The Southwest Classroom Our Southwest Classroom makes up one half of our West Room. It is a cozy, welcoming space with areas devoted to Montessori materials, reading (the MMS Library is housed in this room), art, music and Manipulative work. The learning never stops with creative projects and thematic teaching going on at all times. This classroom contains our Southwest Class (5-day, mornings, Monday-Friday) for 14 three- to five-year-olds as well as our PM Class (5-day, afternoons, Monday-Friday) which welcomes 16 three- to five-year olds as well. Stephanie Gallone - SW Morning Teacher/PM Teacher Stephanie began teaching at Morningside in 1997. She brings a vibrancy and pronounced creativity to our Southwest Classroom. She has been working with young children since high school when she was a volunteer with the Bellmore-Merrick Child Care Program. In fact, she has worked with this program for ten years during which time she moved from being an aide to being a head teacher. Stephanie received her BA in Elementary Education from Long Island University and has completed both her Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education (1998) and her Masters in Special Education (2001). She is also a NYS-certified teacher. She is a native Long Islander and was born and raised in Bellmore. Stephanie also teaches in our PM Class as well as helping out in the Office when needed. Her versatility and enthusiasm are an immense asset to MMS. Jasmine Pujols - SW Morning Teacher Jasmine has been with Morningside since 1995. She brings a quiet strength and caring demeanor to our Southwest Classroom. She was born in NYC and has one son, Kasten (a Morninside alumnus). Jasmine has also served as the PM class Montessori teacher and has shown a valuable ability to help out wherever there is a need. Anna Maria Hanlon - SW Morning/PM Montessori Teacher Anna Maria, or "Al" as she is known to her co-workers, has been teaching at Morningside since 1996. She is a certified Montessori teacher with a certificate from the London Montessori Examination Board (Dublin, 1991) and a Diploma in Nursery Nursing as well. Al was born in Dublin, Ireland and moved to New York in 1994. She has been working with young children since 1991. She and her husband Neil have one son, Liam. Al works her Montessori magic in both the Northwest and Southwest Classes and has also worked in our PM Class as well. She brings a wealth of experience and kindness and a bright sense of humor to all her classes. Sheree Evans - PM Teacher Sheree has been with Morningside since 2001. She has been working with preschool-age children since 1995 and brings her warmth and quiet wisdom to or Northwest classroom. She particularly enjoys bringing hands-on science and cooking components to her classes - all with a touch of humor. She was born in New York and has two children, Malakai and Anaia. Sheree also teaches in our Northwest Classroom (five morning program) and has been a head counselor in the Peewee program (ages 2-3) of Camp Morningside (or summer camp) since arriving in 2001. Lisa Achufusi - PM Montessori Teacher Lisa has been the Montessori teacher in the North classroom since 1992. She has her Montessori Certificate and brings a wealth of knowledge to both the Toddler and North Classes. Lisa was born in NYC and grew up in Houston. She has a husband, Ike, and a beloved dog, Sasha. Lisa's intuitive grasp on child development/psychology and her tremendous understanting of Montessori methods and materials help to keep the children busy and engaged.

The Southwest Classroom

Our Southwest Classroom makes up one half of our West Room. It is a cozy, welcoming space with areas devoted to Montessori materials, reading (the MMS Library is housed in this room), art, music and Manipulative work. The learning never stops with creative projects and thematic teaching going on at all times.

This classroom contains our Southwest Class (5-day, mornings, Monday-Friday) for 14 three- to five-year-olds as well as our PM Class (5-day, afternoons, Monday-Friday) which welcomes 16 three- to five-year olds as well.

Stephanie Gallone - SW Morning Teacher/PM Teacher

Stephanie began teaching at Morningside in 1997. She brings a vibrancy and pronounced creativity to our Southwest Classroom. She has been working with young children since high school when she was a volunteer with the Bellmore-Merrick Child Care Program. In fact, she has worked with this program for ten years during which time she moved from being an aide to being a head teacher.

Stephanie received her BA in Elementary Education from Long Island University and has completed both her Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education (1998) and her Masters in Special Education (2001). She is also a NYS-certified teacher. She is a native Long Islander and was born and raised in Bellmore.

Stephanie also teaches in our PM Class as well as helping out in the Office when needed. Her versatility and enthusiasm are an immense asset to MMS.

Jasmine Pujols - SW Morning Teacher

Jasmine has been with Morningside since 1995. She brings a quiet strength and caring demeanor to our Southwest Classroom.

She was born in NYC and has one son, Kasten (a Morninside alumnus).

Jasmine has also served as the PM class Montessori teacher and has shown a valuable ability to help out wherever there is a need.

Anna Maria Hanlon - SW Morning/PM Montessori Teacher

Anna Maria, or "Al" as she is known to her co-workers, has been teaching at Morningside since 1996. She is a certified Montessori teacher with a certificate from the London Montessori Examination Board (Dublin, 1991) and a Diploma in Nursery Nursing as well.

Al was born in Dublin, Ireland and moved to New York in 1994. She has been working with young children since 1991. She and her husband Neil have one son, Liam.

Al works her Montessori magic in both the Northwest and Southwest Classes and has also worked in our PM Class as well. She brings a wealth of experience and kindness and a bright sense of humor to all her classes.

Sheree Evans - PM Teacher

Sheree has been with Morningside since 2001. She has been working with preschool-age children since 1995 and brings her warmth and quiet wisdom to or Northwest classroom. She particularly enjoys bringing hands-on science and cooking components to her classes - all with a touch of humor.

She was born in New York and has two children, Malakai and Anaia.

Sheree also teaches in our Northwest Classroom (five morning program) and has been a head counselor in the Peewee program (ages 2-3) of Camp Morningside (or summer camp) since arriving in 2001.

Lisa Achufusi - PM Montessori Teacher

Lisa has been the Montessori teacher in the North classroom since 1992. She has her Montessori Certificate and brings a wealth of knowledge to both the Toddler and North Classes.

Lisa was born in NYC and grew up in Houston. She has a husband, Ike, and a beloved dog, Sasha.

Lisa's intuitive grasp on child development/psychology and her tremendous understanting of Montessori methods and materials help to keep the children busy and engaged.