori training program in Hinsdale, IL. Laura has taught in both public Kindergarten and Pre-primary Montessori schools. Some of her interests outside of school are painting, participating in a book club and tennis.

Cory Lane Anderson - Montessori Teacher

Cory Lane Anderson has a BA in anthropology from Umass Amherst and completed her Montessori training in the Spring of 2011 at Northeast Montessori Institute. She has previously worked at Pincushion as a support teacher and in the after school program. In her spare time, Cory continues to study ballet and modern dance and has choreographed for and performed with local theater and opera companies. She also enjoys traveling, photography, studying piano, and being out in nature as often as possible. She loves to bring these interests into the classroom and feels very privileged to spend her working hours helping children learn as they discover their world with a fresh sense of wonder!

Andrea Hood - Support & After School Staff

Andrea Hood was born in Bogota, Columbia. In 2004, she immigrated to the United States to complete her BA in Counseling and Health Care at the University of the Nations in Kona-Hawaii. In 2009 she was introduced to the Montessori method while working as a co-teacher at the University of the Nations preschool, which has been ranked as the best in West Hawaii. Andrea feels honored to be joining the Pincushion Hill community. She enjoyed walking through her first year of wonders, excitement, and success while she experienced the beauty of all four seasons for the first time in New England. Now she is settled and ready for her second year at Pincusion. In her spare time, Andrea enjoys meeting people from different cultures, salsa dancing, playing piano, singing, drawing, reading, traveling, and spending quality time with her husband.

Priya Venkateswaran - Montessori Teacher

Priya Venkateswaran has been associated with the field of education since 2001. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in commerce in India, Priya worked with under privileged children. Priya returned to school to complete a one-year course in early childhood education. She moved to the United States in 2006. She was introduced to the Montessori method of teaching at Pincushion Hill Montessori school when she started working here as support staff. She loved the Montessori method so much that Priya decided to get trained as a teacher and finished her certification last year. Priya has been teaching in the MFCH since 2008.

Wei Stanten - Montessori Teacher

Wei Stanten became interested in Montessori education after enrolling her children in Montessori school. Although she taught Mandarin Chinese during her college years, after ten years of being in the travel industry and the birth of her two daughters, she rediscovered her passion for being a teacher. She has been teaching Mandarin Chinese in a variety of capacities for the past several years. Being a Montessori teacher is like a “calling” for her; something she is meant to do. She completed her Montessori training and is in the process of getting her Montessori certification (3-6) from New England Montessori Teacher Education Center. Wei completed her teaching internship at the Oak Meadow Montessori School in Littleton. This is Wei’s second year at Pincushion Hill, and her youngest daughter will be entering ELEM this year. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and music. She also loves to explore the world with an inquisitive mind and to ponder the wonder of nature. Wei graduated from Salem State College with a B.S in Geography and a minor in business.

Anvee Vahia - Support & After School Staff

Anvee Vahia began her Montessori journey as a child and acquired her AMI certification from Mumbai in 2010. She has a BA in Philosophy and is also certified in Early Childhood Care. Anvee has taught at 2 Preschools, a daycare, and a Vocabulary enrichment program for elementary school children. Anvee’s other passion is music, and she has been learning and singing Indian Music since she was 5 years old.

Nancy Sergi-Gott - Elementary Montessori Teacher

Nancy Sergi-Gott has been fascinated by the wonders of the natural world since childhood and loves to share her enthusiasm with children of all ages. She has taught at Pincushion since 2001, originally as the science specialist but now will be starting her third year as a full time elementary teacher. She completed her Montessori training last year, receiving her diploma from the North America Montessori Center. She is also certified since 2000 to teach biology, through the Teacher Certification Program at Wellesley College. Besides educating the great kids at Pincushion, Nancy also takes care of the many animal friends at the school. She worked for 10 years at Wellesley College preparing and setting up the lab courses in the biology dept. After her daughter was born she realized how much she enjoyed sharing nature and science with children, and left Wellesley to pursue a teaching career. Nancy also had the wonderful opportunity to live abroad, 6 months in Germany and 3 years in Australia. Nancy is interested in nature, science and history and enjoys reading, writing and playing Dungeons and Dragons(when she has time!) and traveling (when she can afford it!).

Connie Pabon-Green - Elementary Montessori Teacher

Connie Pabon-Green has been teaching for over ten years. She holds a B.S. degree from Simmons College and an A.S. degree from Middlesex Community College. She taught grades 2-6 as a lead teacher and then took some time off to home school her daughter who was having difficulty in high school. Before returning to the classroom, Connie decided to explore her other passion – payroll. After receiving a certificate from Northeastern University, Connie worked as a payroll supervisor for 3 years. The calling to return to teaching was too great and Connie accepted a lead teacher position in an after school program. Previously, Connie had been working as an Assistant Teacher in a Montessori environment for the past two years. Connie has completed her 6-9 training and her Montessori Materials Extension at the Seacoast Center for Education in New Hampshire. Connie likes to spend her free time reading, singing, and playing with her beautiful grandchildren.

Kayla Baglieri - Elementary Montessori Teacher

Kayla Baglieri attended Framingham State College where she received her B.S. in Elementary Education and Social Sciences. There she obtained her Massachusetts Elementary Education certification. She has since completed her Montessori Lower Elementary (6-9) training and received her diploma from North American Montessori Center. She worked in our Children’s House and After School program before joining the Elementary team. Prior to working at Pincushion, she worked as a special education assistant and summer school teacher in Lexington, MA. In Kayla’s spare time, she loves watching the Boston Red Sox, spending time with family and friends, traveling, practicing yoga, and running.

Allie Bossman - Support & After School Staff

Allie Bossman graduated with a B.A. in Elementary and Special Education from Syracuse University in 2010. Prior to Pincushion, she worked at a British International School in Boston. She also worked at an Integrated Preschool for several summers. In her spare time, she enjoys doing yoga, spending time with friends and family, reading and traveling.

Suzanne Meeker - Art

Suzanne Meeker has been the Art Specialist at Pincushion since 1998. She has an MA in Children’s Theatre from Texas Woman’s University and a BS in Art Education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Since completing her university studies, Suzanne has had an extensive artistic career: teaching at both the college and high school levels, and a professional theatre design career for five years. While her children were growing, she returned to teaching elementary art.Having rediscovered the delights of teaching children, her focus has remained at that age level. In 1988 Suzanne opened her own Art Studio in Ashland in conjunction with Annemarie’s Dance Centre. Hundreds of children have taken part in the program with many going on to receive acclaim during high school with recognition from the State Scholastic Art Awards, and displays both at the Worcester Art Museum and the Ashland Public Library and some have pursued college careers in art. Suzanne maintains her current studies with extensive travels that have included many areas of Italy, Prague, Paris, and Peru to take advantage of history and cultures.Suzanne maintains affiliations with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, and reciprocal museums throughout the country. For the past 20 years she has also been the watercolor instructor for the Ashland Senior Center Art program.

Tracy San Antonio - Physical Education

Tracy San Antonio went to the Community College of Rhode Island where she studied liberal arts from 1983-1985, then transferred to Rhode Island College where she studied physical education from 1985-1988. During her college years she played both basketball and softball. She graduated but never received her teaching certificate from the State of Rhode Island due to a speech impedement. Tracy became a lifeguard, swim instructor and assistant aquatics director for a YMCA in Rhode Island. She has always stayed active by playing basketball, soccer and softball. In March, 2002, she began a new adventure of owning her own company by the name of Itty Biddy Sports. This program offers various sports instruction to children 2-6 years of age. From September 2003 through June 2004, she instructed physical education and taught health to children at Father Holland Catholic Regional School in Rhode Island. She enjoys instructing physical education to the students of Pincushion Hill Montessori School. Further, Tracy is the head teacher for a daycare in Millbury, MA since August 2003 and through this has become EEC certified.

Kristen Siener - Spanish/Enrichment

Kristen Siener attended the State University of New York College at Fredonia and received a BA in Spanish Language and Literature. She also attended the University of Barcelona, Spain. Prior to Pincushion, Kristen taught Spanish in the New Haven, CT school district and worked in an after school program in the Boston Public School District. Kristen enjoys spending her free time with her husband, shopping, traveling, and practicing yoga.

Pat Anthony - Music/Private Lessons

Pat Anthony attended the Eastman School of Music for her Bachelor Degree and Boston University School for the Arts for her Master Degree. She also has had training and teaching experience in Dalcroze-Eurhythmics, Kindermusik, Suzuki, and Montessori methods. Pat has taught general music classes at Newton Montessori School, The Bartlett School, and Newton Music Academy. She has also taught private instrumental lessons at The School of Creative Arts, Wellesley Public Schools, and at other locations. Her husband is a classical guitarist and Renaissance lutenist, and Pat enjoys playing flute with him in The Anthony Duo

Phyllis Cullinane - Library

Phyllis has a Masters degree in Library Sciences from Simmons College. She has worked as a children's librarian in the public library and school libraries. In her spare time she enjoys reading, gardening and visiting her three grandsons.

Nicole Vene - Art Enrichment/After School

Nicole Vene graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2010 with a BFA in Art Education and Painting. Over the past four years Nicole has been teaching art to grade k- 12 students within the Boston Public School System and various after-school programs in the Mission Hill area. This fall season Nicole has reunited with the Pincushion Hill Montessori School community as the Arts Enrichment teacher in the after-school program. She is eager to teach at the Montessori School that she also attended as a child. Painting is an integral part of Nicole’s life and she continues to pursue this passion at her artist studio in Boston.