Mael grew up in Upstate NY, and even though he’s fallen in love with Vermont, he still yearns for the Catskill Mountains sometimes. They moved to Guilford after graduating from Bennington College with a degree focused on collaborative storytelling, and simply can’t imagine leaving. He spent most of his childhood outside, usually with a book, and strives...Read More

Bex Slattery was born and raised on the coast of Massachusetts. She landed in Vermont in 2022 and began working at the Garland School in Brattleboro as their cook where she stayed for more than 3 years. Before that she worked at a daycare, in a bakery, as a caregiver, and in a life long...Read More

Violinist and educator Edward Barnes brings an encouraging, growth-focused approach to Hilltop Montessori School, helping students explore violin with confidence, curiosity, and joy. Holding music degrees from St. Olaf College and UMass Amherst, Edward is a Suzuki-trained violin instructor and a recipient of the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s META (Music Educators and Teaching Artists) Fellowship. As...Read More

Tom Griffith was raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and still likes to visit regularly to see his family and to hear the orchestra. He met his wife while at Kenyon College and has been following her around ever since: to New Orleans, where he got his first job in a woodworking cabinet shop; to Brattleboro, where...Read More

Rachel Ellis is excited to join Hilltop Montessori for the 2025-2026 school year. She grew up in Washington state, where she attended three different Montessori schools: one for preschool, one for elementary school (3rd-5th grades), and one for middle school (8th and 9th grades). She graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, with a Bachelor’s...Read More

A former Montessori child herself, Rebecca has been guiding children in Montessori Primary classrooms since 2020. She earned her Montessori Credential through the New England Montessori Teacher Education Center in 2024 and is deeply committed to fostering children’s independence, curiosity, and awe through careful observation and developmentally informed practice. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Arts from...Read More

Abbey has been working in education for 5 years. This is her second year at Hilltop, where she is excited to be continuing her career in education. Abbey grew up in Brattleboro, and now resides in Keene, New Hampshire with her partner, son, three cats, and a hamster. Despite this ,she has always had a...Read More

  Now retired, Paul was Hilltop’s Middle School Director and Humanities Teacher from 2001 – 2022. These days he has the great privilege of continuing his connection with the Middle School through singing songs with students that deepen and enrich the humanities curriculum, a long standing Middle School tradition. He also assists musically with the...Read More

Marco joined Hilltop in 2015 as an After Care and Children’s House assistant, after seeing what a positive effect Hilltop had on his two children, one a Hilltop graduate and one currently in the Upper Elementary program. He moved to Brattleboro in 2014 from his home country of Ecuador. In Ecuador he taught language through...Read More

Akari grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y. and moved up to Vermont in 2021 to join the Hilltop community. Akari studied political science, education, and gender studies at Bates College for undergrad and completed AMI’s 6-12 Elementary training program with the Montessori Training Center Northeast in August 2024. They are currently a co-teacher in the Lower Elementary...Read More