Teachers

Shiffa Mashood

Ms. Mashood has been Director and Primary lead teacher at St. Peter's since the 2006-07 school year. A former Montessori child herself, she has over 25 years of teaching experience in AMI accredited schools.

She has a degree in Economics and Finance and a background in music and has taken Level 1 Orff Schulwerk training at George Mason University. She enjoys the arts and travelling and has recently taken up hand quilting as a hobby.

Marisel Palau

Ms. Palau joined St. Peter's for the 2009-10 school year as a lead teacher in the Primary Program. Ms. Palau holds a Masters degree in Education from Loyola University Maryland and received her A.M.I. diploma from Washington Montessori Institute in Columbia, Maryland. A Montessori student herself, she is fully committed to the nurturing and development of the child.

Ms. Palau is fluent in Spanish and enjoys sharing cultures from around the world with her students.

Rosalinda Siciliano

Ms. Siciliano has recently joined St. Peter's school staff. She has over 20 years experience teaching Montessori primary and elementary students. She also has administrative experience in private, non-profit, and charter schools.

Part of her life's work includes offering opportunities to children by helping establish Montessori programs. Ms. Siciliano holds an AMI primary diploma from the Montessori Education Center of Phoenix and an AMI elementary diploma from the Montessori Training Institute of Minnesota. She also holds two Master's degrees: one from NAU in educational leadership and from Loyola College in advanced education. A native of Philadelphia, she now enjoys living in our beautiful desert which nurtures her strong interest in art.

Karin McMillan