Elementary Faculty
Julie Adams – Lower Elementary Teacher
Julie Adams holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and AMS 6-9 certification. Julie first joined our faculty in 1985. She has the distinction of being MSA’s first elementary teacher and taught for six years before taking time off to raise her children. Julie rejoined our faculty in 1997 and is now Head Teacher in one of our Lower Elementary classes..
Astra Rodrigo – Lower Elementary Assistant Teacher
Astra Rodrigo holds a Master’s Degree from Loyola College in Maryland with an emphasis in Montessori Education. She has her A.M.I. certification (Association Montessori International) and holds a B.A. from Bard College, in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, in Fine and Performing Arts. Astra was also a student of the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in NYC and the Urbino Italy Dance Program. She is a Lower Elementary Assistant in Julie Adams’ classroom. Astra has worked our summer program, taught movement and music classes, and worked in family child care prior to her Montessori experience.
Sandy Blakeman – Lower Elementary Teacher
Sandy Blakeman received her B.A. in Literature at Bard College in 1981. She has been teaching since 1983. She took elementary education courses at SUNY-New Paltz in 1984 and received her Montessori certification for ages 6-9 in 1987 and 9-12 in 1989 at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education (CMTE) in New Rochelle, NY. Before coming to MSA in 1992, Sandy student taught in public schools in Germantown and Red Hook. She began her Montessori career at Windmill Montessori school in Brooklyn, NY and then at the Montessori House of Children in London, Ontario. Sandy has been involved in Montessori teacher education through CMTE and was also a consultant in the development of Albany Public Schools’ Montessori Magnet School.
Olga Febus - Lower Elementary Assistant Teacher
Olga Febus holds a B.A. in Psychology from Xavier Pontifical University in Columbia, South America, and a M.S from Florida International University. Olga holds Early Childhood Certification from CMTE. Olga is an assistant teacher in Sandy’s Lower El classroom.
Amy Poole - Lower Elementary Intern
Maryann Montgomery – Lower Elementary Teacher
Maryann has a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology from St. John’s University in NYC. Maryann has been a teacher for 15 year. She previously worked at Morningstar Montessori in Petersburg, is certified in Primary in AMS through the Center of Montessori Teacher Education and received her Elementary training through the North American Montessori Center.
Cindy Bishop – Upper Elementary Teacher
Cindy Bishop joined the Woodland Hill Montessori School community as a parent in the Fall of 2000, and soon discovered the wonders of Montessori. In 2001, Cindy attended CMTE NY at New Rochelle where she received her 6-9 training. She taught in the lower elementary classroom until June 2006. During the summer of 2006, Cindy returned to CMTE NY; this time for 9-12 training. She is currently working to fulfill her requirements for 6-12 certification. Currently, Cindy is co- teaching at the upper elementary level with Sherrie Clune and Andrew McClain. Cindy earned her B.A. in Psychology from the State University of New York at New Paltz (1993), and holds an A.O.S. in Culinary Arts.
Sherrie Clune
Sherrie Clune received her B.A. in Social Studies and Teacher Education from the State University of Albany (1996). She is NYS certified in Social Studies, grades 7-12. Sherrie came to MSA in 1996 and received her Montessori training from CMTE in New Rochelle, NY during the summer of 1998. Sherrie taught in the lower elementary at WHMS until 2006. In summer 2006, Sherrie studied Montessori education at CMTE for the upper elementary level and is now co-teaching with Cindy Bishop and Andrew McClain.
Andrew McClain – Upper Elementary Teacher
Andrew McClain began his teaching career in Africa in 1972, while studying for his B.A. in Sociology and English at the University of Zambia (1975). Upon his return to the US, he lived in Montana and Indiana, and taught at both public and Montessori schools. He received his teaching license for grades 5-9, from Indiana University (1985), and his 6-12 Montessori certification from the Center for Montessori Education in New Rochelle, NY (1987). Andrew has taught the upper elementary class since 1994. Additionally, he serves as faculty for the CMTE and was a consultant during the initial development of Albany Public Schools’ Montessori Magnet School.
Megan Donnelly-Heg – Upper Elementary Associate Teacher
Megan Donnelly-Heg joined the WHMS faculty in 2003. She received her Bachelors Degree from The Evergreen State College and Masters in Education from Loyola College in Maryland. Megan holds both an Association Montessori International certificate for ages 6-12 and a permanent PreK-6th grade New York State Public School Teacher certificate. In 2004, Megan opened the third Lower Elementary classroom at Woodland Hill. Currently, she teaches in the Upper Elementary.
Michele Praileau – Upper Elementary Assistant Teacher
Michele Praileau joins Woodland Hill this year as the assistant teacher in the Upper Elementary classroom. Michele holds a B.A. in Psychology from Binghamton University and an M.S. in Counselor Education from Syracuse University. She has worked with school- aged children as an Education Assistant at the Boys & Girls Clubs in NYC and with college students at Cornell University and the University at Albany. Michele has been a part of the WHMS community as a parent since fall 2002.