Faculty and Staff
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!
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
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
DMINISTRATIVE 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 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
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.
Sutapa Sengupta
CHILDREN'S HOUSE ASSISTANT TEACHER
Sutapa’s educational background is in Liberal Arts and Computer Software. She is EEC certified through the Department of Early Education and Care, and has taught children at the nursery…
Sutapa’s educational background is in Liberal Arts and Computer Software. She is EEC certified through the Department of Early Education and Care, and has taught children at the nursery, pre-K, and kindergarten levels. Sutapa is also an avid musician, and teaches North Indian Classical music. She is excited to help her students learn and grow. One of her favorite parts of teaching is the unique curiosity and perspective that children have. She always feels like she is learning from them as much as they are learning from her. Sutapa’s hobbies include gardening, photography, and baking with her daughter, who just graduated from college.
Rachel Keller
CHILDREN'S HOUSE TEACHER
Rachel earned a B.A. in Communications and a B.A. in Journalism from Keene State College. After moving to Charleston, SC, she discovered the Montessori philosophy…
Rachel earned a B.A. in Communications and a B.A. in Journalism from Keene State College. After moving to Charleston, SC, she discovered the Montessori philosophy and knew it was her life’s purpose. Rachel moved to Virginia to complete her AMS Early Childhood credential and taught at a small Montessori school in Norfolk, VA for the last 3 years. Rachel likes hiking, cooking, and going to the beach. She has recently returned to New England to be closer to family, and is so grateful and excited to start at Pincushion Hill!
Sunita Mahalaha
CHILDREN'S HOUSE ASSISTANT 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.
Lila Boutaghou
SUPPORT TEACHER
Lila is our new Support Teacher, working with children in our classrooms and well as in our after school program. Lila Boutaghou, pronounced Botago…
Lila is our new Support Teacher, working with children in our classrooms and well as in our after school program. Lila Boutaghou, pronounced Botago, is a mother of two little boys, and she moved recently to the community from the South Shore. Lila studied Management and Economics in Algeria and received her professional diploma from the Institute of Insurance in Paris. In 2013, she graduated from BHCC as a Finance major and went to Suffolk University, but her destiny decided differentially. The education of her own children directed her life into a new path and she decided that the best place for her was inside schools. Lila worked in Downtown Boston for two and a half years in a Montessori school as a Floating Teacher and she taught Arabic from infant to pre-primary. She has worked as a translator and interpreter for PBS. Lila is determined in her life to enjoy the Air, the Earth, and Water at any place she’ll be.
Jennifer Gillen
ELEMENTARY TEACHER
Jennifer studied Biology and Environmental Science at Bard College in upstate New York. After doing biological conservation and field research…
Jennifer studied Biology and Environmental Science at Bard College in upstate New York. After doing biological conservation and field research for the Forest Service in Oregon, Jennifer moved to Massachusetts. Wanting to share her love of science and nature, she became a certified elementary teacher for grades 1-6 and has worked as a first grade teacher for the past 3 years in Everett. She is very excited to start at Pincushion Hill!
Becky Negrone
Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher
Becky is a mother, licensed special educator, and a certified children’s yoga instructor.
Becky is a mother, licensed special educator, and a certified children’s yoga instructor. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Moderate Special Needs. Becky taught within the Newton Public Schools for ten years, prior to having children of her own and opening a small children’s center. The Mindful Child is a center for social emotional wellness located in North Framingham. Her mission is to help cultivate every child’s potential. Through the use of the known benefits of yoga and mindfulness, Becky encourages children to love themselves, face their fears, and lead heart-centered lives with pride and courage. She is so pleased to be bringing her yoga enrichment program to the Pincushion Hill Community.
Matthew Caporale
MUSIC TEACHER
Matthew attended the Berklee School of Music as a professional music major with concentration on education…
Matthew attended the Berklee School of Music as a professional music major with concentration on education and performance. He has been working with children of all ages for about 8 years, focusing on both ensemble and group classes as well as private instruction. Matthew has worked as music director aboard various cruise ships as well as leading groups and ensembles in the Boston area. He stays active in the musical community teaching privately and performing on a regular basis.
Frances Onate
ART TEACHER
Frances received a Bachelors degree in Art from Florida International University. She has been teaching art in various..
Frances received a Bachelors degree in Art from Florida International University. She has been teaching art in various mediums such as paint, sketch, and woodcraft for almost 4 years. She creates her own artwork on the side. Her work has been featured at a gallery at the Millander Center of Arts and Entertainment located in Miami, Florida. She also had the amazing opportunity to be an art director for Camp Danbee where she got to paint a variety of murals and two theater backdrops. Frances is looking forward to teaching the children many art mediums and encouraging them to create their own works of art.
Kevin Tahmoush
Snapology
Kevin Tahmoush is the owner/operator of Snapology of Hopedale. Snapology provides a fun…
Kevin Tahmoush is the owner/operator of Snapology of Hopedale. Snapology provides a fun, interactive environment for children to learn science, technology, engineering, art, math, and robotics concepts using LEGO® bricks, K’Nex and technology. Our programs are designed for children ages 2-14 and are inclusive. Currently providing afterschool STEAM programs for many school systems across MetroWest Massachusetts we are thrilled to begin weekly classes at Pincushion.
Erica Adelson
SPANISH TEACHER
Erica is our new Spanish Instructor, and she will be teaching Spanish to students in all of our classrooms.
Erica is our new Spanish Instructor, and she will be teaching Spanish to students in all of our classrooms. Erica is a Massachusetts native who has loved learning languages since she was a child. She began studying Spanish in middle school and soon added French, eventually becoming a tutor in both languages. In college, she complemented her language studies with Arabic and found a new focus. After serving as an Arabic tutor on the college staff, she graduated from Smith College with a major in Arabic & Middle Eastern Studies and a minor in Spanish. Erica continued teaching privately after college. In her current role as Assistant Director of RoLa Languages in Cambridge for the past 4 years, she teaches English, Spanish and French from preschool to adult age.
Tracy SanAntonio
PE TEACHER
Tracy SanAntonio is presently the owner and lead instructor of a mobile sports company named Itty Biddy Sports.
Tracy SanAntonio is presently the owner and lead instructor of a mobile sports company named Itty Biddy Sports. She has been the physical education specialist at Pincushion Hill Montessori School for 12 consecutive years now. In this capacity, she has worked with students ranging from the Children’s House through Elementary, Grade 6. Tracy has also taught after-school enrichments at Pincushion. She is a true advocate for health, fitness, and positive self-esteem and believes that all of these objectives can be achieved through the body in movement in an uplifting and enriching environment. She has four children and enjoys going to the beach whenever her busy schedule allows.