Our Staff

Rose M. Park

Mrs. Park was chosen as a
Teacher of the Year
by State College Magazine.

Rose M. Park is Director and Co-Teacher of the school and has primary responsibility for the Kindergarten program. Mrs. Park has been a Montessori teacher since 1973 and is certified as a Montessori Teacher by the St. Nicholas Training Center, London, England, with diplomas for preschool and elementary programs. She took her Montessori Internship at the Penn-Mont Academy, Altoona, and holds both Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Education from Shippensburg State University. She also taught in elementary special education and in slow-learner programs and has day care, counseling, and administrative experience.

Melissa Mason

Melissa Mason is Co-Teacher of the school and has primary responsibility for the Nursery School program. Mrs. Mason graduated from Southern Lehigh High School in Center Valley, Pennsylvania and holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Penn State University. She worked as a scientist for ten years before her children were born. She was a stay-at-home Mom while her children were growing up. She was hired by Park Forest Day Nursery and joined Park Forest Montessori School in 2008.

Cindy Neidigh

Cindy Neidigh has been team teaching in our school for four years and has been a Personal Service Aide in our classes since 2006. She provides opportunities for each child to work at his/her own pace, in a calm, non-competitive environment that fosters independence. Recognizing the need for young children to learn by doing, she has experience in using Practical Life and Sensorial materials as well as Language and Math materials. She presents lessons from all areas of the curriculum on a daily basis. Some of her other duties include: consulting with parents on interaction strategies at home, developing Individual Education Programs (IEP) for special education children in the class, and participating in IEP meetings with administrators, parents, and school district representatives. She has the aptitude, creativity, patience and sensitivity to help children grow.