Meet Our
Staff

The quality of the teaching team is the key to success at any school. At the Montessori Academy at Belmont Greene, we have been fortunate to attract a gifted team of certified Montessori teachers and staff who are the heart of our loving, child-centered school environment. (Click on teachers name to send them an e-mail.)

Beth R. Theriot, Head of School (Academics)

Beth has been involved with the Montessori community since 1971 as a parent, board member, fundraiser, event planner, substitute, and assistant teacher.  She has been a teacher since 1984, and the founder and head of school at Montessori Academy at Belmont Greene (MAB) since 2001.  She brings to MAB extensive experience and a deep understanding of the Montessori philosophy and teaching methods.  She has been able to attract a talented and gifted team of certified Montessori teachers who share her  commitment to Montessori education and development.  Beth recognizes that successful child development depends fundamentally on building a shared sense of Montessori “family” at the school, which can only be accomplished through effective and continuing communication with parents, teachers and staff.

Beth’s experience and reputation have helped MAB to become the only Montessori school in Northern Virginia that offers American Montessori Society (AMS) teacher certification training for new teachers in the age 3-6 Montessori program.

Beth’s professional career in Montessori is based on a Baccalaureate in Psychology from Loyola University, New Orleans, a Master’s Degree from George Washington University and Montessori certification from Virginia Commonwealth University.  She also attended the academic phase of the lower elementary training in 2004.  

Beth married Lawrence Theriot in 1970 and raised three successful young adults, all of whom completed Montessori primary school.   She now lives with her husband and two cats and enjoys reading, visiting museums, spending time in New Orleans in her second home in the French Quarter,attending movies and plays, and of course spending time with her grandchildren. 

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Bart Theriot, Head of School (Administration)

Bart received a Bachelor's Degree in Finance from Auburn University in 1996 and his AMS early childhood credential from NVMI in 2009. Since that time, he has worked as a manager of retirement accounts at United Bank, a financial consultant and a securities fraud investigator with the National Association of Securities Dealers. He has been MAB's Administrator since its inception in 2000.

Bart attended Montessori through Kindergarten and has remained involved with Montessori through his mother, Beth Theriot (Director, MAB). He holds a great deal of respect for the Montessori philosophy and attributes much of his success to the basic fundamental learning skills he developed in those three years as a Montessori student. His understanding of the program and his financial acumen combine to create the perfect fit as the Administrator of MAB.

Bart is an avid golfer, snowboarder, fisherman, mountain bike, and swimmer; he shares these passions with his two children. His most cherished hobby is soccer and he played on the Auburn University soccer team for two years and continues to play in the Washington International Soccer League. He intends to teach a soccer camp for MAB students during the summers.

Robin Mix-Brundage, Assistant Head of School (Organization/Coordinator Special Programs/Head Teacher)

Robin has been a part of MAB since we opened our doors in the fall of 2001. Since that time she has made significant contributions to the growth and development of the school and its staff. She currently holds the position of Assistant Head of School in addition to her title as Head Teacher-Organization / Specials Coordinator.

Robin completed her AMS certification for ages 3-6 at the Northeast Montessori Institute in 2004. She has supervised numerous teacher interns and serves as a teacher trainer for Northern Virginia Montessori Institute. Robin has exceptional management skills, having worked for seven years training staffs of over 200 employees in the retail/restaurant industry. Her management expertise, natural abilities with children, and dedication to the Montessori philosophy, has afforded Robin great success in all aspects of her career.

Robin has been married since 1992 and has four Montessori educated children. She supports the importance of community connections and models community involvement through her roles as coach and volunteer. In her spare time, Robin enjoys watching her children's sporting events including football, basketball, softball, golf and lacrosse. When she has a free moment, she loves to travel to the beach with her family.

Jill Gunn, Assistant Head of School (Operations/Director Belmont Club/Head Teacher)

Jill is devoted to children of all ages and has specific experience working with children who have special needs. She remains involved in our infant/toddler programs and has participated with the PTA coordinating its philanthropic events. Jill is also an advocate of environmental conservation and contributes to MAB’s continuing efforts to be ecologically friendly.

Shahani Rassool, Head Teacher

Alexis Davis, Head Teacher/Web Developer

In her spare time, Alexis advocates animal welfare and art education for children. She has received awards in juried art shows and her artwork is part of the permanent display at several local college campuses. Alexis is also a great advocate of local museums and galleries and encourages parents (she has two children) to introduce their children to the wealth of cultural opportunities available in the area.

Joni Purdue, Head Teacher

Head Teacher

Sherri Williams, Head Teacher

Carolee Marsh, Head Teacher

Lawrence Theriot, Elementary Teacher

"Mr. T," as MAB students know him, was project manager for financing and building the new school. He completed the AMS Montessori elementary teacher training at the Barrie School and is lead teacher in the elementary program. Mr. T completed his AMS certification for upper elementary at the Princeton Center for Teacher Education during the summer of 2004.

Mr. T's success as a parent of Montessori children and lifelong career as a youth soccer coach have well equipped him for a career in Montessori elementary education. His years of international experience in government and business provide a unique background to help enrich the education and development of children.

Mr. T has degrees in Business from Loyola University, New Orleans, International Economics from the University of Surrey, UK, and completed course work towards a Doctorate in Soviet Economics at George Washington University. His professional career involved travel and working in more than 40 countries.

A Louisiana native, Mr. T has been married to Beth Theriot for 40 years and happily assisted in raising three Montessori students, all of whom are self confident and independent young adults. The Theriot family (including three cats) resides in Reston, Virginia.

Sarah Hardy, Head Teacher (Junior)/Infant-Toddler Coordinator

During her years teaching, Sarah has also had the opportunity to teach at Computer Associates' Digital Schoolhouse, which teaches local 5th and 6th graders how to prepare single-paged web pages and powerpoint presentations. With teacher training through Music Together, Sarah also teaches music to young children. Recently, she spent two summers as choreographer with a local community theatre company teaching children about musical theatre and helping them put on their own performances alongside the adult cast. Sarah has also had countless opportunities to work at the infant, toddler and primary levels in Montessori as well as to provide administrative leadership to team members.

Nancy Prestipino, Music Teacher

Beth Sitnick, Office Administrator