Student Support
Gladwyne Montessori is proud to provide a variety of faculty and staff dedicated to supporting the specific needs of your young learners.
Our student support team offers an array of highly credentialed child development experts, including:
- Dean of Students
- Literacy Specialists
- School Nurse
- School Counselor
- Speech-Language Pathology Consultant
- Occupational Therapy Consultant
- Dean of Students
- Literacy
- Health Office
- School Counselor
- Speech-Language Pathology Consultant
- Occupational Therapy Consultant
Dean of Students
Gladwyne Montessori is committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which students feel emotionally and physically safe. Our Positive Discipline Behavior Policy is guided by Dr. Montessori’s educational philosophy and contemporary educational research. Staff at Gladwyne Montessori uphold expectations firmly with kindness and empathy and view misbehaviors as opportunities for children to learn.
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Jody Viereck
Dean of Students
Jody first learned about Gladwyne Montessori while her granddaughter was applying for the 2024-2025 school year. With a background in education, she researched the school and later came across the Dean of Students position. With over 30 years of experience as an Elementary teacher and Administrator, she decided to apply and was immediately drawn to the school's warm community and focus on social-emotional learning (SEL). After meeting the team and touring the campus, she knew it was a great fit. In her free time, Jody enjoys gardening, kayaking, DIY projects, photography, and walking with her three dogs and family.
Literacy
Being a confident reader and writer is the cornerstone of students becoming lifelong learners. Your child’s road to this confidence is supported throughout their Elementary years through a wide host of literacy learning opportunities delivered within their classrooms and in small reading groups.
Language lessons are sequentially delivered to students beginning in their third year of Primary (Kindergarten). Kindergartners are assessed for the benchmarks of literacy by the middle of each year.
In our Elementary classrooms, each child participates in small group literacy instruction along with guidance and consultation provided by an in-house reading specialist. These small group lessons provide reading opportunities for students in four areas: comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, and word study.
Students are instructed in the skills and strategies needed in each of these areas in order to read effectively and meaningfully. The development of these key areas is supported by providing the necessary underpinnings to help students successfully read and process text.
Students progress with reading and writing in the Elementary classroom during Writers’ Workshop, which occurs weekly. Here, students learn how to communicate ideas and use words to express opinions, entertain with poetry, explain research, share small moments, and create fictional stories.
Students apply the knowledge they have gained through their language lessons as well as learning about the importance of having their own voice and style in writing.
Rose Follmer
Literacy Specialist
Dr. Rose came to Gladwyne Montessori in October 2015. She had retired from a 32 year career in public education: 10 years as a classroom teacher and 22 years as a literacy specialist. She has also taught at a number of universities and has been a national speaker in the area of literacy. After a brief hiatus, Dr. Rose wanted to work with children again, which is her greatest passion. She has a love of animals, and besides having four dogs of her own, she volunteers at the Francisvale Home for Smaller Animals in Radnor.
Jo Anne Johns
Literacy Specialist
Jo Anne truly enjoys working with elementary students of diverse literacy skill, from those who learn differently to the gifted. By teaching literacy across content areas, she has the ability to encourage her students to take ownership of their literacy learning, aiding their acquisition of effective strategies and developing a life-long love for reading and writing. In her spare time, Jo Anne enjoys reading (of course!), traveling, and visiting with friends!
Andrea Kasper
Literacy Specialist
Andrea is thrilled to support Gladwyne Montessori students’ on-going development as readers and writers! After a 30+ year career that encompassed elementary teaching, special education, Title 1 reading, and 1-1 tutoring, Andrea finds satisfaction in working with both students and teachers. Andrea loves teaching children the strategies and mechanics of reading, comprehension, and writing, as well as witnessing her students blossoming as independent learners. In her free time, Andrea enjoys spending time with her husband and their mischievous feline children, Shady and Sparky. Of course, reading is one of Andrea's favorite pastimes, but she happily makes room for traveling, getting together with family and friends, and gardening.
Lori Whittaker
Literacy Specialist
Lori came to Gladwyne Montessori after retiring from a thirty-three year teaching career in public education and three years teaching in a private school. Lori has worked fourteen years as a Regular Classroom teacher, fifteen years as a Special Education teacher, and seven years as a Reading Specialist. After retiring, Lori wanted to continue working with young children to “grow” their love of Reading. She has been a member of our Gladwyne Montessori Community for three years. In her free time, Lori enjoys spending time with family and friends, taking nature walks, reading, attending the theater, and playing with her little shih tzu, Lily.
Health Office
Our full-time school nurse is an important part of the Gladwyne Montessori community, providing daily support for student health and wellness. From managing health forms to addressing injuries and illnesses, she helps ensure a safe and caring environment for all children.
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Susan Ballas
Nurse
With over 30 years of experience as a nurse, Susan went through local schools, obtaining a BSN from Villanova University, an MSN from the University of Pennsylvania, and a School Nurse Certification from Eastern University.
Susan received an Excellence in Nursing Practice Award from Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society for her work during COVID at Gladwyne Montessori. She previously worked as a manager and Director of Nursing for 14 years and as a clinical instructor at Penn for 15 years. The opportunity to provide improved nursing and medical support to the Gladwyne Montessori community brought her here, coupled with the fact that her children attended the school. Outside of nursing, Susan needlepoints, plays Canasta, and enjoys time with her four children.
School Counselor
Dominique Desir
School Counselor, Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU)
Each Friday, Dominique Desir of the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU) comes to Gladwyne Montessori to serve as our school counselor. Dominique works directly with children on an as-needed basis. Dominique has served the school for several years, and we are very lucky to have her each week. She assists faculty in supporting children and is also a liaison for services and evaluations through Montgomery County. She also works one-on-one with students for both short-term and long-term support and coaching.
Speech-Language Pathology Consultant
At Gladwyne Montessori, student support begins with strong teacher support. Our occupational therapist and speech-language pathologist work directly with our faculty through a process called Reflective Teaching. This structured, ongoing practice gives teachers time and space to think deeply about their classroom experiences and respond thoughtfully to student needs.
Rooted in Montessori principles, Reflective Teaching helps educators better understand children’s behaviors, develop proactive strategies, and refine their approach to individual and group learning. With guidance from our support specialists, teachers are equipped to nurture each child’s growth academically, socially, and emotionally, while maintaining the integrity of the Montessori environment.
Beth Shaffer
Speech & Language Pathologist
Beth spent many years working around the country as a traveling speech language pathologist before settling in the Philadelphia area. She came to Gladwyne Montessori after several years working in an urban Montessori school, and has enjoyed partnering with her colleagues to help foster a positive learning experience for students at Gladwyne Montessori. In her free time, Beth cooks, travels, and spends as much time in nature as she can.
Occupational Therapy Consultant
At Gladwyne Montessori, student support begins with strong teacher support. Our occupational therapist and speech-language pathologist work directly with our faculty through a process called Reflective Teaching. This structured, ongoing practice gives teachers time and space to think deeply about their classroom experiences and respond thoughtfully to student needs.
Rooted in Montessori principles, Reflective Teaching helps educators better understand children’s behaviors, develop proactive strategies, and refine their approach to individual and group learning. With guidance from our support specialists, teachers are equipped to nurture each child’s growth academically, socially, and emotionally, while maintaining the integrity of the Montessori environment.