MCS Staff
Administration
Erica Carpenter
Office Administrator
Christine Miro
Bookkeeper
Christina
Dieffenbach
Compliance Coordinator
Stepping Stones
Alice Hampton
Stepping Stones West Lead
Ms. Hampton has been at MCS for 20 years and 3 months! She guides the 1-year olds in the Toddler classroom and is affectionately called the”toddler whisperer.” Ms. Hampton holds an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and her Montessori Infant/Toddler credential from CMTE/NC. In her spare time, she loves to sing, and play volleyball and ping pong. While at MCS, Ms. Hampton has been the Lead Teacher in both a one-year old and a two year-old classroom.
Lorrie Hall
Stepping Stones West
Assistant
Lillian Booysen
Stepping Stones
Assistant
Primary
Kelsey Keller
Primary East
Lead
Lauren Slater
Primary East
Assistant
Maegan Brusaw
Primary West
Lead
Mrs. Maegan Brusaw holds a B.S. in Healthcare Management from The University of Mount Olive and a M.Ed. in Montessori Integrative Learning- from Endicott College. She is certified by the American Montessori Society Montessori Primary Education. Mrs. Brusaw has been at MCS for 9 years. She spent 3 years as an Assistant in Stepping Stones 1 year as an Office Assistant and has been the lead Directress in Primary West for the past 5 years. Maegan is interested in pursuing Doctoral Studies in Montessori. She has four children, all of whom have been or are currently MCS students. In Maegan’s spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her family.
Kathy Pesquiera
Primary West
Assistant
Kathy Pesqueira is completing an Associates of Arts Degree, with an expected completion date of May 2020. She has completed the Trillium Assistant Training and holds a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential (NCECC 2016). She has been at MCS for 6 years and has been an after care lead in addition to a classroom assistant. Prior to coming to MCS, Kathy served as a Marine Corps Community Service (Family Childcare Provider) and a USAF Family Services (Family Childcare Provider). Kathy plans to obtain her Bachelor’s degree and to attend training to become a Montessori Directress. When she is not at school, Kathy enjoys cooking, baking, and spending quality time with her daughters and husband.
Sandra Smith
Primary South
Lead
Ms. Smith
Adriana Rodriguez
Primary South
Assistant
Mrs. Rodriguez has been at MCS for 6 years. She was previously a teacher assistant at Miss M’s NC Pre-K program. Mrs. Rodriguez is in the process of completing her Associate’s Degree after which she plans to do her Montessori training. She is the proud mother of two wonderful daughters and is very excited about soon becoming a grandmother. In her spare time, she loves to knit, crochet, and cross stitch.
Elementary
Joen Patton
Lower Elementary South
Lead
Mrs. Patton has been at MCS for two years. She began as an assistant in Primary East and was excited for the opportunity to do her Elementary training.
Jomari Pacheco Matos
Lower Elementary South
Assistant
My name is Jomari, I am originally from Puerto Rico but have been living in the US for over seventeen years and just recently got relocated back to Jacksonville NC on orders earlier this year. I have three daughters ages 16,11 and 7. Being a military wife has allowed me to travel and work in various states. My own children have inspired me to pursue a degree in Elementary and Special Education. I have worked professionally with children for over five years, and I am very passionate about what I do and hope to bring my experience and love for working with children to the MCS families.
Rachel Sauber
Lower Elementary North
Co-Lead
Erin Kinsella
Lower Elementary North
Co-Lead
Pierce Clawson
Upper Elementary
Lead
Nicole Velez
Upper Elementary Aftercare Coordinator
Teacher Assistant
Outdoor Education and After Care
Bob Patterson
Environmental Education
Lead
Mr. Patterson has been at MCS for 10 years, first as the Outdoor Education Assistant and most recently as the Lead. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Financial Management and a Master of Science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Mr. Patterson’s two older daughters attended MCS and his youngest daughter is a student in the Upper Elementary classroom. Bob enjoys kayaking, hiking and coaching basketball.
Kat Price
Primary After Care
Erica Santana
Lower Elementary North
Accredidation Coordinator
Ms. Santana and her family moved from New Jersey two years to join us at our school! Erica began her Montessori journey at Hamilton Park Montessori School in Jersey City, NJ. This is where her love for the Montessori method and elementary education began. She attended Princeton Center for Teacher Education to be trained as a lower elementary teacher. Then she taught at Apple Montessori School in Wayne, NJ. She also graduated from Montclair State University with a M.A.T. in Elementary Education K-6. She then moved on and taught at Hudson Montessori School in Jersey City, NJ and Montessori Country Day School in Plainsboro, NJ where she focused on creating curriculum and building up unique and diverse elementary programs. During this time, she also began writing language curriculums for ETC Montessori. She has presented at several conferences, written articles, and became a teacher trainer at local training centers. When she’s not working, Erica can be found spending time with her husband, Anthony, and her son, Leo. She loves to read, write stories and poetry, correct grammar, collect rocks and bones, and look at the stars.
Abigail Boeser
Primary After Care
Leslie Martinez
Primary After Care
Mrs. Leslie Martinez-Sandoval is excited to assist the Primary House this year at MCS. Originally from Florida, Leslie and her husband received orders to Jacksonville, NC two years ago. Mrs. Leslie has experience working with children in a childcare center and as a volunteer with her church’s Sunday school. She is pursuing an Associate degree in Early Childhood Education and is looking forward to completing the Trillium Montessori Teacher Assistant Course. In her spare time, she loves going to the beach, spending time with her husband, and trying new foods!