Faculty & Staff

Alisabeth Martindale

Admissions Director

Degrees: BA

Alisabeth was raised with the Montessori philosophy, and is a CTMS alumni. She graduated from Marine Science Magnet High School in 2015, and received a BFA from The University of Connecticut in 2019. Throughout the years, she has continued to work and volunteer for the school. She is now a new mom who hopes to raise her baby in the same nurturing community. Alisabeth loves to make art, be in nature, and spend with family. Her expertise and great communication skills help make the admissions process seamless and stress free.

Email Alisa



Amber Webster

Main Campus Administrator

Amber is a dedicated mother of two boys who has been incorporating Montessori methods into her home since the birth of her first son. Passionate about fostering independence and curiosity in children, she brings a thoughtful approach to both her personal and professional life. Outside of work, Amber enjoys spending time at the beach and traveling to new destinations. She is currently working toward completing a dual associate degree in Biology and Business Administration, demonstrating her commitment to lifelong learning and growth. She brings a wealth of finance and business operations experience that is helpful with running the daily operations of the school.

Email: Amber

Elizabeth Rose

Main Campus Administrator

Degrees: BA

Beth was born on Long Island and has lived in Connecticut since the age of three. Beth has always been fascinated with foreign cultures and learning new languages. She got her BA from the University of Connecticut, Storrs, where she majored in German Studies. Beth completed a junior year abroad in Munich, Germany and traveled extensively throughout Europe whenever she had the opportunity. Beth’s early career included working for ESPN in different capacities for 12 years, before becoming a stay-at-home mom to her twin boys, now 22. Beth worked with children as a paraprofessional in the Glastonbury Public School system for 6 years. Beth always had a love for children, and has nannied for young children most of her life. Beth lives in Portland with her sons Ben and Josh and their cat Coco, and enjoys day trips in CT, hiking, nature, daily 3 mile walks, tennis, biking, photography, live music, travel, chasing sunsets, and spending time with family and friends. Having learned about Montessori schools when her boys were young and being intrigued by the Montessori model, Beth is excited to be working with the children, families, and staff at CTMS.

Email: Beth

Caila Martindale

Administration & Lead Toddler Teacher



Accreditations: AMS, MACTE

Certifications: 0-3 Infant/Toddler Montessori Teacher, Montessori Administrative Leadership (in progress)

Degrees: BA

Caila has been part of CTMS since its conception. She was a Montessori student here through 6th grade, and loves the Montessori philosophy. Caila continued to work and volunteer at CTMS through high school and college. After graduating college she came back to CTMS inspiring our youngest students and went on to receive her birth to 3-year-old Montessori Certification through Northeast Montessori Institute. She is currently working on her certification for Montessori Administrative Leadership. Caila loves her dogs, art, the beach, and dabbles in photography.
Email: Caila

Heather Beach

Toddler Teacher

Education: Certified Cosmetologist through Biro Academy. Certified CCMA through NHA.

Heather has enjoyed expressing her creative side through cosmetology and loves helping others to feel like the best versions of themselves. Her passion for caring for others led her to earn a credential as a certified medical assistant so that she could extend compassionate care to those who need it most. Heather recently discovered Montessori education and immediately knew that she wanted to implement it at home with her two young daughters and join a community of like minded educators. Heather is thrilled to join our Toddler team to offer support to our students as they develop skills in independence within a structure that is nurturing and child centered. In her spare time she enjoys field hockey, boating and fishing with her family.

Email: Heather

Eithne Moran Ramsay

Oak Room Lead Teacher

Accreditations: AMI, MTCNE, MACTE
Degrees: BA, MA-Education

Higher Diploma in Education

Eithne came to us with a desire to work in a school with a philosophy that resonated with her experiences and interests. Prior to Joining CTMS Eithne worked as a teacher for many years in her home country, Ireland, with ages 4-12. Eithne also ran summer camps for young children focusing on sports, baking, and crafts. She has always enjoyed working with children and watching them learn and grow. After her daughter was born she realized how much Montessori inspired her, and she wanted it to be part of her life. She believes Montessori is not just a philosophy, but a way of life. Eithne completed her Master’s in Education with a concentration in Montessori from the University of Hartford. She is very proud of her AMI training. She also holds a BA in Arts & Humanities from University College Dublin, Ireland and a Higher Diploma in Education from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Eithne lives in East Lyme with her husband Robert and their daughter. During her free time she enjoys holidaying in Ireland, biking, hiking, golf, sewing, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends.

Email: Eithne

Eva McCain

Cedar Room Assistant Teacher

Accreditations: MTCNE, MACTE

Certifications: AMI Montessori 3–6 Teacher's Assistant

Eva was a stay at home mom for many years, worked in real estate and started as a substitute teaching at CTMS in 2017. She’s now one of the assistant primary teachers and completed her Montessori assistant training in the summer of 2021. In her free time Eva enjoys camping, hiking, clamming and walking with friends by the ocean. Eva lives in Westbrook with her husband, children and her dog, Brewster. 

Email: Eva

Abby Mann

Oak Room Assistant Teacher

Degrees: BA

Abby has been caring for children since she was in high school. She has been both a nanny and a babysitter for many years and spent a year working at a preschool in Ecuador. She recently graduated from college with a degree in Art History. She loves travel, language, and of course art, and she spends her time reading, crocheting, and laughing as much as possible.


Email: Abby

Fabienne Brutus-Chiocchio

Elementary Co-Teacher

Degrees: BA
Certifications: currently undergoing AMS Montessori certification training through CGMS

"Fabie," originally from the Caribbean, moved to Connecticut in 2016 from Virginia with her family. She has worked for the Department of Education for over 16 years, and most recently as a substitute teacher and interventionist for a local school district. Fabie graduated college with a B.A. in Culinary and Art from Keiser University. She taught culinary for a few years while her children were toddlers, until she decided to continue with Elementary education with the University of Phoenix. She then went on to pursue a B.A. in Science in Management.

Fabie knew a little about Montessori Education, but never had the chance to explore it with her older children who are now teens. She came across CTMS while looking for something different from traditional education. She's enjoying learning Montessori philosophy and is grateful to be able to include her youngest daughter of 5 at CTMS. In her spare time she loves spending time with her family and two dogs, cooking, cleaning, traveling and meeting new people.

Email Fabi

Holley Riva

Elementary Co-Teacher

Degrees: BA, MA in Education

Holley is from a little town called Lakeville, CT which is in the Northwest corner of the state. She attended Elmira College these past 5 years obtaining both her Bachelors Degree as well as her Masters in Education. She was also lucky to be able to compete on the Women's Ice Hockey Team at Elmira for 5 years as well. She is so excited to start her teaching career at Children's Tree Montessori!

Email: Holley

Heather Manwaring

Maritime Administrator

Degrees:

New Paragraph

Geannine Navarro

Floating Assistant Teacher

Accreditations: MACTE

Certifications: AMS Montessori 3–6 Teacher's Assistant

Geannine was born in the United States, but raised in Ecuador. There she studied International Business and has worked for over a decade in a family company inspecting the quality of fruits for international trade.

Geannine moved to Florida in 2016, and in 2022 moved to Connecticut with her family and their husky, so that her husband could study at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts. 

After volunteering at her daughter’s school she decided she loved working with children. She found CTMS and loves being a part of the community.

In her free time, Geannine enjoys spending time with her family playing games, watching movies, going out for ice cream and making crafts. 

Anastasia "LaLa" Jankowski
Music

"LaLa" is a Music Together certified instructor who has been bringing the joy of music to children for many years. She is part of the Sunny Train group out of Madison, CT where she teaches music and lyrics, instruments, mindfulness, yoga and ballet.