Meet the Teachers
Kristina Brusco – Business Director
Mrs. Brusco’s first experience with the Montessori method was when her own child went through the primary program. Watching her grow and flourish into the young woman she is today solidified her love of Montessori, and inspired her to come work at Diamond Hill Montessori in 2017. She then completed her Montessori Teaching Certification in Early Childhood Education through the North American Montessori Center, and also holds a Bachelors degree in Marketing from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. . She is a faithful advocate for Montessori education and actively volunteers with NJMAC, New Jersey’s Montessori Association Corporation. She has spearheaded partnerships with countless local community groups, which echoes its dedication to modeling community service for its young citizens while providing essential resources to those in need.
Kristina’s contributions extend far beyond the walls of Diamond Hill Montessori. She is an active member of the Berkeley Heights Women’s Club, valued participant in the Berkeley Heights public schools and is always willing to lend a helping hand where needed. Through her dedication to education, outreach and autonomy, she has left an indelible mark on our community, with so many more big plans yet to come.
She and her husband, Michael, live in Berkeley Heights with their school-aged daughter. Kristina is a born and raised Jersey girl and enjoys spending as much time as she can down the shore with her family.
Auna Conrad – Academic Director
Mrs. Conrad has over twenty years of experience educating and nurturing young children. After attending the State University of New York at Buffalo and majoring in English and Early Childhood Education, Mrs. Conrad moved to New Jersey and began her career in Montessori in 2007. She then pursued her certification through the American Montessori Society. Mrs. Conrad came to Diamond Hill Montessori shortly thereafter, and has since watched her own children thrive in our Montessori environment. She lives in Berkeley Heights with her husband and three young children. When she finds the time, she enjoys practicing yoga, traveling and cheering on her hometown football team, the Buffalo Bills.
Madhumala Bajpai
Mrs. Bajpai came to Diamond Hill Montessori in 2018. Over the years, she fell in love with the methodology and its unique way of guiding a child. This encouraged her to get her Montessori certification in Early Childhood Education from the North American Montessori Center after several years in the Montessori environment. Additionally, she holds a Masters degree in Genetics from Ruia College in Mumbai, India. Mrs. Bajpai and her husband have raised their two sons together in India and Connecticut before settling in New Jersey. She is trained in the Bharathnatyam dance form, and has even shared her skills with our students!
Radhika Mehta
Ms. Radhi discovered her passion for Montessori while searching for the right school for her niece, and has since completed her Montessori Early Childhood certification and practicum in Arlington, Texas. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Asian and Asian American Studies and an MBA in Accounting. During her studies, Ms. Radhi spent time in Japan and fell in love with the country and culture. She then traveled back and forth to Japan several times a year for almost a decade as an interpreter and guide, as well as a teacher. Ms. Radhi was trained in the classical North Indian dance form Kathak and brings that same joy of movement and rhythm into the classroom. Now back in New Jersey, she lives with her father, younger sister and dog. In her free time, Ms. Radhi enjoys reading, gardening and spending summer weekends down the shore with family and friends, always with a book in hand. She also looks forward every year to attending the US Open at Flushing Meadows, where she soaks in as many matches as she can.
Kimeshri Reddy
Ms. Reddy was born in South Africa and arrived in the United States as an au pair. She attained her AMS Montessori certification in 2019, and has more than twelve years of childcare and teaching experience combined. Ms. Reddy came to Diamond Hill Montessori during her internship year, and has been practicing the Montessori method at our school since. She recently completed her Bachelor of Education degree in Early Childhood Development, furthering her commitment to teaching young children. Ms. Reddy is now implementing the Montessori philosophy she has been using in the classroom for all of these years in her home with her daugher, which we are all excited to have us join our toddler program later this year!
Janira Roman
Mrs. Roman graduated from Rutgers University earning a bachelor’s degree in Childhood Studies. She joins Diamond Hill Montessori with 12 years of experience in early childhood, many of those years teaching in a Montessori environment. Mrs. Roman is a busy mom with 3 young children and 3 dogs at home, but working with children is truly a passion of hers. She has known she wanted to be a teacher ever since she was a child. We look forward to Mrs. Roman playing a positive part in your child’s development while also having fun!
Hema Bharwani
After completing her Masters in Business Management, Ms. Hema spent the earlier years of her professional career working in the Financial Services Industry. As her family traveled across the world and lived in different countries, she enjoyed her journey as a stay-at-home mom and loved the opportunity to see her two children grow. This also gave her the time to actively participate in her children’s school, helping organize and execute various cultural and art events working closely with the teachers. She partners in running a decade-old book club, and also enjoys cooking and studying philosophy. We are looking forward to Ms. Hema starting a new phase of her career at Diamond Hill Montessori!
Miranda Bonina
Ms. Bonina has over 10+ years of experience working with children of all ages as a babysitter, nanny, camp counselor, and in a school setting. She graduated from Felician University with a degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences minoring in Criminal Justice. After graduating college she started as a Substitute Teacher at a K – 21 Special Education School. During her time there she worked her way as 1-to-1 Aide and Teacher Assistant. Ms. Bonina has also been involved with Martial Arts for the past 18 years and holds a 4th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. At her Martial Arts school you can see her training but also assisting the ‘Mighty Mights’ (3 1/2 – 6 year olds) and the older student classes (7 years – Adult). During Ms. Bonina’s free time she likes spending time with family, friends, and doing Martial Arts.
Kathy Cohan
Ms. Kathy comes to Diamond Hill with well over 25 years experience working with young children. Her background includes working as both a head teacher and assistant in a daycare setting for children ranging in ages from infancy to preschool. Ms. Kathy has worked as a full-time professional nanny for the past 20 years. She began her journey working with the same family for 18 years helping to raise three children of a widowed dad, and has been working with a DHMS family of three girls for the last couple of years. Ms. Kathy has always dreamed of being a teacher, and her love of children has been present from the time she was very young. Outside of her work, Ms. Kathy fills her days spending time with her family, especially her niece and nephew whom she adores. She also loves photography, music, cooking, crafts and volunteering her time to help others when and where she is needed.
Synitra Bailey
Ms. Bailey, known by the children as Ms. Sy, was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey. As the eldest among five sisters and one brother, her passion for caring for children started at the young age of 13. Her path as an educator began in her church teaching Sunday school, and continued at a local Montessori school for the next 8 years, where she greatly admired the philosophy that embraced the children’s independence. During that time, she also obtained her degree in early child education, and after becoming a mom in 2019, Miss Sy was further inspired to pursue her dream of becoming an infant-toddler Montessori teacher. She recently attended the Westside Montessori teacher education program, and is excited for the next step of her teaching journey by joining the Diamond Hill Montessori community. Outside of the classroom, she cherishes moments with her daughter, cooking, baking, and enjoying nature. Family vacations in the summer are a must, and in her downtime, she finds joy in yoga and working out.
Gioia Tripicchio
Ms. Tripicchio has been working in education for over twenty years, seven of which she worked with students with autism and sixteen in a Montessori environment. In fact, Gioia was one of Mrs. Conrad’s head teachers back when she was an assistant! After receiving her Montessori certification from the Christopher Academy teacher training program, Ms. Tripicchio has relied on the Montessori Method to use many different approaches with children from infancy through adolescence, and help each student learn the best way possible. Currently, she is strengthening her education background by attending Regent University for a degree in Early Childhood Development. Ms. Tripicchio has two grown sons who are also Montessori alumni, that she looks forward to spending time with and cooking up a storm for when they are home. She is also a lover of the beach, ballet, and music of all kinds from classical to traditional Irish to metal!