Elementary School Staff
Elisa Pitkin, B.A., M.Ed.
Director of Elementary & Middle School
National Center for Montessori Education-New England Instructor of Art
Gordon College – Early Childhood Education
Gordon College Graduate School Education
National Center for Montessori Education – Pre-primary Certification
St. Nicholas Montessori Center- London – Elementary Teacher Certification 6-9
Elisa joined the faculty in 1997. With an undergraduate and graduate degree in education and three Montessori certifications ranging from ages 2.9-12, Elisa is the perfect member of the administrative team to be Director of Elementary and Middle School Program. Under her guidance, the elementary and middle school program achieves a high level of excellence. Elisa enjoys photography and her family. Her three sons are enrolled at Harborlight.
Sarah Goodale, B.A., M.A.
Head Teacher – Lower Elementary 1
Boston College, Lynch School of Education – Educational Psychology and Human Development
University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth – Psychology and Elementary Education
Seacoast Center – American Montessori Society Elementary Certification Ages 6-9
Sarah joined the Harborlight team in 2009. She received her elementary certification as an undergraduate with Massachusetts state certification for grades 1-6, and has been teaching the Montessori method for nine years, and has taught at both Kingsley and Pincushion Montessori schools. Sarah has also participated in graduate workshops outside of her degree that have been centered around teaching reading to elementary children. She very much enjoys discussing children’s literature in and out of school. Her son, George is enrolled in the I/T Program and welcomes his new baby sister.
Andrew Carlson-Lier, B.A.
Teacher – Lower Elementary 1
Gordon College – Social Work
Andrew joined the Harborlight faculty in 2010. Andrew taught as substitute teacher prior to joining the staff. He quickly fell in love with the Harborlight community, and is firmly committed to the Montessori Philosophy as a method for social and moral development, peacemaking and developing responsible citizenship. Andrew has diverse experience working for the North Shore Education Consortium, Hospice of the North Shore and for Great Books Honors Program at Gordon College. He enjoys literature, film, music, biking and the outdoors. He values time with his wife and two sons. His older son is enrolled in the Early Childhood Program.
Nichole Schrafft, B.A., M.Ed.
Head Teacher – Lower Elementary 2
Lynchburg College – English
National Center for Montessori Education – New England – Early Childhood Certification
Seacoast Center – Elementary Montessori Certification
Cambridge College Graduate School – Education
Nichole joined the Harborlight faculty in 1994 and taught in the Early Childhood Program for nine years before moving to the Elementary Program. She has also taught language and cultural subjects for the National Center for Montessori Education-New England. Outside of Harborlight, Nichole has traveled to Africa, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the Everglades to focus on ecotourism and animal conservation. Nichole enjoys bringing those experiences into the classroom. She also enjoys photography as both hobby and a second career and has had photos published along with the following books: A Field Guide to Fenway Park, A Field Guide to Boston, A Field Guide to New York City, and A Field Guide to Washington, D.C. Her sons Thatcher and Finley are students at Harborlight.
Rachael DeStefano, B.A.
Teacher – Lower Elementary 2
Salem State College – Elementary Education/Sociology
Seacoast Center – Elementary Montessori Certification
Rachael joined the Harborlight faculty in 2008 and is an experienced reading and phonics tutor. Rachael enjoys reading, crafts, scrap-booking, and spending time with her niece and nephew. She and her husband are avid Boston Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics fans.
Beth Sieminski, B.S., M.Ed
Head Teacher – Lower Elementary 3
St. Leo University – Management and Marketing
Salem State College – Early Childhood Education Elementary Education Masters Degree National Center for Montessori Education-New England – Early Childhood Education
Seacoast Center – Elementary Montessori Certification
Beth joined the Harborlight faculty in 1997. She enrolled in the National Center for Montessori Education-New England Early Childhood program to gain knowledge of the work that preschool aged children complete. She then earned Montessori elementary teacher certification. She recently earned her master’s degree in reading at Salem State College. Prior to beginning at Harborlight, she worked in the public school system for nine years. Outside of Harborlight, Beth enjoys gardening and going for walks. She is married and has one daughter, a graduate of the Harborlight Class of 2006 who is in her first year of college.
Samantha Kalman, B.A., M.Ed.
Teacher – Lower Elementary 3
University of New Hampshire – English
Lesley College – Education
Samantha joined the Harborlight Montessori team in 2008 after an accomplished teaching career at Masconomet Regional High School where she taught English to students in grades 7-12 while serving as the Chair of the English Department. After a stay at home to raise her family, Samantha was excited to return to teaching. Both of her daughters currently attend the School.
Liam Dolan, B.A., H.Dip.Ed., M.A.
Head Teacher – Upper Elementary 1
University College, Ireland – History, Geography, Literature
Trinity College – Education
Salem State College – History
Liam joined the Harborlight faculty in 2000 after many years of teaching experience in Ireland and as a professor of history at Salem State College. Liam first taught in Harborlight’s Lower Elementary Program, then the Middle School, and currently teaches in Upper Elementary. Knowledge of the materials and curriculum at all levels gives Liam a thorough understanding of the scope and sequence that integrates each program. Liam enjoys traveling to Ireland to spend time with extended family. He is married and enjoys teaching with his daughter, Niamh.
Alana Catalfamo, B.S., M.Ed. 
Assistant Teacher - Upper Elementary
Nova Southeastern – Elementary Education
Nova Southeastern – Curriculum, Instruction & Technology
Massachusetts Department of Early Education certified – LTP
Massachusetts Educators license, Elementary grades 1-6
Certification in Elementary Education (K-6) ESOL endorsed in Florida
Alana was a first grade teacher at the Fuller Meadow Elementary School in Middleton from 2007-2010. She also taught as a second grade teacher for two years in Port St. Lucie, Florida. While in Florida, Alana worked in the first Working on the Work (WOW) program which entailed creating authentic work that engaged and challenged each student, based on his/her ability level. She also has training with Math Solutions, Write Traits, and the National Literacy Coalition (NCL).
Alana lives in Rowley with her husband and daughter, Olivia, who is enrolled in the Infant II program at Harborlight.
Niamh Dolan, B.S., M.Phil.
Head Teacher – Upper Elementary 2
Salem State College – Psychology
Trinity College, Ireland – Philosophy
Center for Montessori Education – Lower Elementary Certification
Seacoast Center – Upper Elementary Certification
Niamh joined the Harborlight faculty in 2003. Although coming from an unrelated field, Niamh quickly enrolled in and completed two different Montessori Teacher Education Programs for ages 6-9 and 9-12. Niamh brings an interesting assortment of talents to her classroom with a background in medieval Irish history and psychology and a personal interest in American history, especially in the New England area. Niamh volunteers at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead and is currently the interim site curator while also participating in colonial reenactments.
Kate Dickman, B.A.
Head Teacher – Upper Elementary 3
Gordon College – History
National Center for Montessori Education-New England – Early Childhood Education
Seacoast Center – Elementary Montessori Certification
Kate joined the Harborlight faculty in 1997 as a teacher in the Toddler Program. After enrolling in the National Center for Montessori Education-New England, Kate taught in the Early Childhood Program and the Elementary Program. She graduated from the Seacoast Center for Montessori Teacher Education earning her Elementary Montessori Certification. Outside of Harborlight, Kate enjoys camping with her husband and their three sons, two of whom are Harborlight students.
Marie Andrews, B.A., M.Ed.
Teacher - Upper Elementary 3 & Library Technology Teacher
University of Massachusetts – Political Science
Harvard University Extension Program – History
Lesley University – Elementary Education
Marie joined the Harborlight faculty in 2004. Prior to Harborlight, Marie worked for 6 years in the public school system as a substitute teacher, librarian, and computer teacher. Before working in the educational field, Marie worked as an internal marketing engineer and as an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force. In both capacities she traveled extensively and experienced many other cultures. Marie teaches Upper Elementary 3 in the morning and is the Library Media Teacher in the afternoon. Marie enjoys making jewelry in her spare time. She is married with one daughter, a Harborlight alumna.
