Elementary Staff

ELEMENTARY STAFF

Janice Mattina
Director/Elementary 1 Teacher

Janice received her B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida in 1966 and has Montessori certificates for the 3-6 and 6-9 age levels. A teacher for over 30 years, Janice continued in her parents footsteps: her mother was an elementary school teacher at Anna Maria Elementary; her dad, Mr. Higgins, was the chemistry teacher at Manatee High in the 1950s and 1960s. Janice was trained by Dr. Caleb Gattegno, creator of the Words in Color approach to teaching reading. Before starting the school, she was a reading consultant to public schools in California and Ohio, and conducted workshops to train teachers in the use of Words in Color and the Cuisenaire rods. Janice and her husband, Peter, have 4 grown children, Amy, Kara, Justin, and Kristopher, and 10 grandchildren, Anna, Colin, Nathan, Quinn, Roman, Grant, Rocco, Daphne, Genevieve and Baby Kristopher.

Rachel Wallace Reid
Elementary 1 Teacher

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 Center, where she has taught since 1998. Rachel completed her Montessori training at the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies in Silver Spring, Maryland. Rachel is delighted that her son, Evan, was a student at the Center.

rreid@centermontessori.org

Giannina Ricci
Elementary 1 Teacher

Born and raised in Peru, Giannina studied Business Administration and worked for several years in Peruvian travel agencies before coming to the United States 13 years ago. She is married to Adan Caycho and has one son, Diego, who is Center alumni.

gricci@centermontessori.org

Melanie Kersey-Smith
Elementary 1 Assistant

Melanie Kersey 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 children, Elayna and Ethan, are Center alumni.

mkerseysmith@centermontessori.org

Caroline Dunn
Elementary 1 Assistant

Nala Gato
Elementary 1 Assistant

Nala was born in Miami, the oldest of three children. She moved to Bradenton when she was a toddler. Nala graduated from Lakewood Ranch High School and just graduated this year from UCF with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She likes to fish, be out on the water and spend time with friends and family.

Jayne Cobb
Elementary 2 Teacher

Jayne is a graduate of New College of Florida and has been a teacher and coordinator of childrens’ educational and recreational programs for more than 25 years. She has worked in a Montessori environment since 1994, and has been a teacher at the Center since 1996. She received her Montessori 6-9 credential from the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies in Maryland, and her 9-12 credential from the Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest. She is an advocate for Edible School Gardens.

Tina Massmann
Elementary 2 Teacher

Tina comes to the Center community with 20+ years of experience in education. She's worked at the elementary, middle, and high school settings, both public and Montessori. She has a master's degree in holistic nutrition and will be completing the remainder of her 6-12 Montessori training this year. She has a passion for learning about how humans interact and the roles that physical and emotional health play into those interactions. She is especially interested in helping children to become the best versions of themselves as they grow and develop. Tina is a proud Army wife to Scott and blessed to be the mother of Zachary, who will be joining the Center community in E1. Some of Tina's hobbies include reading, coloring, hiking, rock climbing, and all things to do in the kitchen.

Erica Andrejkovics
Elementary 2 Assistant

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, she graduated from USF in 1980 with a B.A. in Business Administration. She became interested in the Montessori method of teaching when her children enrolled in Montessori school. She earned her Montessori certification in 1995. Her children, Alex and Mark, graduated from Center in 1997.