Experienced. Passionate.
And just as dedicated to your kids as you are.
Pinewoods is fortunate to have a group of educators that care deeply about inspiring children with a love of learning.
Joy Langley-Parsons
Joy Langley-Parsons is the Toddler teacher at Pinewoods. Joy worked at Pinewoods for 5 years as a substitute teacher before entering training for Montessori toddler certification and doing a self-directed internship at Pinewoods from 2011-2012. Joy received her Infant/Toddler Montessori certification in June 2012 and is continuing to work towards a degree in Early Childhood Education. In her spare time, Joy enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time with family and friends.
JoAnn Rubin
JoAnn Rubin has been with Pinewoods for fourteen years. She has a Master’s degree and her full Montessori teaching credential in Early Childhood and both Lower and Upper elementary. JoAnn is a talented teacher loved by children and parents alike. She is dedicated to each student in her class and is gifted at providing individualized instruction based on the unique learning style of each.
Her students have consistently achieved well above average in reading, writing, and math. Her classroom is rich with literature, science, geography, history, geometry, and art activities.
In her free time, JoAnn enjoys spending time with her family, gardening and going to tag sales.
Her students have consistently achieved well above average in reading, writing, and math. Her classroom is rich with literature, science, geography, history, geometry, and art activities.
In her free time, JoAnn enjoys spending time with her family, gardening and going to tag sales.
Jennifer Sewell, Head of School
This will be Jennifer's 10th year at Pinewoods. She has a Bachelor’s degree and, in addition to her full Montessori credential in Early Childhood Education, is a certified Kindermusik teacher.
Jennifer is committed to the traditional Montessori philosophy and has created a classroom environment that is not only stimulating and fun but teaches peace and respect. Working with children with unique occupational therapy needs is a special interest of hers. In addition to teaching one of our primary classes, Jennifer provides music for all of our students – primary through elementary.
Jennifer also teaches our extended-day program for kindergarten age students. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, Autumn. as well as cooking, decorating and volunteer work.
Jennifer is committed to the traditional Montessori philosophy and has created a classroom environment that is not only stimulating and fun but teaches peace and respect. Working with children with unique occupational therapy needs is a special interest of hers. In addition to teaching one of our primary classes, Jennifer provides music for all of our students – primary through elementary.
Jennifer also teaches our extended-day program for kindergarten age students. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, Autumn. as well as cooking, decorating and volunteer work.
Lindsay Ungewitter
This is Lindsay's fifth year at Pinewoods. She has a bachelors, degree in education and earned her Montessori early childhood credential in 2007 from the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in Apex, North Carolina.
Lindsay worked in a public Montessori school teaching Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten before moving to Efland. She and her husband live on the farm where he works. Her love of animals, the outdoors and gardening make this an ideal living situation for them both. She is often called upon to help with farm chores and activities and so strives to bring her connection with nature and her compassion for all living things into the classroom. Lindsay and her husband welcomed their son, Edward, in 2012.
Lindsay worked in a public Montessori school teaching Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten before moving to Efland. She and her husband live on the farm where he works. Her love of animals, the outdoors and gardening make this an ideal living situation for them both. She is often called upon to help with farm chores and activities and so strives to bring her connection with nature and her compassion for all living things into the classroom. Lindsay and her husband welcomed their son, Edward, in 2012.
Brandi Austin
Toddler Assistant
Brandi is originally from Vermont, and moved to North Carolina in 2010. She currently lives in Durham with her husband and our dog Bella. She is enrolled as a student at Meredith College working to obtain her degree in Child Development, and plans to get her masters in K-6 Education after that. She truly believes in the Montessori philosophies and approach to education, and is so excited to be a part of the Pinewoods Montessori staff. In her spare time Brandi loves going to the beach, reading, scrapbooking, and spending time with her family and friends.
Brandi is originally from Vermont, and moved to North Carolina in 2010. She currently lives in Durham with her husband and our dog Bella. She is enrolled as a student at Meredith College working to obtain her degree in Child Development, and plans to get her masters in K-6 Education after that. She truly believes in the Montessori philosophies and approach to education, and is so excited to be a part of the Pinewoods Montessori staff. In her spare time Brandi loves going to the beach, reading, scrapbooking, and spending time with her family and friends.
Summer Bell
Elementary Assistant / Art Teacher
This will be Summer’s first year teaching at Pinewoods and she couldn’t be more excited! She is a recent graduate from UNC-Charlotte with a BA in Psychology and has a strong dedication to children’s development and their educational needs. She believes in teaching through creativity using each child’s individual strengths. In the past she has taught in Montessori schools, been a traveling art teacher, and coached gymnastics. She is a newly wed and has a three old daughter named Payson who keeps her on her toes, but when she finds free time she enjoys painting,
scrapbooking, photography and thrifting.
This will be Summer’s first year teaching at Pinewoods and she couldn’t be more excited! She is a recent graduate from UNC-Charlotte with a BA in Psychology and has a strong dedication to children’s development and their educational needs. She believes in teaching through creativity using each child’s individual strengths. In the past she has taught in Montessori schools, been a traveling art teacher, and coached gymnastics. She is a newly wed and has a three old daughter named Payson who keeps her on her toes, but when she finds free time she enjoys painting,
scrapbooking, photography and thrifting.
Stephanie Wilson
Primary Intern/Extended Day Teacher
This will be Stephanie’s first year at Pinewoods. She is currently working on her Early Childhood (3-6) Montessori Certification through CMTE/NC. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English with Secondary Licensure from Martin Methodist College in 2010 and taught for two years in the public school system. After studying the Montessori Method she believes wholeheartedly in the philosophy. She cannot wait to
see it taught and lived within the walls of Pinewoods Montessori School.
She is married to a wonderful man named Bryan who is a student at Duke Divinity School at the pastor of Lea’s Chapel United Methodist Church. She loves playing the piano, reading, Jazzercise, and playing with her her pug named Jasper.
This will be Stephanie’s first year at Pinewoods. She is currently working on her Early Childhood (3-6) Montessori Certification through CMTE/NC. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English with Secondary Licensure from Martin Methodist College in 2010 and taught for two years in the public school system. After studying the Montessori Method she believes wholeheartedly in the philosophy. She cannot wait to
see it taught and lived within the walls of Pinewoods Montessori School.
She is married to a wonderful man named Bryan who is a student at Duke Divinity School at the pastor of Lea’s Chapel United Methodist Church. She loves playing the piano, reading, Jazzercise, and playing with her her pug named Jasper.
Kim McNally
Physical Education Instructor
Kim McNally earned a BS in Health Psychology from Duke University and an EdD in Kinesiology from UNC Greensboro. In addition to teaching Physical Education at Pinewoods, Kim works as a Lecturing Fellow at Duke University teaching undergraduate courses in Physical Education and Health; and conducting collaborative research at Duke Children’s Hospital related to primary care-based physical activity and obesity interventions.
Kim’s pedagogical philosophy is to guide children to 1) explore foundational movement skills, 2) feel comfortable in their bodies, and 3) identify movement activities they enjoy so they will be confident and intrinsically motivated to be active throughout their lifetime. Kim has 2 children enrolled at Pinewoods and enjoys reading, running, and exploring the outdoors with her children in her free time.
Kim McNally earned a BS in Health Psychology from Duke University and an EdD in Kinesiology from UNC Greensboro. In addition to teaching Physical Education at Pinewoods, Kim works as a Lecturing Fellow at Duke University teaching undergraduate courses in Physical Education and Health; and conducting collaborative research at Duke Children’s Hospital related to primary care-based physical activity and obesity interventions.
Kim’s pedagogical philosophy is to guide children to 1) explore foundational movement skills, 2) feel comfortable in their bodies, and 3) identify movement activities they enjoy so they will be confident and intrinsically motivated to be active throughout their lifetime. Kim has 2 children enrolled at Pinewoods and enjoys reading, running, and exploring the outdoors with her children in her free time.
