About
Our Team of Educators
Anna Rita Pergolizzi-Wentworth | Interim Head of School & Regional Managing Director of Operations
Anna Rita joins Pine Street School after being the Head of School at sister school, Battery Park Montessori, for seven years. In the last two years, she also was the Executive Director of Operations for Green Ivy International Schools. Prior to joining Green Ivy, Anna Rita helped start and headed Del Mar Academy – an independent, bilingual Montessori and International Baccalaureate school located in Costa Rica.
Her journey with Green Ivy began as a result of her search for her first child’s elementary education. Her son is now a middle schooler in the Mandarin language track at Green Ivy’s Pine Street School, while her younger son attends trilingual Battery Park Montessori. She chose Green Ivy for her own family for its intellectually sound and research-based approaches to education and for its focus on languages. Having been raised speaking Spanish and Italian and later studying Russian, Anna Rita is a firm believer that being able to communicate in more than one language opens windows to understanding the idiosyncrasies of people's histories, cultures, and everyday lives.
In addition to having an elementary teaching credential and years of experience teaching middle school, Anna Rita also has a B.A. in Russian Studies and Sociology/Anthropology from Middlebury College, an American Montessori Society administrator’s credential from West Side Montessori School’s Teacher Education Program, and an Ed.M. in Educational Leadership Studies from Teachers College, Columbia University. Anna Rita is also the President of New York State Montessori Alliance.
When she is not working, Anna Rita enjoys spending time with her family and friends, antiquing, baking, dancing, and traveling.
Simone Becker | IB Coordinator
With more than 30 years of experience in independent international schools as an educational leader, instructional coach and teacher, Simone is an innovative, energetic and flexible educator with a wide range of teaching and leadership experience gained in independent international schools in Germany and the USA.
Simone was born and raised in Germany and started her professional journey at the first international school established in Berlin after the Wall came down. She then moved to Atlanta, Ga where she served at the Atlanta International School as a German teacher in their dual language programme. Simone is well versed and experienced in curriculum development in immersion language settings, with deep knowledge and understanding of the International Baccalaureate and Montessori philosophy. Most recently, she served at the Whitby School in Greenwich, Ct as Assistant and Lower School Head. Her educational philosophy is firmly grounded in the beliefs and values of the IB. She continues to work for the IB as a workshop leader, site visitor and content developer. Simone holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.
As an educational leader, Simone thinks systematically about facilitating organizational and cultural change. She is committed to Pine Street School’s values and beliefs and the clear focus on the caliber of teaching and learning, which always places the needs of the student at the heart of the program. Simone is excited to join Pine Street’s community and to support the school in its next stages of development.
In her free time Simone enjoys reading, traveling, photography and taking long walks with her dogs.
Emily Henley | Parent Liaison, Executive Assistant & Social Media Coordinator
Emily comes to us from London, where she has served as an early childhood teacher for over 5 years. She holds a Master of Education from the University of Cambridge and a bachelor's degree in Childhood Studies from the University of Bristol. Emily joined Pine Street School in 2019 as an English teacher and has since moved into the role of Parent Liaison. Emily has an appreciation for the wider school life and enjoys bringing the Pine Street School community together through events and celebrations. In her spare time, Emily is a keen runner, reader and enjoys jetting off to faraway places!
Lauren Angarola | Middle School Coordinator and Director of Educational Technology and Innovation
Lauren has an M.Ed in Educational Technology and a B.S. in History Teaching. Since she completed her student teaching in Southern China in 2012, she has been passionate about globally-minded education and how technology can create meaningful, personalized learning experiences for students. She has worked in international schools in Shanghai, China and Dubai, UAE prior to joining Green Ivy. In 2018 she became an Apple Professional Learning Specialist in the UAE and in 2019 she became an Apple Distinguished Educator. She was also responsible for helping her previous school become an Apple Distinguished School in 2019.
Lauren loves exploring emerging technologies and finding opportunities to bring them into the classroom. She is passionate about helping teachers feel empowered by integrating technology into their teaching and learning.
Lauren grew up in Las Vegas and recently moved to New York City. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, snow-skiing, soaking up sunshine wherever she can get it, and scoping out all the best food in New York City!
Leigh Majer | Elementary Coordinator
Leigh has been teaching for 21 years and has taught music, kindergarten and first grade in the U.S. and Europe. Most recently, she taught at Bonn International School in Germany (an IB school) where she worked as a first grade teacher for 4 years. She holds degrees in both Education and Philosophy and has teacher certification in Canada, Texas and Michigan.
Leigh is Canadian and lived in the Toronto area until she graduated from university and decided to go on a grand adventure, working as a Youth Director on a major cruise line. The ability to both work with children, as well as travel the world, allowed for a continuing exploration of cultures, traditions and languages. This was a natural extension of the multicultural melting pot she grew up in and served to cement her commitment to a global mindset in education.
Leigh infuses her lessons with music, movement and technology. She is passionate about supporting and nurturing each child's passions and helping guide them on their learning journey. Leigh enjoys spending time with family and friends, cycling, and traveling to new places.
Janise Cota | Preschool Coordinator
Mexico is her home country and where her love for Spanish comes from. She grew up in Arizona and moved to New York 12 years ago. Janise obtained her Bachelors in Psychology from Arizona State University and her Masters in Early Childhood Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She comes from a long line of educators both here in the U.S and in Mexico.
She has been teaching for over 10 years and is going on 8 years at Pine Street School. Whenever she has not been in a teaching position, she has been volunteering for a variety of organizations that focus on helping homeless children. Some of these organizations include Free Arts of Arizona, Stand Up For Kids and Girls Scouts of Arizona. Janise strongly believes in the power of Education and its ability to change children's projected trajectory. She's one of our cooking lovers! Besides Mexican food, she also grew up learning how to cook food from South America. Janise is an avid reader and loves to ride her bike around New York City. Whenever she's not in the classroom, you might find her camping, at the beach or lying in the hammock on her deck, BBQ'ing.
Pablo Cortezon | Spanish Language Coordinator & Spanish Teacher
Pablo was born and grew up in Spain and moved to New York City in 2019. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in Spanish and Basque (an ancient language from the north of Spain) with major in Physical Education from the Public University of Navarre. He has developed his teaching skills working with elementary and middle school students and adults in different subjects.
He loves reading and writing and also practicing any kind of sport. Karate is one if his passions. He has been practicing it for more than 16 years and teaching it for several years in Spain.
Sirong Wu 吴思蓉 | Mandarin Language Coordinator & Mandarin Teacher
Sirong holds a Master of TESOL from University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Art in English from Hunan University of China. She is also certified In ESL education. Sirong brings several years of IB PYP Mandarin immersion teaching experience in the U.S.
She enjoys inquiry-based teaching while integrating Chinese language and culture, math, and science. She has observed the power of immersion and she loves guiding students toward becoming global citizens through language.
Born and raised in Shenyang, China, Sirong came to the U.S. in 2013. She fell in love with the country, the music, the food and the culture so she decided to stay and spread Chinese culture.
Sirong serves as the Mandarin Language Coordinator and enjoys collaborating with the Pine Street School Mandarin teachers across all age groups. In her spare time, Sirong enjoys reading and cooking.
Nadia Carmichael | Early Childhood Teacher
Nadia has over 13 years of experience mentoring, educating and caring for small children; she began her journey in the classroom three years ago. She's worked with children from the ages of 24 months to 9 years old. Nadia holds B.A. in English Literature and she has completed her Montessori certificate as well as IB Primary Years Programme Category I training.
She has a daughter of her own, which enables her to properly guide small children with an inviting warmth and tenderness. Hearing the laughter of children brings her a great joy that she would not trade for anything.
Janise Cota | Early Childhood Teacher
Mexico is her home country and where her love for Spanish comes from. She grew up in Arizona and moved to New York 12 years ago. Janise obtained her Bachelors in Psychology from Arizona State University and her Masters in Early Childhood Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She comes from a long line of educators both here in the U.S and in Mexico.
She has been teaching for over 10 years and is going on 8 years at Pine Street School. Whenever she has not been in a teaching position, she has been volunteering for a variety of organizations that focus on helping homeless children. Some of these organizations include Free Arts of Arizona, Stand Up For Kids and Girls Scouts of Arizona. Janise strongly believes in the power of Education and its ability to change children's projected trajectory. She's one of our cooking lovers! Besides Mexican food, she also grew up learning how to cook food from South America. Janise is an avid reader and loves to ride her bike around New York City. Whenever she's not in the classroom, you might find her camping, at the beach or lying in the hammock on her deck, BBQ'ing.
Victoria Garwood | Early Childhood Teacher and Team Leader
Vicky was born in Istanbul, Turkey, and was partially educated in Switzerland. Bilingual in English and Turkish, she also became fluent in French and German. Getting her BA while working in an early childhood Montessori environment, she focused on literature and history as well as education. During more than 30 years of working with young children in an IB international school as well as in several Montessori programs in CT and AZ, she developed her passion for understanding and supporting children’s language acquisition, emotional development and early learning through hands-on work. Holder of a Montessori certificate in Infant/Toddler (Ones and Twos), she believes there is no more important work than that of participating in the life of the very young child, guiding and learning from each individual in the classroom and the community. She loves people, reading, history, travel, food and the natural world that we are a part of.
Pooja Jha | Early Childhood Teacher
Pooja has been with Green Ivy Schools as a sub for several years now. Beyond that, Pooja has more than 10 years of teaching experience and hold the 3-6yo Montessori credential from the UK and consider myself lucky to not only teach in different countries like India, Singapore, and the United States (New York) but also had the wonderful experience in teaching children in different classroom settings like Reggio Emilia and, of course, Montessori. I also have experience in teaching STEM activities.
I strive to create a positive community and environment that nurtures growth in all learners. I believe that learning should be hands-on, collaborative and fun, and that the classroom should be a place where each individual feels comfortable and valued being her or himself.
In her free time, she loves doing STEM activities, cooking with all sorts of ingredients, recycling and repurposing materials with her child, going out for nature walks, and practicing yoga.
Arielle Murray | Early Childhood Teacher
Arielle was born in Queens, grew up in Long Island and her family is from Trinidad and Tobago. Arielle is NYS certified in Early Childhood Education, graduated from Fordham University with a BA in Music and a minor in Spanish and received her MS in Early Childhood Special Education two years later. She taught group music exploration classes for 1-3 year olds at the Diller-Quaile School of Music during her undergraduate studies and started teaching at a Reggio Emilia based school the following year for 4 years. Arielle specializes in working with children ages 2-5 years old and enjoys bringing music into the classroom with her ukulele and singing. Arielle spends her free time primarily at the piano, learning pieces for church and recitals or teaching other students piano, violin and ukulele. She also enjoys reading and practicing yoga.
Lucy Hao | Mandarin Teacher
Lucy Hao is a dedicated educator with extensive experience in early childhood and special education. She holds a master's degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Touro College, as well as a master's degree in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language from Seton Hall University. Lucy holds professional certifications from New York State in Early Childhood (birth-2nd grade) and Special Education, and she also has a Certification of Eligibility for Teaching Chinese (K-12) from the State of New Jersey.
With 15 years of experience teaching in preschools, Lucy has worked with children aged 1 to 5 years old, specializing in working with 2-year-olds for the past 10 years. She has also taught after-school Mandarin classes for children aged 6 to 10 years old for 5 years. In her recent role as Early Childhood Director at Hudson Way Immersion School, Lucy has enjoyed creating preschool curricula, coaching teachers, managing daily operations, and co-directing student performances.
Lucy is a mother of three children, aged 14, 9, and 7, each with unique personalities, interests, and skills. Her experience as a mother has enriched her teaching approach, emphasizing the importance of individualized education to support each child's growth and development. In her spare time, Lucy enjoys cooking, painting, making crafts, and swimming.
Merian Salazar | Spanish Teacher
Merian has bachelor's degree in Communications and holds a Master's in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language from La Rioja University in Spain. She is originally from Caracas, Venezuela and she has been working as a preschool Spanish teacher for six years in different immersion and bilingual programs, including Avenues and HudsonWay Immersion School.
Her mom was a Kindergarten teacher, and she grew up knowing that early childhood education is the most important and where the values are forged. As a Spanish teacher, Merian loves to share her culture and observe the process of learning the language of her students. She believes that learning a language is an open door to a new world and experiences.
In her free time, Merian loves to bike in Central Park, spend time with her family and friends, and enjoy cultural performances such as concerts, theater, ballet, and opera. She also loves to try new food and find hidden gems in New York City.
Isabel Tepoz-Robles | Early Childhood Teacher
Isabel Tepoz-Robles has been with Green Ivy for 2 years as a teacher assistant. She was born and raised in New York by immigrant parents. She holds a BA in Childhood Education with a bilingual education extension from Brooklyn College and an AS in Childhood Education from Kingsborough.
Amelia Xia | Mandarin Teacher
Amelia recently earned a certificate of TCSOL from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Montessori certificate from NAMC. She has taught elementary and preschool Mandarin in the United States for the past six years. As a trilingual educator, she spent four years in Spain teaching both Spanish and Mandarin.
Amelia holds a master’s degree in communication and culture from the University of Seville in Spain. She has traveled to numerous countries and believes in the ancient Chinese proverb "读万卷书不如行万里路" (read a thousand books, travel a thousand miles), as she sees education and travel as complementary, providing a clearer perspective of the world.
Her passion is working with children, who constantly remind her of how incredible and fascinating the world can be. Amelia enjoys observing the world through their eyes, which brings her happiness and optimism every day.
In her spare time, she enjoys family vacations, swimming, baking, and reading.
Sophia Yuan | Mandarin Teacher
Sophie Yuan is an experienced Mandarin teacher and language and culture education entrepreneur. She brings an authentic and comprehensive teaching philosophy to help her students succeed with a strong belief ——“There is a unique power in every kid”. She has led many international students to excel academically with cultural fluency and a successful learning career. Her class helps students get to where they can be the best with their potential. Sophie creates Chinese language and philosophy magazines to share the authenticity of lithography and cultural elements while hosting cultural workshops in her community. She is a certified yoga instructor and meditation teacher. She loves history and art. She enjoys cooking and painting with creativity and mindfulness.
Andrea Bibiana Posso Navas | Spanish Teacher
Bibiana Posso is a passionate and dedicated teacher. She is committed to providing diverse learning opportunities for her students and supporting educational endeavors. She utilizes various instruction methods, including Montessori, IB, and character education, to create a positive and engaging learning environment. Her professional experience includes roles such as Spanish Language Teacher at Colegio Nueva Granada (CNG) in Bogota, Content Teacher at Gimnasio los Cerezos IB school and Liceo Boston in Bogota, and Spanish teacher at Liceo Frances Paul Valry in Cali.
Bibiana holds a Specialization in Bilingual Education from UNICA University in Bogota, a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Univalle University in Cali, Colombia, and an Associate of Arts in Education from Pedagogical School Normal Superior Maria Montessori in Bogota. Her skills include classroom management, language development, classroom lecturing, instructional methodologies, positive reinforcement methods, intercultural awareness, emotional support, and teamwork.
She has been recognized for her contributions to projects such as the "LAS AVENTURAS DE PE," a short movie Premiere with first graders, and the "Animales en Colombia" QR Code Gallery.
Ashley Wise | Early Childhood Teacher
Ashley grew up in Connecticut before moving to Brooklyn for college. She began teaching early childhood after earning a BFA from Pratt Institute. She thoroughly fell in love with teaching early childhood. She continued her own education with a Master’s in Early Childhood Education from CUNY Hunter and certifications in both Montessori and International Baccalaureate education. Ashley’s teaching is inspired by her own passion for visual art, and a desire to encourage her students to be forever curious about the world around them.
Ashley is returning to teach at Pine Street School after taking a hiatus to raise her now three-year-old son, she is excited to be teaching again, and to have her own son attend Pine Street.
Phoebe Mihael | Early Childhood Teacher
Phoebe Mihael was born and raised in New York City. She holds Masters degrees from New York University in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and Spanish Language and History. Phoebe is fully certified by the state of NY in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She taught at a preschool in the West Village for several years. When her first son was born she took time off from teaching to stay home with him and then his twin brothers. However, Phoebe found it difficult to stay away from the joy and vibrancy of a classroom setting. She first began working as a substitute teacher at Green Ivy Schools eight years ago, spending time at both Pine Street School and Battery Park Montessori. Last year Phoebe joined Pine Street School full time as a Twos Teacher. Phoebe lived and studied in Madrid, Spain where she acquired her Masters degree in Spanish Language and History through NYU in Madrid. Phoebe is also conversant in Greek. Her husband is from Greece and her family enjoys spending their summers by the sea. Some of Phoebe’s other hobbies include baking, knitting, and reading.
Casey Allison | Elementary Teacher
Casey is a motivated and energetic educator who has been teaching in international schools in Thailand, Europe, and Singapore. She grew up in Virginia and holds a BA degree in Psychology and a teaching license for Elementary Education from University of Colorado Boulder.
Casey moved from Singapore to New York in 2022 to be closer to family in Charlotte NC and Madrid, Spain. Outside of teaching, Casey loves traveling, practicing Bikram yoga, being a mom, going to classical music concerts, scuba diving, and being outdoors.
Caitlin O. Black | Elementary Teacher
Caitlin has a B.S. in Elementary Education with ESL certification from The University of Tampa. She has elementary and preschool teaching experience in Belgium, Greece, and the United States. Caitlin joined our Green Ivy Schools family in 2019, first working at our sister school Battery Park Montessori and made the transition to Pine Street School in the Fall of 2020.
In her free time, Caitlin enjoys spending time with her loved ones, long days at the beach with a good book, learning new plant-based recipes, exploring different neighborhoods in the city, and traveling to new places.
Danielle Fondacaro | Elementary Teacher
Danielle received a B.A. in Elementary Education from Loyola University Maryland in 2016 and an M.S. Ed. in Special Education from The College of Staten Island in 2019. She also holds certification to teach in New York State and Maryland. She has experience teaching in the United States and recently returned from teaching in an IB school in Italy. Having grown up in Staten Island, Danielle is happy to be back home in New York City and is looking forward to continuing her teaching journey at Pine Street School.
In her free time, Danielle enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially her nephew. She has a passion for travel and learning about different cultures. She also enjoys working out and working towards her personal fitness goals.
Meg Lavelle | Elementary Teacher
Meg is an experienced educator with more than 15 years teaching in the United States and abroad. She has been in a variety of roles and has experience as a curriculum coordinator for the IB Primary Years Program. Meg has a Master's of Science in Elementary Special Education and an undergraduate degree in Psychology.
Meg is originally from a small town in Delaware but spent more than a decade teaching in Asia. She taught at 3 different international schools in Guangzhou, China, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, and Shanghai, China. She is new to New York City and looking forward to exploring the world through the restaurants, people, and events of the city. In her free time she can be found learning new new roller skating tricks on a halfpipe or walking her dog, Charlie, in Central Park.
Yue Le 乐悦 | Mandarin Teacher
Yue holds an M.A. in Bilingual & Bicultural Education from Teachers College Columbia University and a B.S. in Childhood & Early Adolescent Education from Penn State.
A native of China, Yue brings valuable experience as a bilingual teacher to Pine Street School and adds energy and passion to our rapidly growing Mandarin teaching team.
Leigh Majer | Elementary Teacher
Leigh has been teaching for 21 years and has taught music, kindergarten and first grade in the U.S. and Europe. Most recently, she taught at Bonn International School in Germany (an IB school) where she worked as a first grade teacher for 4 years. She holds degrees in both Education and Philosophy and has teacher certification in Canada, Texas and Michigan.
Leigh is Canadian and lived in the Toronto area until she graduated from university and decided to go on a grand adventure, working as a Youth Director on a major cruise line. The ability to both work with children, as well as travel the world, allowed for a continuing exploration of cultures, traditions and languages. This was a natural extension of the multicultural melting pot she grew up in and served to cement her commitment to a global mindset in education.
Leigh infuses her lessons with music, movement and technology. She is passionate about supporting and nurturing each child's passions and helping guide them on their learning journey. Leigh enjoys spending time with family and friends, cycling, and traveling to new places.
Annica Penn | Elementary Teacher
Annica is a tried and true New Yorker. Annica holds a master’s degree in Teaching from The Relay Graduate School of Education and a B.A. in Psychology with a Minor in Education from Siena College. She has completed her Initial Certificate for teaching in New York State. Annica was a member of the 2017 Teach for America NYC Corps and taught four years at her placement school in Brooklyn, NY.
In her free time, Annica is a dedicated runner and has competed in numerous races around the city as well as the 2020 NYC Virtual Marathon. As well as running, Annica appreciates spending time with loved ones, reading, and enjoying warming sunny days.
Danielle Sleeper | Elementary Teacher and Library Coordinator
Danielle holds master’s degrees in Teaching from The Relay Graduate School of Education and International Communication from American University. She also completed her Initial Certificate for teaching in New York State. Prior to teaching in NYC, her work focused on global education. One of her favorite projects was creating an education technology platform to connect classrooms around the world with the goal of increasing empathy in primary school aged children. She also worked with National Education Association Foundation to train public school teachers on integrating global competency skills in the classroom, which involved various study tours to investigate school systems in other countries.
She has lived in Taiwan and mainland China and traveled extensively throughout Asia and other parts of the world. She currently lives in Brooklyn and is always on the hunt for her next bowl of noodles.
Sofia Ubilla | Spanish Teacher
Sofia is originally from Chile, where she taught at a bilingual Elementary teacher for over 5 years at an inquiry-based learning school. She holds a B.A. in Elementary education and a diploma in teaching English as a second language.
Jing Wu | Mandarin Teacher
Jing earned her Master of Education in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Pittsburgh. She has been teaching young children from early childhood to early elementary level for over a decade in California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and currently in New York. She holds the New York State certification in childhood education and early childhood special education, as well as a Montessori training certificate from the North America Montessori Center.
Jing was honored to be invited as a panel facilitator and presenter, making assessments of early childhood Chinese immersion and sharing in its best practices; this Chinese immersion learning workshop was the first of its kind conducted by NCLC in the field of Early Childhood Education. She is a Disney fan and loves cooking, painting, playing Ukulele, exercising and runs 1-2 marathons a year. She is always positive and tries to reflect that in her immediate surroundings every day.
Sirong Wu 吴思蓉 | Mandarin Language Coordinator & Mandarin Teacher
Sirong holds a Master of TESOL from University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Art in English from Hunan University of China. She is also certified In ESL education. Sirong brings several years of IB PYP Mandarin immersion teaching experience in the U.S.
She enjoys inquiry-based teaching while integrating Chinese language and culture, math, and science. She has observed the power of immersion and she loves guiding students toward becoming global citizens through language.
Born and raised in Shenyang, China, Sirong came to the U.S. in 2013. She fell in love with the country, the music, the food and the culture so she decided to stay and spread Chinese culture.
Sirong serves as the Mandarin Language Coordinator and enjoys collaborating with the Pine Street School Mandarin teachers across all age groups. In her spare time, Sirong enjoys reading and cooking.
Tianqi Zhang | Mandarin Teacher
Tianqi is a travel enthusiast with a curiosity for exploring different cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life. After completing her Master's in Education in New Zealand, she embarked on a life-changing journey that took her to an IB school for a year. That experience ignited her passion for international education and she decided to further enhance her skills in the vibrant city of Shenzhen. There, she took on the role of a Grade 5 homeroom teacher at another IB school. It was an opportunity for her to grow both personally and professionally, and she embraced it with open arms.
During leisure time, dancing, reading, and hiking are some of her absolute favorite activities, and they bring her immense joy. Tianqi is excited to broaden her horizons, immerse herself in new experiences, and continue her personal and professional growth in the New York City.
Cindy Qiongwei Rang 让琼玮 | Mandarin Teacher
Cindy holds a M.A. in International Education Development and Family Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has 4 years of teaching experience with both children and adults.
Most recently, she taught English and Mandarin at Avenues: The World School in New York City. She designs and executes Montessori, project-based, and age-appropriate curriculum and activities for 3-6 year-olds.
Cindy also values museum and science education. She is the certified public tour guide in American Museum of Natural History both in English and Chinese and designs educational tours for children and families with interactive games, quizzes and role-playing scenarios to inspire children with ideas for conserving the environment and becoming global citizens.
Cindy is originally from Suzhou, China, which is often dubbed the "Venice of the East" or "Venice of China". Cindy moved to New York in 2016 where she loves to explore museums and Broadway shows. In her spare time, she loves traveling, wakeboarding, playing music (piano and flute), and dancing, as she studied ballet and Latin dance for more than 10 years.
Pablo Cortezon | Spanish Language Coordinator & Spanish Teacher
Pablo was born and grew up in Spain and moved to New York City in 2019. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in Spanish and Basque (an ancient language from the north of Spain) with major in Physical Education from the Public University of Navarre. He has developed his teaching skills working with elementary and middle school students and adults in different subjects.
He loves reading and writing and also practicing any kind of sport. Karate is one if his passions. He has been practicing it for more than 16 years and teaching it for several years in Spain.
Leslie Vaculin | Spanish Teacher
Leslie received her Early Childhood Education degree in Guatemala. She has worked as a preschool and elementary teacher for more than ten years and taught Spanish to Middle and High School students in the Czech Republic for two years. She has completed her Montessori certificate as well as IB Primary Years Programme Category I training.
Leslie grew up in Guatemala City, where her mother was a teacher and father was a school principal. Education has always surrounded her and has been a life passion from an early age. This is her sixth year at Pine Street School, where her daughter is also a student.
Leslie loves doing all the things New York City offers to feed her imagination and creativity. She likes to travel, read, and enjoys volleyball and camping with her friends and family.
Elizabeth Stoughton | Elementary Teacher
Elizabeth Stoughton brings a wealth of international experience to her role as an elementary teacher at Pine Street School. Originally from Connecticut, Elizabeth is thrilled to be returning to the USA after nearly 13 years living abroad. Since embarking on her teaching career in 2017, she has enriched her practice across diverse cultural landscapes in Vietnam, Thailand, Italy, Albania, and now New York City. Over the past five years, she has specialized in the Primary Years Programme (PYP), deeply valuing international mindedness both in and out of the classroom.
Elizabeth’s journey in education is rooted in a lifelong passion for learning and cultural exploration. With a Bachelor’s degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, and certification to teach in the United States, she has dedicated herself to growing and adapting her teaching methods to meet the needs of students from various backgrounds. Her commitment to fostering global perspectives and understanding in her students reflects her personal values and professional ethos.
At Pine Street School, Elizabeth is excited to continue her professional development and contribute to the school's vibrant community. She is passionate about creating inclusive and engaging learning environments that celebrate diverse cultures and perspectives. When she’s not teaching, Elizabeth enjoys exploring New York City, discovering new cultures, and pursuing her interests in travel and lifelong learning.
Paul Christopher | Humanities, English & Drama Teacher
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Paul holds a Bachelor of Science in English Education (with a state teaching license) from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, a Master of Science in History from the UW - Milwaukee, a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts/Performance from the UW - La Crosse, and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts/Directing from Illinois State University. He's worked as an English and Drama teacher at private schools in Beirut and Kyiv, public schools in Madison, WI, and taught college courses on theatre and directing while earning his MFA.
James Doga | Middle School Counselor, Spanish Teacher & Band Teacher
As a native Costa Rican, James is proud of the warmth and hospitality inherent to his culture. James has taught languages to children and adults throughout his college studies at University of Costa Rica, where he obtained his Bachelor's and eventually Licentiate degree in Psychology, finally completing his studies with the International Focusing Institute, where he became a certified Focusing Trainer and Focusing Oriented Therapist. James spent 5 years as an Addiction Counselor in Costa Rica Recovery, before finding his passion for working with children and adolescents as a teacher and counselor. He spent the last 6 years at Pan-American School, one of the leading IB International schools in Costa Rica, where he worked as a Middle School Psychologist, as well as teaching English, Design, Research and Life Skills.
As a teacher, he’s proud of his ability to plan creative, well-differentiated and student-centered lessons, always making sure to foster a positive and fun classroom learning environment. He is proud to be thought of as authentic, patient and caring by the students he has worked with. As a counselor, he will always make sure to be an open-hearted and solution focused listener who can form strong bonds with both students and their families. He likes to think of himself as being part of a bigger team including teachers, families and the community, dedicated to guiding children towards growth and providing them with the skills necessary to be successful students, human beings and global citizens.
In his personal life, he’s developed a successful career as a musician, having recorded two albums of his own and collaborated with a variety of Costa Rican artists on their recordings. When James is not teaching, you can find him practicing his jazz guitar, listening to music (hopefully live) or playing with someone. He also enjoys traveling -particularly eating and finding new ideas to incorporate into his own cooking-, hiking and spending time outdoors.
James is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful team and work with such a vibrant and talented community!
Sasha Manu | Science, Math & Technology Teacher
Sasha holds a B.Sc. in Physics and Philosophy from the University of Toronto, an M.A. in Buddhist Studies from The University of Hong Kong, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education. He has spent time living in Cambodia, guiding experiential learning trips in Thailand, and just returned from living in Hong Kong for three years where he pursued his Masters and taught at an International School. He has experience with pedagogies ranging from Project-Based Learning and Montessori to the International Baccalaureate’s Middle Years and Diploma Programme.
Sasha is passionate about helping students flourish. He believes that for students to thrive in the face of the complex challenges of modernity, educators must help them become global citizens who care about the common good. Sasha focuses on igniting an innate curiosity within his students that promotes lifelong learning. He is particularly fascinated by contemplative practices and finding ways to skillfully integrate them into the classroom to foster whole-child development.
Outside of the classroom, Sasha is a registered yoga teacher, meditation facilitator, avid reader and writer, and lover of hiking, nature, and weightlifting!
Sirong Wu 吴思蓉 | Mandarin Language Coordinator & Mandarin Teacher
Sirong holds a Master of TESOL from University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Art in English from Hunan University of China. She is also certified In ESL education. Sirong brings several years of IB PYP Mandarin immersion teaching experience in the U.S.
She enjoys inquiry-based teaching while integrating Chinese language and culture, math, and science. She has observed the power of immersion and she loves guiding students toward becoming global citizens through language.
Born and raised in Shenyang, China, Sirong came to the U.S. in 2013. She fell in love with the country, the music, the food and the culture so she decided to stay and spread Chinese culture.
Sirong serves as the Mandarin Language Coordinator and enjoys collaborating with the Pine Street School Mandarin teachers across all age groups. In her spare time, Sirong enjoys reading and cooking.
Pablo Cortezon | Spanish Language Coordinator & Spanish Teacher
Pablo was born and grew up in Spain and moved to New York City in 2019. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in Spanish and Basque (an ancient language from the north of Spain) with major in Physical Education from the Public University of Navarre. He has developed his teaching skills working with elementary and middle school students and adults in different subjects.
He loves reading and writing and also practicing any kind of sport. Karate is one if his passions. He has been practicing it for more than 16 years and teaching it for several years in Spain.
Tianqi Zhang | Mandarin Teacher
Tianqi is a travel enthusiast with a curiosity for exploring different cultures and connecting with people from all walks of life. After completing her Master's in Education in New Zealand, she embarked on a life-changing journey that took her to an IB school for a year. That experience ignited her passion for international education and she decided to further enhance her skills in the vibrant city of Shenzhen. There, she took on the role of a Grade 5 homeroom teacher at another IB school. It was an opportunity for her to grow both personally and professionally, and she embraced it with open arms.
During leisure time, dancing, reading, and hiking are some of her absolute favorite activities, and they bring her immense joy. Tianqi is excited to broaden her horizons, immerse herself in new experiences, and continue her personal and professional growth in the New York City.
Danni Bellando | Visual Arts Teacher
Danni is an Educator and Visual Artist from Long Island, NY. She holds a B.S. in Visual Arts Education as well as a B.F.A. in Painting and Drawing from SUNY New Paltz. Danni has taught within NY Public schools, and has been an Educator at cultural and community institutions including the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, the Wassaic Project, FABNYC, and Hootenanny Art Annex. Her teaching practice focuses on art as a tool to connect students to their inner selves, each other, our communities, and the world!
As an IB diploma recipient, Danni has a first hand understanding of the IB program, and remains influenced by her own experience as an IB student. She is excited to continue using inquiry and creativity to influence learners in a thought provoking and meaningful way.
In her free time, Danni loves to tend to her vegetable garden, play board games, experiment with new cooking recipes, and spend time with people she loves. She is looking forward to the school year and all of the opportunities for learning that will come with it!
Qingyan Yu 于青艳 | Music Teacher
Bilingual in Mandarin and English, Qingyan holds an M.A. in Music Education at Steinhardt, New York University and a B.A. in Music Education from The Capital Normal University in Beijing.
Music Education is Qingyan’s passion, and she has combined her experience and connection with toddlers to design and implement IB-centric music lesson plans. Her personal teaching philosophy is that music is borderless and can act as the link between different cultures and become a vehicle for learning. Qingyan wants to use music as a catalyst to improve the learning experience, incorporating traditional Chinese music experiences and helping students to express themselves via music.
Additionally, Qingyan has developed and pioneered the Mandarin Mommy and Me after-school music classes for the past two years. She recently received her Kodaly Level 2 certification, and is adept at cello, piano, ukulele, violin and recorder. She loves trying new things, especially cooking new recipes at home!
Tristan Strasser | Drama Director and Classroom Support
Tristan was born and raised in Cobleskill, NY and has lived in NYC for three years. He has five years of experience as a theatre director and piano accompanist across New York State, is a founding member and Artistic Director of Ursa Fountain Productions and has worked as an actor for almost a decade. He is a passionate advocate for the importance of live arts and loves introducing both the joys and techniques of theatre to young minds. Tristan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theatre and Psychology from SUNY Geneseo. He enjoys playing piano, word games, sitcoms, and any activity that involves boats!
Chase Holliday | Director of Athletics
Chase grew up in Southern California and began learning Mandarin at an early age. He graduated from Occidental College with a degree in Chinese Studies. During his time at Occidental College, he interned at the Mercedes-Benz Arena while studying abroad in Shanghai, China. His immersive experience in Chinese culture helped his passion for the Chinese language blossom.
After college, Chase spent five years teaching Mandarin at an independent K-12 school near Los Angeles, California. In addition to teaching in the classroom, he has also coached multiple sports, including basketball, flag football, and baseball. When he's not teaching or coaching, Chase loves staying active by playing basketball, exploring new restaurants, and going to concerts.
David Guerri | Physical Education Teacher
David is a native New Yorker and comes from the borough of Queens. After graduating St. Francis College with a B.S. in Physical Education he began teaching and coaching in various NYC independent schools. David joined us in the middle of the 2023-2024 school year as the PE teacher. While David is not teaching, you can find him hanging with his friends playing sports.
Dr. Jennifer Jones | Founder
Dr. Jennifer Jones is the founder and visionary behind New York City's Green Ivy International Schools network and a lifelong entrepreneur and advocate for evolved learning experiences for children from birth to high school and beyond.
She has developed 24 schools and draws from a rich background as school developer, international policy consultant, and teacher. She has advised boards and governments at regional, state, national and international levels, served as a university professor, and authored a successful book on child development.
Her career is defined by pioneering efforts to break through economic and social barriers to ensure that young people from every walk of life achieve maximum potential through engaged, relevant and cutting edge approaches to education.
Her specializations include educational technology, transglobal education, bilingual education, literacy, and economic development.
Aligned with a shared mission, Dr. Jennifer Jones is delighted to partner with KSS Immersion Schools, Inc. to champion the expansion of Green Ivy International Schools to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Erin Miller | Chief Financial Officer
Erin received undergraduate and graduate degrees in Anthropology from Emory University and the University of Chicago, respectively. After leaving academia, she pursued an MBA at UCLA and has been working in Operations and Finance ever since, in a variety of industries ranging from dotcoms, to after-school programs, to independent schools.
Gary Mouton | HR Director
Gary Mouton joins the Green Ivy Team with more than 15 years of experience in the education sector. In that time, he's served in the roles of Teacher, Office Manager, HR Generalist, HR Manager, and currently as HR Director. His goal is to provide the best HR services to all Green Ivy employees so they can focus on being the best in their role.
Anna Rita Pergolizzi-Wentworth | Head of School & Executive Director of Operations
Anna Rita was raised speaking Spanish and Italian. Her linguistic and cultural background, coupled with her language interests as an adult, allows her to bring a unique perspective to language acquisition. Anna Rita is a firm believer that being able to communicate in more than one language opens windows to understanding the idiosyncrasies of people's histories, cultures, and everyday lives.
She believes that a Montessori classroom is an ideal place to encourage the learning of a new language because children are allowed to work at their own pace, are encouraged to learn from their mistakes, and are embraced for their differences in who they are and how they learn. She believes that this allows children to build the necessary sense of security required to take risks, especially linguistic ones.
Anna Rita joined Battery Park Montessori – a Green Ivy International School – from Del Mar Academy, an independent, bilingual Montessori and International Baccalaureate school located in Nosara, Costa Rica. While there, she taught, consulted, and served as its Head of School. Her journey with Green Ivy Schools began as a result of her search for her first child’s elementary education. Her son is now a middle schooler in the Mandarin language track at Green Ivy’s Pine Street School, while her younger son attends trilingual Battery Park Montessori.
In 2022, Anna Rita expanded her role as Executive Director of Operations for both Pine Street School and Battery Park Montessori. She oversees various operations teams which include admissions, facilities, compliance, summer camps, and after school enrichment.
Anna Rita has a B.A. in Russian Studies and Sociology/Anthropology from Middlebury College, an American Montessori Society administrator’s credential from West Side Montessori School’s Teacher Education Program, and an Ed.M. in Educational Leadership Studies from Teachers College, Columbia University.
When she is not working, Anna Rita enjoys traveling and spending time with her sons, husband, extended family, and friends.
Holly Singh | Director of Admissions
Holly brings a wealth of experience in relationship management and finance to the Green Ivy team. Most recently, she founded a consulting firm dedicated to supporting individuals and couples navigating the challenges of family building.
Prior to joining Green Ivy, she spent over 15 years at Citi, Deutsche Bank, and OakNorth. Passionate about education and building community, she has also managed CSR campaigns benefitting education-focused nonprofits globally, as well as volunteered in schools in NYC and India.
Holly has a B.S. from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. A native New Yorker, Holly resides in Manhattan with her husband and two sons, both current Pine Street School students and Battery Park Montessori alumni! In her free time, she enjoys card games with her two boys, reading, photography, yoga and exploring new restaurants.
Gabriela Santiago | Admissions Events and Data Coordinator
Gabriela was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and is an alum of Prep for Prep, a leadership development program that provides promising students of color access to an education in New York independent schools. She speaks English, Spanish, and French and is currently learning Portuguese in her quest to become a polyglot. Gabriela received a Bachelor's in Sociology with a minor in Fine Art from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. Since graduating, she has earned a certification in Data Science and Analytics during her free time.
After supporting Green Ivy Schools as both a camp counselor at Green Ivy Summer Camp and teaching assistant for the Twos classes at Pine Street School, Gabriela joined Battery Park Montessori as the Assistant to the Head of School. She brought her unique creativity, experience with children, love of learning, and tech-savviness to help nurture Battery Park Montessori’s caring and growing community.
When not at work, Gaby can usually be found baking, making art, playing at the dog park, or speed reading through novels.
Fela Wolski | Database Administrator & Compliance Manager
Fela is a Database Administrator and Compliance Manager for KSS Immersion Schools supporting East and West coast schools. She joined New York based Green Ivy Schools in 2018. With 18 years of experience working in the educational field, she specializes in admissions, administration, compliance and database systems for charter and private schools.
At Green Ivy, Fela is responsible for implementing, overseeing, and troubleshooting database systems as well as working with governing agencies on compliance and permitting of both Battery Park Montessori and Pine Street School. Fela is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her knowledge and tireless energy to resolve problems and ensure safety and compliance.
Fela was born and raised in Poland and moved to New York in 2002. Fela is inspired daily by her husband and two sons who attend Pine Street School. In her free time, Fela enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
David Castro | Director of Facilities and Purchasing
David is a seasoned Property/Facilities Manager. He loves the problem-solving and hands-on aspects of the field; each day is different and presents various opportunities to exercise his skill set. But most of all, he loves the fact that he's part of a great team that gets to see our future leaders learn and grow at the Green Ivy Schools.
Johnny Gutierrez | Purchasing Manager
Johnny joined the Pine Street School facilities Team in 2019. Johnny is very passionate at his job as the Pine Street Facility Coordinator. Johnny has a great deal of experience in customer service, asset protection and project management.
His youngest child, Melody, also comes to Pine Street every day, as an elementary school student!
Malik LeTellier | Facilities Crew Member
Malik LeTellier is a native New Yorker, raised in Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was born on a military base, which would set the foundation for his professional life.
Malik enlisted in the U.S. Army straight out of high school. He trained at The US Army Signal Training Command in battlefield communication. His tours of duty included South Korea and Ft. Gordon, GA. His experiences included: maintaining communication for the US Army Command on the DMZ in Korea, providing medical care for Marine and Naval personnel, combat training, base security, fire safety and CPR.
Malik worked in corporate security with Allied Universal at the World Trade Center. During this time Malik began working at the Browning School and now he's happy to be part of the Pine Street School team!
Eddie Burgess | Facilities Crew Member
Eddie joined GI Facilities in 2019 as a member of the security team and handyman. When he is not keeping the schools beautiful, he is doing beautiful things. For the past 25 years, Eddie has supported people with disabilities, working with groups such as AHRC and The Lighthouse Guild. An avid biker, shopper and shoe lover, Eddie always has a smile and a vegan recipe to share.
Wendy Quero | Facilities Crew Member
Wendy was born and raised in the Dominican Republic before moving to Puerto Rico for 17 years. She currently lives in the Bronx where she raised 4 beautiful children who grew up and is now a grandmother to 3 cute grandchildren.
She previously worked for a cleaning company before coming to Pine Street School. After a few years, it was time for a new change and transferred over to Battery Park Montessori. She has been part of the BPM team for 3 years now and proves to be an essential member ensuring BPM is running safely. She has a passion for learning and is currently in school to become a beautician.
When she is not working, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, especially at the beach.