Our Teachers

Founder & Executive Director

Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X

Mama Sharifa

Mama Sharifa is the Co-Founder and Executive Director at Seneca Village Montessori. She graduated from Brooklyn College with her Bachelors of Science in Business Management & Finance. After starting a family, she decided to move on from her career as a Marketing Manager and pursue her dreams of becoming an Educator. Despite working full time, being a wife and a new mother, she tackled graduate school head on. Graduating from Touro College with her Dual Masters degree in Childhood Education and Special Education.

Sharifa has over 15 years of experience working with children. From her days as a teenager assisting in her mother’s day care to her time as a NYC public school teacher working with special needs students….not to mention raising her own two sons Allen and Oliver.

Working in the public school system, made it overly apparent to her that an alternative learning environment was needed for our children. A learning environment that was academically rigorous but also focused on fostering confidence, encouraging creativity, and teaching positive knowledge of self. Sharifa became more active in her community, volunteering her time to work with groups that were trying to make a difference. Through her work in the community she was introduced to and later became friends with Mama Isis. That was how Seneca Village Montessori School was born…two friends wanting to make a real difference for our youth.

Educational Director

Mama Taswya

Mama Taswya or Mama T, as she is affectionally known, serves as our Educational Director. Mama T has a Masters of Science in Curriculum Planning and Instruction, a B.A. in General and Special Education from Brooklyn College. She has also completed the NAMC Montessori Educators Program. Mama Taswya has over 13 years of early childhood experience and her philosophy on teaching is to “appeal to the whole child”, which benefits their social, emotional, physical and cognitive development. She loves her people and understands that her contribution towards the goal of Black Liberation will come in the form of educating our youth!

Mama Monique

Benin Classroom – Ages 4.5 – 6

“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid”

– Audre Lorde

Mama Nikki

Zulu Preschool Classroom – Ages 3-5

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

– Maya Angelou

Mama Nia

Kemet Toddler Room – Ages 24 mos – 36mos

“Your self-worth is determined by you. You don’t have to depend on someone telling you who you are.”

– Beyoncé Knowles

Mama Yenesis

Mali Preschool Classroom – Ages 3-5

“The sacred is not in heaven or far away. It is all around us, and small human rituals can connect us to its presence. And of course, the greatest challenge (and gift) is to see the sacred in each other.”
–Alma Luz Villanueva