Faculty & Staff
Leddy M. Naudain - Owner/Administrator
Lauren Naudain - Co-Administrator
Joanne Pelly - Co-Administrator
Room 1 - Mrs. Mary Cichon & Mrs. Carol Harvey
Room 2 - Mrs. Amy Dibert & Mrs. Imee Killian Room 3 - Mrs. Thomasine Bron, Mrs. Dana Rappenecker (AM) & Mrs. Tatiana Ter-Saakov (PM)
Room 4 - Mrs. Leddy Nelson & Mrs. Marie DeFonseka
Room 5 - Mrs. Christy Bloom, Mrs. Rachel Monaghan & Ms. Claire Fratoni Aftercare - Mrs. Imee Killian, Mrs. Dorothy Porto & Ms. Claire Fratoni
Leddy M Naudain - Owner and Administrator
Mrs. Naudain has been owner/administrator of Naudain Academy for 35 years. She received a B.A. from Villanova University and also a diploma from Association Montessori International in 1975. She gained Montessori experience by working at Montessori School House (1975), then Montessori Child Development Center (1976) and started her own school in 1977. She remains active in AMS (American Montessori Society), AMI (Association Montessori International) and NAMTA (North American Montessori Teachers’ Association). Leddy and Dick have been married for 35 years and are parents of 3 girls; Leddy K., Lauren and Brinley. In 2010 their first granddaughter, Scarlett, was born to their middle daughter, Lauren. Leddy is a regular contributor to both the Cancer and Mental Health Foundations, sponsors holiday gifts for the needy and sends clothing to the less fortunate in North Philadelphia and Africa. She previously volunteered as a cheerleading coach for 8 years. Now her time is spent reading, cooking, skiing, swimming, walking, golfing, weight-lifting and hiking.
Lauren Naudain - Co-Administrator
Lauren has been working at the school on and off since she was fifteen years old. She worked in the after school program while in high school. After returning from college at the University of Vermont, she began working in the office and finished her degree in Business Administration at Burlington County College. She continues to take college courses and will soon receive an additional degree in Early Childhood Education. She is currently the co-administrator at Naudain Academy. Lauren handles tuition, Constant Contact, newsletters, event planning/fundraising, the school’s website and numerous other office functions. Lauren is the middle daughter of Leddy M. Naudain, founder of the school, and Richard Naudain. On January 15, 2010 Lauren welcomed her first daughter, Scarlett, to the world. In her spare time Lauren enjoys running, snowboarding, hiking, cooking, playing with her dogs and spending time with her family.
Joanne Pelly - Co-Administrator
Joanne has worked at Naudain Academy since 1986. She began as an assistant, handled the original After Hours program and ran the Summer Camp for many years. Past experience includes 15 years at Fisher Scientific, quality control for major department stores and working for a marketing firm. She attended Peirce Junior College and took a Montessori course from St. Nicholas in England. Joanne and her husband, Dan, have been married for 39 years. They are the parents of three grown children, all of whom work in the field of education. She serves on the Mt. Laurel Board of Education and is now in her 15th year of services. She has completed two years as vice-president and four years as president. Other experiences have included Brownies and Cub Scout leader, lifeguard, softball coach, Jaycees, Lenape Partners Assoc., Monmouth University parent liaison and member of the Mt. Laurel Municipal Alliance. Her hobbies are family, friends, gardening, the beach and crafts. Mrs. Pelly and her husband are the proud grandparents of twin granddaughters.
Christy Bloom - Toddler Teacher
Although Christy will begin her first year at Naudain Academy as the teacher of our toddler program, she has five years of previous teaching experience. She was the Head Toddler Teacher at St. Martin's Episcopal Montessori School located in Bridgewater, NJ. Christy attended Bucks County Community College where she studied Early Childhood Education. She then entered the Princeton Center for Teacher Education where she received her Infant/Toddler Montessori Certification. She lives in Bristol, PA with her husband, Clint and her dog, Lily. Christy played travel softball of many years and still enjoys this and other sports. She enjoys traveling with he husband and other family members.
Thomasine Bron - Primary Teacher
Mrs. Bron has been with Naudain Academy for 26 years. She has worked as an assistant plus morning, afternoon, Extended Day and Summer Camp teacher. After witnessing the Montessori method as an assistant, she attended Chestnut Hill College and received her Associate Preprimary teaching degree in 1993. She has taught the Full Day children for a number of years and will continue doing so for this school year. Thomasine was born and raised in the south Jersey region. She continues to favor the area and has many family members and friends here. Her previous work experience included sales positions and serving as a nanny for local families. She and her husband, Bill, have one child, Stephen, who graduated from the school three years ago. Thomasine's hobbies include traveling, scrapbooking and other crafts, softball, bowling and spending special times with family and friends.
Mary Cichon - Primary and Extended Day Teacher
Mary is a native of Dublin, Ireland and has been on staff since September of 1985. She was trained in Ireland at Sion Hill Montessori College and graduated with a degree enabling her to teach 3 to 6 year olds and Special Ed. Previous teaching experience includes employment in Richmond, VA and Montessori Children’s House Morristown, NJ. During her time at Naudain Academy, she has worked as an assistant, 3-6 teacher and Extended Day teacher. Mary and her husband, Ron, have 3 children all Naudain Academy graduates. Brian attended the University of Maryland, went to the Peace Corps in Peru and now lives in Denver with his wife. He is working there with the Latino community. Kate graduated from the College of NJ and works as an art teacher at Cherokee High School. She also gives art lessons to children in the area. Peter is working toward a degree in nursing at Jefferson. In her spare time, Mrs. Cichon conducts historical storytelling for Pre K through 5th grade students at local schools and libraries. She enjoys travel, gardening, reading, cooking, sewing and the outdoors!
Marie DeFonseka - Assistant
Marie is a native of Sri Lanka and migrated to the U.S. in January, 2011 after her marriage to husband Jeffrey. She joined Naudain Academy in MArch as a substitute teacher during the school year also help with the Summer Enrichment Program. She received her Montessori certification from the Association Montessori International (AMI) in 2009. Marie is currently attending Burlington County College in her pursuit of a degree in Elementary Education. Mrs DeFonseka loves spending her time with children and enjoys giving lesson. In her free time she likes to spend time with her family. Her hobbies include cooking, crocheting, arts & crafts and music.
Amy Dibert - Primary Teacher
Amy graduated from North Carolina State University in 2001 and received her bachelor's degree in Psychology and Education. She is certified in applied behavior analysis and has worked as a child development specialist for New Jersey Early Intervention Services. Amy did language and behavior therapy for children with special needs. She received her primary Montessori certification from Chestnut HIll College. She was employed at a MOntessori school in Pennsylvania before moving to Nj. She taught at Naudain Academy until the birth of her second child. Amy has two children with her husband Ben - Ellie, who is a graduate of Naudain Academy and Jack, who will attended the school this year. She enjoys her children, gardening, cooking, crafting reading and traveling to spend time with her family.
Carol Harvey - Assistant
Mrs. Harvey will begin her ninth year at the school. She has worked as a teaching assistant in many of our classrooms and programs. She also assisted in the office for three years. Carol graduated from Glassboro State College in 1977 and has a BA in Elementary Education. For nine years, she worked as a first grade teacher in a non-public school before getting married and starting a family. Carol and her husband, Bob, reside in Marlton with their three girls: Carolyn, who graduated from Richard Stockton College; Nicole, who attends LaSalle University and Brooke, who is a student at Holy Cross High school in Delran. In her spare time, Carol can be found carpooling children or attending one of the many sports or social events for her children. She enjoys fun times at her shore home with family and friends.
Leddy Nelson - Primary and Extended Day Teacher
Leddy ha s worked at the school in many different capacities throughout the years. She began as a student, and soon after graduating, came back to help with the summer program. She continued working as a summer assistant for many years. She graduated from Eastern in 19 99 and went on to attend Johnson & Wales University where she received her Associates Degree in Culinary Arts and her Bachelors Degree in Marketing. She then attended the Princeton Center for Teacher Education for her Montessori Teaching training. Following this, she began teaching at Naudain Academy. Since that time, she has served as a 3-6 teacher, a Kindergarten teacher, and an office assistant. She was recently married to Frank Nelson and may be better remembered as Miss Naudain to many alumni. This year marks her tenth year at the school. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and being with family and friends.
Dorothy Porto - After Hours Assistant
Dot graduated from St. Maria Goretti High School in Philadelphia and then attended Peirce College. She worked as a teacher's aide at Glen Landing Middle School in Blackwood, NJ for 16 years. Dot also worked with special needs children and adults for 7 years with the Archway Programs in Berlin. She is looking forward to working with the children at Naudain Academy. Dot has two sons and three grandchildren. Her free time is spent with her family. Dot's hobbies include cooking, music and the theatre.
Dana Rappenecker - Assistant
Dana will begin her second year at Naudain Academy. She previously worked for six years at a learning center in the in the toddler program. Dana graduated from The Richard Stockton College of NJ in 1998 with a BS in Marine Science. In 2009, she graduated from Drexel University with a degree in Elementary Education and a MS in the Instruction of Education. She lives in Medford Lakes with her husband, Mike and two sons. Finn is a graduate of Naudain and Cole will be attending the school in September. In her spare time, Dana enjoys riding bikes and swimming at the lakes.
Tatiana Ter-Saakov – Assistant
Mrs. Ter-Saakov and her family moved to the U.S. from Russia in 2002. Tatiana graduated form the Moscow State University, with a degree in the field of mathematics. She first became interested in the Montessori method when her first child was born. Since she discovered Naudain Academy, she had both her sons enrolled in the school, plus a niece and a nephew. Finally, last year she joined herself - as a staff member. Her goal is to become a Montessori teacher.