Primary Directress (mburkett@vimsia.org)

Maria Burkett was born in Argentina and raised on St. John. She has been part of the VI Montessori School community for over eight years, beginning as an assistant and now leading her own Primary classroom. She earned her AMI diploma from the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies in Arizona in 2022. Maria has extensive experience with children both in and out of the classroom and runs a local summer camp during school breaks. Passionate about early childhood development, travel, and global cultures, she brings these experiences into her curriculum and loves sharing them with the children. She is committed to nurturing independence, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.

Primary Directress (mboyle@vimsia.org)

Ms. Boyle has been an island girl since birth, born and raised in Ireland. Mandy did her AMI training (Primary and Elementary) in Dublin, Ireland. She worked there and in Massachusetts before making her journey to the Virgin Islands. When she first arrived at the Virgin Islands Montessori School she worked under the guidance of Ms. Shournagh McWeeney, who coincidentally attended the same high school as Mandy in Ireland! Mandy has over 25 years of Montessori experience. Through her years at our school she has seen it expand in students, staff, land, buildings and name! Her favorite part of our school campus is the dome at the top of the hill; it was her first classroom here! The culture, weather, diversity and close-knit community are why Mandy continues to choose St. Thomas as her home.

Primary Directress (ssummer@vimsia.org)

Simone was born and raised in St Thomas. As a child, she attended VIMSIA and was a student of Ms. Keating, who is now retired.  Simone has been teaching Montessori for approximately 20 years: in the US here at VIMSIA, between 2001-2011, then for 5 years in New Zealand and then back to VIMSIA.  Her love of travel and learning about different cultures has grown from her upbringing in our largely diverse and multicultural island. Although Simone will continue to enjoy her adventures to foreign lands, her heart and home will always be here, surrounded by the crystal blue sea and love for diverse island life.

Primary Teacher's Assistant

Ms. Donastorg was born and raised in Miami, Florida and moved to St.Thomas in 2004. Since starting with VIMSIA in 2011, Ms. Donastorg has worked in the Spark, La Casa, and Lower Elementary programs, as well as her current role in Primary. Ms. Donastorg loves to work with children, and it is her passion to watch first hand what happens in the classroom. Ms. Donastorg has 2 children that attended VIMSIA and have graduated; both are attending universities in Florida.

Primary Teacher’s Assistant

Ms. Leon was born in New Jersey but raised in St. Thomas. She graduated from Ivanna Eudora Kean High School in 2017. Ms. Leon was working as an VIMSIA Substitute teacher 2020-2021. She is excited to assist in Ms. Burkett’s classroom this year.

Primary Teacher’s Assistant

Cassandra Sudziarski, “Ms. Sudz”, is a proud Virgin Islander and former VIMSIA student who is thrilled to now be part of the community as a teacher’s assistant. After graduating from Antilles, she went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Photography and Digital Imaging from Ringling College of Art & Design. Creativity and self-expression have always been at the center of her life, and she enjoys sharing that same joy with children.

Education has also been a big part of her own family life—Ms. Sudz homeschooled her son through 7th grade before he transitioned into the IB program at VIMSIA, an experience that deepened her appreciation for individualized learning and the Montessori approach.

Her time as a substitute teacher in 2025 reminded her how special the Montessori classroom is and inspired her to join full time—she simply couldn’t stay away from the children! She is excited to be working alongside Ms. Summer, where she looks forward to nurturing curiosity, encouraging independence, and celebrating each child’s unique personality.

Primary Teacher’s Assistant

Genna LaPlace was born and raised on St. Thomas and attended the University of the Virgin Islands, where she studied Marine Biology and Communications. Shortly after, she became a teacher’s assistant, then a Registered Behavior Therapist for children and adults with special needs. She now works as a teacher’s assistant in the Upper Elementary classroom. She is fascinated by art of all kinds, psychology, learning new things, music, and the ocean.