Our Staff

Mary Mastro Guarriello (Founder) established the Vincent S. Mastro Montessori Academy in 1968 in memory of her late brother.  Mrs. Guarriello received her Montessori training under the instruction of Mother Isabel Eugenie in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1967.  Mother Isabel is recognized as being responsible for the revival of Montessori education in the United States.  Mrs. Guarriello remained an active member of the board of trustees until her death in 2002.  Her husband, Vincent, continues to serve on the board of trustees.

Elizabeth Bradbury (Director)

Mrs. Bradbury is responsible for staff development and for overseeing parent education and student services.   Mrs. Bradbury directs the upstairs primary class.  A certified Pre-K through 8th grade teacher in the State of New Jersey, Elizabeth received her Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) certification in 1972 at the former training center in Montclair, New Jersey under the direction of Lakshmi Kripalani who was trained by Dr. Maria Montessori.  Mrs. Bradbury taught at the Montessori Children’s House in Morristown and later for Mrs. Guarriello before she assumed the directorship of the Vincent S. Mastro Montessori Academy in 1989.

Sandra Chowanec (Primary Directress)

Ms. Chowanec directs the downstairs primary class.  After receiving her B.A. from The College of New Jersey in education, Sandra taught in the Jersey City and the Matawan public schools.   Ms. Chowanec joined the school as a classroom assistant in 2006, completed her AMI certification at the Washington Montessori Institute, and is now pursuing her M.A. in Montessori Education at Loyola University in Maryland.

Sasha Cherniavsky (Elementary Directress)

Ms. Cherniavsky directs the elementary class and coordinates the transitioning of primary children to the elementary class.   She founded the elementary class here in 1993.  She holds AMI certification from the Washington Montessori Institute at both the primary and elementary levels.

Lucy Milonas (Music) conducts and coordinates music instruction.  Mrs. Milonas began working at the academy in 1990.  She obtained her B.A. in Music Education from New York University.

Michael Bradbury (Business Administrator)

Mr. Bradbury is responsible for school administration and business management.  Mr. Bradbury holds an M.A. in General Psychology from Montclair State University.  After a career in human resources, he joined the school and was instrumental in the school’s transition to a 501 (c) (3) non-profit in 1997.

Kristin De Rose (Administrative and Development Assistant)

Kristin is responsible for office administration and development assistance.  She joined the school in 2000 as a classroom assistant and later assumed her current responsibilities.

You can read more about us and our staff. See how the Montessori Method can provide the ideal learning environment for your preschool or elementary school child. We offer an early preschool program and All Day Program to accommodate our parents needs.  Contact us to see Montessori in action at our weekly Open House. Learn more about how to observe a preschool in action.

Call Mastro Montessori Academy at 732-842-5816 and schedule a visit today.