SECRET GARDEN
MONTESSORI
1110 Harrison Street Frenchtown, NJ 08825​ 908-628-9639​ ​info@secretgardenmontessori.org
FACULTY
Rosalie Adams
Head of School
Rosalie Adams serves as Head of School at Secret Garden Montessori and leads with a focus in service excellence, ensuring that the teaching staff and school community feel fully supported by the administration. Since joining the team in 2015, she has developed an immense love and commitment to the Montessori philosophy and practice.
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Rosalie brings many years of experience in management, creativity and therapeutic work with children to her current role. Prior to joining Secret Garden Montessori, she worked as Director of an Expressive Therapy Program at a Behavioral Health Campus in Pennsylvania. Her deep interest in the practice of leadership and experience as an art therapist informs her daily presence and engagement with the entire school community.
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Rosalie received a Master’s in Art Therapy from New York University, NY and practiced for 15 years as a Board Certified Art Therapist. She earned her RYS-500 level yoga teacher training in 2012 and continues to practice yoga and its principles for ease and peace of mind.
Barbette Robillard
Curriculum Coordinator
Barbette Robillard joined Secret Garden Montessori in 2006 at the school’s inception as a home school cooperative. After almost 20 years of service as Lead Primary Guide, she now serves as the school’s Curriculum Coordinator.
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Barbette brings 30 years of Montessori experience to her role. She rejoined the Board of Trustees in 2023 after serving as a founding member from 2008-2010. Her spirit and vision have greatly contributed to the growth of the school over the years.
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Barbette enjoys painting watercolor and making art, gardening, hiking, camping and biking. She enjoys incorporating her interests like sewing and cooking into the daily life of the class.
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Barbette has a bachelor's degree in art therapy and AMI Primary Diploma (Association Montessori Internationale) from the Washington Montessori Institute.
Melissa Velez
Lead Toddler Guide
Melissa is a dedicated and passionate Guide with over 25 years of experience in Early Childhood education. In 2014, she began working as the Sprouts Classroom Assistant and moved into the Sprouts and Infant Lead Teacher role in 2017.
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​Melissa loves the calm, peaceful and prepared environment of the Montessori Classroom. She is proud to bring a felt sense of trust and integrity to her classroom by forging strong relationships with both the children and their families to ensure a feeling of comfort and safety. She loves children's literature and enjoys finding books to share for every occasion. Melissa believes in the importance of a balanced life and she often shares her love of animals and gardening with the children, inspiring them to appreciate the world around them.
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In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Melissa is a member of the American Montessori Society, attending workshops and conferences to stay updated on the latest educational practices.
​Outside the classroom Melissa enjoys spending time with her family. Together they enjoy time outside and taking care of their animals. Melissa also enjoys art journaling, gardening, and sharing her love of Essential Oils.
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Melissa holds a BA in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Temple University. Prior to Secret Garden she worked at a Montessori School in Philadelphia. In 2020 she completed her Infant/Toddler training at the Princeton Center for Teacher Education.
Natasha Alessandra
Assistant Guide
Primary classroom
Natasha Alessandra joined Secret Garden Montessori in 2012 and currently serves as assistant to Ms. Brianna in the Gingko classroom. Natasha feels passionate about the social/ emotional experience for each child and helping to cultivate compassionate, creative, confident leaders. She is now a mother of two boys and is excited to share the Montessori experience with them.
Natasha brings over 20 years of early childhood experience to her role and is inspired by the Montessori philosophy which she has been practicing for over 10 years. She enjoys involving the children in imaginative play on the playground, interactive storytelling, and incorporating American Sign Language into the everyday primary classroom routine.
Outside the classroom Natasha enjoys camping, fishing, hiking and traveling. She has spent many summers working on a deep-sea fishing boat and still enjoys taking trips to the Jersey shore. Natasha has been practicing hula hooping and flow arts since 2007 and can occasionally be seen filming live music with friends at Tritonix recording.
Natasha enjoys sharing stories from her adventures and invites anyone to ask about or share common interests.
Natasha holds a PA Paraeducator Certification as a one-on-one aid for children with learning differences. She also completed Princeton Montessori's Assistant Teacher Training and holds a certification in culinary arts from Upper Bucks County Technical School. Natasha is currently working towards a degree in Psychology and looking to further her education in Occupational therapy.
Elizabeth Van Doren
Lead Extended Care Guide
Office Administrator
Elizabeth Van Doren joined Secret Garden Montessori in 2021 and currently serves as Classroom Assistant in each of our classrooms, Leads our aftercare program and serves as office administrator when there is time left over! She is in service to every aspect of Secret Garden and is a incredibly valuable member of the team.
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Elizabeth brings with her a double major in Psychology and Theater, graduating from an all-women's college with distinction, and a passion for Drama Therapy. She has a deep desire to be part of a safe and supportive space wherein young global-citizens may explore, experiment, and thrive- which she is thrilled to have found at SGM.
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Elizabeth brings a lifelong love of learning, as well as over a decade of both customer service and animal care to her role, and enjoys that each day is a new adventure full of possibilities. She has been inspired by not only the education received in the Montessori method, but by the children it serves, as well.
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Outside of the classroom Elizabeth enjoys reading, creating, and sweeping up the never-ending hair from her dog and cats. A lover of nature, she can often be found in the clearance section of garden shops, looking for any plants that may need a little more care and attention in order to thrive.
Kacey Meckeler
Lead Primary Guide
Magnolia
Kacey joined Secret Garden Montessori in 2023 and currently serves as a Lead Primary Guide in the Magnolia classroom.
Kacey brings 5 years of experience in the world of Early Childhood Education, serving as an assistant in both a Waldorf and Montessori setting, and Co-Teacher in a Primary Montessori classroom. She is passionate in her pursuit of a warm, peaceful and accepting classroom environment full of students who value kindness, self-expression, and a love of learning.
Outside of the classroom, Kacey enjoys writing and playing music as a guitarist and a singer. She also enjoys handcrafts such as quilting and dying fabric with natural/foraged materials and knitting.
Kacey holds an AA in Early Childhood Education and is currently pursuing her Montessori Primary Teacher certification from the Princeton Center for Teacher Education.
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Michelle Marmora
Assistant Guide
Toddler Classroom
Michelle's teaching experience has refined her understanding of the value of independence and community in the classroom. She is committed to supporting the child's emotional and mental development through the Montessori philosophy and practice.
Michelle brings open communication, a desire to learn, and a joyful and warm personality to her work, which allows children to feel welcome and heard. She values family collaboration and input in any way that supports a positive experience for the child.
Outside the classroom, Michelle can often be found at home where she loves to spend time with her family. She also loves to read, listen to podcasts, and watching documentaries.
Michelle received a Bachelor's Degree in Communication from Rowan University.
Karson Meckeler
Assistant Guide
Extended Care Guide
Karson joined Secret Garden Montessori in 2025 and currently serves as Assistant Guide in both the Primary and Aftercare programs.
Karson loves connecting with children on an individual level and brings a kind, calm presence to his work in the classroom. Karson appreciates the thoughtful design and peaceful, open environment of the Montessori environment.
Outside the classroom, Karson is a musician and singer-songwriter together with his sister, Kacey, a teacher here at Secret Garden Montessori. He also enjoys reading, watching films, nature, gardening, and photography.
Karson holds an AA in Liberal Studies.
Mia Mazzariello
Assistant Guide
Primary Classroom
Extended Care Guide
Mia Mazzariello joined Secret Garden Montessori in July 2025 as a classroom assistant and aftercare guide.
Mia brings over 5 years of experience in early childhood and elementary education settings, including multiple types of educational environments, such as Montessori, public, and homeschool.
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Mia loves working with young children and providing them with a welcoming, loving, and engaging environment to walk into every day. Also, she believes that incorporating music and arts into an early childhood program supports and fosters the growth of their personality and their expressive capabilities. She has always felt supported and safe inside the Montessori classroom settings and she advocates that same feeling for the children.
Outside the classroom, Mia loves music, singing, walking, photographing multiple aspects of nature, spending time with her animals, and spending as much time as she can with her niece and nephews. If she is not inside the classroom, you will find her with her niece and nephews; baking, creating arts and crafts, and finding ways to express their creativity.
Mia received an AFA in Music and a BA in Education.
She is currently working towards an Early Childhood Education teaching certification for grades preschool through third grade.
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Brooke Gallagher
Assistant Guide
Toddler Classroom
Brooke Gallagher joined Secret Garden Montessori in 2025 as an Assistant Guide. Brooke appreciates the trust and comfort promoted by the Montessori philosophy and believes strongly that school is a place to build children's confidence while encouraging them to thoroughly enjoy childhood.
Brooke brings a blend of experience from speech therapy programs and social development groups, having worked with neurodivergent students for over 17 years in several different settings.
Outside the classroom, Brooke cares for a variety of plants, spends quality time with the family dogs and cat, and makes all sorts of crochet projects.
Brooke received a degree in Computer Science from Stevens Institute of Technology with a minor in Literature and is planning to enroll in a Montessori training program.
Secret Garden Montessori does not discriminate on the basis of race/ethnicity, faith, gender, sexual orientation or physical disability in the acceptance of families or employment of personnel.