MEET OUR TEAM

LAUREN SMITH

Director

Ms. Lauren is the director of the Splendor Bilingual Montessori School. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Fine Arts and over 20 years of teaching and director experience. Lauren began her career as a preschool teacher, in which she fell in love with curriculum and caring for students. She is very passionate about classroom management, positive discipline and an emergent approach in the classroom. Advocating for and supporting her teachers means everything, and she firmly believes that a successful school setting is based on teamwork. Ms. Lauren spent the last 8 years as the center director of a prestigious childcare center and is so excited to join the Splendor Montessori team. In her spare time, she is an artist who enjoys painting, reading, singing, cooking and spending time with her husband.

TAZEEN QUDDUS

Pre-Primary Class Teacher

Ms. Tazeen Quddus was born and raised in India and she came to United States in 1996 with a bachelor's degree. She was always impressed by the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori, so she trained as a Montessori teacher in Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE) in Early Childhood for a year. This training was completed in June of 1997. She worked for seven years as the primary lead teacher at Montessori Corner Princeton Meadow and Country Day Campus, Plainsboro, NJ where she taught in the Early Childhood setting. She was offered the opportunity to be trained as an Infant Toddler Teacher in 2005 from CMTE (Center for Montessori Teacher Education New York). Since then she has been working as a Lead teacher in the Infant Toddler setting. She is grateful to be a part of the Splendor Bilingual Montessori school community. Ms. Tazeen is also a trainer for Music, Movement and Art at the Montessori Teacher Training Institute of Mercer County Community College. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, knitting and crocheting.

CHRISTINE MACCARONI

Primary Class Teacher

Ms. Christine has been teaching for twenty years. She graduated from Mercer County Community College where she received her Montessori certification for the 3 to 6 year old primary class. Ms. Christine lived in Mexico for 22 years and taught at a bilingual Montessori school, Centro Educativo de Montessori for eight years before returning back to the states. She has taught various grades from toddlers to second grade. Ms. Christine has 2 daughters, Emily who is 25 years old and Natalia who is 21. Teaching is her passion and she is grateful to be working at Splendor Bilingual Montessori.

WILDDA SOWA

Pre-Primary Class Teacher

Ms. Widda was born and raised in Guatemala, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Electrical Systems. She moved to the United States with a new plan and first began her journey teaching children as a Teacher's Assistant. She then received her Montessori Certificate and became a Montessori Teacher. Ms. Wildda has been teaching for over 15 years! Some of her first students who are now in high school still keep in touch with her! Ms. Wildda has two children of her own, Neisa (28) and Carlos (22), who were raised in Montessori Education.

SUJAN DEVATHALA

Primary Class Assistant Teacher

Ms. Sujan was born and raised in India and came to the United States in 2010. Her bachelor’s degree is in Commerce from B. R. Ambedkar University in India and her Bachelor of Education is from Osmania University in India. For five years, She worked as an elementary school teacher in St. John’s School, in India. Additionally, she was an Assistant Teacher in a school in Trenton, NJ and a Montessori Assistant Teacher in a home School in West Windsor, NJ. She has been with Splendor Bilingual Montessori School since September 2015.

TING YAO

Chinese Teacher

Ms. Ting has been teaching at HuaXia Plainsboro Chinese School for more than ten years. She earned her M.E. degree from Clarkson University in 1996. She is passionate about how to educate her students to learn all aspects of Chinese language, including listening speaking, reading and writing. She especially likes to work with young children to explore Chinese history, culture, and traditions. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and making craft projects.

CHRISTINE FRANCIQUE

Administrative Support Staff

Ms. Christine has a MS degree in Health Education from Arcadia University in Glenside, PA; she also has her BA degree in Sociology from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Her experience while working in the Boston Public Schools as a Behavior Therapist has helped her maintain an enthusiasm for students of any age, race, or gender. Ms. Christine is very hopeful when it comes to the educational achievements of students. She enjoys providing support to teachers and staff in any way, shape or form. Ms. Christine enjoys the outdoors, reading, and fitness.