Jennifer Sessa
ESE Liaison and Educator

Jennifer Sessa joined the IVMS staff in 2006 as an ESE Educator. Jennifer has been a parent at Island Village since 2003. She looks forward to her new position as ESE Liasion and ESE Educator. Jennifer graduated with a BA in Psychology from Western Connecticut State University and a MS in Quantitative Analysis. She holds a professional certificate in Elementary Education K-6 and Exceptional Student Education K-12. She is also working on Montessori classes through Montessori Live.

Jennifer moved to Florida in 2001 from Connecticut with her family. She is married to Tom and they share three children, Dylan, Zack and Toriana.

Louise Vare
Speech/Language

Louise Vare started in 2002 with IVMS, having worked, at various times over the last 25 years, in the Sarasota school system. Originally from Stamford, Connecticut, she graduated with high honors from the University of Florida and holds a degree in speech pathology and audiology through the College of Education. Louise is also certified as a speech/language therapist through the State of Florida. She and husband Bob have five children ranging from elementary school through college years. Louise enjoys the ability that our charter school provides to work with smaller group settings for speech and language therapies.

Fran Gratz
ESE Educator

Fran Gratz joined IVMS in 2005 as an assistant teacher/co-teacher working closely with Katie Smith.

Fran holds a Masters of Arts degree in Special Education from Florida Gulf Coast University (Ft. Myers, FL). She has also earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Montclair University (Upper Montclair, NJ). Before joining IVMS, Fran worked with special needs children in the classroom for three years in both private and pubic school systems. Fran holds a Florida professional certificate for Special Ed K-12 and Kindergarten through 6th grade. Fran is currently earning her Montessori Elementary I certification through Seacoast Center training program in Orlando this summer, and has qualified for a Florida K-6 certification.

Originally from New York, Fran has been a resident of Florida for the past 8 years. She is married to Cliff and has one son, Matthew who attends Lemon Bay high school. “I look forward to working with our children and seeing their faces light up when they achieve individual successes”.

Jennifer Ocana
ESE Educator

Jennifer Ocana is an experienced Montessori teacher. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Emerson College in Fine Arts, and certification by the American Montessori Society at the elementary I level.

Jennifer taught for almost 10 years at Oak Meadow Montessori School in Littleton, Mass, and most recently, for a year at New Gate School in Sarasota in the 9 - 12 year old class. Jennifer enjoys environmental and nature studies with her students. We are fortunate to have Jennifer on our faculty. Jennifer has received her Florida K-6 elementary teaching certificate.

Sharon Muzammil
ESE Educator

Sharon Muzammil has Florida certification in elementary K-6, integrated middle school curriculum 5-9, exceptional student education, and gifted education. Sharon has lived in Guam, Saipan, and Lexington, KY. She has been an educator since 1979 working with elementary and middle school students.

Sherry Evans
Guidance

Sherry Evansrelocated to Venice, Florida from Fredericksburg, Virginia in 2003 after 30 years of service in Stafford County Public Schools. She has a B.S. in Social Work from the State University of New York at Buffalo and an M.Ed. in Counselor Education from the University of Virginia. Sherry developed the elementary counseling program at Grafton Elementary in 1989. She worked there until 2003, serving grades K-5.

She has also worked as a middle school counselor, visiting teacher, Head Start social service director, and as a member of child study teams. She emphasizes teaching children skills, such as peacemaking, friendship, confidence building, citizenship, and cooperation. Sherry holds a Florida certificate  for Guidance Counseling at all levels.

Judy Antell
Guidance

Bio Coming Soon

Tammy Balser
ESOL Coordinator

Tammy Balser joined IVMS in 2002. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a BS degree in elementary education and has her Florida Teaching Certification. In addition, she has her Montessori elementary certification from the North American Progressive Montessori Teaching Center. She loves working with children because she enjoys helping them make new discoveries each and every day.

Brandreth Blow
Technology Director

Brandreth Anne Blow graduated from Lynchburg College with a BA in Marketing. Prior to coming to IVMS Brandreth work with such companies as Nordstrom, Arthur Andersen and Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice. She brings to IVMS 12 years of experience in global training, computers, customer service, and bookkeeping. Originally from Connecticut; Brandreth has been a resident of Florida for the past 10 years. She is married to Jim and has three children Abagail, Matthew and Christopher. Abagail is a student at Pine View, Matthew is in his third year at IVMS and Christopher is just learning to crawl.

She loves to bake, being in the outdoors, and spending time with her family. She is active in her church and is a Girl Scout troop leader. Sharing knowledge with others is what thrills her most and she lives for the “aha” moment when an individual learns something new and that joyous smile appears on their face. She is very excited about joining the IVMS team.

Kathy Bixby
Physical Education

Kathy is originally from Connecticut and received her degree in physical education from Southern Connecticut State College. A former state gymnastics champion, Kathy has also coached 3 competitive gymnastics teams and currently runs her own mobile preschool gymnastics program. She is also the PE teacher for the Center for education Montessori School in Bradenton (where she resides) and has taught there for eight years. Kathy is married and has two daughters, a son-in-law, and two grandchildren.

Jeffrey Balser
Physical Education

Bio coming soon

Angeline Parkin-Milambiling
Art Instructor

Angeline Parkin-Milambiling began teaching at Island Village Montessoriin 2004. Angeline has a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts at the University of Minnesota and has her Florida Teaching Certification for Art K-12. She also studied art in Florence, Italia in 2002. Angeline rejoices that IVMS and the community embraces the Arts so warmly.

Stephanie Welch
Art Instructor

Stephanie Welch taught preschool for four years before working at IVMS. She attended the University of North Carolina and the University of Tennessee as a fine arts major. Stephanie is currently completing her BA degree through Charter Oak College. She is an accomplished painter, wife, and mother of three wonderful sons.

Peter Simms
Music Instructor

During the 30 years as a professional musician and instructor, Peter studied Classical and Jazz music at Cabrillo College and Chabot College in California. He also studied privately with Jazz Greats: Don Haas (Benny Goodman), Smith Dobson (Gary Burton), Dave Smith (Joe Pass), and Ray Brown (Stan Kenton). From Classical, Rock, Reggae, Ethnic, and Jazz, Peter has participated as a studio and stage performer. Well rounded in many styles, he is comfortable with conveying the vast, interesting world of music.

In 2001 he moved to Florida with his fiancée and began to study psychology at USF. He has been performing and teaching here in Venice since. After obtaining his Bachelor in Arts, he found himself interested using motivational techniques with kids and music. As a father and a teacher, he enjoys working with kids and is excited to be part of Island Village Montessori. He is applying for State Certification for Psychology and Music.

Myrna Bonhomme
French Instructor

    Myrna Bonhomme received her AMI 3-6 primary directress diploma from the Institut Supérieur Maria Montessori in Paris, France. Myrna comes to Island Village after two years of teaching experience at a Montessori school in Florida. She brings with her an enriched background in both art and the French language and holds a temporary Florida teaching certificate for both.

During her decade-long Paris residency, Myrna earned BA degrees in both art history as well as plastics arts from the University of Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne. She also has a BA in fine arts from the Lebanese-American University of Beirut. Myrna is fluent in English, French, and Lebanese.

She has completed all requirements at New Gate Center for Montessori Studies for Elementary I teacher training. Myrna Bonhomme has received her Florida PK-3rd grade certification as well as certification in K-12 Art and French.

Robin Howe
Spanish Instructor

Robin has a master's degree and is certified in Spanish K-12. He is completing his Montessori early childhood training this year. For the first semester Robin assisted in our early childhood program with Ms. Wilfriede and Ms. Pam. Robin also taught Language Lab for our Middle School program and tutored students in LE 19 in the Spanish Language. Robin attended Montessori schools since he was a young child.

Ursula von Bargen-Seitz Fortnet
Spanish Instructor

Ursula von Bargen-Seitz Fortner grew up in Hamburg, Germany where she attended a Montessori school from grades one through eight. In 1985, Ursula emigrated to Florida where she obtained a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Mathematics Education from the University of South Florida, Tampa. Ursula is currently certified in mathematics and is applying for her elementary certification. She is also pursuing Montessori training with Montessori Live.

Monique Czaja
Spanish Instructor

Monique Czaja joins Island Village Montessori School as a head teacher for classroom 6. Monique has AMS Montessori Elementary and Early Childhood certification and has been teaching since 1978. Monique has been a teacher trainer since 1986. She received her bachelor’s degree from Bradford College, in Massachusetts, with a concentration in liberal arts and Humanities. Monique speaks Spanish and French and has been a ski instructor. Monique is highly qualified under the HOUSSE program under No Child Left Behind.

Ivonne Almanza
Spanish Instructor

Ivonne Almanza joins Monique Czaja as the second educator. She is from Colombia and is certified in K-12 Art. Ivonne's native language is Spanish and she will work with the children as a Spanish educator. She taught art in a Montessori school in Colombia. She also joins IVMS as a parent with a son in our middle school program.

Gloria Koss
ESE Liaison and Educator

Gloria Koss graduated from University of South FL with a BS in Education. She is certified in Exceptional Student Education K-12 and looks forward to working on her Montessori training through the Montessori Live courses.

Gloria moved to FL in 1978 from Michigan. She is married to Bill, has 2 grown children, 2 grandchildren and a 3rd on the way...

Louise Vare
Speech/Language

Louise Vare started in 2002 with IVMS, having worked, at various times over the last 25 years, in the Sarasota school system. Originally from Stamford, Connecticut, she graduated with high honors from the University of Florida and holds a degree in speech pathology and audiology through the College of Education. Louise is also certified as a speech/language therapist through the State of Florida. She and husband Bob have five children ranging from elementary school through college years. Louise enjoys the ability that our charter school provides to work with smaller group settings for speech and language therapies.

Angeline Parkin-Milambiling
Art Instructor

Angeline Parkin-Milambiling began teaching at Island Village Montessoriin 2004. Angeline has a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts at the University of Minnesota and has her Florida Teaching Certification for Art K-12. She also studied art in Florence, Italia in 2002. Angeline rejoices that IVMS and the community embraces the Arts so warmly.

Peter Simms
Music Instructor

During the 30 years as a professional musician and instructor, Peter studied Classical and Jazz music at Cabrillo College and Chabot College in California. He also studied privately with Jazz Greats: Don Haas (Benny Goodman), Smith Dobson (Gary Burton), Dave Smith (Joe Pass), and Ray Brown (Stan Kenton). From Classical, Rock, Reggae, Ethnic, and Jazz, Peter has participated as a studio and stage performer. Well rounded in many styles, he is comfortable with conveying the vast, interesting world of music.

In 2001 he moved to Florida with his fiancée and began to study psychology at USF. He has been performing and teaching here in Venice since. After obtaining his Bachelor in Arts, he found himself interested using motivational techniques with kids and music. As a father and a teacher, he enjoys working with kids and is excited to be part of Island Village Montessori. He is applying for State Certification for Psychology and Music.

Bob Cloutier
Gardening

Bob Cloutier is the Upper Elementary French Instructor. He joined the IVMS staff in September 2006 after moving to Florida from New Hampshire.

He is a graduate of Rutgers University with a BA in Zoology and has worked in state and federal government agriculture, the biotech industry and owned two businesses and a dairy/beef farm. He has received his Florida Certification for General Science, grades 5-9, has taught in adult education and been involved with children in 4-H, as a Little League coach and school photographer.

Swimming, playing guitar, photography, forestry and agriculture have always been among some of his favorite pastimes. Bob has two grown boys living in NH and still owns a home there.

Kathy Nixon
Latin Instructor

Kathy Nixon has an AB in Latin and English and a Master's in Library Science from Indiana University and holds Indiana and Florida teaching licenses in Language Arts 6-12, Latin K-12, and Media Services K-12. Kathy and her husband moved to Florida 5 years ago and are enjoying living here immensely. She has taught Latin and English at three schools in Indiana and been the media specialist at two. Since moving to Florida she was the Youth and Adult Services Librarian at North Port Public Library for one year, and for four years she was the media specialist at Laurel Nokomis School. She says, "It is so exciting to be at IVMS and be part of the school's beginning."

Annette Ballou
Reading Specialist

Annette Ballou has a B.S. in Education from Central Connecticut University, a M.S. in counseling and a 6th year in Family Therapy from Southern Connecticut University. She has been both a teacher and Social Worker in the state of Connecticut, teaching everything from Pre-K to college psychology. While a Social Worker she placed children for adoption and supervised an adolescent group home for seriously disturbed and drug addicted teenagers. After moving to Florida she taught middle school language arts at Laurel Nokomis for three years. She says, “I am delighted to be teaching here at IVMS where both teachers and students are a pleasure to be with.”

Misty Sirianni
Math Tutuoring/School Store

Misty Sirianni started as assistant mathematics teacher at Island Village Middle School in 2006. She received her Bachelors of Natural Science in Mathematics from the University of South Florida. She has worked in research, taught math in private schools and run her own tutoring business.

Ms. Sirianni enjoys traveling, gourmet cooking, and spending time with her husband and children. Their two daughters attend Island Village Elementary. She is also a published fine artist, specializing in mixed media and print making. Her husband is also an artist and upon retiring they plan to open a studio.

Barbara Burress joins IVMS in the middle school math department. She has Florida certification in both mathematics, art, and exceptional student education. Barbara also has experience at the elementary and high school levels in addition to her many years at middle school.

Bill Koss
Red Cross Health and Safety Instructor

Bill Koss joined the IVMS maintenance staff in 2007. He worked as a restaurant manager for many years. Bill is certified as a Red Cross First Aid and CPR instructor and helps our IVMS middle school students obtain their First Aid certifications. Bill is also participating in training from the school district to become a school resource officer.

Jim Dunn
Videography and Computer Programming

Jim Dunn came to Island Village through our Montessori Live Project. He has a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and a Masters in Computer Science. Jim has over 30 years experience as a software engineer for Fortune 500 corporations and over 10 years experience owning and operating a wedding and event videography business.

Becky Morris
Technology Director, Yearbook, and Digital Arts

Becky Morris returns to Island Village as the middle school principal after a 1½ year deployment where she served as commander of a civil affairs unit in the Horn of Africa.  Her six CA teams helped to coordinate the building and refurbishing of schools, clinics, hospitals, and wells.  Prior to her activation, Becky was integral in the development and technical coordination of Island Village's first charter middle school and served as the school's principal and science teacher. 

Becky earned her BA in Biology at Westminster College in Fulton, MO where she was also commissioned in the US Army Reserves through its ROTC program. She has her Elementary 6-9 Montessori Certification and is completing her professional certification requirements through NOVA Southeastern University's graduate courses.

Becky has been an educator at Island Village since its inception and has also served as the school's Technology Coordinator and Webmaster.  Her three children have grown and thrived in IVMS's Montessori environment. She is looking forward to yet another wonderful year with Island Village and its community of students, families and friends.

Dr. Paul Czaja
Philosophy

Dr. Czaja has been involved in the Montessori movement for over 45 years. He received his masters degree in philosophy and his doctorate in education from Fordham University. Dr. Czaja was on the founding faculty and, eventually, headmaster at the famous Whitby School the American Montessori Center, in Greenwich, Connecticut, from 1960 until 1978. He has been involved in Montessori teacher training for many years, and has worked with Montessori public schools as well as private schools.

Lonna Chew
School Newspaper

Lonna Chew joined IVMS in 2006 after working as a crisis counselor for Project H.O.P.E in Charlotte County. She graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Psychology and has taught middle school science in Indiana and Florida. Lonna is currently working toward a degree in Culinary Arts. Lonna has state certification in general science.

Lonna is married with one adult child.

Aly Anderson
Reading Buddies/Community Service

Aly Anderson is happy to be a part of Island Village Middle School this year to teach Social Studies.  Since joining IVMS in 2004, she has taught Kindergarten/1st grade, 3rd and 4th grade Writing, and French.  She has also been an Assistant Teacher in Middle School Language Arts and for a 1/2/3 classroom.

Aly has a BA in English and History from the University of Pennsylvania.  She is certified in Florida to teach Social Studies, Elementary K-6 and English.  Her love for working with children began as a gymnastics instructor 15 years ago.  She still gives private lessons in tumbling from her home.  Before embarking on a career in education, Aly was self-employed as an executive recruiter for the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

Kym Elder
Leadership Training

Executive Director of Island Village Montessori Charter and Early Childhood Programs, was founder and first President of the IVMS Founding Board. Kym has Montessori teacher certification from the American Montessori Society in both early childhood and elementary levels and has taught students from three years old to sixth grade in Montessori environments for over 10 years.

She is a graduate of both Pine View School and New College. She has been a Sarasota County resident for most of her life, living also in New Orleans, upstate New York, and Michigan. Kym holds a master's degree in charter school educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University as well as Florida professional certifications in educational leadership, elementary education (K-6), integrated middle school curriculum (5-9), and exceptional student education (K-12). Kym also holds a Florida early childhood director's credential.

Kym has returned to NOVA in the Doctorate in Education Program with a concentration in Internet Technology and Distance Education. In addition to school administration duties, she is project director of Montessori Live, an Internet-based Montessori lesson library and teacher training program developed at IVMS as well as Montalign, an Internet-based student tracking software also being developed at IVMS. Both projects are to forward the quality of Montessori programs in the United States and abroad.

Kym has two children, Brooks and Jade, and is married to Don Elder, a local fine arts and antiques dealer. Brooks was a member of IVMS's first graduating class in June of 2003 as well as the first graduating class of Island Village Middle School in June 2006. Jade is currently an upper elementary student at IVMS.

Fatima Kerroumi joins IVMS as a social studies educator. She has many years of educational experience having taught in the International Baccalaurate program at the high school level and multi-age groupings in middle school. She is certified in social studies and French. Fatima speaks French and Spanish and has lived in both Canada and France. She is very comfortable integrating technology into the study of geography and foreign language.

Kathy Bixby
Physical Education

Kathy is originally from Connecticut and received her degree in physical education from Southern Connecticut State College. A former state gymnastics champion, Kathy has also coached 3 competitive gymnastics teams and currently runs her own mobile preschool gymnastics program. She is also the PE teacher for the Center for education Montessori School in Bradenton (where she resides) and has taught there for eight years. Kathy is married and has two daughters, a son-in-law, and two grandchildren.

Angeline Parkin-Milambiling
Art Instructor

Angeline Parkin-Milambiling began teaching at Island Village Montessoriin 2004. Angeline has a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts at the University of Minnesota and has her Florida Teaching Certification for Art K-12. She also studied art in Florence, Italia in 2002. Angeline rejoices that IVMS and the community embraces the Arts so warmly.

Brandreth Blow
Technology Director

Brandreth Anne Blow graduated from Lynchburg College with a BA in Marketing. Prior to coming to IVMS Brandreth work with such companies as Nordstrom, Arthur Andersen and Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice. She brings to IVMS 12 years of experience in global training, computers, customer service, and bookkeeping. Originally from Connecticut; Brandreth has been a resident of Florida for the past 10 years. She is married to Jim and has three children Abagail, Matthew and Christopher. Abagail is a student at Pine View, Matthew is in his third year at IVMS and Christopher is just learning to crawl.

She loves to bake, being in the outdoors, and spending time with her family. She is active in her church and is a Girl Scout troop leader. Sharing knowledge with others is what thrills her most and she lives for the “aha” moment when an individual learns something new and that joyous smile appears on their face. She is very excited about joining the IVMS team.

Louise Vare
Speech/Language

Louise Vare started in 2002 with IVMS, having worked, at various times over the last 25 years, in the Sarasota school system. Originally from Stamford, Connecticut, she graduated with high honors from the University of Florida and holds a degree in speech pathology and audiology through the College of Education. Louise is also certified as a speech/language therapist through the State of Florida. She and husband Bob have five children ranging from elementary school through college years. Louise enjoys the ability that our charter school provides to work with smaller group settings for speech and language therapies.

Kym Elder
ESE Educator and Liaison

Executive Director of Island Village Montessori Charter and Early Childhood Programs, was founder and first President of the IVMS Founding Board. Kym has Montessori teacher certification from the American Montessori Society in both early childhood and elementary levels and has taught students from three years old to sixth grade in Montessori environments for over 10 years.

She is a graduate of both Pine View School and New College. She has been a Sarasota County resident for most of her life, living also in New Orleans, upstate New York, and Michigan. Kym holds a master's degree in charter school educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University as well as Florida professional certifications in educational leadership, elementary education (K-6), integrated middle school curriculum (5-9), and exceptional student education (K-12). Kym also holds a Florida early childhood director's credential.

Kym has returned to NOVA in the Doctorate in Education Program with a concentration in Internet Technology and Distance Education. In addition to school administration duties, she is project director of Montessori Live, an Internet-based Montessori lesson library and teacher training program developed at IVMS as well as Montalign, an Internet-based student tracking software also being developed at IVMS. Both projects are to forward the quality of Montessori programs in the United States and abroad.

Kym has two children, Brooks and Jade, and is married to Don Elder, a local fine arts and antiques dealer. Brooks was a member of IVMS's first graduating class in June of 2003 as well as the first graduating class of Island Village Middle School in June 2006. Jade is currently an upper elementary student at IVMS.

Martha Barrett
Spanish Instructor

Martha Barrett joins our staff as an early childhood assistant teacher. Martha has assisted in both toddler and 3-6 year old classrooms at New Gate School. Martha speaks fluent Spanish and is originally from Central America. She has five children who have grown up in Montessori environments. Martha is working on her bachelor’s degree in education.

Yolanda Casillas-Chona
Spanish Instructor

Yolanda Casillas-Chona joined IVMS in 2003. She has completed all requirements at New Gate Center for Montessori Studies for Elementary I teacher training. She has a B.S. in Business Administration from Indiana University with a concentration in Spanish and has completed the M.A. coursework for Creative Writing at Columbia College in Chicago.

Her past experience includes 6 years as a Montessori parent-volunteer while her sons have attended Montessori schools in Indiana and Sarasota. Her youngest attends IVMS. This year Yolanda will be teaching grades 2-3 and incorporating Spanish in some of the Montessori lessons. Yolanda is happy to be working at IVMS with such a professional and supportive staff. Her many interests include photography, writing, gardening, and outdoor activities with her husband and two young sons.

Jan Pearman
Aftercare Director - South Campus

Jan is the Administrative Assistant/Director of Marketing and After-School Programs. She was also the first President of the IVMS parent's group, PAC. Before semi-retirement, Jan and her husband, Bob, operated a custom home-design construction company.

Currently, Jan continues the operation of her energy conservation company. "Having six grandchildren, three of school age and three in preschool is what brought me to Kym's side and to become actively involved with IVMS. I want for my grandchildren as well as for all children the opportunity to receive a quality education and enjoyment of the learning experience IVMS provides." Besides enjoying her time at IVMS, Jan also loves gardening, decorating, her cats and time with her family.

Joanna Dabrowski
Aftercare staff

Jo-Anna has lived in Florida for 16 years. She is a native of Connecticut. Jo-Anna has a husband, Jerry, and two children. Eileen is a senior at USF and Michael is a freshman at USF. She has a dog named Tank and two cats, Bully and Little Bit. Jo-Anna has been in education for 28 years. Joanna has been at IVMS in the aftercare program since 2002.

Kathy Shultz
Aftercare Staff

Kathy is a Sarasota native. She has been married 27 years and has two children, Mike and Kimberly. Kathy works with Jo-Anna both in the aftercare program and during the day at Child Development Center. Kathy has worked with children for 14 years. She is currently attending MCC to get her AS in early childhood. Her favorite vacation is to go to Ft. Myers beach for sun ‘n fun.

Pam Seim
Teacher

Pam Seim came to our school in 2003 from Denver, Colorado, where she was a licensed, in-home, child care provider for 25 years. Pam will be working with the before and aftercare programs, and assisting this year at the Island Village Preschool. Pam has 3 grown children, and 2 grandchildren who also attend IVMS.