Daniela Sloan, Montessori Director (dsloan@vimsia.org)
Ms. Sloan comes to VIMSIA from Chicago, IL where she spent the last 8 years serving as a founder, teacher and administrator of Illinois’ first Montessori and IB High School. There, she shaped the school’s World Language program and worked in her primary role as Montessori Director, educating faculty, staff, and students on all things Montessori and innovating within the sphere of Montessori adolescent education. Ms. Sloan attended a Montessori school as a child and twenty years later, received both her AMI Elementary and Adolescent diplomas. Prior to training, Ms. Sloan was the Spanish Director for an AMI-accredited Montessori school implementing Spanish Language curriculum for ages toddler through adolescence.

As a Montessorian, Ms. Sloan dedicates herself to building healthy and joyful school communities where students are at the center, and faculty and families feel valued and engaged. Ms. Sloan holds her Masters of Education from Loyola University Maryland and BS in Cultural Studies from Columbia College in Chicago. Along with her husband Joe and their two children, Emel and Leo, she is thrilled to join the VIMSIA family. Outside of her love for Montessori, she is a proud Colombiana and can often be found writing and performing acoustic soul music and dancing Salsa (Colombian Salsas!)

Norma Bolinger, Primary Directress (nbolinger@vimsia.org)
Ms. Bolinger is originally from Nova Scotia, Canada and has traveled extensively (her father’s life career was with the Canadian Armed Forces and her mother with Air Canada). Ms. Bolinger has worked throughout the world – St. Maarten, Australia, Bahamas and the U.S.  She received her AMI Primary Directress Certification from the Montessori Training Centre of BC, Vancouver, Canada, studied Community Recreation at Dawson College Montreal, Quebec, Canada, earned an AA in Early Childhood Education from North Central State College in Mansfield, OH, and gained her staff and director credentials from the state of Florida.  Previously, Ms. Bolinger worked with Head Start programs and has served as Directress of Toddler and Primary programs, as well as School Director.  In 2019/2020, after six years as VIMSIA’s Montessori Director, Ms. Bolinger returns to the primary classroom environment that she so loves.

Mandy Boyle, Primary Directress (mboyle@vimsia.org)
Ms. Boyle has been an island girl since birth, born and raised in Ireland. Mandy did her AMI training (Primary and Elementary) in Dublin, Ireland. She worked there and in Massachusetts before making her journey to the Virgin Islands. When she first arrived at the Virgin Islands Montessori School she worked under the guidance of Ms. Shournagh McWeeney, who coincidentally attended the same high school as Mandy in Ireland! Mandy has over 25 years of Montessori experience. Through her years at our school she has seen it expand in students, staff, land, buildings and name! Her favorite part of our school campus is the dome at the top of the hill; it was her first classroom here! The culture, weather, diversity and close-knit community are why Mandy continues to choose St. Thomas as her home.

Simone Summer, Primary Directress (ssummer@vimsia.org)
Simone was born and raised in St Thomas. As a child, she attended VIMSIA and was a student of Ms. Keating, who is now retired.  Simone has been teaching Montessori for approximately 20 years: in the US here at VIMSIA, between 2001-2011, then for 5 years in New Zealand and then back to VIMSIA.  Her love of travel and learning about different cultures has grown from her upbringing in our largely diverse and multicultural island. Although Simone will continue to enjoy her adventures to foreign lands, her heart and home will always be here, surrounded by the crystal blue sea and love for diverse island life.

Tammi Norwood, Montessori Lower Elementary Directress (tnorwood@vimsia.org)
Ms. Norwood has been teaching for twenty-one years, starting at a small elementary school in Hoboken, NJ, and recently at a large high school with an at-risk population, E C Glass High School, in Lynchburg, VA. She graduated from The University of North Carolina Greensboro with a BFA in Theatre Education and a license to teach PreK-12 grades. Ms. Norwood holds teaching licenses in both Virginia and North Carolina (theater K-12 and Elementary K-6) and completed her Montessori Lower Elementary training in Charlotte, NC. In 2020, Ms. Norwood also became a certified National Geographic Educator. She is currently working on a Master's degree for Reading K-8.

Ms. Norwood enjoys spending time with students of all ages and backgrounds. She finds it rewarding to witness children as they grow into their whole selves.

Jenny Fisher, Coordinator, Grades 4 & 5 (jfisher@vimsia.org)
Mrs. Fisher started her career teaching public school in Oregon.  During that time, she received her masters in curriculum and instruction with an endorsement in ESOL.  After 16 years in Oregon she and her family decided to take the jump to international teaching and left for Colombia, South America, where she taught elementary school for 3 years and was an instructional coach for science.  Jenny and her family then moved to an international school on Jeju Island, South Korea where she worked as a student-centered instructional coach for two years in grades preK-8.  She also completed her administrator’s license in 2021.  Jenny is passionate about uniting teams around a common vision and helping them move their work to new levels.  She is joining the VIMSIA team with her husband, Michael (PGIA director), and their two children Kaden (9th grade) and Ellie (7th grade).  She is most excited about getting to know the people and building a community and home on the island!  

Sandy Wade, Montessori Teacher Grades 4 & 5 (swade@vimsia.org)
Sandy Wade comes to VIMSIA from Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, Mike, and two children (Lillith and Raine- both high school students).  Sandy has been a public Montessori teacher in NC for 11 years, working with 1st-6th graders, but mainly upper elementary.  Prior to Montessori, Sandy was a high school Algebra and Geometry teacher.  She received her Undergraduate degree in Middle School Math and Science, and her Masters of Education with a focus in Montessori education.  She holds a lower and upper elementary certification from AMS, and her National Boards certification.  She loves this island, the people on it, and the classroom community that she shares with Mrs. Fisher.

Maria Burkett, Primary Teacher’s Assistant

Ms. Maria Burkett was born and raised in Córdoba, Argentina and moved to St. John in 2000. She graduated from Ivanna Eudora Kean High School in 2007 and received her AMI Primary Directress Certification summer 2022. After the hurricanes in 2017 she volunteered with Global DIRT (Disaster Immediate Response Team) as a member of their assessment team. From 2018 to 2021 she was a Spanish Speaking Primary Montessori Assistant in Ms. Boyle’s class. She has been a lead Primary directress for the past two years, and will join Ms. Summer as her Assistant in 2023/24. In her free time she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family at the beach.

Nicole Donastorg, Primary Teacher's Assistant
Ms. Donastorg was born and raised in Miami, Florida and moved to St.Thomas in 2004. Since starting with VIMSIA in 2011, Ms. Donastorg has worked in the Spark, La Casa, and Lower Elementary programs, as well as her current role in Primary. Ms. Donastorg loves to work with children, and it is her passion to watch first hand what happens in the classroom. Ms. Donastorg has 2 children that attended VIMSIA and have graduated; both are attending universities in Florida.

Kirah Leon, Primary Teacher’s Assistant
Ms.Leon was born in New Jersey but raised in St. Thomas. She graduated from Ivanna Eudora Kean High School in 2017. Ms.Leon was working as an VIMSIA Substitute teacher 2020-2021. She is so excited to assist in Ms.Bolinger’s classroom this year.

Bebe Thomas, Lower Elementary Teacher’s Assistant
Ms. Thomas has previous experience working as a nanny for children of all ages and in early childhood education centers. She is the proud mother of five children and has seven grandchildren. In Ms. Thomas’ free time, she loves to read uplifting books at the beach.

Katie Zenger, Lower Elementary Teacher’s Assistant
Ms. Zenger went to Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia where she got her degree in Art History & Studio Art. After college she went around the world, working in 16 countries on 6 continents. She worked with non-profit organizations in each country to meet the needs of the people and help each organization in any way they needed. She met her husband on a trip to India. They worked together at an orphanage for mentally and physically disabled children for several months. They moved to Saint Thomas with their two children 3 years ago! Ms. Zenger served as the permanent substitute in 2023 at VIMSIA, getting to know and love the children and teachers from La Casa to Upper El. She is looking forward to this year as Ms Rebecca’s assistant teacher!