Ursula Connors joined Princeton Montessori School in 2001 and is a fitness instructor and classroom assistant.

Ursula enjoys getting to know each child’s individual personality and sense of humor. She uses her yoga training and expertise while teaching the Primary children fitness skills. She enjoys collaborating with her peers in the Primary program.

When not at school, Ursula enjoys cooking, gardening, and yoga. She also spends time working with her husband at the restaurant they own in their hometown of Lambertville.

Ursula received a BFA in Illustration from the Parsons School of Design, NY, and studied at the American University in Paris. She studied Montessori Philosophy and Child Development through the Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE).

Ursula is a certified Yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance.

Erin joined the staff of Princeton Montessori School in 2014 and works with Primary, Elementary, and Middle School programs leading the weekly Tune In class, that focuses on helping children to become aware of their bodies, familiar with their breath, and mindful of the calm and peace they can find within.

When not teaching, Erin spends time with her husband and two children.  She also enjoys practicing yoga and mindfulness activities, as well as playing tennis. Erin calls herself “an artist at heart” and loves to play with paper, paints, and collage materials of all sorts.

Erin has been a yoga teacher in the Princeton area for over nine years. She has taught a wide range of workshops from retreats for private clients, to chair yoga for caregivers of Parkinson’s patients, as well as workshops for Montessori teachers, and currently teaches adaptive yoga to private clients.

Erin holds a BA in Design from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA and a yoga teacher certification from Kripalu in Lenox, MA.

Carole Golcher joined Princeton Montessori School in 1989 and teaches art using a variety of media to Primary through Middle School students.

Carole loves all forms of art and is always excited to present these forms to the children. She loves the challenge of working with all age groups and encourages children to discover their artistic abilities to be successful in their work.

When not teaching, Carole enjoys reading, painting, sewing, gardening, and decorating. She also likes to visit with her three grown children, and one beautiful grandchild, who brings joy to her family everyday.

Carol studied at Kean College, NJ, and has been instrumental in developing and advancing the Art program at Princeton Montessori School for many years.

Eliza Hammer joined Princeton Montessori School in 2012. She is currently our Environmental Education Teacher and also leads our afterschool program for Elementary.  

Eliza has had a love affair with the outdoors all her life.  She firmly believes that children grow into devoted environmentalists when their connection to the natural world is realized through exploration, play, and a sense of wonder.  Her happiest moments are creating memorable outdoor experiences with children.

Not only is she a professional horticulturist, but she also holds a Yoga Teacher Certification from Kripalu, a certificate to teach Tai Chi from Dr. Lam, and a Third Degree Black Belt in the Korean style of Tang Soo Do.

When not at school, Eliza enjoys building projects with her husband, adding onto their house, maintaining their aquaponic system, and the ongoing task of converting the yard into a sustainable permaculture.

Eliza received a BA in Anthropology and Architecture from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA and is working towards her American Montessori Society Elementary I credential through the Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE), NJ.

Toyoko Kitade joined Princeton Montessori School in 2003 and currently teaches private and group violin classes to Primary through Middle School students.

Toyoko enjoys working with a variety of age groups because it is wonderful to see how they learn and progress with their musical education. She finds it greatly rewarding to see a whole new world open up to children when they experience and learn through their music.

When at home, she enjoys cooking and trying new kinds of food, practicing yoga, and hiking in the Berkshires. She also enjoys performing chamber music, and attending concerts.

Toyoko holds a MA from the New England Conservatory of Music, MA, and a BA from the Sakuyo College of Music, Japan. She is also trained in the Kodály method of music instruction.

She has 30 years of international experience as a Suzuki violin instructor, and was the Assistant Director of the Suzuki Institute of Boston.  She has performed with the Fukuoka City Philharmonic, the New Symphony Orchestra, and the New Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston.

Derry Light Wills joined Princeton Montessori School in 1995.  She currently assists in the Infant and Toddler programs, is a substitute teacher for other programs, and leads our theater productions at the upper levels.

Derry’s professional work includes touring with a New York-based theater company, teaching voice and improvisation, and working in cabaret and voice-overs.   Her own three children were educated at Princeton Montessori School and Derry has been an active parent and educator for our community.

Derry holds a BA in Literature and Performing Arts from Sarah Lawrence College, NY, and completed graduate work in Zoology and Ecology at Rutgers University, NJ, and Princeton University, NJ. Derry holds Orff-Schulwerk certification for Levels I, II, and III from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Sue Miller joined Princeton Montessori School in 2007 and currently offers private lessons to students.

Sue Ellen has enjoyed working with children for more than 30 years in the classroom and is currently a private piano instructor. She is motivated by her students’ energy and eagerness to learn.

Outside of school, Sue Ellen enjoys performing with her band, writing music, cooking and photography. She has a blended family of four children, her youngest beginning his college career.

Sue Ellen received a BA in Music Education from Susquehanna University.  She has taken Graduate Level courses from Westminster Choir College in Piano Pedagogy, and has studied advanced classical technique with Stanley Yerlow (Fordham University), as well as Jazz theory and improvisation with David Kenney and Vince DiMura (Princeton University).

Alex Mitnick joined Princeton Montessori School in 2000 and currently teaches music to students in Toddler through Middle School.

Alex loves sharing his passion for music and music making with children of all ages. His unique approach to music education combines singing, movement, percussion and songwriting in a stimulating and fun way that leaves students energized and inspired.

In addition to teaching music at Princeton Montessori School, Alex is an Emmy® Award winning children’s performer with six albums of original music and his very own TV show, “Alex & The Kaleidoscope.”

Alex received a BA in Jazz Performance from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA, and has received multiple awards for excellence in children’s entertainment including the New York Emmy® Awards, The Parents’ Choice Foundation, The Film Advisory Board and the American Library Association.

He is an instructor for the Princeton Teacher Education (PCTE).

Nuria Perez joined Princeton Montessori School in 2014 and currently teaches Spanish to Elementary and Middle School students.

Nuria greatly enjoys teaching Spanish language and culture. Her goal is to have students participate actively in class, and to help them lose their fear of speaking a second language.  She strives to develop a love of discovering another culture and mastering an additional language through experiential activities, real life connections with students from Spanish-speaking countries, and song and games.

When not teaching, Nuria enjoys spending time with her husband, exercising outdoors, and traveling.

Nuria received a BS in Sociology from the University of Barcelona, Spain, and studied Montessori Philosophy and Child Development through the Princeton Center for Teacher Education (PCTE), NJ.