Our Faculty & Staff
Administrative Team
Christine Robertson
Director
Christine Robertson is a lifelong Marylander who received her Bachelor of Science in Family Studies from the University of Maryland in 1999. She found Montessori on September 11, 2001 when she was hired as an Assistant Teacher at Julia Brown Montessori School in Laurel, MD. She took her Primary Teacher Training that same year and taught for 1 year before making the decision to stay at home with her daughter and son for 3 years. When her youngest was old enough to be in a Primary classroom, she returned to teaching at Children’s House Montessori in Arlington, VA for 3 years. She Joined Franklin Montessori in 2010 as a Primary Teacher. The following year, Franklin expanded our Toddler program from two classrooms to four and she completed her training to be an Infant/Toddler teacher where she has spent the last 10 years. Christine has also had a hand in developing our Social Media presence as well as the DC Licensing process for the last 5 years. In 2015, she led Franklin through the 18 month long American Montessori Society Accreditation process working with our parent community and staff committees as well as publishing the accreditation report. After 11 years at Franklin and 20 years in Montessori, she is excited to take on the role as the Interim Head of School.
Alison Murray
Office Manager
Alison joins Franklin after a 20 year career in corporate catering. She is a DC native with a BFA in Theatre Arts from SUNY Purchase. She loves food, cooking, and gardening on her balcony.
Keri Willey
Administrative Assistant
Keri comes with 5 years of Early Childhood teaching experience. She has a B.S. in Political Science and Sociology from Towson University and is currently working on her Masters in Early Childhood Development. She loves cats (especially her cat Soap), music, and Miyazaki movies.
Lead Montessori Teachers
Faye Charles
Lead Teacher Room 4
Ms. Faye joined Franklin in 2004. She has over 35 years teaching experience. She received her Early Childhood Montessori credential from MMI (Montgomery Montessori Institue), a B.A. in English from the University of District of Columbia, and a B.A. in Early Childhood Development from the University of Guyana. She studied nursing and is active in community outreach.
Shannon Myles
Teacher Room 5
Ms. Shannon joined Franklin in 2010. With over 10 years of teaching experience, she received her Early Childhood and Elementary Montessori credentials from Toronto Montessori Institute and her B.A. in Psychology from University of Western Ontario. Shannon is an avid runner and enjoys going to the beach with her family.
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Stephen Stitzel
Lead Teacher Room 2
Mr. Stephen is the Lead Teacher in Room 2. Stephen has been in Montessori for 12 years and this is his 5th year at Franklin. He is originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Stephen enjoys cooking, playing basketball, and watching golf in his free time.
Jackie Kelleher
Lead Teacher Room 3
Ms. Jackie joined Franklin in 2005. She received her Montessori Assistant credential from Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola University Maryland, an Early Childhood credential from Maryland Montessori Institute, and a B.A. in Art History from American University. She loves art, traveling, tennis and Nationals baseball.
Infant & Two-year-old Lead Teachers
Lizzy Maresca
Lead Teacher Infant 1
Ms. Lizzy joined Franklin in June of 2018 as an Infant Caregiver. She first started working as an assistant in a Montessori elementary classroom 12 years ago. Since then she has assisted in a primary and infant classroom. She has also served as a lead teacher in a traditional 3-year-old classroom and as a lead teacher of an infant classroom at a daycare. In her free time she enjoys practicing yoga, playing with her dogs, and spending time with local family members.
Bri Ambrose
Lead Teacher Infant 2
Ms. Bri is a new lead infant teacher and is very excited to begin her Montessori journey. She has recently done her training with Montgomery Montessori Institute. She has been working with children for five years with the last two being in a RIE based school. She is working on her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Administration at Purdue University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading books, and exploring hiking trails.
Adriana Sanchez-Benitez
Lead Teacher T-2
Ms. Adriana was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela and came to the States soon after she graduated from the Catholic University Andres Bello, where she obtained a bachelor degree in teaching preschool and school age children. She fell in love with the Montessori Philosophy while working at a Montessori School, where she worked first as an assistant teacher in the children house and in the infant and toddler classrooms. She received her Infant/Toddler Montessori certificate at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in New York in 2007. She has also worked as a Spanish teacher and has obtained her certification as a Children’s House Montessori teacher on summer 2019 with the Center for Guided Montessori Studies to become a certified Montessori teacher for the ages between three to six years old. She enjoys reading, knitting, and crocheting in her spare time.
Anastasia Smith
Lead Teacher T-4
Ms. Anastasia pursued a Montessori education from Montgomery Montessori Institute because of her passion for helping guide individuals to a happy and healthy lifestyle. She has grown up in the DMV area and has been lucky to have the opportunity to explore all it has to offer. Anastasia worked with a non-profit organization in the District for homelessness that she stays active with in her free time. In between teaching, she worked along side a pediatric Dentist doing both pediatric and orthodontic dental care. She enjoys going to food and music festivals around the DMV area.
Enrichment Specialists
Diana Oboler
Franklin Art Founder
Diana Oboler founded Franklin's Art Program in 2003. She recieved her B.A. in Philosophy and Literature from New College and her Early Childhood Montessori credential from Montgomery Montessori Institute. She has over 15 years experience in the classroom. Diana presents each art unit to the children, dressed as that artist and is the genius behind the art night movie.
Amy Beam
Staff Naturalist
Ms. Amy joined Franklin in 2002. She has over 30 years experience working with children. She is passionate about sharing nature with children, their families, our teachers, and the larger community. Amy also enjoys being an instructor at the Montgomery Montessori Institute. She loves her work and looks forward to it every day.
