Staff Overview
Bryant Woods Montessori Children’s House is proud of our team of experienced, Montessori-credentialed teachers and staff who ensure an authentic application of the Montessori philosophy at our school.
Sarwat Saleem, Head of School and Lead Teacher
Ms Sarwat has been a Montessori educator since 1998 and brings her heritage and extensive Montessori experience into the classroom every day. Originally an MBA student, she earned her Early Childhood Education from Manchester Metropolitan University U.K. and is a graduate of The Barrie School Institute of Advanced Montessori Studies. She is an active member of American Montessori Society since 2008 and an Early Childhood Field Consultant for Intern Montessori Teachers with Barrie Institute in Silver Spring.
Ms Sarwat is also a 200 HR certified Yoga teacher from Thrive Yoga Rockville MD, and enjoys teaching Yoga at Bryant Woods Montessori Children’s House.
She loves traveling, gardening, painting, cooking, going to the beaches and practicing yoga.
April Nevara, Assistant Teacher
Ms April moved from Massachusetts to Maryland in 2024. She got her Early Education certification at Massachusetts Bay, and prior to moving she worked at the Framingham High School daycare for over three years. She started in an infant classroom and later on became a lead teacher in a toddler classroom.
She enjoys being creative with arts and crafts, baking and gardening as time allows. She loves working out and powerlifting too.
Kierra Downs, Admissions and Operations Manager
Kierra brings a dynamic blend of educational experience, creativity, and leadership to her role. With a deep passion for Montessori education and a strong commitment to supporting the whole child, she plays an essential role in fostering a nurturing, organized, and inclusive school environment.
She began her career in education teaching STEM to students in Kindergarten through 8th grade, where she inspired curiosity and critical thinking through hands-on, inquiry-based learning. She later transitioned into the Montessori classroom as a Children’s House Lead Guild, creating child-centered environments that supported each student’s natural development. Her dedication to students, families, and staff led to her promotion as Assistant Director at her previous school, where she helped oversee daily operations and community engagement.
Shoma Chughani, Assistant Administrator
Shoma has a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from UMBC and received her AMS Elementary Certification from the Institute of Advanced Montessori Studies in Silver Spring, MD. She has over 10 years of Montessori classroom experience in both Primary and Elementary.
Outside of school, Shoma enjoys traveling, shopping, cooking, and spending quality time with her family and friends. Lastly, she has a supportive and wonderful husband, and a fun-loving daughter, who is now in Kindergarten.
Nicole Wilson-Hord, Aftercare and Music Teacher
Nicole has been teaching preschool or working with children in some capacity for over 25 years. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education from Towson University. She currently also works in the mornings teaching music and movement and Little Builders at private local preschools. Nicole was also a Pantry Logistics Coordinator at Love Wins in Severn, MD, and still occasionally volunteers.
Nicole has 2 children of her own and enjoys being with kids, especially in small groups where she can get to know them and their families well. She especially enjoys supervising aftercare as it is an opportunity to watch the kids have fun and engage in conversations important to the children!
Viviana Lindo, Spanish Teacher
Mrs. Viviana, originally from the central highlands of Peru, is a bilingual educator with a background in child development, education, sociology, and globalization studies. She has taught in diverse settings from daycares to community programs and served as Director of Community Education at ECO City Farms, where she created programs connecting language, health, and environmental learning. Passionate about inclusive education and community building, she enjoys traveling, cooking, crafting, nature, and growing food.
