Director, Mary D'Anella, (she/her) was born and raised in South Philadelphia and was an early proponent of the charter school movement. Ms. D’Anella led the turn-around team for The Philadelphia Charter School for the Arts and Sciences and later served as its CEO, spearheading a successful school-wide reading improvement program that included intervention, remediation, and enrichment. Previously, she was a founding board member of the city's largest charter, The Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School, and served as Director of Communications for its management company, String Theory Schools. Ms. D’Anella has been an advocate for Montessori preschool education since her own children benefited from the Montessori methods.
Director of Education, Isabella D'Anella-Mercanti, (she/her) has teaching certifications in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Isabella completed her Master’s Degree in Montessori Education from Chestnut Hill College. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a dual minor in Urban and Childhood Studies from Rutgers University. Prior to joining The Children’s House, Isabella worked at the Walter Rand Institute on counseling grant projects for the Camden School District and as a high school English teacher in Philadelphia. She continues to advance her studies in education policy to improve education in the Philadelphia region. Isabella earned her Pennsylvania Teaching Certification, Pre-K to 4th grade, in addition to her Pennsylvania Certification in English, grades 6th to 12th. As a young child, Isabella attended Montessori Preschool in Philadelphia.
Primary Guide, Anna Simons is a lifelong Philadelphian. She earned my BA & Master's in Early Childhood Education from Temple University and taught Kindergarten in the School District of Philadelphia for 15 years before embarking on her journey with music education as the owner, director, and teacher of Enchanted Music Together. During this time Anna hosted music classes at local schools and coached adults on why and how to easily support their child’s musical growth. Anna then went on to obtain her second Master's of Education, with a Montessori Certificate from Chestnut Hill College. Anna is married with two sons and loves to bake, sing, play the recorder & teach children. She also speaks fluent German.
Toddler Guide, Alanna Conover (she/her), has been a member of The Children’s House team since our inaugural year in 2017. Alanna is currently earning her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with a Montessori Teaching Certification. Alanna has a gentle and compassionate connection with those children in her charge.
Primary Guide, Colette Welsh (she/her) was granted her Master's Degree in Montessori Education from Chestnut Hill College. Colette holds a Montessori Primary certification. She began her Montessori teaching career at Montessori Children’s Academy in Chatham, NJ. She is a graduate of Montclair State University, majoring in Family and Child Studies with a concentration in Early and Middle Childhood Education. During her undergraduate studies, she attended the University of New South Wales, in Sydney, Australia, for a semester abroad. Upon her return, Colette earned her Pennsylvania Teacher’s Certification in Pre-K to 4th grade. Colette, who is an active community volunteer, is the mother of three young sons. She enjoys family life in her South Philadelphia neighborhood.
Primary Guide, Diane Tichenor (she/her) is a veteran teacher with eleven years teaching experience, both in her hometown of Philadelphia and in the Navajo Nation. She worked on the Navajo Reservation as a Kindergarten teacher for five years and after that, taught one year of preschool and five years of first grade here in Philadelphia. Two years ago, Diane began her Montessori journey and this year received her Master’s in Early Childhood Education with a Montessori Certification from Chestnut Hill College. Fun fact: Diane, Colette Welsh, Anna Simons and Isabella were classmates at Chestnut Hill and completed their Montessori Primary Certification together! Diane completed her internship last year at Clover Montessori in Mount Airy before joining us at The Children’s House.
Infant/Young Toddler Guide, Erica Taylor (she/her), joined our school community in 2022, and after some time away, we welcome her back to lead our infant program. Ms. Taylor spent the last eleven years in infant environments in Philadelphia. Ms. Taylor first fell in love with teaching children when she volunteered at a local childcare center in her neighborhood. She now has over 15 years experience with children and has earned her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Community College of Philadelphia. Along with teaching at the Children's House of Philadelphia, she enjoys family time with her husband and two sons. Ms. Taylor loves that she helps students believe in themselves and their ability to learn.
Toddler Guide, Gianna Scalia (she/her), joined The Children’s House team in December 2022. Gianna was an assistant in a toddler community last year and throughout the summer. Before joining The Children’s House, Gianna worked in various camp and early childhood settings throughout Philadelphia including infant classrooms. Gianna is currently pursuing an American Montessori Society Infant/Toddler Credential at Chestnut Hill College.
Primary Guide, Qixuan Liu (she/her) received her Master's Degree in Intercultural Communication, M.S. Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania and her Bachelor's Degree in Teaching Chinese To Speakers of Other Languages at the Beijing Language and Culture University. Qixuan is currently earning her Montessori certificate at Chestnut Hill College. She was a Chinese Language Teacher/Montessori Assistant Teacher where she would design and lead a theme-based after-school Chinese language program which included cooking, art, music and dance, STEM, and calligraphy. Qixuan also worked with the Asian Arts Initiative, Youth Art Workshop (YAW) & Access Center publishing, "Exploring Intercultural Sensitivity of South Asian Students Learning in Chinese Universities".
Director of Education, Isabella D'Anella-Mercanti, (she/her) has teaching certifications in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Isabella completed her Master’s Degree in Montessori Education from Chestnut Hill College. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a dual minor in Urban and Childhood Studies from Rutgers University. Prior to joining The Children’s House, Isabella worked at the Walter Rand Institute on counseling grant projects for the Camden School District and as a high school English teacher in Philadelphia. She continues to advance her studies in education policy to improve education in the Philadelphia region. Isabella earned her Pennsylvania Teaching Certification, Pre-K to 4th grade, in addition to her Pennsylvania Certification in English, grades 6th to 12th. As a young child, Isabella attended Montessori Preschool in Philadelphia.
Primary Guide, Anna Simons is a lifelong Philadelphian. She earned my BA & Master's in Early Childhood Education from Temple University and taught Kindergarten in the School District of Philadelphia for 15 years before embarking on her journey with music education as the owner, director, and teacher of Enchanted Music Together. During this time Anna hosted music classes at local schools and coached adults on why and how to easily support their child’s musical growth. Anna then went on to obtain her second Master's of Education, with a Montessori Certificate from Chestnut Hill College. Anna is married with two sons and loves to bake, sing, play the recorder & teach children. She also speaks fluent German.
Toddler Guide, Alanna Conover (she/her), has been a member of The Children’s House team since our inaugural year in 2017. Alanna is currently earning her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with a Montessori Teaching Certification. Alanna has a gentle and compassionate connection with those children in her charge.
Primary Guide, Colette Welsh (she/her) was granted her Master's Degree in Montessori Education from Chestnut Hill College. Colette holds a Montessori Primary certification. She began her Montessori teaching career at Montessori Children’s Academy in Chatham, NJ. She is a graduate of Montclair State University, majoring in Family and Child Studies with a concentration in Early and Middle Childhood Education. During her undergraduate studies, she attended the University of New South Wales, in Sydney, Australia, for a semester abroad. Upon her return, Colette earned her Pennsylvania Teacher’s Certification in Pre-K to 4th grade. Colette, who is an active community volunteer, is the mother of three young sons. She enjoys family life in her South Philadelphia neighborhood.
Primary Guide, Diane Tichenor (she/her) is a veteran teacher with eleven years teaching experience, both in her hometown of Philadelphia and in the Navajo Nation. She worked on the Navajo Reservation as a Kindergarten teacher for five years and after that, taught one year of preschool and five years of first grade here in Philadelphia. Two years ago, Diane began her Montessori journey and this year received her Master’s in Early Childhood Education with a Montessori Certification from Chestnut Hill College. Fun fact: Diane, Colette Welsh, Anna Simons and Isabella were classmates at Chestnut Hill and completed their Montessori Primary Certification together! Diane completed her internship last year at Clover Montessori in Mount Airy before joining us at The Children’s House.
Infant/Young Toddler Guide, Erica Taylor (she/her), joined our school community in 2022, and after some time away, we welcome her back to lead our infant program. Ms. Taylor spent the last eleven years in infant environments in Philadelphia. Ms. Taylor first fell in love with teaching children when she volunteered at a local childcare center in her neighborhood. She now has over 15 years experience with children and has earned her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Community College of Philadelphia. Along with teaching at the Children's House of Philadelphia, she enjoys family time with her husband and two sons. Ms. Taylor loves that she helps students believe in themselves and their ability to learn.
Toddler Guide, Gianna Scalia (she/her), joined The Children’s House team in December 2022. Gianna was an assistant in a toddler community last year and throughout the summer. Before joining The Children’s House, Gianna worked in various camp and early childhood settings throughout Philadelphia including infant classrooms. Gianna is currently pursuing an American Montessori Society Infant/Toddler Credential at Chestnut Hill College.
Primary Guide, Qixuan Liu (she/her) received her Master's Degree in Intercultural Communication, M.S. Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania and her Bachelor's Degree in Teaching Chinese To Speakers of Other Languages at the Beijing Language and Culture University. Qixuan is currently earning her Montessori certificate at Chestnut Hill College. She was a Chinese Language Teacher/Montessori Assistant Teacher where she would design and lead a theme-based after-school Chinese language program which included cooking, art, music and dance, STEM, and calligraphy. Qixuan also worked with the Asian Arts Initiative, Youth Art Workshop (YAW) & Access Center publishing, "Exploring Intercultural Sensitivity of South Asian Students Learning in Chinese Universities".