Staff Overview
Bryant Woods Montessori Children’s House is proud of our team of experienced, Montessori-credentialed teachers and staff who ensure an authentic application of the Montessori philosophy at our school. At our school’s single-classroom setting, our Director, Lead Teacher, and Assistant Administrator are all certified with over 10 years of Montessori work experience, and our Assistant Teacher is completing her Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education in December 2023.
Alicia Jensen, Director
Alicia has worked in Montessori education for over 28 years. She received her AMS Primary credential from the Center of Montessori Education in Raleigh, NC in 1995. Alicia also has a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Stephens College in Columbia, MO.
Alicia has worked in a Montessori school setting with children as a Primary teacher, Spanish teacher, Admissions Director, and Director. She was a Primary Teacher in Roanoke, VA, and a Spanish teacher at Westside Montessori in Toledo, OH for children ages 3 to 13, and an Admissions Director for a school of 500 students. After moving to Maryland, she became a Primary Teacher and an Admissions Director at Love of Learning Montessori in Columbia and later a Director at Baltimore Montessori in Canton. Alicia has further applied her passion for supporting the Montessori community by consulting for the Institute of Advanced Studies in Silver Spring, MD and training new teachers in Science and Practical Life at the Maryland Center for Montessori Studies in Lutherville, MD.
Alicia has 2 grown children and a grandson. Alicia enjoys cooking, music, figure skating, and the outdoors in her spare time.
Christine Schwindt, Lead Teacher
Christine is a lifelong Montessorian. She was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ where she herself was a Montessori student for Primary (preschool and kindergarten) and fondly remembers doing big Montessori lessons like the thousand chain and today loves getting to share the beautiful Montessori method with her students.
She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Family and Human Development, a B.A. in English, and a minor in Dance. Prior to completing her formal Montessori training, Christine was an after-school teacher at a Montessori school for 3 years and taught ballet to children ages 3 to 12 for 4 years.
Christine received her Montessori training and certification from the American Montessori Society program at the Houston Montessori Center in 2013. Since then, Christine has worked as a Lead Teacher for Primary, a floating teacher for Primary through Upper Elementary, and a member of the Communications and Marketing team for Montessori schools in Austin, Phoenix, and Tucson.
Christine moved to Maryland in 2022 and joined Bryant Woods Montessori Children’s House as Lead Teacher in 2023.
She loves reading, ASU and Cardinals football, running, and ballet.
Shoma Chughani, Assistant Administrator
Shoma has a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from UMBC and received her AMS Elementary Certification from the Institute of Advanced Montessori Studies in Silver Spring, MD. She has over 10 years of Montessori classroom experience in both Primary and Elementary.
Outside of school, Shoma enjoys traveling, shopping, cooking, and spending quality time with her family and friends. Lastly, she has a supportive and wonderful husband, and a fun-loving daughter, who is now in Kindergarten.
Nicole Wilson-Hord, Aftercare Teacher
Nicole has been teaching preschool or working with children in some capacity for over 25 years. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education from Towson University. She currently also works in the mornings teaching music and movement and Little Builders at private local preschools. Nicole was also a Pantry Logistics Coordinator at Love Wins in Severn, MD, and still occasionally volunteers.
Nicole has 2 children of her own and enjoys being with kids, especially in small groups where she can get to know them and their families well. She especially enjoys supervising aftercare as it is an opportunity to watch the kids have fun and engage in conversations important to the children!
