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.
Jimmy Acevedo, Elementary Spanish Teacher
Jimmy moved to North Carolina in 2013 to be near his fiancée. He is completing his degree in Aerospace Engineering, having recently taken a trip to Stennis Space Center with the NASA Aerospace Scholars Program. He is the student lead on his school’s High Altitude Balloon Payload team, a NASA-funded grant scheduled to launch in April 2016. He has a deep-seated passion for planetary science and deep-space exploration. Jimmy also has a passion for the Spanish language and is greatly enjoying teaching Spanish in a hands-on format. It is his second year with Pinewoods.
He enjoys chess, rock climbing, backpacking, gaming, tinkering with his computers, reading, and cleaning up after his two cats.
He enjoys chess, rock climbing, backpacking, gaming, tinkering with his computers, reading, and cleaning up after his two cats.
Nicole Anselmo, Primary Assistant
Nicole is a mother of two boys. Her oldest son is 4 and has attended Pinewoods since 18 months. It is her 2nd year assisting in a Montessori classroom.
After completing her BA in Psychology she lived abroad in Switzerland for 3 years working with special needs children at an international school. Her time abroad instilled a love of culture, language and travel. She holds a conversational level of French and would love to add Spanish to the list.
In her free time she enjoys taking her boys to the beach, out for walks and on play dates with friends.
After completing her BA in Psychology she lived abroad in Switzerland for 3 years working with special needs children at an international school. Her time abroad instilled a love of culture, language and travel. She holds a conversational level of French and would love to add Spanish to the list.
In her free time she enjoys taking her boys to the beach, out for walks and on play dates with friends.
Emily Armond, Lower Elementary Teacher
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Emily Armond has a B.S. in biology and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Georgia. In graduate school she focused on reading and literacy, ESOL, and social justice education. She worked in the public schools in Athens, GA for six years before finding a Montessori school that felt like home. She earned her AMS certificate for lower elementary in 2015.
In her spare time she loves to run, hike, swim, play in a band, and make puns. Her favorite things to teach are language and kindness. |
Brandi Austin, Transitional Primary Teacher
Brandi spent her first year at Pinewoods as the assistant toddler teacher. After completing her B.S. in child development at Meredith College, in December 2014, she is very excited to return as a lead teacher. She is currently working to obtain her Montessori certification.
To fulfill Meredith’s child development program requirements, Brandi has been placed in dozens of schools providing her with experiences and skills from a variety of settings, though she always knew she wanted to become a Montessori teacher. She completed her student teaching at a public Montessori school.
In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dogs Bella and Zeta, reading, scrapbooking, going to the beach, and spending time with her family and friends.
To fulfill Meredith’s child development program requirements, Brandi has been placed in dozens of schools providing her with experiences and skills from a variety of settings, though she always knew she wanted to become a Montessori teacher. She completed her student teaching at a public Montessori school.
In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dogs Bella and Zeta, reading, scrapbooking, going to the beach, and spending time with her family and friends.
Emily Bray, Office Manager
Emily moved to Hillsborough in 2015, after completing her BA in Anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Emily has worked in clerical positions at UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Charlotte, in the International Student and Scholar offices. While there, she learned that she very much enjoys working closely with students and parents. After college, she managed a women's clothing boutique.
Emily is a mother of a two year old boy who will began attending Pinewoods in August 2016. She is certified in Montessori Fundamentals by the Center for Guided Montessori Studies and has her first credential in Early Childhood Education. Emily is an after-school teacher at Pinewoods as well as our Office Manager.
In her spare time, Emily enjoys making stained glass art and spending time outdoors with her son and husband.
Emily is a mother of a two year old boy who will began attending Pinewoods in August 2016. She is certified in Montessori Fundamentals by the Center for Guided Montessori Studies and has her first credential in Early Childhood Education. Emily is an after-school teacher at Pinewoods as well as our Office Manager.
In her spare time, Emily enjoys making stained glass art and spending time outdoors with her son and husband.
Gabriela Bresciani, Toddler Assistant
Gabriela has a degree in administration and in 2006 was hired to teach Spanish at Cornerstone Montessori School in Colorado. There she met and fell in love with the Montessori method. Gabriela worked for 8 years as a Spanish teacher and assistant teacher for toddlers and primary children. In 2014, she moved to NC and completed her early childhood credentials. Gaby is a mother of two daughters and is a proud new grandmother. When not spending time with her grandson she enjoys exercising and loves to dance.
Sarah Cheung, Primary Assistant
Sarah is a new transplant from California and is excited to be assisting at Pinewoods. She began working with young children at age 11, spending her summers volunteering at a local inclusive preschool. Since then, she has known that helping kids grow and learn is one of the most rewarding and fascinating vocations and that children are highly intelligent and are great teachers themselves. Sarah has been a nanny and has spent many summers as a camp counselor. She taught English to young students in Hong Kong and taught yoga to children in Los Angeles. Her introduction to the Montessori method took place in 2012 in Portland, Oregon, where she lived and worked in a Montessori Casa which also functioned as an urban farm. Though working mostly on the farm side of things, she was able to observe the unique ways in which the Montessori method fosters self-reliance and curiosity.
Sarah has recently embarked on the greatest teaching and learning endeavour--that of being a mother. Her son was born in November of 2015 and continually inspires her to expand her understanding of the human condition and to cultivate the qualities of patience, wisdom, and compassion. Sarah is a professional musician and singer/songwriter and enjoys practicing martial arts and Yoga. She also loves learning about and spending time in nature and studying the relationships between humans and plants and animals.
Sarah has recently embarked on the greatest teaching and learning endeavour--that of being a mother. Her son was born in November of 2015 and continually inspires her to expand her understanding of the human condition and to cultivate the qualities of patience, wisdom, and compassion. Sarah is a professional musician and singer/songwriter and enjoys practicing martial arts and Yoga. She also loves learning about and spending time in nature and studying the relationships between humans and plants and animals.
Elizabeth Fish, Primary Assistant
Elizabeth Fish has fully embraced Maria Montessori philosophy and is currently an internship student of Early Childhood Teacher Certification program at Center for Guided Montessori Studies. She joins us from Garden Montessori School in Wesley Chapel Florida where she has been an extended care teacher and assistant teacher for the transitional classroom for 2 years. Elizabeth enjoys watching kids learn at their own pace and guiding them through their discoveries. She is the mother of a 6 year old boy who will be attending Pinewoods August 2016. Her educational background includes Africana Studies and her Haitian background brings unique perspective when working with children. Elizabeth's loves traveling, and in her free time she enjoys yoga, hiking, learning to play guitar and hanging out with her friends and family.
Joy Langley-Parsons, Toddler Teacher
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.
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.
Brittany Miller, Primary Teacher
This is Brittany's second year at Pinewoods. She is excited to be teaching in a primary classroom. She has a bachelors degree in psychology with a concentration in child development from UNC Chapel Hill, obtained her NC Early Childhood credential in 2013, and has her AMS Early Childhood Montessori certification.
Brittany has been working with children since the age of twelve in a variety of settings ranging from camp counselor to gymnastics instructor, but always knew she wanted to be a Montessori teacher.
In her free time Brittany enjoys reading, spending time with her cat Sebastian, and traveling with her husband.
Brittany has been working with children since the age of twelve in a variety of settings ranging from camp counselor to gymnastics instructor, but always knew she wanted to be a Montessori teacher.
In her free time Brittany enjoys reading, spending time with her cat Sebastian, and traveling with her husband.
Brittany Palacioz, Lower Elementary Teacher
Brittany Palacioz was born and raised on the Outer Banks and completed her undergraduate education at UNC Chapel Hill. After college, she interned at Pinewoods to earn her AMS Lower Elementary credential and stayed on to teach with Jo Ann for the next two years.
She returned to Pinewoods after completing her Master of Arts in Teaching at Meredith College. Brittany loves the ownership of their education and understanding of the world around them that children gain from learning in the Montessori classroom. Her favorite subjects to teach are Math and History.
Brittany currently lives in Chapel Hill. During her free time, she enjoyes cooking, reading, heading to the beach, and running with her dog, Buxton.
She returned to Pinewoods after completing her Master of Arts in Teaching at Meredith College. Brittany loves the ownership of their education and understanding of the world around them that children gain from learning in the Montessori classroom. Her favorite subjects to teach are Math and History.
Brittany currently lives in Chapel Hill. During her free time, she enjoyes cooking, reading, heading to the beach, and running with her dog, Buxton.
Jo Ann Rubin, Upper Elementary Teacher
Jo Ann Rubin has been with Pinewoods for sixteen 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 13th year at Pinewoods and 7th year as Head of School. She has a Bachelor’s degree, Early Childhood Administration Credential 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 believes in classroom environments that are not only stimulating but also teach peace and respect. Working with children with unique occupational therapy needs is a special interest of hers. In addition to being Head of School, Jennifer provides music for all of our students – primary through elementary. Jennifer enjoys spending time with her daughter, Autumn, as well as cooking, decorating and volunteer work.
Jennifer is committed to the traditional Montessori philosophy and believes in classroom environments that are not only stimulating but also teach peace and respect. Working with children with unique occupational therapy needs is a special interest of hers. In addition to being Head of School, Jennifer provides music for all of our students – primary through elementary. Jennifer enjoys spending time with her daughter, Autumn, as well as cooking, decorating and volunteer work.
Lindsay Ungewitter, Primary Teacher
This is Lindsay's seventh 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 is the proud mother of three. Her son Edward, is entering his 4th year at Pinewoods and Lindsay is very proud to have him in the Montessori setting.
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 is the proud mother of three. Her son Edward, is entering his 4th year at Pinewoods and Lindsay is very proud to have him in the Montessori setting.
Board of Directors 2016-2017
Cory FoyPresident, Board of Directors
Cory is the parent of a lower elementary and an upper elementary student at Pinewoods. He is currently Director of Corporate Training at The Iron Yard in Durham, NC. Cory and his wife believe strongly in the value of a Montessori education. Stuart BrownTreasurer, Board of Directors
Stuart is the parent of a Pinewoods alumnus and current Upper elementary student. She has been on the Board at Pinewoods for over 7 years. She is a group credit officer at SunTrust bank. Stuart enjoys travelling with her 2 sons. Nicole PaternoVice- Chair, Board of Directors
Nicole is the parent of a lower elementary student. Despite being fairly new to Pinewoods, the Paternos have come to really love everything about the school and it's tight knit community. Nicole works as a nurse practitioner. In her spare time, she enjoys baking and sewing. Kerry PlunketBoard member
Kerry Plunket is the mother of two Pinewoods students, Teddy (4) and James (2), and has been part of the Pinewoods community since 2013. She believes that Pinewoods Montessori is providing her sons with a great sense of independence and a love for learning while respecting their individual learning styles and interests. When she isn’t parenting, she works as the Director of Human Resources for a technical recruiting and staffing firm. Kerry hopes to apply her business skills and experience to assist Pinewoods in fulfilling its mission and in fostering its sense of community. In addition to enjoying time with her husband, Bob, their boys and two rescue dogs, Kerry likes to prepare (and eat) vegetarian cuisine, read, and travel |
Kim CadaSecretary, Board of Directors
Kim Cada moved to Hillsborough in 2010 and her three children began attending Pinewoods in 2013: Luke (6), Thomas (4), Ellen (4). Kim has a passion for children, education, graphic design, cooking, and annual attempts to grow a successful garden. She works in the high-tech industry in RTP and volunteers for the Durham County Guardian ad Litem program. Kim believes Montessori has positively shaped her children’s character and confidence. Kim has an MS in Adult Learning and has an interest in contributing to Pinewoods Montessori education program to ensure its continued success. Nicole AnselmoBoard member
Nicole Anselmo is very thankful to be part of the Pinewoods community. She has been an assistant for 2 years at Pinewoods and is currently assisting in Ms. Brandi's class. Being around children has always been important to her. Prior to coming to Pinewoods she lived and worked in Switzerland for three years nannying and working at a French speaking school specializing in autism. Her two sons, Luca and Xavier are also enrolled in Pinewoods. The Montessori approach to education is something she is passionate about and has helped her boys tremendously both academically and socially. Shannon JacksonBoard member
Shannon Jackson is the mother of Jett (6) who has attended Pinewoods for the past year and a half and will have her youngest son, Dashiell (2), starting in the fall. She has lived in the area for the past 18 years and has served on Orange County Advisory Boards, such as the Arts Commission, Commission for Women and Human Rights Relations Commission. She would like to join the Pinewoods Board to support Pinewoods in its continued success as a Montessori learning environment for students and shared community for Parents. She is excited to have an opportunity to contribute to the overall policy oversight and long term planning of the Pinewoods Montessori School Mission. |
