Our care of the children should be governed not by the desire to 'make them learn things', but by the endeavor always to keep burning within them the light which is called intelligence. Dr. Maria Montessori
The relationship between your child and their teacher is one of the most important in their life. Most of us can remember that one teacher who made the difference. Maybe they always supported your love of creative stories, finally explained a math problem in a way you understood or simply made learning fun. At Quest, because each classroom has a three-year cycle, every teacher develops a deep understanding of who your child is as a person.
Our lead teachers in Toddler, Primary and Elementary have been Montessori trained and certified by the American Montessori Society (AMS) or the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) for the age level at which they teach. The majority of our teaching staff have earned Masters in Education. These teachers have chosen to undergo rigorous training because they wanted to be Montessori teachers. As a result all our teachers speak the same language and each has a clear understanding of the curriculum at all the grade levels. They share a common goal of putting the child first and this creates a true team environment.
The Leadership Team
Katherine Bowen: Head of School

The most veteran member of the Quest staff, Kathy has seen the school grow from day one. One of the school's original founding parents and Board members, Kathy stepped down from the Board to become a Montessori guide and completed her Elementary training at the Seacoast Center in New Hampshire. Kathy joined the teaching staff in 2005 and taught in the Upper Elementary classroom until taking on the role of Assistant Head of School in 2015. As Assistant Head, Kathy led the school’s three-year self-study process which culminated in Quest gaining dual accreditation from AISNE (Association of Independent Schools of New England) and AMS (American Montessori Society). Kathy became Head of School in July, 2018.
Erin Andrews: Director of Business and Operations

Erin joined Quest in 2015. Erin holds a degree from University of Rhode Island.
Joined Quest: 2015.
Education:
B.A. Political Science and Communication, University of Rhode Island
Erin was instrumental in the three year process to obtain Quest's dual accreditation by the American Montessori Association and the Association of Independent Schools of New England. Her daughter is a Quest student.
Debbie Kozlowski: Administrative Assistant

Joined Quest: 2021.
Education:
Certificate in Early Childhood Education from College of DuPage
Debbie joins Quest with 20+ years experience from the French-American School of New York.
The Teaching Faculty
Toddler Program
(Ages 18 months to 3 year olds)
Meghan Malone: Toddler Teacher

Joined Quest: 2021.
Education:
B.A. in Elementary Education
Raquel Pasian: Toddler Assistant

Joined Quest: 2019
Raquel’s son and daughter are students at Quest.
Early Childhood Program/Primary
(Ages 3 to 6 year olds)
Lindsay Perini: Lead Teacher, Primary 1

Joined Quest: 2018.
Montessori Credential: AMI Primary Diploma, Montessori Institute Northwest in Portland, Oregon.
Education:
M. Ed, Loyola University
B.A, Human Development and Family Science, Ohio State
Prior to her arrival at Quest she spent over a decade teaching in Primary classrooms in Massachusetts. Lindsay’s daughter attends Quest.
Hannah Buell: Assistant, Primary 1

Joined Quest: 2021.
Education:
B.S. Human Development and Family Studies
Michelle Schuettke: Lead Teacher, Primary 2

Joined Quest: 2018.
Montessori Credential: AMS Montessori Early Childhood Credential through Center for Montessori Teacher Education/NY.
Education:
B.A. , Arts & Letters from Portland State University, Oregon
Rhode Island Department of Education Early Childhood Teacher Certificate. (preK-2nd grade).
Prior to her time at Quest, Michelle taught for 15 years in Montessori Primary classrooms all over the country.
Ivy Shen: Assistant, Primary 2

Joined Quest: 2021.
Montessori Credential: AMS Early Childhood
Education:
B.A. in Conference and Space Design from Shanghai University of Engineering Science
MBA in Accounting from Johnson and Wales University
Ivy’s son and daughter are students at Quest.
Lower Elementary Program
(Ages 6 to 9 year olds in Grades 1st through 3rd)
Jordan Coale: Lead Teacher

Joined Quest: 2016.
Montessori Credential: AMS Elementary Certification, Seacoast Center, Statham, NH.
Education:
M. Ed with concentration in Montessori Philosophy from Plymouth State University
B.A, Elementary Education and General Science from Keene State College.
Jordan's son attends Quest.
Emma Haney: Assistant Teacher, Elementary

Joined Quest: 2018.
Education:
Bachelors degrees in English, Writing and Rhetoric, and Theatre from the University of Rhode Island
Emma has many years of experience working in a Montessori classroom environment and was a Montessori educated child herself.
Upper Elementary Program
(Ages 9 to 12 year olds in Grades 4th through 6th)
Meaghan Almeida: Lead Teacher

Joined Quest: 2016.
Montessori Credential: AMI Elementary Diploma, the Hershey Montessori Training Institute in Ohio.
Education:
M. Ed, Loyola University, Baltimore
B.A., Psychology with a minor in Education from Endicott College.
Meaghan was a Montessori educated child and her two sons attend Quest.
Healy Tsagaroulis: Elementary Assistant

Joined Quest: 2020.
Education:
B.A. , European History from Keene State College in New Hampshire.
Middle School Program
(Ages 12 to 15 year olds in Grades 7th and 8th)
Auburn Cole: Humanities

Joined Quest: 2018.
Education:
M.Ed., Elementary Education
B.A. Anthropology from the University of New Hampshire
Betsy Motyl: Science & Occupations

Joined Quest: 2020.
Education:
M.Ed. in Environmental Science, Antioch New England Graduate School, NH
B.S. , Biology, University of Richmond, VA
Blue Wheeler: Mathematics

Joined Quest: 2018.
Education:
B.S. Environmental Management specializing in Wetland Sciences from the University of Rhode Island
Blue’s daughter attended Quest through 8th grade and his son is a current student at Quest.
Special Programs
Mallery Vachon-Andreozzi: Health and Wellness Director
Joined Quest: 2021.
Education:
B.S. Physical Education and a minor in Health from Eastern Connecticut State University
Mallery’s son attends Quest.
Antonio Forte: Art & Music

Joined Quest: 2014.
Education:
B.A. , Music, American University, in Washington, DC
Studied Fine Art at SACI in Florence, Italy.
Pursuing an M.F.A. in Music Composition at Vermont College of Fine Arts.
For more information, and to see/hear Antonio's work, please visit: www.antonioforte.org.
Kaitlin Brear-Reyes: Primary Guide
Joined Quest: 2021.
Education:
B.S. in Social Work from Rhode Island College
A.A. from the Community College of Rhode Island