Keturah is the owner/director of Children’s House Montessori School, and is the lead Montessori teacher in the Sunrise Room.
Keturah’s career in early childhood education spans more than 30 years. After graduating magna cum laude from the University of Alabama, she earned her Montessori teaching certificate from Montessori World Educational Institute in San Louis Obispo, California. In addition, she has served as a field consultant for interns taking their Montessori training, and has attended the Course for Montessori School Management at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in New York. She has been in the Montessori classroom for more than 25 years, and has worked in a “traditional” preschool setting for several years as well.
Keturah has been married to Henry Collins for 41 years and they have two grown children. Henry’s career in the U.S. Army provided the opportunity to live in Germany, Korea, and Norway, and travel extensively in Europe and Asia. Keturah enjoys sharing these cultures and experiences with the children in her classroom. She also loves nature and teaching understanding and appreciation for all living things.
"Owning my own Montessori school was a dream of mine for many years that finally came true in 2003 with the opening of Children's House. It is so satisfying to work with the families and staff that have been drawn to our special place. It is obvious that each child, parent, and staff member brings their talents, creativity and love here, making me proud to be the owner of Children's House."
Karen (pronounced KAH-rin) is the Assistant Director of Children's House and the lead Montessori teacher in the Sunset Room. In 2002 she received her Montessori Early Childhood Credentials from the American Montessori Society following her training at the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies (IAMS) in Silver Spring, Maryland. Karen has also served for several years as a consultant for IAMS, mentoring and evaluating interns who are in the process of becoming certified Montessori teachers.
Karen has been with Children's House since day one! She has watched the school grow from a tiny ten-student classroom to the vibrant, loving community that it is today.
Originally from South Africa, Karen moved to the United States with her family in 1990. She has lived in the Northern Virginia area ever since and currently resides in Leesburg with her husband, Pernell, and son, London.
"Over the years I have been lucky enough to see inside many different schools, observe many different teachers, and visit many different classrooms. I am luckier still to be a part of Children's House, which is, in my opinion, more than just a school, but an extended family and a community built on a foundation of respect, collaboration, energy, and love. Helping children discover who they are, watching young families grow, and working on a daily basis with teachers who are dedicated, creative, and inspiring, are just a few of the reasons I look forward to coming to work each day."
Marierose Hoang is a Montessori teacher in the Sunrise Room. After 25 years of working in the corporate world at AT&T, Marierose began her "semi-retired" job at Children's House as a part-time teacher assistant in 2006. She loved this new second career so much that she decided to become certified as a Montessori Teacher at the Northeast Montessori Institute at Belmont Greene. She has been with Children's House for the last 5 years.
Marierose was born in Saigon, Vietnam and has been married to Lai Dang for 31 years. Lai is a CFO for a joint venture company in Vietnam. They have a daughter, Danielle, a former Montessori child who is currently working in the HIV/Aids research field while pursuing her medical degree in Boston. One of Marierose's goals in life is to be able to visit as many places as possible around the world and to share it with the children. In her spare time, she also tutors autistic children in her home.
"Working with children at Children's House has allowed me to be a humble, growing person, one who is always striving toward my own potential. I have gained and continue to gain a realistic knowledge of my own self and an understanding my capabilities and behaviors."
Farzana is a teacher in the Sunrise Room. She received her Early Childhood Montessori credentials from AMS after completing her training at Northern Virginia Montessori Institute in 2011. She has worked in the field of education in her home country of Pakistan and in the United States before discovering the Montessori philosophy. Children are her passion, and creating a loving environment to foster their independent growth is her mission.
Farzana and her family moved to the United States in 1995. Her husband, Mohsin, is a loan officer and part owner of Spectra Funding. They have 2 boys, and live in Lansdowne, VA.
"I chose to join CHMS because of the friendly atmosphere I found here. The teachers are skillful and the school is well-managed. I hope to learn a lot and enhance my career opportunities.”
Zohra Shoaib is a Montessori teacher in the Sunset Room. She completed her Montessori teacher training in 2011 at Northern Virginia Montessori Institute in Ashburn, VA. She has been working in the field of education for more than ten years and taught elementary school in Karachi before coming to the United States.
Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Zohra moved to the U.S. in 2006. She is married and has three children. She enjoys cooking and reading, and likes to learn about different cultures and languages.
“I love children, and watching them learn and develop each day is fascinating. I love my job, my little fellows, and my co-workers. I feel honored to be the part of the Children’s House community.”
Rhianna is an assistant teacher in the Sunset Room. She is working toward a Childhood Development Certificate at Northern Virginia Community College. Before coming to Children's House, she was taking Childhood Development courses and volunteering at Elden Street Players in theater for younger audiences. Her love for entertaining children motivated her to pursue a Childhood Development Certificate.
Rhianna lived in Brussels, Belgium, and traveled extensively through Europe and Asia. She developed an appreciation and fascination for different cultures. To this day, traveling and seeing more of the world remains one of her passions.
"Children's House is a place that fosters the love of learning, independence, and respect for one another. It is done in a gentle and encouraging way. This is a mission I believe in and honor."
Ursula is the office manager at Children’s House Montessori School and has been with the school in this position since 2006. She also runs our gardening program with the children.
Ursula was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and immigrated to the United States with her husband in 1998. Both her daughters, who are now in elementary school, attended preschool and kindergarten at Children’s House; the older daughter was one of our original students. Ursula loves gardening and enjoys sharing this with the children.
“Children’s House Montessori School has become part of my extended family. I love being around people and helping the families feel they are an important part of our school. Seeing the children progress through their different stages of growth gives me the greatest satisfaction.”
