Bala House Faculty and Staff

Diane Force, School Director: Diane joined Bala House in June 1998. She has experience in both Early Childhood Development and Administration. She holds a M.C.A.T. (Masters of Creative Arts Therapy) in Dance Therapy from Hahnemann University and has over 10 years experience in Administration. Diane is the mother of two Bala House graduates.

Lisa Valentine, Director of Development/Marketing: Lisa has served on the Bala House Board of Trustees for 3 years. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University and has experience in Technical Sales. Lisa joined The Bala House in spring of 2004 as the Administrative Assistant and in 2005 she became the Director of Development & Marketing. She is the mother of two Bala House graduates.

Bonnie Tyler, Administrative Assistant: Bonnie joined the BH staff in September 2006. She has over 12 years experience as an administrative assistant working for private companies, as well as large corporations.

Kathy Galvin, Educational Director and Teacher: Kathy holds a M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Beaver College and is certified by AMI. She has been teaching since 1976 and taught at BH from 1982 to 2003. From 2003~2007 Kathy left BH to take a position as a PreK headstart teacher for the School District of Philadelphia. Kathy returned to BH in fall 2007 as Educational Director and teacher. Kathy is the mother of three Bala House graduates.

Virginia Powell, Teacher: Virginia completed her St. Nicholas AMI primary and elementary Montessori training in 1976 and joined The Bala House in 1997. She has founded and directed Montessori schools, and taught at both the pre-primary and elementary levels. She has an M.A. in Early Childhood Education from Texas A&M University. She has been a Montessori teacher trainer and is a frequent lecturer at American Montessori Society conferences. Virginia has one daughter.

Marianne Cordrey-Cotsell, Teacher: Marianne has been teaching since 1992 and received her AMS credential from the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in NY in 1999. Marianne joined Bala House in 2005. She has a M.A. in English with a concentration in Reading Instruction form the University of Delaware. Marianne is a validator for NAEYC (National Association for the Education of the Young Child) and a member of the International Reading Association.

Denise Johnson, Classroom Assistant (a.m.) and Extended Care Director (p.m.): Denise has been at The Bala House since 1980. She has training in Play Therapy from Hahnemann Hospital and an Early Childhood Education degree from Harcum College. Denise is the mother of two Bala House graduates.

Bernice Andrews, Elaine Contino, Denise Falcone, Lisa Hickman, Charmain Lynch, and Sharon Wiggins, Assistants: Bernice completed Montessori training in 2003 and joined the Bala House staff that year. Elaine came in 1997, from many years as an assistant in area private schools. Denise worked at the Bala House from 1992 to 1993, and returned to us in 1999. Lisa joined us as a parent in 1996 and as a staff member in 1997. Charmain has been at The Bala House since 1991. Sharon joined Bala House in 2005 and has over 7 years experience as a classroom assistant. All our assistants have many years of experience with preschool children, as well as training in the field.

Linda Betlejeski, Music Instructor: Linda joined The Bala House staff in 1990. She holds a B.S. in Music Education and a M.M. in Music Education Research from Temple University. She has taught at the preschool level since 1981 at Waldron Mercy Academy and other area schools.

Laurie Geers, Art Instructor: Laurie joined The Bala House staff in 1995. A graphic artist, she holds a B.A. in Fine Arts from Pratt Institute. She has been working with "Art Goes To School" in Lower Merion Elementary Schools since 1989. Laurie also teaches art classes at the Main Line Art Center.

Dana Calafati, Tumble Tots owner, Movement Instructor: Dana attends the Exercise & Sports Science program at Ursinus College. She has 14 years of gymnastics experience and 12 years of direct gymnastics teaching experience with both nursery and school-age children. She has competed internationally, and was ranked nationally in 1995 on floor and balance beam apparatus at the elite level. Dana joined The Bala House in 1999.

Lisa Dissinger, Ph.D., Consulting Psychologist: Lisa is a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist who specializes in preschool children. As a consulting psychologist, she works for the Lower Merion School District and The Greentowne Montessori School, as well as The Bala House. Her consulting practice includes psychological assessments of children and adolescents, consultation to parents, and parent education. Lisa is the mother of a son who is a Bala House graduate.

Ana Levit, Spanish Teacher: Ana has been teaching Spanish to our kindergarten class for the past six years. She holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and has had Montessori training at Chestnut Hill College. She is the mother of two Bala House graduates, as well as two who are currently enrolled.

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