Teaching Faculty

Our teaching faculty is comprised of dedicated, talented, and caring educators. MCH's classrooms are lead by the committed head teachers below.

Kathy Robertaccio

Kathy Robertaccio began her Montessori career at MCH in 1982 and has received her Montessori certification for birth through age six years. Currently she is directing the Toddler and Parent-Child classes. In addition to her teaching responsibilities here, Kathy is also Coordinator for the Children’s House. As the school Coordinator, she supervises the staff, meeting with them regularly for planning and review of the programs. You can contact her if you would like to talk by stopping in the office or leaving her a message. Kathy tells us she feels very fortunate to work at a school with a wonderful staff doing a job she loves. She resides in Barrington with her husband and daughter.

Jocelyn Scotty

Jocelyn Scotty is starting her second year at MCH as an Assistant Administrator. After working for 15 years in the educational materials industry, she discovered a love of the Montessori method and teaching children. Jocelyn has spent several years as a head teacher at another Montessori school. She has an AMS credential in Early Childhood Education and a B.S. in Finance from DePaul University in Chicago. Jocelyn resides in West Dundee with her husband and daughter.

Cristina Perry

Cristina Perry has been involved in Montessori since birth, first as a Montessori child, and then as she grew, as an assistant in Toddler and 3-6 classes in the MECA schools. Cristina received her 0-3 Montessori certification in 1994, and her 3-6 Montessori certification in 1999. In the meantime, she also earned a B.A. in philosophy from Beloit College and a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Xavier University in Cincinnati.

Linda Farrow

Linda Farrow began as an assistant teacher and this will be her 11th year at MCH. Her daily work with the children encouraged her to pursue Montessori education further. She enrolled in the MECA-Seton teacher education program and has her Montessori Pre-primary teaching credential. This year Linda returns as head teacher of the AM and Full Day programs in the West Room. Linda continues to strengthen her knowledge of Montessori education and child development by attending workshops, courses and conferences, and finds the learning endless. Linda resides in Lake Zurich with her husband and three sons.

Rukmal Wanigasinghe

Rukmal Wanigasinghe is originally from Sri Lanka where she spent part of her childhood. Later years were spent in several different countries of the world. Her family settled in England where she completed her education including her Montessori Pre-primary certification from the London Montessori Center. Later, Rukmal furthered her training in Montessori education through the MECA teacher training program in the United States, and received her American Montessori Society credential. Rukmal tells us that the knowledge she has gained in her training as well as in working with children in different cultural settings, including England, Sri Lanka, Sudan and the USA has been a very enriching experience. Rukmal is head teacher of the East Room AM and Extended Day classes. She presently resides in Rolling Meadows with her husband and son.

Marta Czaja-Gryga

Marta Czaja-Gryga is a co-teacher with Ms. Linda in the West Room. She is a MECA certified 3-6 Montessori teacher. This is her third year at MCH. She has a master’s degree as a guidance counselor from a foreign country. Marta resides in Mundelein with her husband and son.

Min Yu

Min Yu is a student intern in the Toddler Room. Min was born in Shanghai, China, grew up in Beijing and is currently living in the U.S. this year to complete her internship. As a graduate of Beijing City University, she began working at an international Montessori school in China 1999. Min earned her AMS Early Childhood credential from Northeast Montessori Institute in 2001. This past summer she began her Infant-Toddler Montessori training to further her Montessori studies. In addition to her work with the toddlers, Min will also be working with the Full Day class in the afternoons. Min is married and enjoys music and sports, particularly swimming.

Martha Montoya

Martha Montoya is a student intern in the East Room. Martha is originally from San Luis Potosi, Mexico where she had a career in social work. In 1990, she moved to the United States and worked in a nursing home as a Recreational Therapist where she implemented many Montessori methods with the elderly. Martha’s daughters, Isabella and Gabriella both attend MCH. Martha worked as an assistant last year in the Toddler Room. Last year, Martha began her MECA training by first taking the Paraprofessional course, and then began her Early Childhood Montessori training in June. Martha will be a student intern with Rukmal this year and plans on finishing her training by summer 2008.

Raabia Khan

Raabia Khan is a student intern in the North Room. She attended DePaul University from 2000-2005. After having her son in 2005, Raabia became interested in Early Childhood development, which led to an interest in the Montessori method. In the summer of 2007, Raabia began her MECA training and is currently working on finishing her training. Raabia will be assisting both Ms. Margaret and Ms. Rukmal this year. Raabia’s son Razi attends MCH.

Nikola Popchev

Nikola Popchev, our handyman, keeps our school beautiful for us. Nickola is a native of Bulgaria, and now lives in Palatine.