Our Staff

Kelsy Hall ● Lead guide

Kelsy's journey with Montessori education began with an internship that left a lasting impression.  She has been a part of the MSC community since graduating in 2016 and over the years has filled various roles to gain a well-rounded perspective and a genuine love for each stage of development. Kelsy's heart ultimately led to bringing her joy and deep passion for Montessori education to her role as the Lead Guide in the Butterfly Room.

Outside of school, Kelsy enjoys a full and lively life with her husband, their three (soon to be four!) children, and a menagerie of animals. Family time is her greatest joy, whether it's exploring the outdoors or simply sharing a quiet moment together.

Amber Townsend ● Classroom assistant

Bio coming soon

Vrinda Abhyankar ● Lead guide

Vrinda was born and grew up in India. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Care and Education from SNDT University in Mumbai, India and her Montessori training at VCMS, Richmond VA. Prior to joining MSC, she worked with Center for Opportunities in Education and Rehabilitation with typically developing children and those with special needs, a rare experience as mainstreaming in India. Vrinda served as the Rainbow Room assistant in the fall of 2011 and took over the lead teacher position in the fall of 2018. Outside of the school she likes to cook and go on hikes with her family.

Shipra Biswas ● Classroom Assistant

Shipra was born and raised in Bangladesh. She finished her BS (biology major) at the National University. Before moving to the US she worked as a lab tech in the department of Biochemistry and molecular genetics at the Kobe University School of Medicine in Japan. She taught Bangladesh culture and history to Japanese elementary students. After moving to the USA she worked at the Child Development Center at UVA. She completed here Child Development Associate courses while working at CDC. She joined our staff as an assistant in 2012.

Jenn Collins ● Lead guide

Jenn was born and raised in Germany before moving to Charlottesville to work as an au pair in 2015. While working as an au pair, Jenn helped at a Montessori school as a substitute. After permanently moving to the United States in 2019, Jenn’s passion for early childhood education was sparked, leading her to continue her work in Montessori settings as well as earn her Child Development Associate credential in 2023 and her Early Childhood Montessori Diploma in 2024.

She is excited to be part of the Montessori School of Charlottesville, supporting each child’s unique growth in a warm and nurturing environment as a teacher and to watch her own children's growth as a parent.

Yecica cruz ● Classroom assistant

Yecica’s journey in education began right after high school when she spent several years working at a Montessori school in Harrisonburg. There, she gained hands-on experience and developed a deep appreciation for the Montessori philosophy. Yecica transitioned into a career in patient care, but missed working with children and being part of the Montessori community. She is excited to return as an assistant teacher and continue growing in Montessori education while supporting students on their learning journey.

Outside of work, Yecica enjoys spending time in nature by gardening and exploring the outdoors with her dog. She also values time with her family and finds joy giving back through active involvement in her community church.

Maggie Banks ● Lead guide

Maggie was born and raised in Batesville, VA. She graduated from Western Albemarle in 2013 as a top athlete in the state. After graduation she received a track and field scholarship to Radford University where she competed at the Division One level as a pentathlete and javelin thrower. 

Maggie has worked extensively with children over the years and been with Montessori School of Charlottesville since 2022. She has a particular love of the toddler age group as they explore language and socialization. She herself is a product of a Montessori education, where she gained a strong sense of independence and confidence in her abilities.  

Outside of school she enjoys spending time with her family, watching football with her husband Tre, yoga, and playing with her daughter Leilani and her 80lbs lap dog, Bella. 

Kadija Mohamud ● Classroom Assistant

Kadija was born in Kenya. Her family moved to Charlottesville in January of 2004 when she was 6. She played soccer and was on the swim team and started Junior Coaching the 5 and Unders when she was 13-16. She also did an internship with Charlottesville Public Works. Kadija began her work with children at Parks and Rec Summer Camps leading arts and crafts and playing with the children. Kadija has been a valuable part of the MSC community since 2019.

Poppy Marquez ● Lead guide

Poppy is originally from Northern Virginia, but she has lived in New York, New Orleans, and most recently Richmond, VA. Before training at the Virginia Center for Montessori Studies, Poppy taught art and English and also homeschooled her daughter (now a UVA freshman) for a number of years. Poppy is beyond excited to be in Charlottesville, get to know the area, and meet wonderful people here. Poppy feels very grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside your children in this next chapter of her life (and theirs)! In her free time, Poppy loves being creative, whether writing, drawing, baking, or just appreciating the world in new ways.

Breanna Shannon ● Classroom Assistant

Breanna has been working in Montessori since 2013.  She started as an assistant in the toddler room, then received her AMS toddler and infant certificate from West End Montessori in Richmond in 2018. She is a mother of four and took some time away from the classroom  and is excited to come be back in the classroom as an assistant in the Bluebird room! 

Anna Cook ● Lead guide

Anna has always felt a warm and welcoming connection with MSC since moving to Charlottesville to pursue her Montessori teaching career in the Rainbow Room in 2014. She holds a BS in Business Marketing, MA in Early Childhood Education, and Montessori Primary Certification.

Her commitment to Montessori education has continued with her own children, through operating an in-home care service, and by specializing in customer support with record-keeping on the Montessori Records Xpress platform. Anna returned to MSC to lead the Dandelion Room in 2024. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, exploring new travel destinations and enjoying a cup of tea.

Frishta Mohammad Asif ● Classroom assistant

Frishta was born and grew up in Afghanistan. She studied the English language in Afghantisan and was a computer science student at PVCC. Frishta loves to write in her own language and English, and she has two books of poetry that she is trying to translate into English. Frishta loves to spend time with her children and loves to make jewelry in her free time.

Sean Adinig ● toddler Afternoon Program

Sean is a dedicated husband and father of two adult children, one with special needs. Born in DC and raised in Maryland, Sean brings over 27 years of diverse educational experience. His career spans roles as a substitute teacher, educator, pastor, and community leader. Sean joined our community in 2024 and is excited to work with the children every day.

Katie Toman ● Primary Afternoon Program Lead

Katie is a graduate student in religious and American studies at UVA. She comes from an Army family and has lived in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Florida, Italy, and Germany, but she currently calls Charlottesville and Richmond, VA, her home. She has a lovely cat named Paul and a spunky leopard gecko named Gloria. She has worked as an educator and substitute teacher for nearly three years and has a previous history of serving in various childcare roles. This is Katie’s first year with MSC, and she is very excited to watch the children grow and learn throughout the year.

Cristy Foster ● Primary Afternoon Program Assistant

Bio coming soon

Ola Mansour ● floater

Ola lived in Syria for most of her life. While there, she tutored children although she is a trained engineer. When she came to America in 2016, she worked at the hospital for a year and took classes at PVCC. After joining MSC, she decided that’s what she wanted to continue with because teaching children is something that she’s always wanted to do. Ola has been working at MSC for almost 6 years now! In this time, she’s seen many children grow to be amazing people.

Ola loves traveling around, especially to go visit her homeland. She also loves being around her family and hanging out with them. Her family has always been very important to her.

Soren Jones ● Administrative Director

Soren is a Virginia native. He spent several years between Santa Cruz and Berkeley California where he got his undergraduate degree in History at UC Berkeley. Soren worked for the Oakland Unified School District as a teacher in Elementary Afterschool Programs. He worked on numerous research projects including an oral history of Appalachian traditional music and an archaeological dig in Greece in 2016.

Soren moved to Charlottesville in 2017 and started at MSC as an office manager. He completed his Montessori Leadership Credential in the Spring of 2024 through CGMS. After 7 years at MSC Soren is very excited to start his role as Administrative Director in the Summer of 2024.

Gloria Boesenberg ● Program Director

Gloria grew up in Indiana, where she received a B.A. in Psychology from Earlham College. Besides working with children, she has also enjoyed working as a nursing assistant with the elderly and as a house parent for adults with developmental differences. Gloria joined our community as an assistant in 2014, and she completed her Early Childhood teacher training with the Center for Guided Montessori Studies in 2018 to lead the Star Room. She finished her M.A. in Montessori Education and Leadership at St. Catherine University in 2023. She stepped in as Program Director in 2024. In her free time, Gloria spends time crafting, reading, and enjoying nature.

Victoria Blackburn ● Afternoon Program Coordinator

Originally from upstate New York, Victoria now lives in Waynesboro. In 2023, Victoria received their Bachelor of Social Work degree from Mary Baldwin University, with a focus on trauma-informed education and social emotion learning. Victoria has joined MSC as the Afternoon Program Coordinator in 2025. Outside of the classroom, Victoria spends time hiking in the mountains and road trips across the country as much as possible.