Debbie Roa
I spent a significant part of my life in Mexico, where I attended the University of the Americas and later married. Following the births of three children, I became interested in the Montessori philosophy. I identified with the Montessori belief in respect for the child's personal dignity, self discipline coming from within, and children working at their own pace and choosing their own lessons.

I discovered St. Christopher's Montessori School when I moved from Mexico to Key Biscayne. Here I found that the Montessori philosophy in action was even better than in the books I had read.

In 1978, I completed coursework at the Montessori Teacher Training Institute and then began working at St. Christopher's. In 1980, I became head teacher in one of the preschool classrooms. There I remained until 2001 when I was offered the position of Directress of the school.

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Stephanie Brown
Originally raised as a farm girl in Michigan, I love our school's focus on
respect for nature and our sense of community.

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Martha Cuthbertson
I have been active in the Montessori method of education since 1977, when my daughter started school and I co-founded the Happy Kinder Montessori School in Nicaragua. Following work in the business sector and a move to Key Biscayne in 1981, I began teaching at St. Christopher's and enrolled our younger son there. I am deeply committed to the Montessori philosophy which takes into account the physical, spiritual, and social well being of the child, as well as the child's academic accomplishments.

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Claudia Gukeisen
After graduating from Marymount College with a B.A. in English, I spent several years conducting art education programs and special events for Sotheby’s Auction House in New York. In 1995, I earned an M.A. in International Education from NYU. My desire to work in a non-traditional education setting led to my becoming Assistant Director for Docent Training at the American Museum of Natural History.

In 2001, my family and I relocated to Key Biscayne and my two children began attending St. Christopher’s. Watching my children thrive here led to my increasing interest in the Montessori method. I recently completed the 6-9 teacher certification program at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in New York. Teaching in the Lower Elementary classroom is a joy and has allowed me to combine all my education, experience and interests.

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Leslie Lasseville
Following undergraduate and graduate work in Elementary Education, and an EDS degree in Montessori Elementary Education (ages 6-12), I began work as one of the Upper Elementary teachers at St. Christopher's in 2000. St. Christopher's is a great place to work and an even better place to learn. Students are given a balance of freedom and guidance in order to achieve academic goals. There are beautiful hands-on materials that support our curriculum, in a beautiful and spacious state of the art classroom.

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Jane Morris
In the late 1980's, my two sons attended St. Christopher's and I became an aide in the classroom. I was in awe at how easily the children learned. Their knowledge and creativity was endless. I received my Montessori training and began teaching in my own classroom in 1992. I have always enjoyed the arts and now I can use that creativity in all areas of my classroom.

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Olga Pereira
I've had the pleasure to work at St. Christopher's for 15 years. The school has been accommodating and supportive of family needs, giving them the importance they deserve so I could do my job well, both as a parent and a teacher.

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Patricia Rest
I was born in Venezuela and I received by B.A. in French from FIU in Miami. I have been very lucky to have had the opportunity to live for extended periods of time in Switzerland, England, Spain and Mexico as this has afforded me the opportunity to experience and learn from different cultures.

I had the opportunity to work with kids in Spain and Mexico many years ago but I was then lured by the corporate world where I worked in Private Banking (Ocean Bank) and in marketing for The Danone Group. But then an incredible thing happened and I gave birth to my little Nicole, I knew right there and then that I would be teaching again.

I had always been interested in the Montessori philosophy and identified with many of the Montessori principles so I decided I would become a Montessori teacher. I obtained my Early Childhood Teacher Certification at Alexander Montessori School where I also did my internship, then I was hired as a Pre-K and K lead-teacher at Wagner Montessori until the wonderful opportunity to work at Saint Christopher’s was presented to me last year. This is truly a dream come true for me as I have now obtained my 6 to 9 Teacher Certification and I work today in a beautiful place surrounded by incredible kids and a wonderful, professional, passionate and caring staff.

I am certain that when you truly love what you do, you become a better human being, a better professional and a happier person overall with a big bonus on top of that – you become a better parent!!

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updated 03/28/08