Meet Our Staff
Meet Our Staff
At MDS, we are a team of dedicated individuals who are committed to offering quality Montessori education to our students.
Toddler Program
Erika Frank-Poletto
Toddler Head Teacher
Erika Frank-Poletto joined MDS as a toddler assistant in 2020 and became our toddler directress in the fall of 2021. Erika came to us with seven years of Montessori experience at The Homestead School in Glen Spey, New York. She served for four years as an assistant teacher in their Primary and Lower Elementary programs and then four years as head teacher in their Primary program. Erika holds an Infant/Toddler Diploma and a Primary Diploma from the North American Montessori Center. Erika holds a BA in Psychology and Sociology from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.
Erika discovered Montessori when searching for preschool options for her oldest daughter, Lily. Once her younger daughter, Clara, was old enough to begin school, Erika began her journey into teaching. She was drawn to MDS because of the warm, friendly atmosphere and the ability to bring the classroom outdoors.
In addition to teaching, Erika is a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructor. She has been certified to help families make sure that all children under the age of 13 are riding safely in the car for 13 years. She has been an instructor teaching new technicians and supporting current technicians for 7 years.
Annie Cappiello
Toddler Assistant
Annie Cappiello rejoined MDS as our toddler assistant in 2021. In 2017, she volunteered to handle our social media presence and when the administrative assistant position in the office opened, she applied for the position and served in that capacity for the 2018 school year. Although she enjoyed the administrative position, when the toddler assistant position became available in the fall of 2019, Annie was excited to join the toddler classroom.
She served in that position until COVID – 19 changed her plans, leading her to oversee the MDS at Home schooling for her two children. We are very pleased to have Annie with us again in 2021 serving as toddler assistant. Prior to joining the staff, Annie was an active parent in the MDS community, serving in several capacities during our re-accreditation work and also serving as a coordinator of the MDS Connects parent organization as well as handling our social media presence. Annie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Early Childhood Development from Ashford University.
Primary
Haleigh Camarillo
Primary Head Teacher
Haleigh Camarillo joined our MDS community as Primary Directress in August of 2019. Haleigh first experienced Montessori during a field trip to a Montessori school while she was pursuing her associate degree in early childhood education at Naugatuck Valley Community College. While pursuing her Bachelor degree, Haleigh worked for three years as a preschool assistant at a Reggio Emilia inspired laboratory school. She also has two years of experience working with children with autism in home, school and community settings.
Haleigh holds a Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education and a Master of Education degree in early childhood education with a Montessori concentration from the University of Hartford. Haleigh holds an AMI Primary diploma from the Montessori Training Center, Northeast. In addition to her passionate interest in the Montessori method of education, Haleigh has been fascinated with butterflies since her childhood. She also enjoys practicing yoga and Pilates, playing the piano, and spending time with her family.
Ericka Schaedler
Primary Teacher
Ericka joined Montessori Discovery School as a primary assistant in 2018. She received an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Three Rivers Community College in May, 2018. While studying for her Early Childhood degree, Ericka observed MDS’ Primary classroom and was impressed with how independent the children were. Prior to joining MDS, Ericka worked at Thames Valley Community Council for Action Childcare Center as a floating teacher’s aide. This gave her experience with toddlers through preschool aged children. All the while, however, she remembered the Montessori classroom. She was thrilled to join MDS to learn firsthand about the Montessori approach. Ericka is an animal lover and has ridden horses “since before I can remember.” She rides competitively and is looking forward to learning how to care for our llamas.
Elementary
Willa Biewald
Elementary Head Teacher
From 1995 – 2021, Willa served as lead lower elementary directress at Oak Grove Montessori School in Mansfield, CT. During that time, Willa developed a rich understanding of how best to implement the Montessori method while providing accommodations and modifications for a variety of learning styles. Willa joined MDS in fall 2021 as a co-directress in our elementary program. In November, when her co-directress decided to remain home after the birth of her daughter, Willa responded by taking on full responsibility for the classroom. We would love to return to the co-teaching dynamic and are currently seeking another Montessori trained directress to join Willa this year either full time or part time (See our employment page if you’d like to apply!). Willa holds a BS in Elementary Education, cum laude, from the University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT as well as American Montessori Society Lower Elementary Training Certification from Seacoast Center, Situate, MA. Willa also completed two of three summers of AMI Elementary Training at the Montessori Training Center of New England. She was unable to finish the training due to family issues but plans to complete it in the future.
Una Hills-Gunn
Elementary Assistant
Una holds a Bachelor of Art in English and creative writing from Emory College, in Atlanta, Georgia, and has studied abroad while attending the Queen Mary University of London. She has worked as a one-on-one literacy and math tutor in Altana, as well as operating summer programs at The Salvation Army The Right Place in Hartford, CT where she initiated a school-wide garden program for 5-12-year-olds.
When Una is not reading or writing, she loves to be outside camping, gardening, and exploring the world around her. We are thrilled to welcome Una to our community and look forward to her bringing her love of learning to the elementary classroom.
Administration
Kathryn Procko
Head of School
Kathryn Procko was appointed MDS Head of School by our Board of Trustees in 2021, having worked with founding Head, Patrice Champagne, since 2019 as Assistant Head of School. Kathryn joined MDS as our Toddler directress in 2017. She originated the Toddler Program and served as its directress until 2020. Prior to coming to MDS, Kathryn worked in the Norwich Public Schools for eight years as a pre-K special education teacher’s assistant before deciding to pursue Montessori Infant/Toddler training. Her relationship with MDS began when her son Henry attend our school, so it was no surprise that she was very excited to help us open our toddler program. She completed her Infant/Toddler training at the Center for Montessori Education in New Rochelle, New York, and received her AMS Infant/Toddler certification in 2018. Kathryn holds a degree in Early Childhood Education from Charter Oak State College and a Leadership certificate through the Center of Guided Montessori Studies. She loves to spend time with her family and sons Henry and Elliott.
Julie Sinvil
Administrative Assistant
