Our Faculty/Staff

Kathleen Gasbarro

Head of School

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Allie Shalin

Office Manager

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Jessica Alvezi

Director of Admissions/Associate Director

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Christina Gasbarro

Director of the Adolescent Program

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Michele Smith

Lead Teacher Upper Elementary

Stephanie Viano

Upper Elementary assistant, Visual Arts Teacher - EL and MS

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Ellen Brady

Lead Teacher Lower Elementary

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Olivia Connors

Assistant in Lower Elementary

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Momar Fall

Intern in All Year Montessori
Physical Education in Elementary

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Trilby Spring

Lead teacher of All Year Montessori Program

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Rachael Lane

Teacher in All Year Montessori Program

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MaryAnn Mulkern Sullivan

Outdoor Education Specialist
Assistant Teacher in All Year Montessori

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Stephanie Casal

Lead Teacher in Primary
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Amanda Martins

Joanna Hersey

Lead Teacher in Primary

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Elaine Mancini

All Rights Reserved | Woodside Montessori Academy

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Kathleen Gasbarro

Kathy’s Montessori journey began at Woodside when she joined the school as a classroom assistant while her first set of twins were three years old. It was there that she fell in love with the Montessori philosophy and began a career dedicated to children, educators, and Montessori education.

Kathy holds both Early Childhood and Elementary I credentials from the American Montessori Society (AMS). She earned a Master of Education in Instructional Technology from Lesley University and a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Business School. She is also a Cornell Master Beekeeper, bringing her passion for nature, environmental education, and beekeeping into her work with children and educators.

Since 2000, Kathy has presented at AMS international conferences on topics including technology, art and mindfulness, STEM, beekeeping in the Montessori adolescent program, and the integration of art and writing. She has also served as a keynote speaker at a New Hampshire Montessori symposium, presenting on robotics, coding, and STEM integration.

An AMS teacher educator since 2005, Kathy has worked with adult learners throughout the United States as well as internationally in China and Ghana. In 2017, she helped open Nikabom Sundrops Montessori School in Ohurase, Ghana, where she also supported and trained teachers.

At the heart of Kathy’s work is a deep belief in the potential of every child and in Montessori education’s ability to nurture independence, curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning. Outside of school, some of her favorite things are spending time with and cooking for her family, beekeeping, and making art.

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Allie Shalin

Allie has been a valued member of the Woodside community for the past four years and serves as our Office Manager. She enjoys getting to know our families and creating a warm, welcoming experience for everyone who walks through our doors. As a Woodside parent herself, Allie has seen firsthand the positive impact of our Montessori environment, as her children, Cameron and Emily, have both thrived and grown as members of the Woodside community.

Outside of Woodside, Allie enjoys spending time with her husband, their children, and their many animals. She is grateful to be part of a community that feels like an extension of her own family.

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Jessica Alvezi

Jessica has been a valued part of the Woodside Montessori community for over 20 years. As a dedicated educator, she has a deep appreciation for the Montessori philosophy and the many ways it supports children as they grow and learn. Jessica especially loves the Montessori environment because it encourages children to develop independence, confidence, curiosity, and a genuine love of learning. She enjoys creating an environment where children feel respected, supported, and empowered to explore at their own pace.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Jessica serves as Woodside Montessori Academy’s Director of Admissions, where she welcomes and supports new families throughout the admissions process. She enjoys getting to know each family, helping them learn about the Montessori approach, and making the transition to Woodside a warm and positive experience.

Outside of school, Jessica is a proud mom of three children. She enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, playing cards with her children, spending time with animals, and cooking. Her love of children, family, and learning is at the heart of everything she brings to the Woodside community.

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Christina Gasbarro:

Christina has been part of the Woodside community for 25 years and is a devoted and enthusiastic adolescent educator. In addition to her work at Woodside, she serves as Program Coordinator for the Montessori Schools of Massachusetts, a statewide advocacy organization. Christina holds a BS in Sociology and Women's Studies from Bridgewater State University; an MS in Medical Sociology from Portland State University; a CAGS in Women, Politics, and Public Policy from UMass; an adolescent Montessori credential from NAMTA; and is currently pursuing an EdD in Educational Leadership focusing on curriculum and instruction.

Christina’s favorite part of working with Montessori adolescents is guiding them toward adulthood and independence in healthy, meaningful ways through real-world experiences. She especially values place-based learning and opportunities that connect students with their broader community. For the last 23 years, Christina and her Middle School students have participated in the Charles River Watershed Association’s monthly water-sampling program. Their work with CRWA has been recognized with the organization’s Youth Leadership Award and a Youth Courage of Conscience Award from the Peace Abby. She also loves traveling with her students and giving them opportunities to learn about the world by experiencing it firsthand.

An adventurer at heart, Christina was once a whitewater rafting guide and, more recently, has guided canoe trips along the Charles River with Mass Audubon. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her two children, both of whom attended Woodside from age 2.9 through eighth grade.

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Stephanie Viano:

Hello! My name is Steph and I'm the Assistant Teacher in Upper Elementary, as well as the Art Teacher for Lower El, Upper El, and Middle School! I have worked at Woodside in several different roles over the years and am excited to be back again for this school year. I have an undergraduate from La Salle University and a Master's in Education from UMass Boston. I have worked in arts education for more than 25 years and have been a classroom teacher, teaching both history and art, for more than ten years. I love working in Montessori education because it fosters a sense of independence, curiosity, and creativity in children. When I'm not teaching, I love to hike, garden, make art, and travel!

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Ellen Brady:

Hi, I’m Ellen, and I’m a Lower Elementary teacher here at Woodside. This is my sixth year at Woodside, and I feel incredibly lucky to be doing work that I truly love. My Montessori journey began when I was a teenager at Emmanuel College in Boston, where I took my Primary Montessori courses and first discovered how much Montessori resonated with me. I earned my degree in Elementary Education, and after Covid, I found my way back to Montessori and completed my Montessori Lower Elementary training through METTC. What I love most about Montessori is watching children discover who they are as learners and seeing their confidence grow as they tackle something that once felt impossible. I love the independence, curiosity, creativity, and humor that children bring to the classroom, and I especially love those moments when they realize, “I can do this!” Outside of school, I enjoy sewing.

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Olivia Connors:

My name is Olivia and I am an assistant in lower elementary beginning this year! The past two years I worked as an assistant in upper elementary. I have a public education teaching background, but after discovering Montessori for my children, who currently attend Woodside, I fell in love with Montessori education and am now pursuing my credential! I have three boys and a dog named Maisy. In my free time, I like to bake, hike, and read. I am so happy to be a part of Woodside and am excited for another great year!

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Momar Fall:

My name is Momar, and I am a teacher in our All Year Primary classroom at Woodside Montessori Academy. While working in the corporate world, I spent my off time working with young children as a basketball coach, a Math and French tutor and now as a Montessori teacher. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, writing movie scripts and exercising.

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Trilby Spring:

I started with Woodside in 1993 and I’ve continued to love teaching to this day. My children grew up at Woodside from primary to eighth grade. My girls and I have many years of wonderful roots here. Outside of school I spend my time exercising, adore time with my dogs, and good food! If I were not teaching I would spend my time assisting older people with everyday life and drive a school bus.

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Rachael Lane:

I began at Woodside in 2015. I was drawn by the warmth of the adults and children I met, then hooked by Montessori principles and methods. I was able to work in different classrooms and see how Montessori works at different levels from primary to elementary to middle school before finding my home in AYM. I am still astounded at the community here and how it is able to grow kind, confident, and capable people who look out for one another.

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MaryAnn Mulkurn Sullivan:

Maryann Sullivan first became part of the Woodside community as a parent volunteer nearly 20 years ago and has spent the past eight years working in the classroom. Her favorite part of being at Woodside is sharing meaningful, hands-on experiences with children, especially in our beautiful and vibrant gardens. Gardening offers children the opportunity to learn through nature, develop independence, care for their environment, and experience the joy of watching something grow through their own work.

From planting tiny seeds to caring for the plants and eventually harvesting what they have grown, Maryann loves watching the children experience these moments of discovery and accomplishment. Seeing the pride on their faces when they harvest something they grew themselves is truly priceless!

Outside of Woodside, Maryann enjoys hiking, gardening, and spending time with her four wonderful children.

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Stephanie Casel:

My name is Stephanie Casal and I am the lead teacher of the Evergreen classroom. I’ve been teaching at Woodside for 12 years and have been a Montessori educator for 15. I am licensed through the state of MA for Early Childhood Education along with having a Montessori certification. Watching children explore and discover their passion for learning has been my favorite part of being an educator and honoring that process for each child is different. In my free time, I enjoy painting, crafting and reading. A good DIY project is my favorite! My husband and I also love to find hidden gems around New England to visit.

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Joanna Hersey:

I’m Jo, and I’m the Lead Teacher in the Apple Tree classroom at Woodside Montessori. This is my sixth year at Woodside, where I’ve had the joy of working with children in several different roles, including teaching our Transitional/Kindergarten enrichment program. I love the way Montessori encourages children to be curious, independent, and mindful, while honoring who they are as individuals. Outside of school, I love visiting museums, going to concerts, spending time outdoors, and exploring new places with my daughter.