Faculty & Staff IMS classrooms are taught by a dedicated team of Lead Teachers and Assistant Teachers. Our Lead Teachers are Montessori Certified, or are in their training process, either through the American Montessori Society (AMS) or Association Montessori International (AMI). Their Montessori experiences provide the secure foundation on which the school’s curriculum is based.
Nido | Walnut Room
Heather Talada
Heather is the lead guide in the Walnut Room. Heather has been involved with tutoring third graders, volunteering at San Antonio Youth Literacy, working at a school-age summer program, and leading an infant classroom. Through these experiences she has developed her educational philosophy that children have just as much to teach us as we have to teach them. She believes that although families may see educators as experts in child development, families are the experts of their own children. She also believes in teaching the whole child: socially, emotionally, and academically. Building respectful and supportive relationships with families is the best way to consistently help children grow in all these domains.
Sabrena Pegram
Sabrena is an assistant guide in the Walnut Room . She join the Maple Room this year after a couple of years in the Pine Room. She is a wife and a mother. During her free-time she like to garden, bake, and go hiking.
Jessica Pedalty
Jessica is an assistant guide in the Walnut Room. Jessica has been working in child care for almost 3 years. To her, there is no greater gift then to watch children grow into people! Their smiles make everything worth it!
Toddler | Hickory Room
Anna Olson
Anna is the lead guide in the Hickory Room. She was born in Syracuse and graduated from Syracuse University in 2019, earning a BS in Human Development & Family Science with a concentration in Queer Studies, and is Montessori Certified. Anna’s career in childhood education began at SU’s Bernice M. Wright Child Development Lab School. She worked there for 4 years, teaching toddlers and preschool-aged children. During college, Anna founded the SU chapter of Camp Kesem, which provides a free week-long summer camp to children whose guardians are affected by cancer. Anna moved to Ithaca in August 2020 with her partner. In her spare time, Anna likes to cook, go to the farmers market, and play with her cats, Max and Ruby.
Leah Slattery
Leah is an assistant guide in the Hickory Room. She is currently working towards her Associates degree in Creative Writing and Literature with hopes of one day achieving her degree in Special Education. She has two years of experience working with children ages from newborn to 6 years-old in school and Summer camp settings. Leah loves the theater, cooking, and reading. She enjoys spending time with her family.
Leanne Russo
Leanne is a substitute teacher that will be supporting in the Hickory Room. She received her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Nazareth University. Her education and life experiences have given her a passion for fostering growth for people of all ages. In her free time she loves to spend time in nature, read, listen to live music and try her hand at different crafts.
Gina DeAngelo
Gina is an assistant guide in the Hickory Room. Gina holds a B.A. in Human Development with a minor in Education from Binghamton University and has over 10 years of experience caring for children in various settings. After graduating, she began working as a substitute teacher at a Montessori school in Buffalo, NY, where she discovered her passion for Montessori philosophy and practices. Currently, she is pursuing her infant/toddler certification through the Greater Cincinnati Center for Montessori Education. When she is not working, she enjoys reading, spending time in nature, and being with her family. She lives in Binghamton, NY, with her fiancé Alex, her child Sonny, and our dog Winston.
Toddler | Oak Room
Yoko Roy
Yoko is the lead Guide in the Oak Room. Yoko was previously the lead teacher of the toddler Hickory Room. Yoko began her journey at Ithaca Montessori School in 2004! Yoko was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. There she studied journalism at Bunka Gakuin college and was an editor of a women’s magazine for fifteen years. Yoko moved to the U.S. in 1999 and started at IMS as an Assistant Teacher in the Primary Program. After one year, she found her passion working with Toddlers and is now a lead teacher in our Toddler Program. She received her certification from the Montessori Infant/Toddler training at the Princeton Center for Montessori Teacher Education in 2008. She lives in Trumansburg with her two daughters, Naomi and Emma.
Katya Mulcahy
Katya is an assistant guide in the Oak Room. Katya has worked in the Early Childhood field since the age of 13. She began babysitting and became a Summer camp counselor for both the NYS Sheriffs Association and Boy Scouts of America. Katya has completed BOCES Early Childhood program in 2015 and received her Associates of Applied Sciences for Early Childhood from TC3 in 2017. Since then she has worked in infant, toddler, and pre-school rooms as an assistant. She has taught upper Elementary special need students and was most recently an infant lead teacher. She is currently finishing her Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. In her spare time, Katya is a photographer, writer, and musician.
Emily Diamond
Emily is an assistant guide in the Oak Room. Emily has lived in Interlaken, NY her entire life. She attended South Seneca Central School and received her Bachelor’s from Cazenovia College in 2023. Emily loves singing, cats, sewing, and reading.
Roze Javid
Roze is an assistant guide in the Oak Room. Roze was born in France and has nurtured a lifelong passion for children, entertainment, and art, which has only grown as she’s traveled through various countries. Fluent in two languages, she embraces diverse cultures and experiences. With a deep curiosity for the Universe, the laws of the universe, and a fascination with quantum physics, she balances her intellectual pursuits with hobbies like baking, nutrition, hockey, fashion, and finance. An avid reader and writer, she also thrives on creativity and imagination, always dreaming big, and loves inspiring her friends and other people to do the same.
Toddler | Willow Room
Heather Peluso
Heather is the lead guide in the Willow Room. Heather, a native of Buffalo NY, came to Ithaca after graduating from SUNY Cortland with a B.A. in History. Heather has been caring for children in centers, home based care and preschool for 19 years. Heather received her Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential in 2006 and is now a fully certified Montessori Infant and Toddler teacher. She lives with her husband Josh, two daughters, Sydnie and Reese, and a goofy Golden Retriever Codder.
Faten Houssia
Faten is an assistant guide in the Willow Room. Faten will be working toward achieving her CDA and completing the Montessori Beginnings training for infants and toddlers. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, a Certificate in writing Professional Email and Memos. Faten has over 10 years of experience as a child care provider and tutor. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, extended family, students, and friends.
Morgan Kerr
Morgan is an assistant guide in the Willow Room. They have lived in Ithaca their entire life and have fallen in love with the beautiful surroundings of their home. They have a passion for the power of learning through play and are lifelong learners. They have been in an assistant role with preschool-aged children in outdoor settings and middle and high school students in a formal classroom. Morgan has since worked in welding before returning to their passion for working with children in a flexible classroom. Their favorite adventure is hiking to the top of a hill and building fairy houses for the next adventurer to enjoy.
Jasmond Johnson-Pratt
Jasmond is an assistant guide in the Willow Room. Jasmond is a calm and compassionate person. She has 2 kids of her own. In her free time, she loves to be outside with her kids, fishing or exploring nature .
Primary & Kindergarten | Pine Room
Shahista Anwar
Shahista is the lead guide in the Pine Room. Shahista has completed two years of college and is looking forwards to completing her degree in Early Childhood Education. She has worked with children ranging in age from 4-15 years old for the past 7 years. In her free time, Shahista enjoys cooking, walking, and hiking.
Caroline Silva
Caroline is an assistant guide in the Pine Room. Caroline started at IMS in October 2021. Caroline has an educational background in Early Childhood Development as well as experience with The William George Agency for Children’s Services, working with at-risk youth. Caroline holds an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice.
Suzanna Homrighaus
Suzanna is an assistant guide in the Pine Room. She has over ten years experience in Early Childhood Education. She received her Associates in Early Childhood Education in 2017. Suzanna is a mom to twin 10 year-olds. In her spare time Suzanna enjoys hiking, spending time with family, and scrapbooking.
Primary & Kindergarten | Elm Room
Tara Conklin
Tara is the lead guide for the Elm Room. She holds a bachelors of science in Community Health from Lock Haven University and is Montessori Certified. Tara has been working at IMS since 2019. Tara adores her husband, and children. Tara is a huge nature and animal lover.
Morgan Clayman
Morgan is an assistant guide in the Elm Room. She is a former Cornell student who grew up in the area. She has spent a lot of time educating kids in high school, during her time working and volunteering at her public library. She rediscovered this love after leaving Cornell and working at the daycare in the Tompkins County YMCA. She is very passionate about learning, and spends most of her free time reading, walking, or knitting in a park.
Abby Lenzi
Abby is an assistant guide in the Elm Room. Abby has been a part of IMS since July 2023. Abby started her journey at IMS in the toddler program but has grown very fond of the children in the primary program during her opportunities to help in this program.
Nesiah Lee
Nesiah is an assistant guide in the Elm Room. Nesiah started working with children at the age of 14 as an afterschool and summer camp assistant. She started working at Buffalo Steet Books and the bookstore is where she learned about the Montessori philosophy. She was able to meet kids who went to a Montessori school. Since then she has been interested in Montessori’s way of teaching. She is very excited to learn more and grow with our school.
Substitute Teachers
Lilit Abrahamryan
Lilit has her Bachelor’s degree in Economics. After working in the field of finances for about a decade she moved from Armenia to the US with her husband in 2016. She is a mother of two children and decided to be a part of school as soon as her oldest child went to preschool. After serving as a treasurer at her daughter’s preschool she has been attracted by teacher’s activities.
Omelaid Barhna
Lily Welsh
Marisa Martins
Brooke Willer
ART
Pamela Weatherby
Program Director and Head of School
Pam attended the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in New Rochelle, NY in 2001 to complete her Primary Montessori Certification. She has over 10 years of teaching experience at the Primary level at IMS. She has been in a Director’s role at IMS for over 8 years and the Head of School for almost 5 years. Pam’s education background is in Human Services with a specialization in Early Childhood Education. Pam is happily married to her husband Casey of 20 years. They have 3 children, Morgan, Maelin, and Hayden, whom have all attended IMS. Pam enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, camping, outdoor activities, and working in her garden..
OSL
Walaa Maharem-Horan
Operations Director
Walaa has a degree in Psychology, with a concentration in special education, from McMaster’s University. She is the founding director of Ithaca Welcomes Refugees, a non-profit here in Ithaca. She is a board member of the Ithaca Public Education Initiative, and a translator (Arabic) for the Ithaca City School district. Walaa has extensive experience as an operational manager, including budget and fundraising experience, for several small-to-medium size companies in Ithaca. Walaa is passionate about IMS and the work to help Ithaca Montessori School grow.
Administrative Team
Pamela Weatherby
Program Director and Head of School
Pam attended the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in New Rochelle, NY in 2001 to complete her Primary Montessori Certification. She has over 10 years of teaching experience at the Primary level at IMS. She has been in a Director’s role at IMS for over 8 years and the Head of School for almost 5 years. Pam’s education background is in Human Services with a specialization in Early Childhood Education. Pam is happily married to her husband Casey of 20 years. They have 3 children, Morgan, Maelin, and Hayden, whom have all attended IMS. Pam enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, camping, outdoor activities, and working in her garden..
Walaa Maharem-Horan
Operations Director
Walaa has a degree in Psychology, with a concentration in special education, from McMaster’s University. She is the founding director of Ithaca Welcomes Refugees, a non-profit here in Ithaca. She is a board member of the Ithaca Public Education Initiative, and a translator (Arabic) for the Ithaca City School district. Walaa has extensive experience as an operational manager, including budget and fundraising experience, for several small-to-medium size companies in Ithaca. Walaa is passionate about IMS and the work to help Ithaca Montessori School grow.
Donna Wheeler
Education Director
Donna grew up locally and graduated from Cayuga Community College with an Early Childhood Education Degree. She managed her own home daycare when her four children were young and then started her career at Ithaca Montessori as a Primary assistant. After receiving Montessori training Donna continued as a Primary lead teacher for 15 years. After leaving to explore teaching Infants at Bright Horizons she returned to Ithaca Montessori to lead the Nido classroom for 2 years before stepping into the Education Director role. Donna is an avid gardener and loves to spend time with her growing number of grandchildren.
Melanie Teeter
Administrative Assistant
Melanie was born and raised in Newfield, NY. She comes to IMS with numerous of years experience as an Administrative Assistant. She is a proud fur-mom to her Miniature Dachshund Charlie, as well as, a very proud Aunt to many nieces and nephews. In her personal time, you can always find her at one of her sibling’s homes hanging out with all the kids. She loves the Pittsburgh Steelers and cooking!
