Meet Our Staff

 

We are extremely fortunate to employ a staff of dedicated, caring professionals who have diverse cultural backgrounds. The following countries of origin are currently represented among the staff: USA, UK, France, India, Bolivia, Trinidad, Haiti, Liberia, and Jamaica.

Ms. Angelina Bonas – Montessori Assistant, Mrs. Burr's class
Ms. Fenella Morriss – Montessori Assistant, Mrs. Burr's class
Ms. Gloria Teran – Montessori Assistant, Mrs. Burr's class & day care staff

Mrs. LaVerne Stevens – Montessori Assistant, Mrs. Babbar's class
Ms. Barbara Pierre – Assistant, Mrs. Babbar's class & day care staff

Mrs. Irene Smith – Montessori Assistant, Mrs. Kelsey's class
Mrs. Yanick Louis – Assistant, Mrs. Kelsey's class & day care staff

Mrs. Agnes Nelson – Day care supervisor
Mrs. Diane Powell – Computer and Art Instruction
Madame Fanny Rat-Ferel – French Instruction

In addition to having an international staff, the children and their families come to us from many different countries and continents. Parents are associated with the various embassies, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank, the National Institutes of Health and several international corporations.

We always welcome our friends and neighbors from around the world.

Lead Teacher Biographies

 

Gertrude A. Burr

The Bethesda Montessori School is under the direction of Gertrude A. Burr. She has been a certified teacher in the Montessori System since 1978 and holds a diploma from the Association Montessori Internationale, which she received at the Washington Montessori Institute. In addition to her dedication to teaching in the Montessori field, Mrs. Burr obtained a bachelor of music degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where she pursued graduate studies. She taught vocal music for several years in public and private schools in the Washington area. Mrs. Burr has been teaching at the Bethesda Montessori School since 1983.



 


Neerja Babbar

Neerja Babbar heads another class at The Bethesda Montessori School. Mrs. Babbar received a School Certificate diploma from the University of Cambridge, in England, and completed her undergraduate studies with majors in psychology and sociology from the University of Bhopal, in India. She then obtained a diploma in library science from the University of Rajasthan and nursery teacher training from the Directorate of Education, New Delhi, India. She taught kindergarten classes for three years before moving to the United States. In 1990, Mrs. Babbar completed the Primary Montessori Teachers training at the Washington Montessori Institute and received a diploma from the Association Montessori Internationale. She has taught primary Montessori classes in the Washington area since 1990. She has been teaching at The Bethesda Montessori School since 1993.




Debbie Kelsey

Our third classroom is headed by Debbie Kelsey. Mrs. Kelsey is a Bethesda native. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from Hillsdale College, in Michigan, and returned to Maryland to attend the Washington Montessori Institute. Mrs. Kelsey received her diploma from the Association Montessori Internationale in 1973 and been teaching primary Montessori classes in the Washington area since then. She began teaching at The Bethesda Montessori School in 1994. Mrs. Kelsey is an avid triathlete, competing and winning races around the country.

 

 

Our Teachers
 

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Gertrude A. Burr

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Neerja Babbar

 

 
Debbie Kelsey 

 

 

 

The Bethesda Montessori School * P.O. Box 30439 * Bethesda, MD 20824 * 301-986-1260

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