FACULTY AND STAFF

Hope Montessori School is a private school. We serve a diversity of children 2 and a half to 6 years of age residing in Northern Virginia, namely Burke, Falls Church, Annandale and Springfeld. Hope Montessori School has a well-established reputation for excellence in teaching the montessori philosophy, a highly experienced faculty, a hard-working and reliable staff, and a supportive parent community.

From left: Mrs. Mclellan, Mrs. Didavi, Mrs. Thakral (Administrator), and Mrs. Diamond.

Santosh Thakral
Administrator
sthakral@hopemontessori.org

After teaching at Hope Montessori School from 1971 to1994, Mrs. Santosh Thakral became the School Administrator in 1994. Mrs. Thakral completed twelve years of Senior Cambridge schooling at St. Mary’s School, in India. Thereafter she completed three years of B.S. degree in Home Science and one year of B.A. in Education from Lady Irwin College in India. Mrs. Thakral completed the Montessori Teacher Training from Washington Montessori Institute in Washington, D.C.

Jo-Anne Mclellan
Teacher
mrs.mac@hopemontessori.org

Mrs. Jo-Anne Mclellan, “Mrs. Mac” (as her children call her) has been a Montessorian for 22 years, and has been teaching at Hope since 1997. Originally from the New England area, Mrs. Mac received her Ams Pre-Primary certification from the New England Montessori Teacher Education Center (NEMTEC) in 1990, and has a BS in Education graduating from Northeastern University, Magna Cum Laude. The wife of a career military Officer, Mrs. Mac held teaching positions at the South County Montessori School in Kingston RF, the East-West Montessori School in Okinawa, Japan and Der Kinderhuis Montessori School in Oak Harbor, Washington State. Mrs. Mac has also served as a lead training instructor for NEMTEC since 1994. She is a lifetime member of the American Montessori Society. Mrs. Mac is the proud parent of two grown children.

Sharon E. Diamond
Teacher
sdiamond@hopemontessori.org

Mrs. Sharon Diamond has been teaching at Hope Montessori School for three years. Mrs. Diamond brings a long career in teaching and early childhood education, beginning in 1988. Mrs. Diamond earned a B.A. degree in Education and is Montessori certified for Preschool/Kindergarten. Mrs. Diamond is a member of the Montessori Teachers Association and the American Montessori Society.

Megan Didavi
Teacher
mdidavi@hopemontessori.org

Mrs. Megan Didavi has nine years of teaching experience. Mrs. Didavi graduated from George Mason University with a B.A. degree in German Language and Literature and a M.A. degree in International Transactions. While in graduate school Mrs. Didavi worked as an Assistant in a Montessori classroom. Mrs. Didavi completed the Montessori training through the Association Montessori International (AMI) over three summers in Cleveland, Ohio.

Extended Day Care staff and Teachers Assistants

From left: Wahidah Essar, Zoila Prudencio, Sothyra Heng, Silvia Cardenas, and Farida Essar.

Zoila Prudencio joined Hope Montessori School in 1988, Farida Essar in 1996, Silvia Cardenas in 1997, Wahidah Essar in 2001, and Sothyra Heng in 2004.