The Harbor School’s core strength is its outstanding faculty. We are trained in early childhood education, we love children, and we are committed to inspiring our students to be active, creative and confident lifelong learners.
Meet our Faculty
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Faculty with Advanced Degrees
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Faculty Teaching Experience (average)
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Faculty Tenure at Harbor (average)
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Faculty dedicated to early childhood education
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Average Student:Teacher Ratio
Faculty Directory
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Farhana Chaity
Junior Kindergarten
Education
B.S. - University of Maryland
Experience
8 years of teaching experience
Why Harbor?
I started at The Harbor School as a substitute teacher and in my time working here I fell in love with the warm environment and friendly faculty which drew me to teach full time at this school.
Fun Facts
I used to be scared of cats but now I am a proud owner of one!
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Jo Chang
3rd Grade
Education
M.A. - University of Maryland; B.A. - Florida International University
Experience
8 Years of teaching experience
Why Harbor?
I was drawn to Harbor by the student body, my colleagues, and the warm, friendly, inclusive environment!
Fun Facts
I love creating with my hands. I like to crochet and do macrame. I learn through watching Youtube videos and by using patterns. I am getting better with lots of practice (and mistakes).
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Monica Darvish
2nd Grade
Education
B.A. - University of Maryland
Experience
10 years of teaching experience
Why Harbor?
Harbor is a very warm community. The people that love Harbor really show it and are dedicated to making it a better place.
Fun Facts
Fun fact- I am happy to say I am 53 years old and have no cavities. My daughter and her dad and myself are all left-handed. And this is my fifth heart anniversary! Harbor was a big part of my recovery in that process!
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Seth Dempsey
Kindergarten
Education
M.A. - American University; B.A. - Davis and Elkins University
Experience
5 years of teaching experience
Why Harbor?
The community, the people, small class sizes, and Spiral Curriculum!
Fun Facts
I'm a pretty good whistler, and I often will find four leaf clovers.
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Meeta Grover
Preschool 2s/3s
Education
B.A. - Delhi University
Experience
23 years of teaching experience
Why Harbor?
My sister worked here and heard great things about the school from her!
Fun Facts
I love to cook and feed people!
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Jackie Havens
Preschool 2s/3s
Education
B.S. - University of Maryland
Experience
I have 10 years of experience.
Why Harbor?
From the very first time I spoke with Ms. Musico I was drawn in. I love the inclusivity among not only the students but staff as well. The fact that every child is embraced and recognized to have their own way of learning was very important to me.
Fun Facts
When I was 25 I moved to Israel. I lived and worked on a kibbutz for a year doing all types of jobs. Working in the kitchen, the alfalfa fields, the turkey farm and my favorite, catching and sorting fish. I’ve safaried in Zimbabwe, Africa, and I’ve toured the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. I went skydiving last year and loved it!
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Jasmina Hinton
PE/Movement
Education
Ph.D. - University of Nis, Serbia; M.S. - University of Nis, Serbia ; B.S. - University of Nis, Serbia
Experience
13 years of teaching experience
Why Harbor?
The nurturing environment & cultural diversity
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Ashley Howard
Learning & Literacy Specialist, Summer Camp Director
Education
M.Ed - George Mason University; B.S. - Old Dominion University
Experience
10 years of experience in special education
Why Harbor?
The community, professionalism of the faculty, the curriculum, the small class sizes. Creativity and uniqueness are valued!
Fun Facts
I love to spend time with my family, read, cook, and I also enjoy arts and crafts. As a hobby, I like to make coffee drinks at home. I love collecting new syrups, coffee, and mugs!
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Maria Jurasek
Preschool 4s
Education
B.A. - Vitéz János Teachers College, Hungary
Experience
15 years of teaching and teaching assistant experience
Fun Facts
I have a dressmaker diploma too and I like to do needlework.
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Jasveen Kaur
1st Grade, Technology Coordinator
Education
Teaching Licensure Program - University of Virginia; B.A. - Delhi University, India
Experience
26 years of teaching experience
Why Harbor?
Harbor had the community feel I was looking for.
Fun Facts
I am an artist and was a textile designer before I became a teacher. I still paint sometimes. Being creative helps me do fun projects with my class. I am also a big Harry Potter fan. I LOVE riding on roller coasters.
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Cherry Marwaha
Kindergarten
Education
B.S. - VS Dental College, Bengaluru India
Experience
4 years of experience as a teaching assistant
Why Harbor?
The Harbor Schools mission to embrace the uniqueness of each child to and celebrate the uniqueness in them and each other. The other thing about the school that made an impression on me was the social emotional curriculum.
Fun Facts
I have hiked Mount Batur Volcano in Bali. I have studied in a boarding school from the age of 8 until university. I speak English, Hindi, and Punjabi fluently.
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Leah Musico
Head of School
Education
Certificate in Administration and Supervision - Johns Hopkins University; M.A. - Johns Hopkins University; B.A. - Wake Forest University
Experience
26 years of experience in teaching and administration
Why Harbor?
I was drawn to the small size and warm, personalized approach, coupled with the high quality of professionalism at Harbor. The school has been an enriching professional (and personal, since my own children are students) home for me and my family for the last six years!
Fun Facts
I taught second grade for most of my teaching career, at both public and private schools, before moving into administration in 2007. I also have taught yoga for many years, and I love that I get to teach yoga to the students at Harbor!
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Christian Nowlin
1st Grade
Education
A.A. - J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Experience
6 years of experience as an assistant teacher
Why Harbor?
I felt an instant connection speaking with Ms. Musico during my interview. We shared our stories and experiences with each other in a safe space. Meeting the staff for the very first time, I felt welcomed by the Harbor community.
Fun Facts
I am a cat lover!
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Claudia Owen
Preschool 4s
Education
B.F.A. - University of Arizona
Experience
21 years of teaching experience
Why Harbor?
I have spent the past seven years working as an Instructional Coach at a childcare center, and during that time, I began to deeply miss the direct interaction with students and the fulfillment of having my own classroom. While researching various schools, I was immediately drawn to The Harbor School because of its strong emphasis on recognizing that not all children learn the same way. I appreciate the school’s commitment to supporting cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development in a holistic manner. This approach aligns perfectly with my own teaching philosophy and passion for creating an inclusive and nurturing learning environment. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to and grow with Harbor’s vibrant community.
Fun Facts
My parents were only children, so my sisters and I grew up without aunts, uncles, or cousins. But now, with our own families expanding, their legacy is continuing to grow in remarkable ways. It’s incredible to find that having a larger family now brings a different kind of energy to life!
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Allison Peppelman
Junior Kindergarten
Education
M.A. - University of Delaware; B.A. - Dickinson College
Experience
15 years of teaching experience
Why Harbor?
I felt an immediate connection to Harbor from the first time I spoke with Leah, and I saw in Harbor so many of the wonderful things I had loved and valued in my children’s preschool- a true sense of community, an intentional "smallness" that allowed everyone to know each other, a sense of welcoming, respect and collaboration between parents and teachers, a commitment to child-led exploration and learning, an emphasis on social-emotional learning- just a true warm feeling throughout my heart. It was a perfect fit and I am (and have been) just so delighted to be a part of the community!
Fun Facts
I began my teaching career as a Spanish teacher at the Gilman Lower School and, after pursuing my graduate degree, at the Upper School at the Boys' Latin School of Maryland.
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Stephanie Povich
2nd Grade
Education
B.A. - Penn State University
Experience
First year as classroom lead, after intern teaching, assistant teaching, and camp counselor experience.
Why Harbor?
When I first came to Harbor and met some of the students and faculty, I could feel how excited everyone was to be there! The passion from the rest of faculty for the wellbeing of all Harbor students was inspiring and could be felt all throughout the school. I was also drawn to Harbors' emphasis on individual learning experiences for students. It has such a great opportunity for students to learn in a smaller setting which creates great connections between the entire classroom and school community.
Fun Facts
I can juggle!
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Dana Riley
Business Officer
Education
B.S. - University of Delaware
Experience
39 years in the field of finance and accounting
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Nikki Sumpter
Office Manager & Admissions Associate
Education
M.Ed. - Towson University; B.A. - University of Maryland
Experience
13 years of experience in education
Why Harbor?
the inclusive, friendly community and the professionalism of the faculty
Fun Facts
I am the middle child of five kids!
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Sonia Vasquez
Spanish
Education
M.S. - Universidad Nacional de Colombia; B.S. - Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Experience
10 years of teaching experience
Why Harbor?
The friendly environment in the school and the commitment to follow the mission of the school with every single student.
Fun Facts
Before teaching Spanish, I worked in Colombia as a researcher in an interesting biotechnological program about the use of entomopathogens to control diseases in plants.
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Yuki Wilson
Music
Education
M. M. - University of Minnesota; B.M. - New England Conservatory of Music
Experience
25 years of teaching experience
Why Harbor?
I like the small size classes and our warm, welcoming community.
Fun Facts
I love salsa dancing!
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Andrea Zuraf
Assistant Head of School & Director of Admissions & Marketing
Education
M.A.T. - Johns Hopkins University; B.A. - University of Maryland
Experience
22 years of experience in teaching and administration
Why Harbor?
The Harbor School has been such an amazing community to be a part of, and the enriching, creative, inquiry-based program speaks to me as a teacher and lifelong learner. I wish I could have gone to a school like Harbor when I was a child!
We recognize that these early years at Harbor are when your children are discovering and developing their individual learning styles. Our mission reflects this responsibility: We embrace the uniqueness of each young child, and we teach our students to celebrate it in themselves and each other.
We offer each student differentiated instruction and individualized attention. We accomplish this by keeping our class size small, with experienced and loving teachers in each classroom. We tailor the multi-sensory, hands-on curriculum to individual learners. We encourage, demonstrate, and provide instruction for pro-active socially responsible interaction with teachers and fellow students.
To further cultivate our students’ creativity and self-expression, we have teaching specialists offering outstanding instruction in art, music, Spanish, physical education, and mindfulness.
Additionally, The Harbor School recognizes and supports ongoing professional development for our faculty to keep aware of best practices and educational research boosting student confidence and achievement.
All of our students have daily conferences with their teachers, and teachers regularly communicate with parents about the academic and social progress of each student. Here at Harbor, the parent-teacher relationship is just as important as the student-teacher relationship. Your child – and your family – will never get lost in the crowd here at Harbor.