Faculty and Staff
Our exceptional faculty at Countryside Day includes internationally recognized, innovative teachers who combine strong teaching skills with specialty expertise. The hallmark of their work with students is their role as mentor to each individual student. Their educational acumen is matched by their passion for inspiring and empowering our students to reach their full potential, as students, classmates and citizens.
Wendy Calise
“Our classrooms of mixed age groups, with freedom of choice, are micro-communities designed to emulate real life. This allows us to teach each student at his optimal academic level while at the same time giving him space to ‘practice life.’ It is this powerful combination that results in students who are so well prepared to enjoy successes and tackle challenges with confidence.”
Role:Head of school
Middle School Teacher Language Arts, Math
AT CDS SINCE 1990
Karen O’Malley
“Our approach to teaching is one that challenges children every day with opportunities to be leaders as well as fostering a love of learning. Our core values of respect, responsibility and resourcefulness define our mission of helping children to become exceptional adults. You might call it a ‘dress rehearsal for life’.”
Role:Director of Admissions, Business Manager
AT CDS SINCE 1997
Jim Aspinall
“One of the benefits of working at Countryside Day is to see the full development of the child from toddler through Middle School.”
Role:Director of Operations and Business Manager
AT CDS SINCE 2007
Janeth Mendoza
“Our students have the freedom to be, to choose, to learn and to become leaders of their own education.”
Role:Communications Director
AT CDS SINCE 2014
Allie Frake
Toddler Teacher
AT CDS SINCE 2022
Veronica Armenta
“It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves, that will lay the foundation for independence and success both now and later in life. The autonomy of Montessori philosophy is my passion. I enjoy helping the children achieve their goals and being able to make a difference in their lives. In addition, as a native Spanish speaker, I feel fortunate to share my language and culture with the children.”
Role:Toddler Teacher and Spanish Teacher
AT CDS SINCE 1999
Shaneequa Pool
"When a child is given the freedom to explore what drives their curiosity, it shows them that they are respected. Even at the youngest age, we respect the child by showing them the way so that they can do it themselves. It is a precious gift for me to be able to help foster that independence and allow a child the freedom to act, to choose their own path, and correct their own mistakes."
Role:Physical Education Teacher: Toddler, PreK/K, Elementary Programs
AT CDS SINCE 2016
Kara Garzelloni
“At CDS, the classroom is a microcosm of the world at large: here the children are able to recognize and balance their own needs and the needs of others, find ways to compromise, offer help, build relationships with people that are easy to get along with, find a way to act with kindness towards those who are difficult to understand. They bake for one another, find confidence in personal expression, build their identities as individuals and find a dynamic identity within the group: sometimes as leader, sometimes to support. All of this plus a wide and varied array of academics: language, math, sensorial, practical life, music, movement, art, geography, and so much more— explored in an environment designed to nurture appreciation, intelligence, discernment, and care.”
Role:Pre-K/ Kindergarten Teacher
AT CDS SINCE 2007
Allison Sutter
Pre-K/K Teaching Assistant
AT CDS SINCE 2018
Bhavini Shah
The greatest gifts I can give our children are to embrace the roots of responsibility and independence. It helps develop their personality and the importance of their life, to themselves and to others.
Role:PreK/K Teacher
AT CDS SINCE 2016
Carina Gonzalez
PreK/K Teacher Assistant
AT CDS SINCE 2017
Michele Aspinall
“Being resourceful is so important when solving life’s problems. It requires courage, commitment, determination and perseverance. Working with the children to acquire this quality is extremely rewarding to me because I know it’s about more than academics: I’m giving them the skills they need for succeeding in life.”
Role:Director Early Childhood Programs
All Year Montessori Teacher PreK/K
AT CDS SINCE 1989
Lineth Mendoza
AYM Teaching Assistant
AT CDS SINCE 2021
Kathy Spitelli
All Year Montessori PreK/K Teaching Assistant
AT CDS SINCE 2008
Hilda Gomez
Toddler Teaching Assistant
AT CDS SINCE 2021
Lucero Sanchez
Toddler Teaching Assistant
AT CDS SINCE 2022
Uli Soto
Toddler Teaching Assistant
AT CDS SINCE 2017
Kim Anderson
“Children learn how to be respectful, responsible, and resourceful by working collaboratively and solving problems not just academically but also socially. The mixed-age classrooms help students learn to genuinely care for one another no matter how old they are. Watching an elementary student wipe the tears of a toddler and reassure them that everything will be fine makes teaching in a Montessori classroom the best place in the world. We don’t just teach character, we live it.”
Role:Director Elementary Program
Lower Elementary Teacher
AT CDS SINCE 2002
Wendy Calise
Upper Elementary Teacher
AT CDS SINCE 1990
Sean Doyle
“During my teaching career prior to Countryside, things like RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, AND RESOURCEFULNESS were taught maybe once a week, and maybe for half an hour. At Countryside, these 3Rs are taught EVERY DAY and ALL DAY. In turn, we are helping our children get the tools they need to not only be successful today, but to be successful for the rest of their lives.”
Role:Lower Elementary Teacher
AT CDS SINCE 2012
Magali DePilla
“Responsibility is an important skill for a child to learn at a young age. Understanding this value early in life helps them grow into successful adults. At Countryside, we encourage and guide each child to make this a central part of their learning.”
Role:Spanish Teacher: PreK/K, Elementary, Middle School
AT CDS SINCE 2012
Joseph Francavilla
“Music serves an integral role in our culture at large, and the Countryside community values the importance of these traditions. It is a privilege to work with children as they explore creativity through music. This work allows them to learn more about themselves and their place in the world and provides them with shared cultural experiences they carry throughout their entire lives.”
Role:Music Director
AT CDS SINCE 2001
Molly Dunlap
Lower Elementary Teaching Assistant
AT CDS SINCE 2020
Caroline Clark
Lower Elementary Teaching Assistant
AT CDS SINCE 2022
Denice Olsen
Upper Elementary Teaching Assistant
AT CDS SINCE 2023
Magali DePilla
“Responsibility is an important skill for a child to learn at a young age. Understanding this value early in life helps them grow into successful adults. At Countryside, we encourage and guide each child to make this a central part of their learning.”
Role:Spanish Teacher: PreK/K, Elementary, Middle School
AT CDS SINCE 2012
Joe Francavilla
“Music serves an integral role in our culture at large, and the Countryside community values the importance of these traditions. It is a privilege to work with children as they explore creativity through music. This work allows them to learn more about themselves and their place in the world and provides them with shared cultural experiences they carry throughout their entire lives.”
Role:Music Director
AT CDS SINCE 2001
Jinny Hyun
“I love that at Countryside we are not only devoted to educating our students, but to show them how we can use what we learn here in the real world and how we can make personal connections with it in our daily lives. Art is not a class where we learn only how to draw and paint, but through our support and encouragement students can express themselves and make personal connections that not only help them understand the subject better, but it can make a impact on how they see how art makes a difference all around us.”
Role:Art Teacher, Upper Elementary and Middle School
AT CDS SINCE 1993
Gaetano Calise
“By design, Countryside Day Middle School is a carefully prepared environment that helps teenagers master the secrets of the world of adulthood: how to act appropriately in given situations, earn a living, understand everyday law and economics, and how to express their feelings and friendship. Students are considered adults in training. These adolescents want nothing more than to be a part of something bigger than themselves and to make contributions in ways that are real. They want to know that what they think, do and say, actually makes a difference.”
Role:Director Middle School
AT CDS SINCE 1990
Shaneequa Pool
"When a child is given the freedom to explore what drives their curiosity, it shows them that they are respected. Even at the youngest age, we respect the child by showing them the way so that they can do it themselves. It is a precious gift for me to be able to help foster that independence and allow a child the freedom to act, to choose their own path, and correct their own mistakes."
Role:Physical Education Teacher: Toddler, PreK/K, Elementary Programs
AT CDS SINCE 2016
Kyra Hodo
Physical Education Assistant
AT CDS SINCE 2023
Juan Armenta
Facilities Manager
AT CDS SINCE 1993
Jim Aspinall
“One of the benefits of working at Countryside Day is to see the full development of the child from toddler through Middle School.”
Role:Director of Operations and Business Manager
AT CDS SINCE 2007
