Izzy Snyder is joining Hilltop in Fall 2023 as an Upper Elementary assistant. In this role, she will provide one-on-one and small group support to students, help create Montessori teaching materials, and assist the teachers in group lessons. An alumna of Hilltop herself, she recently graduated Oberlin College in May of 2023 with a bachelor’s...Read More

Lifei and her family moved to Brattleboro in 2016 because of Hilltop Montessori School. She is AMI credentialed in Infant/Toddler, Children’s House, and (soon to be) for Elementary also! She is dedicated to Montessori, not only as a teacher, but as a lifestyle. In Beijing, China, she was a Montessori school director and ran a...Read More

Malindi (she/her) will be joining the Hilltop community for the second year as the Social Emotional Learning Coordinator and Lower Elementary assistant teacher. Born and raised in Vermont, Malindi was home-schooled until 5th grade and feels that many of the values of Montessori were integral to her early education. After graduating from Hamilton College with...Read More

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Akari moved up to Vermont in 2021 to join the Lower El community as an assistant. Now, in their third year, and as a classroom teacher, Akari is working on completing a 6-12 Elementary certification through AMI. Prior to Hilltop, Akari taught first grade in Brooklyn and attended Bates...Read More

Wendy is our in-house Learning Specialist Director. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education and is a certified Wilson Reading Instructor. She has been teaching for over 30 years including more than 20 years working with children who need additional support in order for them to be successful in the classroom. Her Special Education...Read More

Jay has been the school’s musical pied piper since 1996! He has a BA in Music from Middlebury College and plays an array of instruments. Jay enjoys instrumental and vocal improvisation, and plays bass, keyboard and sings with his bands, Jazzberry Jam and Hipfunk Associates. He introduces rhythm, movement and song to our youngest students;...Read More

Jade joined the Hilltop community as Elementary Art Teacher in 2018, joyously providing a TAB-inspired (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) studio space that resonates beautifully with Montessori philosophy. In their art studio, students behave as true artists: choosing their project and media, practicing techniques, and exploring their unique artistic voice. Students create in a supported, gently...Read More

Kathy joined Hilltop in 2019 as a member of the AfterCare team. She also provided support for the Upper Elementary and Children’s House classrooms. Starting in 2020, she became a member of the Upper Elementary team.  She holds a Bachelors of Science in Ecology and Environmental Studies and is passionate about both science and education,...Read More

Jennifer hails from the west coast, finished high school and college round one in Texas, and spent a decade in D.C. working in public affairs before turning her sights teaching. She holds M.A.’s in Latin American Studies and Education, and completed her Montessori AMI elementary training at the Washington Montessori Institute. After teaching upper elementary...Read More

Tom has been teaching in the Upper Elementary at Hilltop since 1993. He “grew up” in Cleveland and received a BA in Music Theory from Kenyon College.  He and his wife Leslie moved to New Orleans where he began a career in woodworking in a small custom cabinet shop. They later moved to Bratttleboro so...Read More