Nancy Schlussel

Upper Elementary Lead Teacher, Program Coordinator, and Director of Academics and Student Life @ Marshdale North

BS Outdoor Education from Ithaca College. American Montessori Society Elementary I-II Teaching Credential from Center for Montessori Teacher Education Center of New York. Instructor/Administrator with Montessori Elementary Teacher Training Collaborative.

I’m so excited to be returning to the MSE community. I have been teaching Montessori Elementary students for 25 years in Colorado and Massachusetts. I started my Montessori adventure with Betsy Lockhart in the UE classroom at MSE. It was a dream come true to work with such a wonderful giving community. During this time I was attending The Center for Montessori Education in NY and earning my 6-12 elementary credential. After years in the classroom, I started working with MECR as a trainer for the elementary program and a consultant to help schools and teachers.

After many years in the classroom at MSE, my family moved to the Boston area. My two children Sierra and Jackson joined me in the Lower Elementary classroom. It was a wonderful experience to have them in the classroom as we all transitioned to a new life in Hopkinton, MA.

My Montessori adventure continued with transitioning from a Lead Elementary teacher at Summit Montessori School to their Elementary Coordinator. I also began working with the Montessori Elementary Teacher Training Collaborative METTC in Lexington, MA. I expanded my repertoire from teaching adults to Co-Program Coordinator with Robyn Breiman. 

I am passionate about teaching children. I love getting to know each child individually through close personal instruction and observation. It is a joy to develop a plan to help that child grow and increase their mental capacity, physical capability, and spirituality. I believe in giving a child a lesson with love and enthusiasm allows them to follow their curiosity and ultimately helps them learn the concept and philosophy behind the lesson. I am confident that when a child learns in a Montessori classroom they develop the discipline and self-directed nature needed to succeed further on in their educational career and in life after school.

Not only have I earned my Montessori Lower and Upper Elementary credentials, but I have gone through the extensive Montessori Coaching Education program to help support and develop teachers. I have been trained through the Love and Logic institute as a teacher trainer. I have worked with Linda mood-Bell for reading and trained in 6+1 Trait Writing Instruction. I just concluded a long intensive Teacher Educators Program for Anti-Bias education in the classroom with AMS. Before becoming a Montessori teacher I worked as an Outdoor Educator in experiential education. I earned a B.S. degree in Outdoor Education from Ithaca College.

I was drawn to Montessori because of the approach used to teach children through a variety of different styles and techniques. Encouraging children to learn through their strengths – be it visually, kinesthetically, or auditory is to me the true meaning of personalized education and following the child. Throughout my career as an educator, I have used an approach that caters to the student’s strengths and desires. This is why Montessori is so dear to my heart.