Nancy J Hillengas – Head of School
Nancy Hillengas is our Head of School. Nancy was a Children’s House Lead Guide at MMS for 7 years before she took the Director of School position. In September 2025, Nancy became our Head of School. She is excited about her new role at Malta Montessori and all it entails. Nancy was a Children’s House lead guide at Woodland Hill Montessori School in Rensselaer, NY for 16 years. Prior to that, she taught at the Montessori Magnet School in the City School District of Albany, NY. Nancy holds a Master of Science degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania and earned her American Montessori Society Early Childhood Certification from the Northeast Montessori Institute. In addition to Nancy’s new role, she was a member of the 2023 American Montessori’s Emerging Leaders Fellowship Cohort. Nancy also holds a Permanent Teaching Certificate from New York State. Nancy and her family live in Albany, NY. She enjoys photography, gardening, drawing, and watercolor painting. All three of Nancy’s boys graduated from Montessori.
Meghan Stiehler – Director of Operations
Meghan Stiehler has worn many hats at Malta Montessori: assistant Children’s House teacher, office assistant and is currently Director of our school operations and our Summer Program. Meghan handles many aspects of our daily operations from arranging school subs to staffing our after-school care and planning afterschool enrichment activities, etc. Prior to moving from Maine to Saratoga Springs in June of 2010, so she could be closer to her family, Meghan spent many years working with children in a multitude of settings. She co-founded and taught at a full-day private preschool, worked as a teacher in a multi-age classroom, and cared for children in home and camp settings. Meghan holds a degree from West Virginia University. Outside of school, Meghan enjoys spending time being active, whether it is walking with the dog or working in the yard.
Kerri Dates – Toddler Class Lead Guide
Kerri is the lead guide in one of our toddler classrooms. She grew up in Mechanicville and made her way back to the area after living in Syracuse, North Carolina, and Massachusetts. Kerri
Jessica Koenig – Children’s House Lead Guide
Jessica is a lead guide in one of our Children’s House classrooms this year. Originally from Saratoga Springs, NY she earned her BA in English from the University at Albany. After several years as a children’s ski instructor in Steamboat Springs, CO, Jessica found a small Montessori school and fell in love with the philosophy. Jessica holds her AMS 3-6 Primary Certification from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in Boulder, CO. In 2016, after leading her own Children’s House classroom for 5 years in Boston MA, Jessica moved back to Saratoga Springs with her husband and 3-week-old son. Both of Jessica’s children attended Malta Montessori. At MMS Jessica has worked in Children’s House, Lower Elementary, as an assistant in a Toddler classroom, and now is back to her love of leading a Children’s house classroom. When not teaching she loves to practice yoga, cultivate her many home gardens, ski, and juggle play dates and travel with her family.
Amy Minick – Lower Elementary Assistant Guide
Amy is the assistant in our Lower Elementary classroom. Amy has many years of experience working with young children from infancy to school age. She joined the faculty at Malta Montessori in September 2022 and worked for three years as an assistant in a Children’s House classroom. She received an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Arizona. Amy previously worked at a high-end local daycare for about 10 years. She was in the classroom for 6 years then was promoted to Assistant Director for 4 years before she decided to stay home with her two youngest children. Teaching and working with children is her passion. She truly enjoys watching the children flourish and grow throughout the school year. Amy has 4 children that keep her very busy and she enjoys being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.
Jong Ryu – Children’s House Assistant Guide
Jong Ryu is the assistant guide in Jessica’s Children’s House classroom. She graduated from Korea National University of Education and has 2 bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and music education. She was a head teacher for over 14 years at an elementary school and middle school in Korea and a pre-K assistant teacher in Clifton Park. She has 2 beautiful sons who both graduated from Montessori Kindergarten. Jong began focusing on early childhood education after raising them. She has lived in Korea, Germany, and the United States and has an understanding of many different cultures and hopes to share these things with others at Malta Montessori.
Tatiana Hart – Lower Elementary Lead Guide
Tatiana Hart is currently the lead guide for our Lower Elementary classroom. Previously, she taught for two years in one of our Children’s House classrooms. Tatiana attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated in 2010. After college she went to work in Pennsylvania as the Director of the Equestrian Riding Program at Lake Bryn Mawr. From there she gained and acquired a great interest in working with young children. After working in Pennsylvania she returned to North Carolina where she earned her AMS Montessori Teaching Credential and began her career as an educator. Soon after she enjoyed three years working as a lead Lower Elementary guide in Holly Springs, NC. From 2015-2016 she worked as a co-lead guide at RiverRun Community Montessori. Tatiana earned her Master of Science in Early Childhood Education from the College of New Rochelle. She also expanded her Montessori training by becoming an AMS Primary/Children’s House teacher at CME/NY for children ages 2 ½ to 6 years old.
Patty Acunto – Malta Montessori Substitute
Patty Acunto is currently our permanent building substitute. Patty is a graduate of Regis University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Science and also holds an Associate’s Degree from Marymount University. She received her AMS 3-6 Primary Montessori certification from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in Boulder, Colorado. Patty started her Montessori career at Montessori Peaks Academy in Colorado. After 10 years in Colorado, she moved to New York where she taught at Albany Montessori Education Center. At AMEC she was the director and Children’s House teacher for four years. Patty was the Co-Founder and lead Children’s House teacher at Castle Island Bilingual Montessori School in Albany, NY for two years. Patty came to Malta Montessori in 2014 as a Children’s House lead guide. In the spring of 2023, Patty retired from being a lead guide and moved into the supporting role of assistant guide in our Lower Elementary class for two years to remain part of our Malta Montessori community. Patty and her husband live in Troy with their cat, Reggie.
