Mrs. Le Grand has 40 years of experience as a Montessori educator, serving in several different roles, and was a teacher at the Primary level. She discovered Montessori while still in high school, and immediately fell in love with the Method. She joined MSM in 1996, and became the Academic Head of School in 2008. She was on the faculty of the Northern Virginia Montessori Institute (NVMI) in Ashburn VA for nine years, and is now the Co-Director of the Montessori Institute of McLean. Mrs. Le Grand received her B.A. in history from George Mason University and her M. Ed. from Xavier University. She received her American Montessori Society (AMS) certification from the National Center for Montessori Education (NCME). She has an adult daughter, who is a scientist and former MSM student, and is married to Thomas Le Grand, whose family founded MSM in 1973. When not at school, she enjoys reading historical novels, crossword puzzles, puttering in the yard, and babysitting her two grand-cats. Mrs. Le Grand’s personal mission is to help as many children as possible become confident, competent, independent learners who are unafraid to try.

Ms. Joan Marie Parasine.

Ms. Adams was born in Ghana, and in 2011, she migrated to the United States to join her husband who serves in the US Navy. She earned a BS in Finance from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in 2009, and a Certificate in Accounting from Northern Virginia Community College in 2013, and is currently a CPA candidate. In 2009, she joined CDH Financial Holdings in a position of Finance/Admin Officer and rose to Executive Director’s Assistance in 2010. She joined Hertzbach and Company P.A. in 2014, starting as Staff Accountant I-II, and joined Robert Half as a salary professional Consultant, and served in the capacity of Staff Accountant III/ Senior Accountant.

She joined the Montessori School of McLean as the Accounting consultant in July 2018, and enjoys every bit of what she does because of the excellent services the school offers to our future leaders. Her hobbies are cooking and dancing.

Ms. Carter-Nanian began her teaching career as an assistant in a Montessori Primary classroom for 3 years, and she has been a Montessori Lower Elementary teacher at MSM since 2010. She holds a BA in English from George Mason University, and her Montessori Elementary credential from the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies at Barrie. She holds a Masters in Teaching from Trinity Washington University. She is an avid reader who enjoys watching movies and spending time with her husband (an English professor), her two children, who also attend MSM, and her standard poodle.

Personal philosophy: “I love being a Montessori teacher mostly because I get to foster the overall growth of the students. We don’t just focus on academics, we prepare students for life, to become leaders, and citizens of society. I find it to be a very powerful way of teaching”.

Mrs. Fremming was a Lead Primary Teacher at MSM for 13 years. She holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She received her early childhood training from Montgomery Montessori Institute and her secondary education teaching credentials from Cincinnati Montessori Secondary Teacher Education Program (CMSTEP). She has taught for over 20 years in both early childhood and middle school Montessori programs. Megan strives to foster independence, cultivate free-thinkers, and promote a love of learning. She loves Dr. Montessori’s approach to teaching peace through cultural studies and conflict resolution through the use of the “peace rose”. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her daughter and husband, gardening, and going to concerts.

Ms. Schlicker is excited to be at MSM, where she joined in August 2022. She has over 15 years of admissions experience, most recently working in university admissions where she served as a leader for the enrollment process. She received her B.A. from the University of Richmond and her M.A. from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Ms. Schlicker recently returned from living in Europe for four years, where her family enjoyed incredible travel experiences. Ms. Schlicker lives with her husband and two daughters. Her daughters attended Montessori programs for their primary years, where they thrived. As a Montessori parent, Ms. Schlicker recognizes the impact Montessori education can make on one’s child and family, and she looks forward to sharing everything that MSM and the Montessori approach has to offer!

Mrs. Farruggio has been a member of the MSM community since 2008. She began as a parent, then a yoga instructor, next she became a classroom assistant and has been teaching in the Lower and Upper Elementary since 2015. She holds a BA in English Literature from George Mason University, and a Montessori Elementary I-II credential from the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies at Barrie. She enjoys reading, traveling, cooking, hiking, and spending time with her family. Her goal as a teacher is to help prepare children to face the challenges of the world, and inspire them to become lifelong learners.

Mrs. Yanes came to MSM as a Primary classroom assistant in February 2015. She was interested in education because she had been taking care of her nieces and nephews and came to love working with young children. She considers herself fortunate that Mrs. Le Grand saw in her something that she did not see in herself, prompting her to become trained as a Montessori teacher. She earned her BS from George Mason University and completed her Infant/Toddler Montessori training at the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies at Barrie. What she loves most about MSM is how each teacher prioritizes practicing the authentic Montessori method. She notes how wonderful it is to work in an environment where everyone believes that the greatest work we have is to follow the child and meet his or her needs.

She enjoys spending time with her loved ones, as well as hiking, visiting the beach, and exploring new places.

Mrs. Sonali Bajaj.

Mrs. Bajaj has been part of the MSM community since 2023. She has 15 years of teaching experience and has been a lead teacher in various educational settings. Mrs. Bajaj received her Bachelor’s Commerce Degree from University of Mumbai in Accounting; she also holds a diploma in Fashion Manufacturing Technology. Prior to her teaching career, Mrs. Bajaj worked as a Senior Fashion Merchandiser. However, after becoming a mother and watching her children attend a Montessori school, she developed a great interest in the Montessori way of learning. Mrs. Bajaj decided to volunteer at a Montessori school and then eventually pursued further studies at the Northern Virginia Montessori Institute (NVMI) to become a certified Montessori teacher. In her spare time, Mrs. Bajaj enjoys singing, dancing, reading books, and going on hikes and taking walks on beautiful days.

Ms. Burton was born and raised in Northern Virginia. From a very young age, she knew she wanted to work with children; she began taking on babysitting jobs and then worked at a childcare center for several years. In college, Ms. Burton worked as a nanny and a substitute teacher in the public schools. After graduating with a B.A. in English from George Mason University, Ms. Burton joined the Boyd School and worked for several years as an assistant teacher. During this time, she had the opportunity to grow and learn a lot from other teachers in the school and it didn’t take long for her to realize that she had found her calling. Witnessing the “lightbulb moment” in her students, when after trying again and again to master a work or a lesson and then finally seeing them understand it, was one of the best feelings! She very quickly obtained her Primary Montessori Certification from NVMI (Northern Virginia Montessori Institute at Belmont Greene) in 2014 and has been a Lead Primary Teacher ever since. She has loved working with so many children and families and being able to see her students grow and thrive. In her free time, Ms. Burton enjoys reading, scrapbooking , traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Ms. Chan has been working in Montessori classrooms since 2006. Her introduction to the Montessori Philosophy began when she was exploring school options for her daughter. She was immediately fascinated by the Montessori Method as she witnessed the impact it had on her own child. After being an Assistant Teacher in Montessori classrooms for several years, she decided to pursue Montessori teacher training. In 2011, she earned her Early Childhood Montessori Teacher Certification from the Northern Virginia Montessori Institute. Ms. Chan is a passionate, loving, and responsible teacher who truly enjoys working with children. She brings her extensive Montessori experience as a teacher and a parent into the classroom every day. She lives in Leesburg, Virginia with her husband and loving daughter who attended Montessori school for seven years from Primary through Elementary. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, drawing, playing piano, listening to music, and spending time with her family.

Mrs. Jessica Espinal.

Mrs. Jarvis grew up in Wisconsin and Rhode Island, and studied voice at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. She received her Montessori training from the Barrie Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies in 2022. Mrs. Jarvis is the mother of three daughters, all of whom attended MSM. For many years she was a homemaker and childcare-giver as well as part-time Music Together Instructor in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria. Montessori teacher training provided a clear path toward helping children and families in our area to protect the development encoded in each of our children, enabling them to flourish. Mrs. Jarvis has been a Montessori mom with MSM since 2009 and working in the classroom since 2019.

Mrs. Kershaw has 13 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, and she joined Montessori School of McLean in 2017. I earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services and Theatre from Elmira College. She loves bringing a bit of theatre into the classroom when working with students, whether it’s reading a book with character voices or singing engaging songs in Circle Time. What she values about MSM is the strong emphasis on peacefulness and respect, and there is a special warmth here. She has a two year old son who is beginning his Montessori educational journey at MSM.

Miss Kiess received her B.S. in Physical Education at Radford University in 1998, and has been at MSM since 2012. She received her Montessori Primary teacher training certificate from the Northern Virginia Montessori Institute (NVMI) in 2018, and became a Lead Primary Teacher at MSM in 2020. Miss Kiess is a Northern Virginia native as she was born and raised in Great Falls, Virginia where she currently lives with four cats (yes you read that correctly, FOUR!). Most of her family lives in Ohio where both of her parents are from. During Miss Kiess’ free time, she enjoys long walks or hikes on the many beautiful trails in the area. She is also a huge fan of the local DC sports teams.

Mrs. Malik is a Graduate of Fine Arts from the Lahore College of the University of Punjab in Pakistan. After moving to the United States in 1989, she attended the Northern Virginia Community College and took courses in Early Childhood Development. She also completed early childhood education at the Fairfax County Office of Children. Mrs. Malik was a Pre-K Teacher for about ten years before joining MSM in 2010, where she immediately fell in love with the Montessori Program! Since then, she has been an Assistant Teacher in the Primary Program. In addition, Mrs. Malik has been an Art Teacher in the Elementary Program and Peace Teacher to the Kindergarteners where she promotes a safe, peaceful, respectful world, and a healthy planet. Mrs. Malik truly enjoys supporting the Lead Primary Teachers to create an inspiring and engaging learning environment, preparing them to become life-long learners. Mrs. Malik has one son and two daughters. Her hobbies include travel, long walks, Pilates, watching movies, and listening to music. She loves to paint landscapes in watercolor and other mediums.

Ms. Wladar graduated from Muhlenberg College with a B.A. in Psychology and Anthropology. She joined MSM in 2019 as a trained Orton Gillingham Reading Specialist. Prior to joining MSM, she worked in the magazine publishing field, where she held numerous executive positions at popular magazines such as Country Living, Popular Mechanics, International Design, Car & Driver, Modern Farmer, and Art & Auction. In addition to her work at MSM, Ms. Wladar collaborates with chefs, farmers, and corporate sustainability officers on events to raise money for non-profits in the farming and agricultural space. Ms. Wladar’s favorite hobbies are assisting at Red Cap Patisserie, collecting art, antiquing, traveling, and spending time with her husband, family, and her dog, Ollie

Mrs. Benincasa has been part of the MSM community since 2015. She started as an Assistant in Primary followed by Lower Elementary. Mrs. Benincasa received her Montessori Elementary I credential from The Center for Guided Montessori Studies. She is from Sweden, where she was part of the Swedish National Guard and worked as a nurse’s assistant at the hospital in her hometown. Mrs. Benincasa moved to the United States in 2011. At MSM she enjoys watching the students’ social, emotional, and academic growth as they progress from Primary through Elementary. She enjoys reading, hiking, and planespotting with her husband, and spending time with her dog.

Ms. Fuqua began her Montessori journey first as a Montessori parent and volunteer while her children were young. Her three children attended the Montessori School of McLean from primary through sixth grade (her youngest is currently a fifth year). She earned her AMS credentials for Lower and Upper Elementary from the Institute of Advanced Montessori Studies at the Barrie School. She loves giving Montessori lessons and working with children in the classroom and hearing all about their adventures outside of school. Prior to teaching, she worked at The Nature Conservancy doing fundraising and marketing. She holds an M.A. from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Butler University. In her “free time” she enjoys spending time with her three children, reading, and doing most anything outside.

Mr. Parrish joined MSM in 2023 as a Lower Elementary Classroom Assistant. He has an Associate of Arts degree from Cuyahoga Community College and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ursuline College in Art Therapy. Mr. Parrish specializes in Ceramics and other 3D arts. He has a deep respect for the Montessori Method and is delighted to be able to support students across Lower Elementary with their learning paths. When not in the classroom, Mr. Parrish enjoys skateboarding, doing artwork, and hiking with his dog and partner.

Ms. Saadvandi joined MSM in 2022 as an Associate Teacher in Lower Elementary; in 2023 she added Information Sciences Teacher to her MSM portfolio. She is Orton-Gillingham trained and has taught graphic design and color theory at the university level. Ms. Saadvandi received a B.A. in Fine Arts from the National School of Art in Mexico City, Mexico. She also received a B.A. from The Art Institute of Washington in Multimedia and Web Development. Ms. Saadvandi is certified in VEX and VEX GO Robotics. She lives with her husband and daughter and in her free time she enjoys swimming, cycling, reading, listening to music and tending to her vegetable garden.

Ms. Mulhall became a part of the MSM community in 2008 as a parent, and has been teaching at MSM since 2011. She spent five years as a Lower Elementary Teacher and currently is an Upper Elementary Teacher. She is our Outplacement Coordinator, she assists with Admissions, and she spearheaded our wildly popular robotics program. She earned a BA in Psychology with an emphasis in Child Development from Purdue University. As of 2018, she has been working in the Child Development and Education field for 20 years. Ms. Mulhall holds an Elementary I-II credential from the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies at Barrie, and completed the Montessori Applied to Children at Risk (MACAR) training. She enjoys reading, gardening, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.

Her philosophy: “The purpose of education is not simply to teach but to nurture a child’s love of learning. Children should spend their early years becoming independent thinkers who are in command of their learning environment, and are always striving to learn more.”

Ms. Gibson is an enthusiastic “Artist in Residence” at the Montessori School of McLean, never tiring of the opportunity to open the world of music and drama to the elementary students! Her music background started with the classical violin at age nine and her vocal training started as a part of school and church choirs. After getting her guitar at age 15, Ms. Gibson soon leapt into the world of the singer/songwriter, experimenting with poetry and music. She received her B.S. in Mathematics from National University in San Diego, CA, and then went to work as an engineer on the Space Shuttle program and as a contractor with the FAA on air traffic control automation systems. Ms. Gibson always continued private music and vocal studies with several well-known teachers because music has always made her happy. Ms. Gibson has been with MSM since 1999 and has watched the school grow and change in wonderful ways! She is married with two grown children, and four grandchildren. Other than travel, music is her main hobby!

Creating has always been a part of Mrs. Miranda’s life. Over the years she has turned her focus to sharing her love of creating with others, young and old. Mrs. Miranda believes that everyone is capable of creating. She has been teaching art for around 20 years and is also the founder of UpCycle Creative Reuse Center. Mrs. Miranda lives in Alexandria with her husband and cat and is enjoying an empty nest with two children in college.

Mrs. Saunders has had the immense privilege of teaching art to children for over two decades through her small business, Young at Art with Miss Pam. Her belief in the profound impact of art on young minds drives her approach to education. Mrs. Saunders sees it as a tool that not only hones fine motor skills and builds confidence but also beautifully complements academic studies, fostering critical thinking and cultural appreciation. Beyond the classroom, she is deeply involved in our local arts community. Mrs. Saunders is the proud organizer of the annual McLean Children’s Recycled Art Show, an event that showcases the incredible creativity of our young talents. In October, you’ll often find her at MPA ArtFest, hosting the Children’s Art Tent. When she is not in the role of educator, Mrs. Saunders is a devoted supporter of her own two children’s endeavors: soccer, art, crew, and marching band. She also finds joy in her own artistic pursuits, particularly in the realm of mixed media. She has had the privilege of receiving local commissions and earning recognition in juried art exhibitions throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Mrs. Saunders is truly grateful for the opportunity to guide young artists in their creative journeys and she believes it’s an honor to be a part of their growth and discovery at MSM.

Mrs. Thomas graduated from Grinnell College, Grinnell Iowa, with a degree in Sociology and Elementary Education. She took primary (2.5-6 year old) Montessori training at Montgomery Montessori Institute in Rockville, MD. Mrs. Thomas loves that the Outdoor classroom is such an intentional part of what happens at MSM. The Learning Cottage and Greenhouse offer “city kids” so much! The fresh air and physical activity are so important, and taking care of plants, seeds, and bulbs are such rewarding tasks for children of all ages. Mrs. Thomas and her husband have two children who attended a Montessori school through 6th grade. She loves to read, garden and otherwise be outside, and to cook and bake. The Thomas family loves sports, and are huge fans of the Washington Nationals!