Meet our Exceptional Staff
Cathy Fairbairn
Interim Head of School
Cathy has been at Apple Valley for sixteen years. Her children were in the Primary program when she was an Assistant Teacher with the founding Head of School, Audrey Newton. As the school grew, Cathy took on an Administrative position, then Deputy Head and now is Interim Head of School. She has been a member of the Apple Valley administration for 16 years and has two grown children that attended AVMS. Cathy works on an ongoing basis with the Department of Early Education and Care to ensure that Apple Valley continues to provide a safe and positive environment for young children.
Cathy is Director 1 and 2 certified through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. She holds a Bachelor of Science Early Childhood degree from Wheelock College and has some graduate course work in Early Childhood Administration. After graduating, she worked at Children's Hospital where she ran Special Needs programs and wrote state grants. She then became Director of the Metrowest Child Care Search, a resource and referral agency with private and state funding. Cathy loves to swim, walk, read and cook. She truly enjoys working with all of the children and families at Apple Valley.
Cathy is Director 1 and 2 certified through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. She holds a Bachelor of Science Early Childhood degree from Wheelock College and has some graduate course work in Early Childhood Administration. After graduating, she worked at Children's Hospital where she ran Special Needs programs and wrote state grants. She then became Director of the Metrowest Child Care Search, a resource and referral agency with private and state funding. Cathy loves to swim, walk, read and cook. She truly enjoys working with all of the children and families at Apple Valley.
Nancy Kodera
Head Teacher of the Toddler Program
Nancy has been a member of the AVMS community since 1999 when her two children attended the primary and elementary programs. During that time she was an active parent volunteer and later worked as assistant in the Primary and Toddler Programs for a total of 5 years. Nancy is certified as an Infants and Toddlers Teacher and has completed the first half of the AMI training. She has a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of the Philippines. Before focusing her career in education, Nancy helped establish a humanitarian organization, Kapatiran, in Tokyo, Japan. Nancy believes that each child is new every day. She loves and respects each child and enjoys working with each of them toward maximizing his/her full potential.
Nancy lives in Sudbury with her husband, a Professor at Wellesley College and an ordained Episcopal priest, and two children. Her daughter and son, both graduates of Apple Valley, are now a sophomore and senior at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.
Head Teacher of the Toddler Program
Nancy has been a member of the AVMS community since 1999 when her two children attended the primary and elementary programs. During that time she was an active parent volunteer and later worked as assistant in the Primary and Toddler Programs for a total of 5 years. Nancy is certified as an Infants and Toddlers Teacher and has completed the first half of the AMI training. She has a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of the Philippines. Before focusing her career in education, Nancy helped establish a humanitarian organization, Kapatiran, in Tokyo, Japan. Nancy believes that each child is new every day. She loves and respects each child and enjoys working with each of them toward maximizing his/her full potential.
Nancy lives in Sudbury with her husband, a Professor at Wellesley College and an ordained Episcopal priest, and two children. Her daughter and son, both graduates of Apple Valley, are now a sophomore and senior at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.
Amanda Keighly
Head Teacher of the Primary Program
Amanda will be returning to Apple Valley for her ninth year as Head Primary Teacher. Amanda was a student at Apple Valley as a member of the first classroom established in 1983. This gives her a unique view of the classroom, having worked as a child with the same materials she now introduces to children. She studied Art History and spent her senior year at Goldsmiths College in London. After graduating from college Amanda worked as an assistant in the classroom for one year before making the decision to take Montessori training.
Amanda received her Masters degree in Montessori Education in 2009. She graduated with honors and was inducted into Pi Lambda Theta, the national honors society for educators. She enjoys all aspects of teaching but particularly loves teaching children to read. "Reading empowers the children; it gives them the key to unlock every figurative door."
Head Teacher of the Primary Program
Amanda will be returning to Apple Valley for her ninth year as Head Primary Teacher. Amanda was a student at Apple Valley as a member of the first classroom established in 1983. This gives her a unique view of the classroom, having worked as a child with the same materials she now introduces to children. She studied Art History and spent her senior year at Goldsmiths College in London. After graduating from college Amanda worked as an assistant in the classroom for one year before making the decision to take Montessori training.
Amanda received her Masters degree in Montessori Education in 2009. She graduated with honors and was inducted into Pi Lambda Theta, the national honors society for educators. She enjoys all aspects of teaching but particularly loves teaching children to read. "Reading empowers the children; it gives them the key to unlock every figurative door."
Kimberly Kite-Powell
Head Teacher of the Elementary Program
Kimberly joins us as the Head Elementary teacher. She received her AMI Elementary Diploma and Masters of Education at the Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola College in Maryland, and Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Bastyr University. Kimberly has taught in lower elementary and upper elementary classrooms in Maryland and Florida over the last five years, and looks forward to joining the Apple Valley Montessori School.
Kimberly’s first experience with Montessori involved observing her nephews' Montessori school twelve years ago. The children stood out among their peers as exceptionally curious, respectful, and eager to learn. She most enjoys how Montessori children approach learning by questioning, analyzing, comprehending, and discussing topics rather than just a focus on memorization. Kimberly believes each child has a gift that is waiting to be discovered and sees the Montessori classroom as ideal for this kind of exploration and growth. Outside of teaching Kimberly enjoys reading, painting, cooking and spending time with her family outdoors. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two sons and cat. Her sons attend Apple Valley Montessori School.
Head Teacher of the Elementary Program
Kimberly joins us as the Head Elementary teacher. She received her AMI Elementary Diploma and Masters of Education at the Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola College in Maryland, and Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Bastyr University. Kimberly has taught in lower elementary and upper elementary classrooms in Maryland and Florida over the last five years, and looks forward to joining the Apple Valley Montessori School.
Kimberly’s first experience with Montessori involved observing her nephews' Montessori school twelve years ago. The children stood out among their peers as exceptionally curious, respectful, and eager to learn. She most enjoys how Montessori children approach learning by questioning, analyzing, comprehending, and discussing topics rather than just a focus on memorization. Kimberly believes each child has a gift that is waiting to be discovered and sees the Montessori classroom as ideal for this kind of exploration and growth. Outside of teaching Kimberly enjoys reading, painting, cooking and spending time with her family outdoors. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two sons and cat. Her sons attend Apple Valley Montessori School.
Stephen DeFlorio
Teacher, Naturalist
Stephen will be returning to Apple Valley for his 10th year. Stephen has a BS in Elementary Education from Lesley University and has been teaching in the field of outdoor environmental education for 30 years. Before Apple Valley he was an Education Coordinator at Mass Audubon for 14 years coordinating outreach programs, directing and teaching summer camps, public programs, and on site guided walks. Stephen has been involved in turtle nesting surveys for 10 years in Concord and has incorporated this field research into Apple Valley programs. Stephen is an accomplished curriculum designer of programs, materials and integrates our amazing local site to meet these ends. He brings the outside in and the inside out in highly engaging hands-on methods.
In many ways there is a blur between work and Stephen’s personal life as he is constantly on the path of lifelong learning teaching himself or finding out from others all things about nature. In Stephen’s “spare time” he enjoys camping, gardening, wild edibles, crafting, and most passionately primitive skills or what he sometimes calls ancestral skills such as gourd crafting, cordage, friction fire, primitive pottery, natural dyeing, birch bark, coal burning, and more.
Teacher, Naturalist
Stephen will be returning to Apple Valley for his 10th year. Stephen has a BS in Elementary Education from Lesley University and has been teaching in the field of outdoor environmental education for 30 years. Before Apple Valley he was an Education Coordinator at Mass Audubon for 14 years coordinating outreach programs, directing and teaching summer camps, public programs, and on site guided walks. Stephen has been involved in turtle nesting surveys for 10 years in Concord and has incorporated this field research into Apple Valley programs. Stephen is an accomplished curriculum designer of programs, materials and integrates our amazing local site to meet these ends. He brings the outside in and the inside out in highly engaging hands-on methods.
In many ways there is a blur between work and Stephen’s personal life as he is constantly on the path of lifelong learning teaching himself or finding out from others all things about nature. In Stephen’s “spare time” he enjoys camping, gardening, wild edibles, crafting, and most passionately primitive skills or what he sometimes calls ancestral skills such as gourd crafting, cordage, friction fire, primitive pottery, natural dyeing, birch bark, coal burning, and more.
Yun Ha
Assistant Teacher to the Primary Program
Yun Ha became interested in Montessori education after a chance conversation with a Montessori teacher. Yun's interest grew and she took a position as assistant to Green Base and Amanda Keighley and worked happily there for four years before moving back to her native Vietnam.
While in Vietnam Yun and her husband proudly welcomed a little boy who will be joining the Apple Valley family as a student this year. Yun's attention to detail make her an ideal assistant. Miss Ha especially enjoys listening to the children read, first just sounds then words and phrases. She finds their progress amazing.
Yun is working toward her Bachelor's degree in Education and Sociology.
Assistant Teacher to the Primary Program
Yun Ha became interested in Montessori education after a chance conversation with a Montessori teacher. Yun's interest grew and she took a position as assistant to Green Base and Amanda Keighley and worked happily there for four years before moving back to her native Vietnam.
While in Vietnam Yun and her husband proudly welcomed a little boy who will be joining the Apple Valley family as a student this year. Yun's attention to detail make her an ideal assistant. Miss Ha especially enjoys listening to the children read, first just sounds then words and phrases. She finds their progress amazing.
Yun is working toward her Bachelor's degree in Education and Sociology.
Nina Nickles-First
Office Administrator
Nina has had an interest in education and Montessori in particular for many years and is thrilled to be part of the Apple Valley team. She has a BA in English Literature and Creative writing from Binghamton University. She also studied photography at the Maine Photographic workshops and at the Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts at Bard College. Nina has worked at the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Drumlin Farm, as an education coordinator and as an editorial assistant at Sanctuary Magazine. She has worked as a writer with articles appearing in the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Sanctuary Magazine and other publications. She has published a book of photography and taught photography at Nobles and Greenough and Gann Academy before having her children.
Nina loves bicycling, and and a number of years ago she rode her bicycle across the country two times. Later she helped start up and run an international bike touring company. She has studied dance, both ballet and modern. Nina loves being in the Montessori classroom and being part of the staff of such a wonderful school as Apple Valley. Nina lives in Concord with her husband and their two children who attend Apple Valley Montessori School.
Office Administrator
Nina has had an interest in education and Montessori in particular for many years and is thrilled to be part of the Apple Valley team. She has a BA in English Literature and Creative writing from Binghamton University. She also studied photography at the Maine Photographic workshops and at the Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts at Bard College. Nina has worked at the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Drumlin Farm, as an education coordinator and as an editorial assistant at Sanctuary Magazine. She has worked as a writer with articles appearing in the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Sanctuary Magazine and other publications. She has published a book of photography and taught photography at Nobles and Greenough and Gann Academy before having her children.
Nina loves bicycling, and and a number of years ago she rode her bicycle across the country two times. Later she helped start up and run an international bike touring company. She has studied dance, both ballet and modern. Nina loves being in the Montessori classroom and being part of the staff of such a wonderful school as Apple Valley. Nina lives in Concord with her husband and their two children who attend Apple Valley Montessori School.
