Meet Our Teachers

Primary Class (ages 3-6)

Dianna Souder, Director and Head Teacher – Ms. Souder has worked at Good Shepherd for 12 years, including the past 6 years as a Director. She holds a Primary teaching certificate from the Montgomery Montessori Institute and a national CDA (Child Development Associates), plus B.M. and M.S. degrees in Music and Administration. She taught music in her home studio for 11 years, and worked as a substitute teacher in the Montgomery County Public Schools and as a group leader at Sandy Spring Friends School summer camp.

Eunyoung Ro, Co-Teacher – Ms. Ro holds a Certificate for Primary Education from the Montgomery Montessori Institute. She started at Good Shepherd as a parent volunteer in 2006, then became a classroom assistant and student teacher, completing her training in June 2008. Ms. Ro holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in International Trade.

Aminata Gomes, Assistant Teacher – Mrs. Gomes has worked at Franklin Montessori School, Barrie Montessori School, and Jamon Montessori School. She also speaks multiple languages and has worked as an interpreter and a foreign language tutor. She holds an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. This is her first year at Good Shepherd Montessori.

Sandhya Viragi, Assistant Teacher – Mrs. Viragi earned a Montessori Assistant Certificate from the Washington Montessori Institute and has a 90-hour certificate in early childhood education. She started as an active parent volunteer, then became an assistant in the Pre-Primary class in early 2007. Her background includes a degree in Finance and Accounting.

Terry Yue, Assistant Teacher – Mrs. Yue has 37 years’ experience in pre-school and early childhood education. She holds a 90-hour certificate in early childhood education, and has been at Good Shepherd Montessori since 1999. Mrs. Yue also holds a B.S. in Mathematics.

Pre-Primary Class (ages 2-3)

Ranu Dua, Teacher – Ms. Dua received her training as a Montessori teacher at the Montgomery Montessori Institute, and was a head teacher at Franklin Montessori School and at White Flint Children’s House. She holds a Master’s degree in History and a Bachelor’s degree in English/History/Political Science.

Emmanuela Romulus, Teacher – Mrs. Romulus joined our staff in 2003. She holds a CDA (Child Development Associate) and trained as a Montessori teaching assistant at the Washington Montessori Institute. She has a Certificate in Nursing and is currently working toward her B.A. in Early Childhood Education. This is her third year with the Pre-Primary Class.

Elementary (1^st to 3^rd grades)

Susan Shaw, Teacher – Mrs. Shaw trained as a Montessori Elementary Teacher at the N. American Montessori Center in Canada. She taught at Julia Brown Montessori and Mitchellville Montessori in Maryland, plus has 14 years’ teaching experience in her native India. She holds Master’s degrees in both English and Education. This is her second year at Good Shepherd Montessori.

Francis Carmelino, Assistant Teacher – Mrs. Carmelino has experience working as a private nanny and as an assistant at Franklin Montessori School. She started working at Good Shepherd Montessori in August 2008, and has been an assistant in both the Primary and Pre-Primary classes. She has a CDA and is certified to work with both preschool and school-age students.

Nap Room/PM Care

Kathie Reed, Teacher – Ms. Reed has many years’ experience in early childhood programs. She was a co-teacher at Norbeck Montessori School, and was the director of the Before/After School program at Flower Valley Child Care Center. She holds Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Education and Special Ed.

Julie Heffernan, Assistant Teacher – Ms. Heffernan is a psychology major at the U. of Maryland. She has worked with Good Shepherd Montessori summer camp for four years, and assists with PM Care during the school year.