Polly Scott, M.A., LDT-C
Owner/Director
Education: Polly Scott holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education and post-graduate certification as a Learning Disability Teacher Consultant(LDT-C), both earned at Caldwell College, in Caldwell, N.J. Prior to earning her Master’s Degree, Ms. Scott earned her undergraduate degree in Education from Elizabethtown College, in Elizabethtown, P.A. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood from California College for Health Sciences. Ms. Scott began her career as a Montessori Teacher, earning a ‘commended’ diploma from St. Nicholas Montessori College. She studied Montessori education for 2 years and, after earning her certification, completed a one-year internship under a master teacher. Areas of special interest to Ms. Scott include behavior assessment and behavior intervention planning, reading instruction and reading remediation, hands-on math instruction and diagnostic teaching practices.
Teacher Certifications: Polly Scott holds New Jersey and North Carolina State teaching certificates in Elementary Education (K-6), Special Education (Pre-K-12) and Preschool (Preschool-Grade 3). She also holds state certification as an LDT-C, which qualifies her to perform educational assessment testing for children and adults.
Specialized Trainings: Ms. Scott has taken a variety of specialized trainings throughout her career, including trainings in: Orton Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, Project Read, Sonday, Lindamood-Bell (math and reading), Touch Math, hands-on social studies, writing process, behavior analysis, behavior intervention planning, diagnostic teaching, special education law and advocacy, and many more.
Memberships and Affiliations: Ms. Scott is a member of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), Autism NJ, North American Montessori Association (NAMTA), New Jersey Association of Learning Consultants (NJALC), AutismNJ, the Tourette’s Syndrome Association, and the N.J. Branch of the International Dyslexia Association . She previously served on the Advisory Board for Educators Publishing Service (EPS) and Pleasant Roland Company (‘American Girl” series) with regard to the reading program “Meet the Superkids.” Ms. Scott is a passionate advocate for students and their families. She has a certificate in advocacy training from the Statewide Parents’ Advocacy Network (SPAN). Previously, Ms. Scott and Ms. DiPaola founded and chaired the Special Needs Parent Resource Network, a group devoted to providing quality parent education and informational sessions in Madison.
Polly Scott is approved to provide CCP training for group teacher approval.
Nancy Dipaola, B.A.
Assistant Director
Education: Nancy DiPaola received her undergraduate degree from Queens College in New York City, where she studied Education. Upon moving to New Jersey, Ms. DiPaola attended The College of St. Elizabeth in Florham Park, New Jersey, where she earned post-Baccalaureate certification in Special Education.
Teacher Certifications: Nancy DiPaola is certified to teach in New York and New Jersey. She holds certificates in preschool, elementary and special education.
Specialized Trainings: Ms. DiPaola has a background in speech and language development. She has taken trainings in structured phonetic reading instruction, developmental learning, Autism, Dyslexia, special education advocacy and Montessori theory.
Memberships and Affiliations: Ms. DiPaola is a member of AutismNJ. She is a regular attendee at Professional Development Conferences throughout New Jersey. Previously, Ms. DiPaola and Ms. Scott founded and chaired the Special Needs Parent Resource Network, a group devoted to providing quality parent education and informational sessions in Madison.
Virginia Scott, B.S., M.P.H.
Instructor
Education: Mrs. Virginia Scott earned her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and her Master’s Degree from Columbia University.
Teacher Certifications: Mrs. Scott is Certified by the American Montessori Society (AMS) as a Montessori Instructor and holds New Jersey State Group teacher certification as well.
Teaching Experience: Mrs. Scott has been teaching at Rainbow Montessori School in Madison for the past 15 years. During that time she was instrumental in designing and executing a themed pre-Kindergarten science curriculum for the Young 5’s program at Rainbow. A certified substitute, Mrs. Scott has also worked as a substitute teacher in the Florham Park and Madison Public Schools.
Areas of Interest: Mrs. Scott’s areas of interest include: educating the young child via a multi-sensory approach, discovery science for young children, and promoting hands-on creative art and needlework activities for children. Mrs. Scott is an avid quilter.
Nancy R. Patrick, B.S.
Instructor
Education: Mrs. Patrick received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Bucknell University. She then earned post-baccalaureate certification in special education from Montclair State University. Mrs. Patrick has received training in the Wilson Reading System, an Orton Gillingham based reading program.
Teacher Certifications: Mrs. Patrick is certified to teach elementary and special education. She is a certified Wilson Reading System Level I and II instructor.
Teaching Experience: Mrs. Patrick most recently taught at the Craig School, a private school in Mountain Lakes, NJ. There, she taught language arts and implemented Orton-Gillingham instruction. Prior to Craig School, Mrs. Patrick worked at both public and private schools, providing both regular and special education instruction.
Christina Bronco, CCP
Early Childhood Instructor/Assistant
Education/Training: Ms. Bronco is a graduate of the National Child Care Professional Training Program. After completing her training, Ms. Bronco completed her internship and supervised teaching at Rainbow Montessori School in Madison, New Jersey.
Teacher Certifications: Ms. Bronco holds NCCA certification and N.J. State Certified Group Teacher Approval for preschool/early childhood.
Teaching Experience: Ms. Bronco has taught at Rainbow Montessori School in Madison, as well as Rainbow Academy in Parsippany, where she has worked as both classroom director and classroom assistant.
Areas of Interest: Ms. Bronco has completed training as a Montessori classroom assistant. She has particular experience in the exercises of practical life, art, science and cultural studies in the Montessori classroom.
Allison Caplan, M.A.
Instructor
Education: Allison Caplan holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education earned at Farleigh Dickinson University, in Madison, N.J. Prior to earning her Master’s Degree, Mrs. Caplan earned her undergraduate degree in Education from Adelphi University, in Garden City, N.Y.
Teacher Certifications: Mrs. Caplan holds New Jersey and New York State teaching certificates in Elementary Education (K-8).
Specialized Training: Mrs. Caplan has taken trainings in sensory processing and sensory integration, learning disabilities, special education advocacy and Montessori theory.
Areas of Interest: Allison's areas of interest include: teaching science, reading and math to young children. She is also interested in learning about sensory processing disorders, learning differences in young children, and advocating for children with special needs.
Cristina Penaloza Murphy, B. A.
Spanish Tutor/Instructor
Education/Training: Ms. Penaloza-Murphy holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Illinois in Chicago. After that, she attended Seton Hall University and New Jersey City University, where she earned certification in Blilingual Education, Bicultural Education and English as a Second Language. She is currently working toward a Master’s Degree in Spanish.
Teacher Certifications: Ms. Penaloza Murphy is certified in Bilingual Education, Bicultural Education and English as a Second Language. She is currently working on obtaining her certification in Spanish.
Teaching Experience: Cristina worked at Rainbow Montessori School in Madison for 8 years, serving as instructor and practical life director. Following that, Ms. Murphy taught Bilingual Education and ESL at Passaic and Paterson Public School Districts.
Ms. Penaloza-Murphy was born and raised in Mexico and is fluent in Spanish. She enjoys learning about other cultures and sharing her culture with others. She is the mother of two daughters, Lynette, an interior designer and Sheelagh, currently attending junior college.
Nicole Mazzocchi, M.A.
Tutor/Instructor
Education/Training: Ms. Mazzocchi is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University with a Master of Arts in Teaching.
Teacher Certifications: Ms. Mazzocchi is certified to teach both elementary education and middle school mathematics.
Teaching Experience: Ms. Mazzocchi completed her student teaching at East Hanover Middle School, Brooklawn Elementary School in Parsippany and Salem Elementary School in Whippany. She has also tutored privately.
Areas of Interest: Ms. Mazzocchi has an undergraduate degree in Marketing from Fairfield University in Connecticut. She enjoys working with children using hands-on learning activities.
Marilyn Zara
Early Childhood Instructor/Assistant
Education/Training: Mrs. Zara is a graduate of the National Child Care Professional Training Program. After completing her training, Mrs. Zara completed her internship and supervised teaching at Rainbow Montessori School in Madison, New Jersey.
Teacher Certifications: Mrs. Zara holds NCCA certification and N.J. State Certified Group Teacher Approval for preschool/early childhood.
Teaching Experience: Mrs.Zara has taught at Rainbow Montessori School in Madison, where she has worked as a group teacher for many years.
Areas of Interest: Mrs. Zara has completed training in the Language Laboratory reading program, an Orton Gillingham-based reading program for ages 4-12.
Alyssa Stockl, B. A.
Tutor/Instructor
Education/Training: Ms. Stockl holds an undergraduate degree in English and Elementary Education from Drew University. She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Special Education.
Teacher Certifications: Ms. Stockl is certified in Elementary Education, Preschool-Grade 3 and Special Education.
Teaching Experience: Ms. Stockl currently teaches in the School District of the Chathams part time, while pursuing her master’s degree.