Aster Montessori
Angelina Hawley-Dolan
Head of School
Co-founder and lead teacher Angelina Hawley-Dolan (she/her) is an AMS-certified Montessori primary teacher through New England Montessori Teacher Education Center (NEMTEC). She received her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Boston College. Her research focuses primarily on art and morality and is published in leading developmental journals such as Psychological Science, PLoS One, and Cognition.Angelina has presented her work nationally and internationally. She has worked with children from the preschool level to young adulthood and is passionate about joyful learning.
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Angelina is a certified Yoga instructor and teacher trainer in the Boston area. She resides in Winchester with her husband, two sons and daughter (graduates of Aster!). She grew up in New England and every chance she gets to be outside and experience each season, the better!
Kanan Patel
Head of School
Co-founder and lead teacher Kanan Patel (she/her) is an AMI-certified Montessori primary teacher through the Ratan Tata Institute in Mumbai. She has been a Montessori educator for over a decade, teaching in Montessori schools both in India and the United States. Kanan holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Gujarat University in India.
Kanan was born and raised in Ahmedabad -- a vibrant city located in western India that is known for its association with Mahatma Gandhi, and is endowed with rich architectural heritage. She is fluent in three languages, English, Hindi, and Gujarati. Kanan is married and has two daughters, one of whom is a graduate of Aster. Aside from being passionate about Montessori education, she enjoys cooking with her family and friends; she feels it nourishes her soul!
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Erin Voskeritchian
Teacher Leader
Erin Voskeritchian (she/her) has been with Aster for seven years and teaching for the past nine years. She is a licensed Elementary teacher in both Virginia and Massachusetts. She holds a Master’s degree of Teaching and a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Early and Elementary Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has been living in Cambridge for the past seven years and has taught in the Cambridge public schools. Erin has taught and worked with students from kindergarten through 8th grade in both Richmond and Cambridge. She has been the coordinator and instructor in creative arts programs in both cities.
Erin is AMS-trained as a Montessori primary teacher through the New England Montessori Teacher Education Center (NEMTEC). Erin’s love of nature and her background in athletics, art, and music is reflective in her teaching. She is passionate about fostering creativity and helping children build their confidence by focusing on their unique strengths.
Helen Weeks
Teacher Leader
Helen Weeks Peterson (she/her) has been with Aster for seven years as a teacher leader! She earned her BA in Environmental Studies at Pitzer College in Claremont, CA, and then her MS in Ecological Teaching & Learning from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She lives in Belmont, MA with her family. She spends most of her free time outside! She especially enjoys hiking, boating and traveling. During the summers she volunteers with the Nantucket Land & Water Council, working on the board and engaging people in the local environment. She looks forward to working with science tools, and exploring the East Cambridge community with students in all types of weather!
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Susan Li
Teacher Leader
Susan Li (she/her) has been working at Aster for one year and with primary children since 2018 and certified Preschool Teacher by EEC. She got associate degree in Early Childhood Education from China. She is very passionate about working with Children and watch them grow, so she feels that’s meaningful and rewarding.
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Susan lives in Braintree, Ma with her husband and 3 sons. She loves to spend time with her family during her free time. Cooking, traveling, and watching movies.