Faculty and Staff

Christine Kovago

Christine Kovago

DIRECTOR AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPER

Christine Kovago is the Director of Pincushion Hill Montessori School, now celebrating her 40th year of devotion to the school. She began her career at Pincushion in 1978 after completing a BA in Early Childhood Education…

Christine Kovago is the Director of Pincushion Hill Montessori School, now celebrating her 40th 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 Kovago

Gus Kovago

BUSINESS MANAGER

Agoston (Gus) Kovago’s 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.
Agoston (Gus) Kovago’s 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 School Ambassador. His passions include photography, travel, biking and snorkeling.
Lisa Wyman

Lisa Wyman

BUSINESS DIRECTOR

Lisa Wyman is Pincushion Hill’s Business Manager and she is celebrating her 16th year at Pincushion. She attended Northeastern University, majoring in Accounting. Previously, she worked in the insurance industry for fourteen years.
Lisa Wyman is Pincushion Hill’s Business Manager and she is celebrating her 16th year at Pincushion. 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!
Alison Brooks

Alison Brooks

ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

Alison is excited to be joining the Pincushion team! She earned a B.A. in English Literature from Hartwick College and a Massachusetts Elementary Teaching License in Elementary Education from Framingham State University.
Alison is excited to be joining the Pincushion team! She earned a B.A. in English Literature from Hartwick College and a Massachusetts Elementary Teaching License in Elementary Education from Framingham State University. Alison brings with her 10 years of experience working in public and private education as well as directing an academic summer camp for seven years. In her latest role as Student Support Services Administrative Assistant at Maimonides School, she discovered her passion for administration in the field of education. She loves running, practicing yoga and spending time with friends and family. Alison is looking forward to being a member of the Pincushion community.

Our Teachers

Geetha Rajapske

Geetha Rajapakse

CHILDREN'S HOUSE TEACHER

Geetha is a qualified Montessori teacher from Sri Lanka and EEC certified. She has had experience teaching infants through Kindergarten age for over 15 years. She also has experience…

Geetha is a qualified Montessori teacher from Sri Lanka and EEC certified. She has had experience teaching infants through Kindergarten age for over 15 years. She also has experience in teaching children with learning differences. She enjoys cooking, classical music, and traveling. Geetha’s mission is to build children’s strengths while instilling a love for learning.

Terrie Craig pic

Terrie Craig

CHILDREN'S HOUSE TEACHER

Terrie received a B.A. in English and Spanish from Assumption College, a Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification in Early Childhood Education from Framingham State…
Terrie received a B.A. in English and Spanish from Assumption College, a Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification in Early Childhood Education from Framingham State University, a M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College, and a Post Master Certification in Early Childhood Research, Policy and Leadership from UMASS Boston. Terrie has a life-long love of learning and the desire to instill this in young children while developing their sense of self. This past summer, Terrie completed a Montessori training at the Harborlight Montessori School in Beverly. Outside of work, Terrie enjoys poetry and reading, hearing live music, hiking and camping, going to the beach, watching the Patriots, and spending time with family and friends.
Lavanya Vabai

Lavanya Vabai

CHILDREN'S HOUSE TEACHER

Lavanya Vabai has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Post Graduate Diploma in Mathematics which she has received in India. She also holds a certified degree in Montessori…
Lavanya Vabai has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Post Graduate Diploma in Mathematics which she has received in India. She also holds a certified degree in Montessori Early Childhood issued by the American Montessori Society and Master’s in Education from Gordon College, Massachusetts. Lavanya has been teaching Montessori Curriculum for the last 9 years and strongly believes Montessori’s educational emphasis on a practical and fun-filled learning environment truly makes learning easier. She also works at Lexington Singapore Math School as an after school Math Teacher. She enjoys teaching and always gets fascinated by how fast children can learn through their own experiences and interests. Her hobbies include cooking different cuisines, gardening, enjoys music and movies, and spending time with family. She recently moved to Hopkinton and is very excited to be a part of the team and teaching at Pincushion.
Sunita Mahalaha

Sunita Mahalaha

CHILDREN'S HOUSE TEACHER

Sunita received her A.S. in Early Childhood Education from Dean College, and she is currently working to complete a B.S. in Psychology.
Sunita received her A.S. in Early Childhood Education from Dean College, and she is currently working to complete a B.S. in Psychology. She has spent the last 15 years working as a teacher at various schools, along with being mother to her two college-age children. Sunita has developed a valuable skill set which she is excited to bring to Pincushion. Sunita is EEC Lead Preschool Teacher and First Aid certified. Some of Sunita’s hobbies include traveling the world, gardening in her backyard, cooking Indian food, and spending time with her family. She looks forward to coming in everyday and having the opportunity to make an impact on the lives of young children.
Carrie McEachin

Carrie McEachin

Elementary Teacher

Carrie graduated from Flagler College with a B.A. in Elementary Education. She holds a K-6 teaching certification along with Reading and ESOL endorsements.
Carrie graduated from Flagler College with a B.A. in Elementary Education. She holds a K-6 teaching certification along with Reading and ESOL endorsements. She holds her Early Childhood Certification through the state of Massahcusetts. Carrie has been teaching for eight years and loves every aspect of it! She is looking forward to being a part of the Pincushion Hill family. In her free time, Carrie enjoys exploring new places with her dog, Stella. She also loves traveling and taught English while living in Prague.
Sarah Jones

Sarah Jones

Assistant Teacher

Sarah received a B.A. in English Literature from Assumption College and an M.S. in Elementary Education with Certification in Grades 1-6 from…
Sarah received a B.A. in English Literature from Assumption College and an M.S. in Elementary Education with Certification in Grades 1-6 from Eastern Connecticut State University. Prior to joining Pincushion, Sarah gained critical experience in children’s science studies doing summer camp and public programming at the EcoTarium in Worcester, MA for six years. She fell in love with Montessori education and is excited to teach and learn while being a part of the Pincushion community. Sarah enjoys baseball, reading, warm weather, the company of her greyhound, Luna, and rabbit, Sebastian, and watching movies with friends.
Alexandria Pesa

Alexandria Pesa

Music Teacher

Alexandria Pesa is a licensed music educator whose goal is to teach children to love…

Alexandria Pesa is a licensed music educator whose goal is to teach children to love, appreciate, and excel in the musical arts. Alexandria believes that music is not only an integral part of life, but also an essential part of every child’s education. She also believes that music has the unique ability to heal those who partake in and listen to it, as she feels it allows an individual to fully express and discover himself or herself through music’s harmonies, melodies, and rhythmic patterns.

Alexandria is experienced with a wide range of student populations and demographics, having had the opportunity to work with students of all age ranges and ability levels. In addition, Alexandria has worked as an associate and private instructor at her family-owned music store, Bella Music Center, in Norton Massachusetts, since its grand opening in 2015. Alexandria is a Classically-trained vocalist, and was a member of the Massachusetts District and All State Choir in 2016 and 2017, culminating in two annual choral performances at Boston’s Symphony Hall. In 2019, Alexandria auditioned for and received the Elsie P. Johnson Music Fund, awarded by Bridgewater State University. More recently, in 2021, Alexandria auditioned for and received the Frieda Rand Music Endowment Fund for Performance Studies and Barbara LaFrance Scholarship, also awarded by Bridgewater State University. Alexandria received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music, with concentrations in Music Education and Pre-Music Therapy, from Bridgewater State University in 2021. Alexandria excelled in her studies at Bridgewater State University, being awarded the rank of Magna Cum Laude.

Annie Harrington

Annie Harrington

Art Teacher

Annie Harrington, born in Framingham, MA, fell in love with art at a very young age.

Annie Harrington, born in Framingham, MA, fell in love with art at a very young age. Her grade school teachers all recognized her passion for both creating and teaching art and inspired her to pursue it. In college, Annie interned at the Danforth Art Museum and the Maude Morgan Arts Center where she taught after school art programs. She then became the Arts Director at a summer camp in Acton, MA, where she stayed for four years. While an undergrad at Lesley University she studied abroad in Florence, Italy for a semester where she acquired her love for the history of Renaissance Art. Through all these experiences she developed a passion for creating art as a means of bringing more light, beauty, and understanding into the world and to our youth. She strives to inspire young children to explore a world full of art and to use art as a way to conceptualize the things around us. Annie has her master’s in Visual Art Education from Lesley University and is very excited to join the teaching team at Pincushion Hill. She now spends most of her time painting commissioned murals or portraits for the community and continuing her work studying social and emotional development through the arts.
Desiree Mottard

Desiree Mottard

Movement and Mindfulness Teacher

Desiree is the founder and creator of Movement and Mindfulness.
Desiree is the founder and creator of Movement and Mindfulness. Desiree teaches meditation , breathing, yoga and mindfulness to adults and children. Her business private sessions as well as a 30 day program. Desiree is passionate about teaching children breathing techniques and mindfulness strategies. Desiree is excited to return to Pincushion Hill teaching after school enrichments to children ages 2.9-12.
Pincushion Hill Montessori Schcool
Contact
508-881-2123

30 Green Street Ashland, MA 01721

ABOUT US

Pincushion Hill Montessori School has grown into a rich and full community during its 60-year history; a history that began long before the school came into existence. The original building that would later house part of Pincushion Hill Montessori School can be seen in the 1854 map of Ashland.

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