We are all moving through transitions with the new school year, and for young children, new routines and surroundings can naturally be uncomfortable.

Each day, our newest friends are finding more that is familiar to them, from the caring teachers and classmates who guide and comfort them, to the new friends they are getting to know, and the exciting work that is prepared and ready for them to explore. This morning, an older toddler whom I have just met recently introduced me to her teacher, Ms. Desiree, saying, “This is my teacher!” Another toddler showed me their artwork, saying “I made this!” Just a few days into the school year, and these friends are owning their experience, making Greene Towne their home away from home.

Cycles of growth and change are never more apparent than in school life. In schools, we not only welcome new students and families each year, but also new staff, and ever-changing returning students, who are growing and changing all the time. I’m excited to be in this time of change with all of you! Thank you to the many families who came out to the classroom potlucks this week, and to the teachers who welcomed and gave you a sneak peek into the year to come. 

As we meet each other, please join me in welcoming wonderful new additions to our teaching staff. This year, most of our new hires are coming on board as a result of our school’s expansion. We now have two Toddler ADM classrooms and two Primary ADM classrooms, Lower Elementary tripled in size from last year to this year, and Greene Towne’s enrollment is officially at an all time high of 192. Here’s who is here:

Auxiliary Support

Maitia (Tia) Branch joins us as an Administrative/Auxiliary Assistant. Tia supports After School Enrichment classes and administrative systems as well as assists with recess and in classrooms as needed. Tia has both administrative and early childhood teaching experience, most recently at the Baldwin School and KIPP West Philadelphia Elementary Academy. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Temple in Liberal Arts. 

Mambs Denham joins us as an Auxiliary Assistant. Mambs comes to us from Montessori School of Northampton (MA) where they served as a Toddler Auxiliary Assistant, After School instructor, and Outdoor Education Assistant. Mambs has a BA in Education & Child Studies from Smith College, and served as a seasonal substitute teacher here at Greene Towne from 2019-2022. 

Primary All Day Montessori

As Primary All Day Montessori expands to two classrooms, we are thrilled to welcome these assistant teachers to their teaching teams in the Magnolia and Holly classrooms:

Holly Primary All Day Montessori:

Channing Klein got started at Greene Towne right away, providing strong support for both Primary and Toddler ADM over the summer. Channing has taught children from ages 17 months through Pre-K, and found her love of teaching while supervising at summer camps as a teen. She has a BA in English from Manhattanville College in New York.

Charlie McManus taught in the after school program for The Philadelphia School. Their studies at Temple University focused on developmental and educational psychology, including a capstone project developing PD models for preschool educators. 

Magnolia Primary All Day Montessori

Ruby Joy Idalee has held many teaching roles with children, including as a librarian at Greene Street Friends School, after school and building substitute teacher at Friends Select School, art program coordinator at Odyssey Teen Camp, and band coach for Girls Rock. Ruby Joy has a BFA in fibers and material studies from Tyler School of Art, Temple University.

Diane Tichenor recently completed her Primary Montessori credential training as part of her Master’s studies at Chestnut Hill College. Diane’s teaching experience includes teaching Primary at two area Montessori schools, as well as Kindergarten and First Grade at area elementary schools. She found her love of teaching while doing a year of service on a Navajo reservation in Arizona. Diane has a B.S. in elementary education from Northern Arizona University.

Primary School Day

Renée Jones is our new Primary Lead Teacher for the Willow Class. Over the past ten years, Renée’s teaching experience includes leading teaching training for Teach for America and working as an Academic Interventionist for K-12 public school students. Ms. Renée is trained from the Association Montessori Internationale at the Primary level, and is currently finishing her Master of Education in Montessori. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Puget Sound, a Master of Behavioral Science from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as advanced certificates of study in diversity and inclusion, innovation and leadership from Cornell and Stanford Universities.

Toddler All Day Montessori

Crescent Toddler All Day Montessori

Julia Basnage (‘s’ is silent, rhymes with mirage) is an artist and teacher. Julia served as the assistant director for NLArts Community Arts Program and has held art teacher roles over the past three years. Julia’s first teaching position was as an aide in a nursery, which she describes as foundational to her teaching methods. Julia has a BA in sociology from Barnard College, Columbia University.

Eliza Ruder joins the Crescent classroom with Ms. Naeemah. Eliza comes to Greene Towne from the Miquon School, where they taught in Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th grades and served as a liaison with the Greater Philadelphia Diversity Collaborative. Eliza has also taught at Frankford Friends School and the Quaker School at Horsham. They have earned a MA in Elementary/Special Education and a BS in Liberal Studies focusing on Social Work and Human Services, both from Arcadia University.

Buckeye Toddler All Day Montessori

Aamari Mason joins the Buckeye Toddler ADM team after moving to Philadelphia from NYC this summer. Aamari has worked with infants and toddlers as an assistant teacher over the past two years, and first found teaching as a tutor and camp counselor. She moved to the area this summer with her son and is excited to live near her sister, who also lives in Philadelphia. 

Toddler School Day

Divya Raghuraman joins the Swallowtail class as an assistant teacher with Ms. Desiree. Divya has taught children from young toddlers through high school age. Divya moved to the US from India with her family in 2013. She earned her BA in mathematics from Madras University, and has experience in curriculum development, educational technology as well as teaching math for the School District of Philadelphia. 

Specialist

Madeline Shuron is our new Movement/Physical Education teacher for Primary and Lower Elementary. For the past two years, Madeline taught movement to young children at PlayArts. They’ve also taught at the Phebe Anna Thorne School in Bryn Mawr and at Agnes Irwin School. Madeline has an MFA in dance from Temple University and an BA in Theater from Bryn Mawr College. 

Faculty in New Roles

• Milo Alvarez-Binkowski and Shawn Banks are Lead Assistant Teachers for the Holly and Magnolia Primary ADM classrooms. 
• Keagan Farr is an Auxiliary Assistant working from 8am-4pm.
• Alexandra Farrell joins the Buckeye Classroom with Ms. Dom. 
• Brittany Gray joins the Monarch Classroom with Ms. Michelle.
• Maria Meredith joins the Primary ADM team.
• Allison Wiedman takes on the role of Recess Coordinator in addition to DEIB Coordinator.

Our faculty and staff are at the heart of the powerful experience at Greene Towne, through the strong relationships that they build with students, the clear dedication our teachers have to create the best possible environment for children to learn and thrive, and their expertise and passion for child development. We’re off to a great start to what is sure to be a wonderful school year!