Teachers

Mackenzie Meade (Guide, Children’s House A)
Colleen O’Keefe (Guide, Toddler House)
Megg Rowan (Guide, Elementary)
Gillian Sullivan (Guide, Toddler House)
Sangeetha Vijey (Guide, Children’s House B)
Annika Voynow (Guide, Elementary)
Jungrim “Rim” Yea (Guide, Children’s House C)

Mackenzie Meade, Montessori Guide, Children’s House A

Mackenzie grew up in Hingham and was one of three children in her family to attend OCMS. Starting in Children's House, Mackenzie also was in the Elementary class through the 3rd grade. She is so excited to be back and part of the OCMS community once again.

Mackenzie has a degree in Psychology with a minor in Child Studies and Youth Development from Miami University (OH). In the Spring of 2020, she completed her Primary Montessori training at the Washington Montessori Institute in Columbia, Maryland and received her Master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Loyola University (MD).

In her free time, Mackenzie enjoys traveling, biking, and spending time with her family and friends.

Colleen O’Keefe - Montessori Guide, Toddler House 1

Colleen’s family is from Hingham and she has taught for over 15 years in Norwell, Hingham, Scitaute & Duxbury. She loves to follow the lead of the child on their education journey and foster their independence. She has practiced yoga for over 20 years and naturally brings that into her teaching. She has always wanted to be a teacher and took child development in high school. Colleen has a Bachelor’s in Early Education and minor in Special Needs from ENC. She is a Registered Behavioral Technician as well.

Megg Rowan, Montessori Guide, Elementary

Megg attended OCMS as a child and developed a lifelong love of learning. She attended Elon University and graduated with a BA in Elementary Education. She taught students with diverse learning needs in Ireland right after graduating where she continued her studies with additional needs education. In 2008, Megg moved back to the Hingham area and taught 1st grade at a local public school. Her two older children began their educational journeys at OCMS during that time. She then earned her M.Ed in reading from American International College and became a certified reading specialist. In 2014, she earned a Montessori Lower Elementary diploma from North America Montessori Center and became the lead guide in the elementary classroom at OCMS following Tess’s retirement. Megg took this past year off to spend time with an ailing family member in Ireland. She will be moving back to Hingham in August with her husband and three children. Her youngest child is looking forward to rejoining the children’s house program. When she’s not at school, Megg enjoys dancing, hiking and knitting.  

Gillian Sullivan - Montessori Guide, Toddler House 2

Gillian has always loved working with children. Her natural calm and patient manner has always and will continue to benefit the children under her care. She is able to easily connect with and see the essence of each child, encouraging that part of them to stay alive and flourish. She believes it is more important now than ever to create a nurturing and supportive space for every child to be able to find their purpose, joy and sense of fulfillment. She believes it is the duty of the teacher and adult to develop deep self awareness to consistently better themselves and the world around them.

She has worked with children for 17 years as a nanny, substitute teacher and yoga teacher. She has a private energy healing practice where she teaches yoga and meditation to adults and children.

Gillian’s daughter is in Children’s House and started out in the Toddler Program.

In her spare time you can find her running, painting with her daughter, meditating, and dancing.

Sangeetha Vijey, Montessori Guide, Children’s House B

Sangeetha Vijey began her Montessori journey at OCMS in 2006. She served as an Associate Guide for 10 years, after which she trained at the Montessori Training Center Northeast in Hartford, CT and received her Association Montessori Internationale Diploma (AMI Primary) in June 2017. “With a passion to make a positive difference in young children, I feel a huge responsibility on my part to guide and serve children in the right manner with great humility,” says Sangeetha.

Sangeetha graduated with a Masters Degree in History from the University of Madras, India. She is a trained Indian Classical dancer/teacher for over 45 years. She runs her dance academy in Framingham, MA to impart Indian classical dance training to aspiring students. She enjoys dance choreography and participates in several shows and fundraiser programs.

Annika Voynow, Montessori Guide, Elementary

Annika is an experienced Montessori educator. She has taught both lower and upper elementary and served as an elementary/middle school program director and an assistant head of school. Annika attended Earlham College as an undergraduate and attended the Washington Montessori Institute for her lower and upper elementary certification. She has received her Master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Loyola University and is a certified infant/toddler teacher through the North American Montessori Center. Annika grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts and currently lives in Marshfield with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. Annika loves teaching, the outdoors, animals, and spending time with her friends and family. 

Jungrim “Rim” Yea, Montessori Guide, Children’s House C

Rim has been in the early childhood field for 10 years. She is an EEC certified teacher for preschoolers and holds a Masters of Fine Arts (Painting and Drawing, LSU). She studied Early Childhood Montessori teacher education at MI-NE (Montessori Institute New England) where she received her Montessori teaching certificate. She has worked in a primary classroom in an AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) Montessori school for five years as a co-teacher and two years as a lead teacher. She was in charge of children's classes in painting and drawing for four years at the YMCA and taught adult painting and drawing classes at Braintree High School for three years.

Rim lives in Rockland with her husband. Her son graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering at UMass Amherst and has been working as a software engineer since then. She also owns an art studio and enjoys painting and teaching.

In her free time, she likes yoga and gardening.

Elena Cesario, Daycare Teacher

Elena has been at OCMS for over 17 years. She’s certified in early childhood education and previously worked in Children’s House, which enriched her understanding and appreciation of Montessori. “It’s been so special to be a part of this community—and so much fun teaching lifelong lessons in artistic ways.”

Alyvia DeAcetis, Classroom Assistant, Children’s House A

Alyvia has loved working with children for as long as she can remember, and now she follows in the footsteps of her mother as an early childhood educator. She is beyond excited to have the opportunity to start this journey at OCMS. Alyvia graduated from Suffolk University with a degree in English and Creative Writing, and outside of school, she can be found reading and writing stories, or collecting seashells on the beach with her dogs.

Ashling Healy, Classroom Assistant, Children’s House B

Ashling grew up between Co. Dublin and Co. Cork in Ireland. Learning Gaeilge, Ireland's national language and is a fluent speaker. Ashling worked at her mother's eco school and understood at a young age the importance of education in young children through her experience there.

After high school Ashling completed her studies at Blanche MacDonald School of the Arts in Vancouver BC Canada. She later received her esthetician/cosmetology licenses for California and Massachusetts. A career in clean skincare/beauty sales and as an educator/trainer, skin specialist and makeup artist followed.

Ashling traveled and lived in other countries including Rome, Italy working at the Vatican and Colosseum to add to her life experiences.

Later she completed the elementary education program at Quincy College to work in childcare to pursue where it all began for her. Ashling is passionate about education in young children and enjoys her role her at Old Colony very much.

Ashling lives in Hingham with her young daughter and in her free time enjoys horseriding and anything active outdoors.

Lauren Higgins, Administrative Assistant

After many years of volunteering in the classrooms at her own children's school, Lauren was thrilled to have the opportunity to join OCMS. “I really enjoy working with the kids and being able to witness their accomplishments,” says Lauren. “It is so rewarding to be a part of their early academic and social growth.”

When not at school, she enjoys running, reading, and spending time with her husband and three children.

Amanda Kane, Daycare Assistant

Amanda graduated from UMass Dartmouth with a degree in crime and justice studies and a minor in sociology. After working with adolescents, Amanda was interested in changing paths and working with younger children. She is so glad that she did! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her cat Stella and her friends.

Rachel Keif, Assistant

Rachel grew up in Holbrook. She has worked at several daycares before joining the team at OCMS. Rachel received her Bachelor's degree in psychology at Bridgewater State University. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, walking her dog, spending time with friends and dancing!

Mabel Kennedy, Spanish Speaking Classroom Assistant

Mabel has been teaching Spanish at OCMS for nine years. “I love teaching language and culture to children through songs, games, dance, and storytelling,” she explains. She incorporates John Asher’s Total Physical Response method into her lessons, coordinating language with physical movement.

In her free time, Mabel loves spending time with her family, reading, playing sports, and hiking.

Roberta Kierce, Classroom Assistant, Toddler

Roberta has many years’ experience working with young children. In 1990 she received an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Mass Bay Community College. She then taught preschool for nine years at a childcare center in Wellesley, MA before taking time off to raise her own four children. For the past two and a half years she worked as an assistant at a home daycare caring for infant, toddler, and preschool age children. Roberta is thrilled to have joined the OCMS team and looks forward to watching the children’s unique personalities emerge. When not at school, Roberta loves spending time with her family and their puppy Lucy.

Heidi Lee, Classroom Assistant, Children’s House C

Heidi has a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and Special Education from The University of Hong Kong and a Masters in Education in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Massachusetts Lowell. She is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. After being a volunteer at OCMS while her son was a student in Children's House, Heidi was excited to have the opportunity to join the staff. She brings over 10 years of teaching experience to Children's House, a place that allows children to develop their strength and potential and to grow at their own pace.

In her spare time, Heidi enjoys playing piano, traveling and spending time with her family and her dog MoMo.

Ana Medina, Classroom Assistant

Ana has over 15 years of experience caring for and working with children. She is certified in early childhood education and most recently worked as an infant, toddler and preschool teacher at Horizon for Homeless Children in Boston.

Ana enjoys working with children and takes pride in helping them learn new and meaningful things every day.

When not working, she enjoys cooking, baking and traveling with her husband and three children, along with their pet Shih Tzu.

Michelle Wright, Floating Assistant

Michelle graduated from Framingham State with a degree in Educational Psychology. She has worked with children in various settings for many years. Michelle is excited to be with us here at OCMS and we are happy to have her

Tracey Buckeridge, Head of School

Tracey started at OCMS in 1975—when she was 3 years old. She stayed through 4th grade, and her mother was president of the Board of Trustees for many years.

Tracey received a Bachelor of Elementary Education from St. Michael’s College, and completed her Montessori training in Perugia, Italy. She was a Children's House Teacher for over 14 years, taking several years off to raise her own children. All three of her children and many nieces and nephews attended OCMS. “I am very proud and happy to serve as the second Head of School since the school's founding in 1963. OCMS is my second home and my extended family. I can’t think of a more fulfilling career.”

When not at school, you can find Tracey and her family on the slopes or sailing on the waters around Hingham Harbor.

Nicole Gudmand, Assistant to the Head of School

One of the first people you’ll see when you walk through the doors of OCMS is Nicole. She greets everyone with a smile and keeps the school office running smoothly.

“There is such a sense of love, kindness, and appreciation from everyone here, which makes OCMS a place that I love to go every day,” says Nicole.

When not at school, Nicole enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.