Elementary Staff

Jayne is a graduate of New College in Sarasota and has been a teacher and coordinator of children’s’ educational and recreational programs for more than 20 years. She has worked in a Montessori environment since 1994, and has been a teacher at the Center since 1996. She received her Montessori ...

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Beronica and her husband moved to Sarasota in 2000. Beronica earned a law degree from the University of Federico Enriquez Urena y Carvajal. In 2006, she completed her Montessori certification at the SeaCoast Center in Celebration and has been an Elementary 1 ...

 Melanie Kersey-Smith was born in Savannah, Georgia. She has lived in the Bradenton area for the past 15 years. During this time she previously worked at the Center for ten years. Her daughter Elayna is a former student and her son Ethan is currently in Elementary 1.

Amy and her family moved to Florida from Maryland in 2000. She is a graduate from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Science. She has been a parent here at the Center since 2002. Her sons, Austin, Jack and Matthew, love attending school here. Amy ...

Rachel is an alumna of the Center; she was a student here from 1976-1984. She received her B.A. in art history from the University of Central Florida in 1994 and an M.A. in art history from the University of Florida in 1997. Rachel was a museum educator for four years before returning home to the ...

 Juana was born in Lima, Peru. She moved to Spain after high school and received her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University School of Social Work in Vitoria (the University of the Basque Country). She worked as an educator with children for many years. She was also instrumental ...