Leadership

Ayelet “Ellie” Lichtash

Founder & Executive Director

Ellie, an attorney by trade, practiced labor and employment law in Israel and in the United States. She published two papers in the U.S. on Discrimination Law and Employment and Arbitration issues. She holds a master’s degree from Tel Aviv University and from Georgetown Law School.

Ellie, alongside the community, established the Alef Bet Montessori School to bring together all denominations of the Jewish Community to experience Jewish life through the Montessori Method.

As of March 1, 2019, Ellie serves as the President of the Board for Whole School Leadership (WSL) an international organization for training Montessori heads of schools.

Until June 2010, Ellie served as a founding board member of the National Organization of Montessori Administrators Association. Ellie has served as the Vice Chair to Montessori Schools of Maryland (MSM) for over seven years and has served as the National Representative of AMI (Association Montessori International) USA at CAPE for over five years. In 2013, Ellie won a fellowship at the ConnectGen program of the Federation of Greater Washington to initiate an international organization – Israel Montessori Association (IMA). Since March 2014, Ellie has been a member of the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington (AISGW) and serves on the AISGW MoCo Legislative Committee. In the Spring of 2015, Ellie took on the role of Co-Chair of Israel Action Committee (IAC) for DC Region until the fall of 2017. She currently serves as the President of the Board of Whole School Leadership (WSL) since 2019.

Farhana Jaffrey

Primary Lead Teacher, Reading Specialist

Farhana is an AMI Montessori teacher who been teaching at Alef Bet Montessori since August 2008. Farhana has a BS in Business Administration and holds a JD degree from Kings College, University of London. She practiced law for several years before changing careers and earning her AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) Montessori certification from the Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola College, Maryland, one of the most prestigious Montessori training centers in the country. Farhana is an innovative teacher with an acute sensitivity to children’s needs and abilities.

Carlye Hillman

Primary Lead Teacher

Carlye is an AMI Montessori Primary teacher who joined Alef Bet in 2020. She holds a BA in Communications from High Point uUniversity and a Masters in Education from Loyola Maryland University. In 2022 she earned the AMI Montessori certification at Washington Montessori Institute and enjoys using her skills in the classroom. She has an abundent love for children and learning. She has a deep respect for the child and support them in understanding themselves, each other and who they are in the world.

Carmen Morilo Toddler Lead Teacher

Carmen joined our team years ago. Her unparalled experience with children both at the Primary class and with the Toddler class lead her to find out her real passion for the Toddler class. Carmen is a qualified teacher who graduated in 2023 with a Montessori Certificate. She uses her Montessori training as a teacher in her work and embedding art and creative thinking to help children understand concepts, master their skills and love the learning. She is a loving and a joyful person to work with.

Carla Goldstein

Director of Mommy and Me program, Teacher & Yoga Master

Carla came to our school with fabulous experience as a teacher in Florida for over 10 years. She is a master in Yoga and uses her BA in art and design to help build a beautiful classroom and a loving learning environment. She uses her Montessori training as a teacher in her work and embedding Yoga, art and creative thinking to help children understand concepts, master their skills and love the learning. She is a loving and a joyful person to work with.

Carla has established the Mommy & Me Program, a coaching program for parents and their toddlers. She leads the program and builds a wonderful parent community.

Rachel Sharon

Elementary & Primary Hebrew Coordinator

Rachel joined our school in the fall of 2013. A skilled and enthusiastic teacher, Rachel is also a fluent Hebrew speaker. Rachel has a Teaching Certificate as well as a BA from Seminar Hakibuzim in Israel. Rachel is also very accomplished in the field of teaching on an individual basis and small groups. Rachel is excited to work both in Primary and Elementary classrooms.

Kimberley Van Wagner

Elementary Teacher

Kimberly joined the Alef Bet Team in March 2023. An experienced and well seasoned teacher who holds a BA in Spanish from the University of Missouri, a MS in Agricultural Economics from Clemson University and a M. Ed. from Loyola University of Maryland.  Kimberly obtained her AMI Elementary Diploma in Montessori from Washington Montessori Institute, in Washington DC in 2005. She is leading our Elementary class with over 25 years of experience, and enjoys the children's enthusiasm for learning.

Edith Gvirtzman

Accounting and Office Manager

Edith has a passion for success and resourceful mind to help families and business to grow. She is warm and loving team member with vast experience in small business over 15 years. Edith holds a BA from NY of Technology, and Master from University of Bridgeport CT, in Management Engineering. She is managing the financial aspects of the school including budget, tuition and grants since February 2019.