People

Karen Kapoor/Director

“Karen Kapoor is an AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) trained and certified pre-school Montessori teacher. Since 1998, she has had the privilege to teach in Montessori schools around the world (Bombay, Montreal, Charlottesville, Richmond and New York.)

Before her Montessori training, she completed her undergraduate studies with a major in psychology from St Xavier’s College, (Bombay University) and a Diploma in French from the Alliance Francaise de Mumbai.

She took a break from classrooms to raise her kids and she believes that those years were her most full-filling as a teaching & learning experience.

Karen has served on several volunteer boards in the community including: Friends of the Cold Spring Tots Park, Haldane PTA, Haldane School Foundation, Philipstown Scout Troop 437 and the Little Stony Point Citizens Association.

Karen serves on the board of the Philipstown Depot Theater and has previously assisted with many youth productions and summer camps.

Besides having a lifelong passion for teaching, music and theater, Karen is also an avid hiker and leads a local hiking group in the Hudson Valley.

Karen has called the village of Cold Spring home where she has lived with her husband and two children since 2005.

Emily Vergara/ Primary Teacher

Emily Vergara has a bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology from Duke University and a master’s degree in Communication and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University.  She brings more than 20 years of experience as a teacher, educational researcher, and curriculum director for a large Head Start preschool program.

Emily is the mother of two Foundry alumni and is excited to return to the school community as an Assistant Teacher.  She is passionate about creating engaging, child-centered learning environments that foster independence, curiosity, and social-emotional growth.

Brandy Burre/Toddler Teacher

Brandy Burre received a Master of Fine Arts from Ohio University’s Professional Actor Training Program. She began working in early childhood development leading classes at Gymboree Play and Music in Washington DC, then as the movement specialist at the Blue Igloo Playgroup in Georgetown.

Brandy completed her 200hr Yoga Teacher Training through Living Yoga Studios in Cold Spring. When not working professionally in film, television and theater, Brandy enjoys hiking, cooking and traveling with her children, Henry and Stella. She lives in beautiful Beacon, NY.

Katrina Stewart/Primary Montessori Teacher

Over the last decade, Katrina Stewart has been an educator in diverse Montessori environments in the Hudson Valley. She started her career as an assistant teacher in a Montessori classroom with Karen Kapoor and since then eventually progressed to lead her own classroom.

Most recently, Katrina worked for two years with the American Red Cross as part of the team that co-ordinates, schedules and manages blood collection initiatives in the region.

With her varied experience, it goes without saying that she brings empathy, compassion and patience to the classroom.

As a longtime resident of the Hudson Valley, Katrina loves hiking and spending time in nature.

Shkelqesa (Chesa) Krasniqi / Toddler assistant teacher

Originally from Kosovo, Chesa has been a resident of Cold Spring since 2017. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Biznesi Gjakove- Kosovo and has spent the past seven years working as an assistant teacher in early childhood education.

As a mother of two, Chesa brings a deeply personal understanding of the importance of patience, compassion, and individualized care to her work with children. Her experience as the mother of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has further shaped her approach to education, teaching her to recognize, respect, and celebrate the unique strengths and abilities of every child.

Chesa is passionate about creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where children feel supported, valued, and encouraged to grow with confidence.

Victoria Estok/ Teacher

Victoria had been an educator for over a decade in a variety of backcountry and urban settings using her intuition and experience to guide her students.

With a background in sound art, environmental education, and advocacy she feels primed and grateful to share space with so many of the young children and adults who prioritize curiosity, expression, and exploration in multiple Montessori and Nature based pre K programs here in the Hudson Valley.

Erin McKeon/ Substitute Teacher

Erin grew up in the Hudson Valley and has worked with children in diverse roles such as art and theatre director for kids camps (AmeriCares in CT, Camp KeeTov in Berkeley, CA ) and as an enrichment coordinator and mindfulness teacher at The Manitou School. 

The programs in our Montessori classrooms are built around purposeful activities.
With that in mind, Erin focusses on mindful movement (yoga) integrating games and activities that facilitate mind-body and social emotional development for children.

Erin is pursuing a degree in Human Services/Sociology at SUNY New Paltz and is also a licensed massage therapist but her proudest accomplishment is being Mama of Lucky and Sybil Bell who attend schools in Cold Spring. 

Fun Fact: Erin was a caretaker in the mountains of Los Olivos, CA where she raised ostriches and wrangled rattlesnakes.