Our Montessori Team

Sharon Thomason-Sekyi

Sharon Thomason-Sekyi

Founder

Sharon values the development and human spirit of the whole child—physical, social, emotional, and cognitive. She worked at Aquinas Montessori School for over six years, and her children attended Aidan Montessori and Aquinas Montessori schools. She credits Aquinas Montessori as the inspiration for building NES.

Sharon managed and taught in the classroom during the infancy of the preschool. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Nursing (not currently registered in Nursing). She was a manager in DC law firms for many years and lived on Capitol Hill for decades. Today Sharon oversees the entire operation of STARS Montessori Group including regulatory, operations, marketing, and financial.

She often counsels parents on an individual basis when dealing with personal challenges and issues like physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nutritionists, behavioral therapy and other medical services. She also is available personally for any/all parent comments and questions while attending NES.

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Jennifer Grissom

General Manager

Jennifer joined STARS Montessori Group in 2018. She came to us with many years of business, marketing and advertising experience with Fortune 500 companies. Jennifer has a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing and advertising.

While her three teenage children were young, Jennifer worked in child care and was a swim instructor and coach. Jennifer assists Sharon in overseeing the general operations, marketing and finances of the STARS Montessori Group.

Brenda Wright Sheppard

Brenda Wright Sheppard

Office Administrator

Brenda has many years of experience in the education industry and in local law firms as a paralegal and attorney support. She handles all of the registration, communication, and databases of the STARS Montessori Group.

Brenda is indispensable because her operating procedures allow the directors and teachers to focus on the classroom, not on the zoning, licensing, and regulation part of the job. Brenda has a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). Her two children are young adults.

Chynna Jenkins

Director Supervisor/Curriculum Coordinator/ Alexandria Director / Lead Teacher

Ms. Jenkins has been with Northeast Stars for 9 years. She is also the Director and Lead Teacher in our Alexandria location. Ms. Jenkins has a Montessori Teaching Diploma from North American Montessori Center. She oversees all curriculum and supervises/assists our directors with all Virginia and OSSE required paperwork.

Angelica Jimenez

 Co-Director /Lead Teacher

Angelica Jiminez is our experienced Co-Director at Northeast Stars Preschool DC. With an extensive professional background spanning six years across both elementary and preschool education, Ms. Jimenez contributes a wealth of experience to our educational community. Her academic journey includes a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Education, along with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

In addition to her academic accomplishments, she holds a prestigious Montessori Teaching Diploma from the renowned North American Montessori Center. For the past two years, she has served as an invaluable Co-Director, working alongside Ms. Jenkins to cultivate a nurturing and enriching educational environment for our young learners

Our Staff

Taneshia Jackson

Lead Teacher

Ms. Jackson brings over a decade of childcare expertise to NES as a Lead Teacher. Her passion for early childhood education is evident in her work and life. With an Associates of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education, Ms. Jackson has nurtured children aged 6 weeks to 7 years. Ms. Jackson’s dedication to education and character development, both inside and outside the classroom, makes her a valuable asset to our NES community. She's here to inspire and uplift young minds, ensuring their success.

Kathryne King

Lead Teacher

Ms. King has extensive experience working in childcare and education. She graduated from William and Mary with a degree in Public Policy and Education. Ms. King is dedicated to fostering emotional and intellectual growth in and out of the classroom. After working as a Kindergarten teacher, she was inspired to continue learning and working to instill a love of learning alongside the NES community!

Tiera Lawrence

Lead Teacher

Ms. Lawrence was born and raised in Washington DC. She graduated from Prince George's county public schools. She has worked with children in DCPS for over 10 years and is in the process of finalizing her CDA. She is excited to join the Stars Montessori team!

Deja Mckoy

Lead Teacher

Ms. McKoy has a passion for childhood development in all age categories. She has been nurturing and assisting in developing children for over 10 years. Her love for children stems from the love she has for her family. Ms. McKoy has her associate in early childhood education. She is pursuing a psychology degree with a focus in child psychology as well. Ms. McKoy is excited to be part of the Northeast Stars DC team!

Trezure Wallace

Lead Teacher/ Parent Liaison

Ms. Wallace joined the Northeast Stars ALX teaching team from our DC campus where she was a teacher assistant. She holds a CDA preschool credential. Prior to joining the NES team, Ms. Wallace worked as a paraprofessional with St. Coletta of Greater Washington for 5 years. She enjoys working with her students and providing a safe learning environment. Ms. Wallace is dedicated to improving and developing students with intellectual disabilities’ social and learning skills. This dedication has earned her several awards during her teaching career.

Adia Brooks

Teacher Aide/Aftercare

Ms. Brooks is an Elementary Education major at Howard University. Her passion for kids stems from her grandmother and great grandmother and their passion as teachers. Ms. Brooks has experience working in summer camps and after school programs. She enjoys working with the little ones and NES is a perfect fit to further her experience in health and childcare.

Shaneka Bush

Teacher Assistant

 Shaneka Bush is our devoted Assistant Teacher at Northeast Stars Preschool. With eight years of teaching experience, Shaneka's passion for Montessori education and nurturing young minds shines brightly. Shaneka's background includes roles as a Teacher Assistant and Program Assistant Director. Her skills in individualized tutoring, lesson planning, and maintaining a positive learning environment have greatly enriched our classroom. Shaneka's dedication to children and her pursuit of Montessori education are truly commendable. Shaneka is currently enrolled in the CDA Program to further her education in early childhood education. We're excited to have her as part of the NES community, contributing her passion and expertise to our young learners' growth.

Chanelle Jones

Teacher Assistant

Ms. Jones is in her third year of college as a Music Education major at Morgan State University. She has a passion for children’s education in music and plans to be a music teacher after graduating with her Bachelor’s and Master’s in music. Ms. Jones is enthusiastic to be on the NES team and to grow as an aspiring educator.

Marvenda Manley

Teacher Assistant

Ms.Marvenda is a recent Alexandria City High School graduate working to gain experience in childcare in her local old town community. She has always had a passion for working with children which only grew as she gained several  years of experience through providing care for families in her community. She has experience working with children of all ages, and she really enjoys teaching and helping children as much as possible. Ms.Marvenda is very excited about furthering her career in childcare.

Jasmine Melgar

Teacher Assistant/Spanish Immersion Teacher

Ms. Jasmine started her career with children as a nanny three years ago. She enjoys working with children and teaching and talking to them in Spanish. She is excited to be a part of the NES team as a Spanish immersion teacher!

Shonta Wade

Teacher Assistant

Shonta Wade is a seasoned professional deeply committed to enriching the lives of young learners at NES. With extensive experience garnered over several years, Shonta's passion for working with children stems from her roles as a devoted mother and active volunteer within school and daycare settings. Shonta finds particular joy in nurturing and educating infants and toddlers, relishing the opportunity to introduce them to new concepts and experiences. Witnessing the significant milestones these young minds achieve within the classroom is a source of inspiration and reaffirms her dedication to their educational journey.