Faculty Profiles

Virginia Collier, Head of School, is an experienced teacher and administrator of more than 30 years. Highly respected and recommended in the Montessori and traditional school communities, she has teaching experience in preschool, kindergarten, first and second grades in both private and public settings. Ginger received the honor of being nominated as the most outstanding teacher in New Hampshire in 1990. This is the fifth successful school that she founded during the past 25 years. She currently holds a Director II Certification through the Department of Education and Care, and is a state certified teacher. Ginger attended New England Montessori Teacher Education Center and received her Montessori Certification from the American Montessori Society. She graduated with a B.A. degree in Early Childhood Education.

Jane Haley, Primary Education Director, Children’s House Director and teacher, has worked with children at the primary level since 1996 having spent the three years prior to coming to the Sandwich Montessori School working as a lead teacher for the town of Mashpee. Since joining our faculty in 1999, Jane has helped the children with dramatic play, French, and enjoyed her experience in the Practical Life Room prior to becoming the lead teacher in the Montessori Room. Jane has a great love of the children and helps each work toward achieving his or her best. Jane has her Montessori education and certification through the American Montessori Society. She is the Director of the Children’s House and is our Primary Education Director. Jane has a B.A. degree in elementary education and is Director Certified by the Department of Early Education and Care.

Sarah Cowan, teacher at Children’s House,has been in education for most of her life as she is Ginger’s daughter. Officially she was a kindergarten teacher for six years prior to joining the staff at the Children’s House in 2001. Sarah has her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, her Master’s Degree in Reading, and is a Massachusetts state certified teacher. Following graduation, Sarah volunteered as an AmeriCorps representative under President Clinton’s Community Service Act. She lived on a college campus and spent the year organizing activities that united the college students and the local community. Sarah obtained her Montessori training and certification through the American Montessori Society Teacher Education Program in the early childhood area (3 - 6 year olds). She is Director II Certified by the Department of Early Education and Care.

Christine DeAngelis, teacher at Carriage House,was introduced to the teachings of Dr. Montessori when her daughter was 3 months old and began attending a Montessori-based school. After much independent study, she embraced the Montessori philosophy and pursued a career as a Montessori teacher. She worked as a toddler teacher at Montessori Beginnings for 3 years, starting the parent’s lending library and initiating a successful literacy program there. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in economics and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. Christine has been part of the Sandwich Montessori community since 2007 both as a parent and member of SMEAF. She is a Massachusetts certified teacher for preschool through 6th grade with her Montessori certification program through the Seacoast Center. She is a lead-teacher certified from the Department of Early Education and Care, a member of the American Montessori Society, NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children), International Reading Association and Omicron Delta Epsilon, an international honors society. Christine believes that a child’s educational experience facilitates their emotional and intellectual growth so that they may reach their full capacity as compassionate, critically-thinking and self-reliant human beings.

Nancy Dedrick, teacher at Children’s House, joined our faculty in the winter of 2007. Prior to moving to Sandwich, Nancy spent seventeen years working in the communications industry. Upon moving to the Cape she enjoyed many years as a stay at home mom volunteering in her children’s schools and within the community. Following two years of caring for Sarah’s young daughter, while she studied for her Montessori Certification through the American Montessori Society’s New England Montessori Teacher Education Center, Nancy joined our staff. Nancy’s love and respect of children will be appreciated by all who attend the Children’s House. Nancy is Lead Teacher Certified by the Department of Early Education and Care.

Lynn Demanche, teacher at Children's House, joined our faculty in the fall of 2005 following several years at home with her children. During that time Lynn was an active volunteer for the Mashpee Public Schools, both as a kindergarten aid and a math enrichment teacher. She worked as a substitute teacher, subbing at the Sandwich Montessori School in all levels during the 2004 – 2005 school year. Previously she worked for several years as a technical writer for a small consulting firm, and has prior experience in the travel/tourism industry. Lynn has a Masters Degree in Elementary Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. Lynn is Lead Teacher Certified by the Department of Early Education and Care. Lynn’s Montessori training is through the American Montessori Society Teacher Education Program in the early childhood area (3 – 6 year olds).

Mary Sarni Dempsey, teacher at Carriage House, is a seasoned professional with a long history in children’s education. After receiving a B.S. in Elementary Education, she spent a year teaching migrant worker’s children in Texas. Later, while living in Italy, she became aware of the Montessori educational program and upon returning to this country, enrolled in the Washington DC AMI certification program. She then helped establish Montessori in a Model Cities Project in Ohio. From there she moved to Gladwyne Montessori School in Pennsylvania and taught primary level students (3-6 year olds). Later she was sent to Bergamo, Italy for one year to obtain AMI accreditation for the elementary levels (6-12 year olds). After completing the program, she established the lower and upper elementary levels at the school and remained there until 1999. She then moved to Cape Cod with her husband. Mary is currently working part-time in our Elementary Program and is responsible for the Junior Great Books Program.

Kathleen Finucane, teacher at Carriage House,is a highly respected Montessori teacher. With her AMI infant and toddler certificate, Kathy began her Montessori teaching in 1983 at SAS Institute in Cary, NC, a company sponsored on-site Montessori school for employees’ children from the ages of six weeks to six years. As the first AMI trained person at SAS, Kathy helped establish their infant program. She spent eight years at this level before moving onto the Montessori Community School in Durham, NC where she taught for nine years at the elementary level prior to joining us in 2000. Kathy received her AMS 6-9 and 9-12 certification in 1992 and 1994. Prior to moving to the cape Kathy remained in NC following her graduation from Duke University in 1979. She also has her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education through Lesley University in Cambridge. Kathy is a concert violinist.

Kimberley Fitzgerald, teacher at Carriage House, joined the faculty at the Sandwich Montessori School in 1999. Kim shows great caring and sensitivity to the needs of children. Fellow teachers, children, and parents have recognized her as an enthusiastic asset in the classroom during her 8 years guiding the children in many areas of the curriculum at the Children’s House, prior to her moving onto the Carriage House in 2007. Volunteering in the local school and community has increased her awareness and interest in developing and enriching the lives of young children. Kim is Teacher Certified by the Department of Early Education and Care. Her Montessori training is through American Montessori Society. Kim worked in the business and marketing profession for 15 years and has a degree in Business Management.

Elizabeth Stella Ford, art teacher, joinedour community in 2002, first as a parent and active member of SMEAF, then joining our faculty as a well received teacher in 2007. Liz is a self-taught artist that has had various gallery shows in Seattle, Washington and the South Shore of Massachusetts. She has a playful nature that lends well to her interactions with the children. “…they teach me as much as I teach them. I take great delight in their accomplishments.” Liz is Teacher Certified by the Department of Early Education and Care.

Janet McCarthy, teacher at Children’s House,joined our faculty in 2006 and is enjoying being a part of our Montessori Family. Janet brings to us her years of experience in working with the public in the field of retail and business. She worked in the retail business for eight years while living in Sandwich. Prior to relocating to the Cape, Janet worked for fourteen years at Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Boston. As a working mother, Janet is familiar with fostering both creativity and independence in children. She offers a positive energy and kindness to all of those she works with, not to mention being an expert at multi-tasking! Children are naturally drawn to her nurturing personality. Janet is embracing this new chapter in her life and the Montessori experience. Janet is Teacher Certified by the Department of Early Education and Care.

Barbara Mercer, teacher at Carriage House,was a Special Educationteacher in the public school system for over fifteen years prior to joining the faculty at The Sandwich Montessori School at its inception. Following five years at the Children’s House as both the art teacher and one of the music instructors, Barbara joined the staff at the Carriage House in September 2003. The children, staff and families appreciate Barbara’s love for, gentle ways with, and appreciation of the children. Barbara’s formal teacher’s education is from Ohio University. She is teacher certified by the Department of Early Education and Care.

Grace Millard, teacher at Children’s House, received her Montessori Primary Diploma from the American Montessori Society. She began teaching in the Falmouth Public Schools in 1978 after several years of being at home with her children and working as a teacher assistant at Mullen-Hall School. She taught kindergarten for four years before becoming a first grade teacher and continuing her education in reading instruction. In 2001 she completed the year-long training to become a Reading Recovery Teacher. She continued to teach at Mullen-Hall as a Reading Recovery Teacher and school literacy coordinator until her retirement in 2007. Grace has a B.A. in English, an M. ED. in Leadership and Educational Administration and an M. Ed. in reading. She is state certified in reading. Grace is Director II Certified by the Early Department of Early Education and Care.

Wanda Rodgerson, Spanish teacher, is a graduate of Emmanuel College, Boston. She received a MA in Spanish at the University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain. She comes to Sandwich Montessori with more than 30 years experience teaching Spanish for the town of Easton, MA. Strongly committed to developing innovative, creative, and fun learning environments, Wanda works with various materials, ensuring a stimulating, interactive lesson in which children experience the joy of learning.