Faculty & Staff

My name is Ela Majkut. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Early Education and hold a Master in Early Childhood Education (major: Preschool and Kindergarten) from University of Warsaw, Poland. I am also Montessori certified at the primary level.

I come from a family of teachers. My mother was an Art teacher and my sister works as an Elementary teacher. I have been teaching for 34 years, and one of the greatest rewards is seeing the progress of my students. During my various field experiences, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 19 years, teaching children 3-7 all subjects, including music class, in Poland. I taught graduate students at University of Bialystok (Poland) how to design and implement music activities and games to young learners. I am an author of many pedagogical articles and handbooks, such as “Program of Regional Education” handbook for teachers and textbook for students, and “Literature in Early Care and Education” handbook and textbook for students.

After moving to the United States, I got an opportunity to work at Head Start Program, which is based on Montessori Curriculum, for 10 years. I also worked as the Principal of J. Popieluszko Polish Supplementary School in New Jersey for 4 years. I am a passionate teacher who enjoys teaching students and helping them build creativity and confidence. I highly value individuality and strive to meet the needs of each student. Passion for music is a part of my life. In my class, I use the piano during everyday activities to help my students learn and grow. On my time off I enjoy reading books, gardening, painting, skiing, and spending time with my family and my best friends ever: Rayna- a beautiful black lab, and Sally- a playful mixed breed dog.

Cinthya is the youngest child out of four and is a first generation born in the United States of America. She was raised by two very hardworking parents, her father from Comayagua Honduras and her mother from a small town in Honduras called Santa Cruz de Yojoa. Inspired by her teachers growing up Cinthya continues striving to make a positive impact in the lives of the children she teaches. She is currently attending Lehman College in Bronx NY majoring in Sociology with a minor in Childhood Education.

Before joining the Montessori team at HVMS, Cinthya brought her passion for teaching to her previous summer camp job by taking up the role as the K-2nd Art teacher, as well as an after-school teaching assistant position in NYC. Cinthya creates a warm and welcoming classroom environment everyday while teaching her students Spanish and the diverse cultures of various Spanish speaking countries. On her time off she enjoys spending quality time with her family, friends and her two furry four-legged companions, Teddy and Scruffy.

Sonia L. Burgos brings a world of experiences to the classroom! Born in Honduras, she migrated to the U.S. at age 12. A Manhattanite at heart, she immersed herself in a diverse range of activities, from karate to soccer at NYU and even helping to found the Hondumex International women’s soccer team in Bronx N.Y. She is not just a teacher but a midfielder, sweeper, and defender extraordinaire. Winning Ms. Sports 2008 and various soccer cups, Sonia’s accolades extend beyond the field. She is a biology scholar who completed a nursing program at Mount Sinai Hospital New York N.Y., and holds an Associate’s degree from Boricua College. She has teaching experience of over six years in Bronx public schools. In addition, she has shared her linguistic skills by teaching English as a second language (TESOL) at NICE in Queens N.Y, demonstrating a holistic approach to education. Sonia is fluent in English and Spanish, and is fueled by a passion for guiding others on their path to success.

Clark Rice

Physical Education, STEM