Staff

Laura Accettullo - Executive Director, Level II & Level III Catechist
A Montessori child herself, Laura remembers what a joy it was for her to attend Montessori School.  Graduating from the University of Virginia, she and her husband Mark turned to home education while also incorporating Montessori principles for their nine children.  Since being introduced to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program in 2000, Laura has received CGS certification in Levels I, II and III, and is soon to be recognized by the National Association as a Formation Leader.  Laura is also coordinator with St. John’s parish for John XXIII’s Sacramental preparation, volunteers with St. John’s Religious Education program, and is a founding Board member of John XXIII.  A proud Nana, she is delighted that her three granddaughters attend at the Center. Laura, Mark and their family live at Briarmead Farm, a “beyond organic” grass-fed farm producing beef, lamb and dairy; a Slow Food DC “Snail of Approval Award” recipient for the past several years.

Nancy Briggs - Administrative Director and Registrar
Nancy Briggs has been involved with John XXIII Montessori Center since its early years as a parent, and has served as Registrar since 2008 and Administrative Director of the Center since 2011.   A graduate of Christendom College and Catholic University, Nancy has held a variety of part-time academic and administrative positions at Christendom College. Nancy and Douglas are blessed with nine children and three grandchildren.

Elizabeth has worked for over ten years in Montessori and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  After receiving her BA in history from Christendom College, she continued her education and earned her AMI Primary teaching certificate from the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota and her Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level I certification.  She has worked in AMI Certified Montessori schools, home-based Montessori schools and loves working in the Three Day program at John XXIII as she integrates it with her own homeschooling for her three boys.  Elizabeth and her husband, David, have three boys, Augustine, Peter and Daniel.

Liz Powell - Primary Level I Catechist
Elizabeth is a graduate of Christendom College with a BA in Theology.  She became a assistant for the Three Morning Primary Class in 2010 and was then introduced to the Atrium for the first time.  After falling in love with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, she began Level I training that summer.  She has since completed her training and has been a catechist at John XXIII for the past one and a half years.  Elizabeth and her husband, Joseph, have one daughter, Zoey.

 

Eileen Janaro - Elementary Directress
Eileen Janaro graduated with a Masters in English from the University of Dallas.  She has been teaching for 19 years, inspired by Montessori principles for the last 16 years, and has been the Center’s Montessori elementary directress for almost four years. Eileen completed her AMI elementary certification at The Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola University of Maryland and is close to completion of her Master’s in Montessori Elementary Education. Eileen and her husband, John, have been blessed with five children.

Marialisa Delmare - Toddler Atrium Catechist
Marialisa graduated with a BA in Economics from Stanford University.  She has taken both Level I and Level II training in the Catechisis of the Good Shepherd Montessori program, and holds an Elementary 6-9 certificate.  She is currently working in the Toddler Environment and is a founding member of the Board of Directors of John XXIII Montessori Children's Center.  Marialisa Delmare has been married for thirty-one years and is a mother of 12 children and grandmother to 1.

Kristin Uhlenkott - Level I Atrium Catechist
Kristin graduated with a BA from Franciscan University in 2001 and was introduced to Montessori and the Catechism of the Good Shepherd in 2006, when she started her Level I training at John XXIII.  She began to assist at the Center in 2008. Kristin is in her fourth year as a Catechist in the 3-6 Atrium.  Kristin is blessed with four children.

Meghan Mulherin - Level I Atrium Catechist
Meghan received her BA degree in French from Christendom College. She recently returned to the Front Royal area and completed her Level I Catechesis of the Good Shepherd formation course in June of 2012.  She is the lead catechist for the Level I Atrium on Friday mornings. Meghan and her husband Daniel have 4 children: Lily, Daniel, Violet and Ava Rose.

Danuta Coble - Level I Atrium Catechist
Danuta has a background in graphic design and homeschooling.  She served as a catechist at various parishes where she has lived, however, it was through her youngest daughter's faith formation in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd that she desired to learn more about the program. Danuta established a Level I Atrium at her parish, St. Peter's in Little Washington, in 2011.   Danuta has been married for thirty-five years and is a mother of two daughters.

Michelle Castellan - Level II Atrium Catechist, Toddler Atrium Catechist
Michelle has a B.A. in Theology from Christendom College and a M.T.S. from John Paul II Institute for Studies in Marriage and the Family.  She has been a catechist with John XXIII Montessori Children’s Center since 2005.  Michelle is certified in Levels I and II of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  Michelle and her husband, Bill, have five children.

Jessica Meza - Level I Atrium Catechist
Jessica graduated with a BA in Philosophy from Christendom College where she was introduced to the work of both Maria Montessori and Sophia Cavelletti. She completed her Level I Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training in 2012 and was Assistant in the Atrium for 2 years. Jessica is Lead Catechist in the Level I Atrium on Friday mornings. Jessica and her husband, Jacob have been blessed with three children: Rose Marie, Samuel and Benjamin.