Board of Advisors


	Marlene J. Darwin, Ph.D. Marlene Darwin is a Senior Research Analyst at the American Institutes for Research, a premier social sciences research organization in Washington, D.C. Dr. Darwin has extensive research and practitioner experience in literacy and instruction, including 15 years as a reading specialist in public schools in Virginia and Georgia. Dr. Darwin received her doctorate in education from George Mason University with specialties in literacy and educational leadership. Dr. Darwin received the Nila Banton Smith Award in 2002 from the International Reading Association for her leadership as a secondary reading specialist. She was also recognized as Reading Teacher of the Year in Virginia for 2002. Dr. Darwin has demonstrated expertise in School Reform and Turnaround, Dropout Prevention, Evidence-Based Practices in Schools, and Translation of Research-Based Practices to Products and Tools for Practitioners. She brings a national policy perspective to the board as well as a deep understanding of children’s developmental needs to become expert readers, writers, and communicators.

	Peter Garbus Peter Garbus is currently the Principal and Head of School of the Four Rivers Charter Public School in Greenfield, MA. He was the founder and Executive Director of the North Central Charter Essential School in Fitchburg, MA. He previously taught at the Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School in Devens, MA and was part of the inaugural faculty of an innovative public high school in Arizona. With 20 years of experience working in the field of education, he has been a teacher and a school leader in 6 different schools, from small urban public to large suburban comprehensive to small rural independent to urban charter to rural charter. In every setting, he has worked to keep students at the center and to build structures that help all students develop strong minds and strong character. Peter earned his B.A. in History from Brown University and his M. Ed. in Teaching and Curriculum at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.

	M.F.O. Lafeer, M.D. Dr. Fausul Lafeer is a board certified Pediatrician in Southern Maryland and has been in practice for nearly 40 years. Originally from Sri Lanka, Dr. Lafeer is well versed in Montessori philosophy and believes that Montessori education is beneficial to early childhood development. In addition to his medical credentials, Dr. Lafeer is a specialist in the field of quality and performance management and is certified by The American College of Physician Executives. He holds an MBA with honors from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Personally, Dr. Lafeer has been married to Mrs. Zooni Lafeer for nearly 40 years. The couple's two children are Montessori educated; a son who graduated from MIT in Boston and daughter who graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

	Alison Papadakis, Ph.D. Dr. Alison Papadakis is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Loyola University in Baltimore, MD. She holds an A.B. Cum Laude from Princeton University in Psychology, a Masters and Ph.D. from Duke University in Clinical Psychology, and a Certificate in Developmental Psychology from Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has broad clinical experience in conducting psychoeducational assessments of children and in providing psychotherapy to children and their families. Her research has examined issues including social development, temperament, self-regulation, and mental health in early childhood through adolescence. Dr. Papadakis has written numerous papers and made conference presentations as an expert in her field. She also co-directs a partnership with the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore focused on the promotion of positive peer interactions in school children. In addition to her professional expertise in psychology, Dr. Papadakis has a 2 year old daughter who attends Montessori.

	Mary Riggs Montessori educator, parent, and consultant since the early 1970’s, BA in Psychology (St. Mary’s College, New Orleans, LA); Montessori Certification for both the Primary 3-6 year old level (Association Montessori Internationale, Ravenhill Academy, Philadelphia PA), and the Infant/Toddler level (American Montessori Society, Center for Montessori Teacher Education in North Carolina). Over 25 years experience: Lead Teacher in Montessori Primary Classrooms 14 years, at the Montessori School of Northern Virginia, and Sunset Hills Montessori School; assisting in Fairfax County classrooms for special needs (autistic) children 3 years at Oakton Elementary; creating and teaching a Pre-School program for US Army Base, Bad Kreuznach, Germany; Department Head and Lead Teacher of a new toddler program at Sunset Hills Montessori (Reston) 7 years, consulting on the creation and evaluation of all aspects of the program. Currently teaching in the Toddler program at Montessori Children’s House of Loudoun programs; creating and implementing Staff Development and Training Programs for toddler staff. Along with the wisdom of Maria Montessori, studied and trained with RIE (Resources for Infant Educators), the highly compatible teachings and writings of Magda Gerber, who is recognized as one of the leaders of the study of infant development, and who taught about respectfully allowing infants security and freedom to explore and learn from their environments. With her husband, Mrs. Riggs raised three confident and remarkable daughters.