Early Childhood Educators

Coco earned a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce with a major in Management in the Philippines. After completing a two-year Preparatory Course in Nursing, Coco worked as a Certified Nursing Aide. Her interest in education and affinity for children led her to a teaching position in another school prior to joining HPMS. In 2010, she joined HPMS where she has been enjoying her role as Assistant Teacher in the Bridge and Early Childhood Programs.

Evelyn has a BA in Education and Spanish with a minor in Psychology from Rutgers University, as well as a Spanish Literature Certificate from the University of Salamanca, Spain. She is a state-certified elementary teacher. Evelyn has experience teaching in both charter and private schools. Her passion for Montessori education and philosophy began almost three years ago, when she first stepped foot in Ocean Room. After several years in Ocean Room, Evelyn is excited to embark on teaching Spanish to our Early Childhood friends!

Jaclyn has a BA in Justice Studies from Montclair State University and a MA in Criminal Justice from New Jersey City University. In 2014, she attended the Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE) for her Montessori training. Previously, she worked with a young boy with special needs, where she learned alternative methods of teaching. She has also assisted a program where she helped teach Montessori students how to solve the Rubik’s Cube, strengthening cognitive skills for problem solving, as well as encouraging creative and critical thinking. She is celebrating nine years at HPMS. Jaclyn is also a HPMS parent and looks forward to her two children continuing their education in the Early Childhood and Bridge programs!

Justine has a BS in Education from Bucknell University, where she focused on Elementary and Early Childhood. Justine has also studied ESL. She joined HPMS in 2010, and after a year of being an assistant, she decided to pursue her American Montessori Society certification through a training program at the Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE). Justine has also served as a supervisor for new teachers who are pursuing their American Montessori Society (AMS) teaching certification. She is now entering her ninth year at HPMS and is delighted to return to the Blue Room this year.

Katy, Literacy Specialist, has a PhD in education from the University of Michigan, a M.A. as a Literacy Specialist from Teachers College, and a BA in Modern Languages. She has both Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary teaching certifications through the American Montessori Society. She has 10 years of experience supporting literacy and cross curricular-integration in K-8 schools, including four years as the literacy teacher in a Montessori elementary classroom. She now coordinates the HPMS Literacy program, supports kindergarten literacy in small-group settings, works with students who need extra literacy support, maintains and curates the library, and organizes book fairs. She can often be found with her nose in a book. Some of her favorite authors include Eoin Colfer, Margaret Mahy, Joan Aiken, and Dr. Seuss.

Kristi, is the oldest of six children and knew from a young age that she wanted to be an educator. She has an M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Hunter College, an AMS Early Childhood teaching credential from Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE), and a B.S. in Visual Arts Education from SUNY New Paltz. Kristi has 17 years of teaching experience in both Montessori and progressive settings. In the past, she has been a supervising teacher for Montessori interns and has represented PCTE as a Field Consultant. Kristi joined HPMS in the summer of 2007 and has taught in various Early Childhood classrooms over the years. She is excited about stepping into a full-time administrative role this year, supporting her colleagues and the larger HPMS community. Kristi’s passions outside of teaching include listening to live music, spending time in nature, and playing with her daughter, Stella Bird, who is a second grader in Earth Room this year! She also welcomed her son last summer, who will be joining our Bridge Program this year. She believes that children mirror the adults in their life, and she strives to always be worthy of imitation.

Lena has been teaching in Montessori schools since 2002. It was this experience that inspired her to continue her training and receive her Montessori certification in Early Childhood Education. She went on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Art/Education for grades K-8. Lena is returning to HPMS after spending the last year abroad.

Lilian holds a BA in Political Science and a Postgraduate diploma in Developmental Language Studies. Before joining HPMS, she worked for 9 years as a Head preschool teacher. She enjoys spending time after work with her children, ages 5 and 3, and going for scooter rides in the neighborhood.

Maria Josefina “Jing” has a BA in Communication Arts from Maryknoll College in Manila and earned her Certification in Education from the University of the Philippines. She completed her Montessori training and began her teaching career at the Operation Brotherhood Montessori Center in Manila, Philippines. She has been a Montessori teacher for 30 years. In 2001, she started teaching elementary at the Franciscan Montessori Earth School in Portland, Oregon before she moved to New Jersey, where she focused on teaching at the early childhood level in 2002. Ms. Jing has been with HPMS since 2010. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Melissa J. studied at the San Fernando Technical Institute of Trinidad and Tobago and worked in the Accounting and Business Management field in her home country before traveling to the United States where she worked as a Council Aide to Mayor Steven Fulop in Jersey City. Melissa born and raised in the beautiful island of Trinidad where she grew up visiting the neighboring islands and other countries having a love for nature and natural resources. Melissa has chosen to pursue a career in teaching as she sees the importance of each child’s needs and wants to truly facilitate the learning process for every child. She earned her Montessori Teaching certification through West Side Montessori Teacher Education Program (WSM-TEP) and is excited to enter her ninth year at HPMS and to join the Silver Room. Additionally, in her spare time, she volunteers in local soup kitchens supporting her community and embraces individuals as they are.

Poppy is a dedicated teacher with a love for education and learning. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Guilin University of Technology in China and has been working with young children for the past four years. Poppy is very committed to her ongoing professional development and is currently pursuing her Montessori certification in Early Childhood from the West Side Montessori School Teacher Education Program (WSMS-TEP). Poppy is passionate about being in the classroom, working with children and watching them grow. She is very happy to join the HPMS community and looks forward to meeting everyone!

Seung Hee has been an Early Childhood teacher for over 23 years, holding a New York State certification (Birth ~ 2nd grade) and an AMS Early Childhood certification from Princeton Center for Teacher Education. She also has a B.A. in Physics, a M.S. in Science Education from Sookmyung University in South Korea, and a M.S. in Early Childhood Education from CCNY. Seung Hee has been working at HPMS since 2008, and this year is her fifth-year teaching in the Yellow Room.