Mary Sideris, Administrator

Mary lives in Contoocook with her husband John and teenage son Elias. She attended the University of New Hampshire studying Child Development and Speech Pathology from 1980 to 1985 and received her American Montessori Society Pre-primary certification from Northeast Montessori Institute in 1995. She interned at Parkside Children's House in Hopkinton before opening and running The New Rye Children's House in Epsom for three years. Mary then re-joined Parkside as a Head Teacher where she taught for two years before taking 6 years off to take care of her family.

Mary returned to the Montessori community in 2006 as MCC's part time Administrator and full time Ambassador while also serving as Education Manager at Concord Head Start for the Merrimack County Community Action Program. She considers it a blessing and privilege to have the opportunity to guide, support and inspire dedicated teachers in two very diverse early childhood educational settings and is always mindful of the universal sense of wonder, kindness and boundless potential embodied in each and every preschool child she encounters.

A few of Mary's favorite ways to nurture her spirit are: living in passion, the art of creation, observing children, writing, reading, walking, laughing, listening to her son Eli's band, and spending time with her husband and friends.

Mary is grateful to be part of MCC at this time of amazing growth and vision.

Heather Parkinson, Lead Teacher

Heather lives in Franklin with her husband Rob and her daughter Tenney.

She began working in a Montessori school as a high school graduate and has been involved with young children in Montessori settings ever since. She received her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education at New Hampshire Technical Institute and is also certified as Montessori teacher through the New England Montessori Training Center in Boston.

The Montessori philosophy has always been a central part of Heather's life and she is energized by her work as a Montessori teacher. Through the years, Heather has had many roles in Montessori schools and each one has shown her the importance of standing together as a community for children.

A few of Heather's favorite ways to nurture her spirit include: walking, reading, music and being with her family.

Heather is very excited about the growth at MCC and always looks forward to each new year full of days working with children.

Lori Baldwin, Teacher

Lori lives on a small farm on Pancake Hill in Gilmanton with her husband Robert and two children William and Finn. She is Montessori certified at the preschool/kindergarten level and is trained with certification pending at the infant/toddler level. Lori has been teaching in Montessori schools for 17 years and her appreciation of Montessori philosophy has only deepened as she has gone from being a teacher without children of her own, to a mother of one and then two boys, and ultimately as, to quote Montessori, a "citizen of the world".

Maria Montessori's vision was for love, peace, unity and compassion for all people. She saw that children, as new people in the world, are all these things and more. Their spirit of being represents the best we could ever hope to achieve as a society. Nurturing our own spirits and those of the children in our lives is our gift to the world. Lori is always working toward this and is honored to learn from every child's example.

A few of Lori's favorite ways to nurture her spirit include: singing, laughing, exploring nature, reading, farming, being with her boys, partnering with her husband and loving the land on which she lives.

Coleen Grieves-Gage, Teacher

Coleen lives in Pembroke with her husband Earl and daughters Jenna and Julia. Coleen and Earl consider the girls to be their pride and joy.

Coleen holds a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Framingham State College as well as a Pre-Primary Montessori certificate from Northeast Montessori Institute. Before joining MCC, Coleen taught at the Montessori Learning Center in Pembroke as Head Teacher in a preschool classroom. Her experience with children ranges from infants to preschoolers.

A few of Coleen's favorite ways to nurture her spirit include: skiing, swimming, spending time with friends, boating and camping with her family. She finds parenting to be the most rewarding aspect of her life.

Coleen is excited to be part of the teaching team at MCC.

Ginger Riege-Blackman, Teacher

Ginger lives in Chic ester with her husband Ian and children Johannah and Jessica.

Ginger received her undergraduate degree in Environmental Education from the University of Vermont and her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Ginger has taught students ages 2 years through adult in a variety of educational settings including a nature center, a private day school, many preschools and kindergartens, summer camps and while schooling her daughters within a self-designed alternative resource center for home schooling families.

Ginger attending a Montessori Assistant training program at Harborlight Montessori School on the North shore of Massachusetts last summer and is eager to continue her training.

A few of Ginger's favorite ways to nurture her spirit include: gardening, snow showing, running, yoga, caring for her family and enjoying her home.

Ginger is thrilled to be working as an assistant teacher at MCC and to be working with young children again.