The quality of the team of teachers is fundamental to the success of any school. The experience, knowledge and skills of the staff are our most valuable assets. We are very fortunate to have on our staff the following individuals:

Deepa Simlot - Owner and Administrator

Deepa is a Montessori Certified Teacher for 3-6 year olds. She has 3 children, all of whom are Primary Montessori graduates. While volunteering in her children’s classes she discovered the beauty and power of Montessori philosophy and materials, and decided to make it her career. She worked in the telecommunications industry as a computer engineer for 15 years before discovering that she would rather be around children than computers.

Heather Toth - Office Administrator

Heather had been working as a classroom Assistant for children ages 2-6 before coming to MCDB. She has been with us since the day we opened. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Radford University in Inter-disciplinary studies with a concentration in Psychology and Special Education.

A. Chandrika Fernando - Primary Lead Teacher

Chandrika holds a Montessori Teaching Certificate from Good Shepherd Training Center in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and a diploma in Child Psychology and Child Development. She is also a Child Development Associate through the CDA National Credentialing Program. She has been teaching for over 18 years at Montessori schools in Sri Lanka and United States.

Ricardo Padilla - Primary Lead Teacher

Ricardo holds an Early Childhood Credential (3-6 year olds) from the American Montessori Society. He received his Montessori Certification Training from the Dallas Montessori Teacher Programs in Dallas, Texas. He has guided children in Montessori schools since March of 2000, most recently at Country Day School of Arlington in Arlington, TX. After taking a year off to transition his family’s move from Texas to Virginia, he is ready to get back in the classroom. Ricardo also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Phillips University (Enid, OK).

Alejandra Chavez - Primary Lead Teacher

Alejandra is a Montessori certified teacher for 3-6 year olds from Centro De Estudios De Educacion Montessori Del Norte, A.C. in Mexico. She also has a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education from Universidad Pedagogica de Durango. She worked with special needs (deaf) children at Instituto Lagunero de Audiciony Lenguaje for a couple of years before moving to the United States.

Stacy Montandon – Primary Lead Teacher

Stacy is a Montessori certified teacher for 3-6 year olds through Northern Virginia Montessori Institute at Belmont Greene, and has a B.S. and M.S. degree in Psychology. She has been teaching at a local Montessori school for a few years. Before Stacy became a Montessori teacher, she was a Special Education teacher for the elementary age children in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma.

Cathi Dawson - Primary Lead Teacher

Cathi holds a bachelor's degree in English and Psychology, and took her Montessori training at the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies at the Barrie School in Silver Spring, MD. She has one son, a Montessori primary student, and she has been working in a Montessori environment since 2007.

Amee Dalugdug – Primary Lead Teacher

Amee holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from De La Salle University in Philippines, and a Montessori teacher certificate from National Center for Montessori Education in New England. She has been with MCDB since the Fall of 2006. Her older son is a graduate of MCDB, and her younger son is a current student at our school.

Mary Grace Buduru – Pre-Primary Lead Teacher

Mary Grace is a Montessori Certified Toddler Teacher. She also has a Primary Teaching Certificate and a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. She has over 10 years experience working with children.

Tanya Clark – Pre-Primary Lead Teacher

Tanya is a Montessori certified teacher through North Carolina Center for Montessori Teacher Education (CMTE). She is also working towards a degree in Early Childhood Education.

Wyndy Fredrick – Music Teacher

Wyndy has been working as a Music Teacher for over 10 years at various Private Schools in Loudoun County and Virginia Beach. She attended Stratford College and Pfeiffer University for a degree in Music Education. She directs a local children’s choir and teaches private lessons in Piano and Guitar.

Tanuja Bhagwandas – Yoga Teacher
Tanuja has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, a Master’s Degree in English Literature, and a Montessori Teaching Certificate from India. She has a Yoga Alliance certification through Radiant Child Yoga Immersion Program.

Ingrid Jordan – Primary Assistant

Ingrid holds a Montessori Teaching Certification from Northern Virginia Montessori Institute. She has a degree in Pharmacy from Brazil, and Pharmacy Technician certification from Fairfax County. She has been with MCDB since 2007.

Teresa Sowa – Primary Assistant/SpanishTeacher

Teresa has been teaching Spanish and English as a second language to children in the area for the past several years. She is fluent in French, Spanish and Italian. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from University of Alabama.

Bianca Laura Fisch – Pre-Primary Assistant/Art Teacher

Laura has a Montessori based teaching degree from Catholic Institute Santa Doretea in Venice, Italy. She has been teaching adults and children in the area for the past several years. She also holds a Diploma in Fashion Design from Callegari Institute in Venice Italy. She teaches art to our Kindergarten children.

Maria Vassalotti – Primary Assistant

Maria has been working as a Montessori Assistant since 1995 in other area schools. She has an Associates Degree from Rhode Island Community College in Warwick, RI.

Taruna Bhagwandas – Primary Assistant/Extended Day Teacher

Taruna has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, a Master’s Degree in English Literature, and a Montessori Teaching Certificate from India.

Hiroko Lin – Primary Assistant

Hiroko has been working as an assistant in Montessori schools in the area for a few years. She has an Associates Degree from Hillsborough Community College.

Shaleena Shukla – Pre-Primary Assistant

Shaleena has been working as a Toddler Assistant at Montessori Schools in the area for several years before coming to MCDB. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce.

Miyuki Yoon – Pre-Primary Assistant

Miyuki is a native of Japan, and has been living in the United States for more than 18 years. She has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Strayer University. She has been with MCDB since 2008.

Liliana Rocha – Primary Assistant/Spanish Teacher

Liliana has been working as an extended day teacher and a Pre-Primary Assistant at MCDB. This will be her first year as a Primary Assistant and Spanish Teacher. She has worked as a Child Care provider since she came to the US from Peru.

Suguna Mary Saka – Extended Day Teacher

Suguna has been working with Kindergarten and Elementary age children in this country since 2000. Before that, she worked with high school children for more than 15 years in India. She has a Master’s Degree in Economics.