Gwynne Frischmann - Head of School
“As the Head of School, my main mission is to develop a passion for learning and a sense of security and happiness in our children,” says Frischmann, who has worked at Trevose Day School and Neshaminy Montessori for over fifteen years. “I look forward to working with each family in order to provide the most effective path for their child’s educational journey year after year!”
Gwynne Frischmann graduated from the New York Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree with a concentration in special education. She previously worked at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center and has taught ages two through twenty-one both in the classroom and at home.
The mother of two Neshaminy Montessori and Trevose Day School alums, Frischmann pursues a passion for the arts by designing mosaics in her spare time. She enjoys visiting museums, seeing live theater and reading books of all genres, and aims to provide a culturally enriched educational experience for the entire student body.
Helene Hines - Director of Montessori & Montessori Directress
Helene graduated from Gwynedd Mercy University with a BS in Education and earned an A.M.I. from the Montessori Training Center at Ravenhill in Philadelphia. She has been committed to the Montessori philosophy since that time. Helene has been a guiding influence at Neshaminy Montessori for many years.
Helene is happily married with one son, William, a Neshaminy alum. She attributes his academic successes through college to his wonderful Montessori experience.
Essie Cherkin - Director of Professional Development
Essie Cherkin has led an esteemed career enhancing the life opportunities for children through the improvement of their academic instruction. Before joining the team at Trevose, she served in multiple administrative roles in the School District of Philadelphia and oversaw schools at the regional level. She holds a Master’s degree in Elementary Education and certifications as Superintendent, Principal, Curriculum and Instructional Supervision. Cherkin was a vital contributor to founding principles of Trevose Day School, crafting the elementary program that has gone on to enrich hundreds of young minds and spirits.
Charis Duke - Opera Director
Charis is a multi-faceted musician who enjoys composing everything from children's operas to avant-garde electro acoustic music. Her inherent love for all the dramatic arts has taken many forms; composing original scores, coaching and directing plays and music for children’s and regional theaters, as well as university programs.
In May 2019 she had the privilege of traveling to New Mexico to oversee the premiere of her newest children's opera, Cinderella Times Three. Every year Charis returns to Trevose Day to compose and direct their school opera performed in April.
When not creating new music, Charis can be found growing organic tomatoes.
Brindha Stanley - Montessori Directress Primary Program
Brindha earned a BA in English Literature and an MSW from Madras University specializing in family and child welfare and completed her AMS Montessori teachers training for early childhood from the Princeton Center for Teacher Education. She has previous professional experience as a family counselor and a school social worker. In all her roles she seeks to unlock each child’s full potential.
Brindha is a firm believer in the core Montessori values of diversity and inclusion. She is forever inquisitive about different cultures and brings this knowledge and awareness to her classroom.
She is the proud mother of 2 Neshaminy alums.
Kaitlin Briggs - Montessori Directress Primary Programm
After receiving a BA from Neumann University in Early Childhood and Elementary Education in 2011, Kaitlin completed her Montessori education and Certificate at Chestnut Mill College in 2016. Recently she finished her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Chestnut Hill College. Certified in elementary and special education in the state of Pennsylvania, she looks forward to instilling her love of learning to her students.
Anne King - Transitional Toddler Directress
Ann has worked at Neshaminy for the past 12 years. Her passion for nurturing young minds led her to complete her Early Childhood Certificate. She was an integral part in developing the Transitional Toddler Montessori Program that started in 2018.
Ann is an avid reader and shares that joy of literature with her toddlers each day. She firmly believes that reading to young children plays a significant role in language and literacy development, and presents a unique opportunity to bond with her students.
She is happily married and has a daughter, who plans to attend nursing school upon graduation.
Eileen McLaughlin - School coordinator
Eileen is the face of the school, greeting students and parents and providing them with information. She also works in the office maintaining student records, scheduling appointments, answering phones and providing administrative support to teachers and the Head of School.
Eileen lives in Feasterville with her husband and three children. She enjoys spending time at the Jersey Shore and traveling with her family.
Jordan Romney - Head of Art Department
Jordan earned his BFA in Graphic Design from the California College of the Arts, and has more than 15 years experience working with children. He has extensive experience teaching studio art to children of all ages, both in the classroom and at various summer camps and brings a creative outlook and talented design skill set teaching classes in Digital Photography, Video and Game Design, and general Arts & Crafts. Through his lessons, he aims to enrich the imagination and cultural appreciation of each of his students.
Sally Graham - Music and Fitness/Creative Movement
Sally earned her BS in Music Education from Messiah College in 2018. She brings a wealth of experiences in performing and teaching to both her music and creative movement/fitness classes, and is thrilled to share her passions with her students.
Sally performs throughout the area, in addition to offering private lessons in voice, piano and ukulele. In her free time, she can be found at rehearsal for a musical, in a dance class, or crafting something and is engaged to be married in December 2019!
Sally Graham has great experience in many different areas of the arts. She has been singing and performing in musicals since the age of 9 and has been dancing since age 4. In her lessons, she strives to teach children to be good members of society while allowing them to freely explore all aspects of her content with an open imagination.
Hope Mead - Ceramics Teacher
Hope is a professional potter and educator living and working in Camden, NJ. She received her BS in Art Education from Messiah College and is the 3rd generation of potters in her family, with both her mother and grandmother being ceramic artists and art educators. She believes in creating opportunities for all people to express themselves and to find joy in working with clay.
Personally Hope has recently begun specializing in firing wood fired anagama kilns in rural Pennsylvania. She has shown regionally and nationally and works on both specialized commissioned work and unique handmade items being sold online at local craft events and boutiques.
Claire Aubourg - French Teacher
Bonjour! My name is Claire and I have the pleasure of teaching French at Trevose Day School. My father is French and my mother is American and I luckily grew up in the US speaking both French and English. I have always been attracted to languages and to teaching others, and relish my role here at Trevose. My French classes are structured around language, culture and music. It is a fun way to teach and a fun way to learn!
Tom Bartell - Chess Coach
Tom has a BA in psychology from Rutgers University and has been teaching chess professionally for over 10 years to children of all ages. His company Delaware Valley Chess Company aims to enrich kids through various chess programs throughout the greater Philadelphia area.
He is widely regarded as one of the best players and coaches in the country. His students have won national titles on an individual and team basis, including the Julia R. Masterman School, which won the elementary, middle school and high school state championships in 2018.
Tom is the father of two fabulous kids.