Our faculty and staff work tirelessly to prepare beautifully ordered environments and guide all children with love and respect.
As a Catholic Montessori school, Renaissance Montessori School seeks to integrate faith, learning, and service in all aspects of school life. Faculty and staff are committed to upholding the School’s mission, modeling Catholic values, and supporting the spiritual, academic, and personal growth of every student.
Kristina Dankoski
Mrs. Kristina Dankoski began her Montessori journey here at RMS in 2003 as a parent and has served the school in many roles, including a member of the Board of Directors, President of the Parents Guild, Mardi Gras Chair, Administrator, and Principal before taking on the role of Head of School in 2021. She holds a BA from Christendom College, a Montessori Core Principles Certificate from Washington Montessori Institute, and Level I and Level II Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Certificates. Kristina has worked in politics, research and writing, marketing, and interior design but knows that God has used this to prepare her for a calling here at RMS. She is passionate about the children we serve and grateful that our work challenges us daily to become more virtuous. She has two grown daughters, both alumnae of RMS, a granddaughter who will hopefully be an RMS student soon!
Head of School
Becky Winstead
Administrator
Miss Becky Winstead holds her AMI Primary Diploma through the Montessori Institute of North Texas in Dallas and also received her Level 1 Certification for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She also holds a B.A. in Drama from the University of Dallas. Prior to joining us at RMS, Becky has been both an Assistant and Lead Guide in Children's House classrooms in Texas, New Hampshire, and Great Falls, VA. Outside of school, Becky enjoys kayaking, hiking, gardening and has dreams of starting her own small farm one day.
Directresses and Guides
Jen Ashton
Assistant Head of School
Children’s House Directress
Mrs. Jennifer Ashton enjoys living each day as a Primary Directress in the Children’s House. Her passion for Montessori began with her own children’s Montessori education and discovery of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in 2005. She continues to be formed by the principles of Maria Montessori through the Association Montessori International (AMI) and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She is AMI certified at the Primary (3-6) Level and CGS USA certified in all levels of Catechesis from birth to age 12. She is currently in the progress toward completing CGS Formation Leader recognition. She loves sharing these principles with parents and living them with children to collaboratively strengthen relationships between God and the child. Prior to becoming a Montessori parent and later teacher and catechist, Jen worked in the fashion industry developing textile and clothing programs for children! She knew all about the size and dimensions of children but it wasn’t until she was living and sharing her life with them that she began to truly know them and continues to be fascinated by their development and hidden potential.
Cecilia Drabbant
RMS Atrium Program Director
Mrs. Cecilia Drabbant holds an Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) diploma in Assistant to Infancy (0-3), as well as AMI certificate in Montessori Core Principles. She also holds a degree in Architecture from Universitas Katolik Parahyangan, Bandung, Indonesia, and completed Emmanuel School of Mission in Rome, Italy. Since being introduced to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in 2012, she has received CGS certification in Levels I, II, III, and CGS Infant-Toddler Seminal certification. Additionally, she is recognized as CGS USA Level 1 Formation Leader.
Natalie Mirus
Miss Natalie Mirus began her journey at RMS as a two and a half year old in our Children’s House. During highschool she returned to work as an afterschool Atrium assistant for the Level I Atrium, and later in the Level II/III Atrium. During this time, she also earned her Level I Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Certificate. Natalie worked as an assistant in Mrs. Ashton’s Children’s House here at RMS for three years before moving to London to train at the Maria Montessori Institute and where she received her AMI Primary (3-6) Teacher Diploma. Montessori is her passion, and she loves to put all her creative energies and talent into the work that she does. She finds it such a great joy to learn and grow with the children, and is so excited to begin her journey as a Montessori Guide. Outside of her school life Natalie enjoys hiking, drawing, reading, and running a young adult womens group at her parish church.
Children’s House Directress
Mrs. Claire Nguyen, will continue to be the Directress for our Toddler Community. Mrs. Nguyen has been an actively learning and engaged Montessori parent since 2005 and part of our RMS community since 2010. She has been a part or full time member of the RMS team since 2013, filling many roles, supporting the primary garden environment, as a Level I Catechist, an assistant in the Young Children's House, a directress in the Young Children's House and versatile substitute. She also launched the pilot toddler Atrium program at the Cultural and Catechetical Montessori Association. She studied Psychology at George Mason University and holds an Assistants to Infancy (0-3) Diploma from the Association Montessori Internationale. She also holds Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA certificates Infant/Toddler, Level I, and Level II. She also is trained in offering Bal-A-Vis-X to children. A mother of 8, she is eager to continue this work as a humble servant to the children and God.
Toddler Guide
Claire Nguyen
May Breakall
Mrs. May Breakall was born and raised in Cali, Colombia, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Valle. As a physical therapist, she especially enjoyed working with infants, young children, and children with special needs.
She later came to the United States as an international student to study English at the University of Colorado. During that time, she met her husband. Together, they have lived in Colorado, North Carolina, Texas, and now Virginia, where they reside with their three children, who are also part of the Renaissance Montessori School community.
As a family, they enjoy spending time outdoors through camping, hiking, fishing, traveling, and exploring nature together.
After becoming a mother, Mrs. Breakall discovered Montessori education and developed a deep appreciation for its respect for the child’s natural development, especially during the formative early years. She earned her AMI Primary Diploma and the AMI Montessori Core Principles Certificate from the Montessori Institute of North Texas. She also holds a Master of Education from the University of Hartford and is currently completing the Elementary I–II Diploma Course through the Center for Guided Montessori Studies.
Elementary Guide
Ana Kagan
Miss Ana Kagan was born and raised in Chicago, IL and graduated with a degree in English from the University of Dallas in May 2024. She has spent the past year as an assistant in the Upper Elementary classroom at St. Francis Montessori in Irving, TX and quickly fell in love with the Montessori method! She is excited to continue her educational journey and hopefully begin her training soon. She is currently in the process of completing her Level 1 certification for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and hopes to lead her own Atrium one day! Outside of school, Ana enjoys hiking, cooking, and playing guitar.
Elementary Support Guide
Assistants
Elena Auclair
Miss Elena Auclair, a proud Northern Virginia native, is excited to learn each day in the Children’s House. Raised in a vibrant Catholic homeschooling community in the DMV, she was drawn back to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to complete training in Level I and II. The respectfulness, peace, and joy she experiences in the Atrium inspires her to continue sharing the beauty of the Faith with children. A graduate of the University of Maryland Global Campus with a degree in Business Administration and a focus in Art History, she is passionate about using her administrative skills to support the work of those in creative fields.
Children’s House Assistant
Mary Pat Blanchette
Mrs. Mary Pat Blanchette was raised in Tully, New York, and graduated with a Liberal Arts degree from Magdalen College in New Hampshire. After her time in New Hampshire, she taught briefly at a private school in Anza, California. In 1994 she moved to Manassas, Virginia to pursue a teaching position at Seton Junior and Senior High School. At Seton, she taught junior high classes and high school Biology. After her time at Seton, she was offered the position at All Saints Catholic Church as the Confirmation and High School Youth Director. While working at All Saints she went back to school to pursue a degree in nursing. In 2003 she began her work at Prince William Hospital as a registered nurse. The majority of her 13 years spent there was on the Orthopedic and Oncology floor. Mary Pat and Sean have sent all of their children to Renaissance. Tim started when he was 5 years old and will graduate from high school in 2023
Floating Assistant/Outdoor Environment
Mary Jane Buckner
Miss Mary Jane Buckner recently graduated from Christendom College with a degree in Political Science and Economics and a minor in Theology, She discovered her passion for working with children through teaching piano lessons to elementary aged children and is excited for her first year working in a Montessori environment. Mary Jane was born and raised in Virginia and loves to share the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley with all. In her spare time Mary Jane enjoys hiking, baking, gardening and learning new musical instruments.
Children’s House Assistant
Mrs. Shuang Cao has been a parent at RMS for two years and loved her experience here so much she became an afternoon reading practice helper for both our Primary and Elementary as well as an aftercare assistant. She is currently joinging the Toddler team as a classroom assistant. She holds an AMI Montessori Certification for Primary Level, a Masters in Education from Loyola University and has worked with both toddler and primary age children for ten years. She brings her positivity and curiosity to her work with children and loves to watch them learn and discover new things. Her favorite part is that every day they teach her something new too. Outside of school, she enjoys exploring nature of all types, parks, libraries, and playgrounds with her daughter.
Toddler Assistant
Shuang Cao
Mrs. Sandra Medina began her Montessori journey as a parent in our RMS community. Along with her experience as an assistant in the RMS Children's House, she has also completed her Level I Catechesis of the Good Shepherd formation. She brings a beautiful heart of a servant and fluent Spanish immersion to her work with the children.
Children’s House Assistant
Sandra Medina
Alison Poisson
Children’s House Assistant
Miss Alison Poisson graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a
history degree in the education program. Since completing college, she has served in multiple schools, searching for one that not only educated on an academic level but rather served children holistically. She finally found Renaissance Montessori School and is happy to join RMS as a Primary Classroom Assistant in the 2024-25 school year and continue learning about the Montessori model. On the side, she is currently training to become a doula, with the dream of helping mothers prepare for birth and heal postpartum. Her other passions include baking, running, reading, and hiking!
Krista Schroer
Mrs. Krista Schroer is an experienced Montessori mom of six with a background in education and working with young children. She holds a BS in Elementary Education from the University of Evansville and has years of experience working with children, as a tutor, special education pre-kindergarten teacher, and classroom assistant. Ms. Krista holds a Level I Catechesis of the Good Shepherd certificate and brings her patience and flexibility to the RMS team.
Substitute Assistant