PRIMARY STAFF
Saleha Hafiz
Primary 1 Teacher
Saleha was born and raised in Algiers, Algeria. She earned her B.A. in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from the University of Algiers and her M.Ed. from William Woods University, Missouri. In 2001, Saleha moved to Bradenton and joined our team. She completed her Montessori training at the Montessori Teacher Education Institute of Bowling Green, Ohio, and taught for eight years at our satellite campus in the east side of the county before joining our main campus where she enjoys working with the children in the Primary 1 classroom. Saleha is married and has a daughter in Elementary 2. She is also a Certified Positive Discipline and a Mind in the Making Facilitator who offers parenting workshops throughout the year.
shafiz@centermontessori.org
shafiz@centermontessori.org
Mia Barber
Primary 1 Assistant
Mia was born in Sarasota, the youngest of two girls. Her sister Jae has also joined CMS. Mia graduated from Sarasota High School and is currently a student at State College of Florida studying psychology with plans to transfer to the University of South Florida in the fall of 2023. She likes organization projects, childcare and studying psychology.
Crystal Gulakins
Primary 2 Teacher
Crystal was born in Galveston, Texas, and studied early childhood in Worcester, Massachusetts at Cape Cod Community College. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of East London in International Education. Her focus was on studying educational approaches around the world, educational opportunities for all children, child development and speech and language. She and her husband Max, have one son, Ilya. After volunteering at his Montessori school she returned to London, began training and earned her Montessori certificate. She is happy that her family has returned to the states and chosen the Bradenton area to live.
cgulakins@centermontessori.org
cgulakins@centermontessori.org
Tammy Moya
Primary 2 Assistant
Tammy was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and relocated to the Bradenton area in 1995. After marrying Rafy Vasquez and starting a family, Tammy became very interested in the development of children. When Tammy’s daughter Tania turned 3 in 2003, she began attending the Center, and Tammy started working in the primary classroom. Tania is now in college and her two younger daughters are here at CMS.
tmoya@centermontessori.org
tmoya@centermontessori.org
Olga (Betty) Camacho
Primary Lakewood Ranch Teacher
Betty was born and raised in Puerto Rico where she studied Secretary Services at the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico. She joined the Center Montessori School family in 1997 as an assistant teacher. Betty received her Infant and Toddler Certification from the South Florida Montessori Education Center in 2002 and the Early Childhood training from Palm Harbor Montessori Teacher Education Center in 2013.
bcamacho@centermontessori.org
bcamacho@centermontessori.org