Our Staff & Board
At Honeypot Montessori, we are guided by a passionate team of educators, leaders, and advisors committed to reimagining education for Black and Brown children in urban communities. Our staff brings deep expertise in Montessori pedagogy, child development, and community engagement, ensuring that every child thrives in a nurturing, nature-immersive learning environment.
Our Board of Directors plays a vital role in the sustainability and growth of our micro-school, providing strategic oversight, financial stewardship, and community advocacy. Together, we are dedicated to building a school that empowers children to be independent thinkers, compassionate leaders, and lifelong learners.
Get to know the people behind Honeypot Montessori—each bringing their unique talents and dedication to shaping the future of education.
Teaching and Learning Staff
Dr. Deja L. Jones
Primary Teacher Leader
Charkeer Boss
Primary Assistant
Administrative Staff
Dr. Deja L. Jones
Founder & Head of Schools
Rutgers University-Newark CARES Team
Dr. Vanessa LoBue
RU-N Psychology Department Chair, Director of CARES, Child Study Center (CSC) Lab
Dr. Kimele Persuad
RU-N Psychology Assistant Professor, Memory and Computational Cognition (MC2) Lab
Dr. Miriam Rosenberg-Lee
RU-N Psychology Assistant Professor, Mathematics, Reasoning and Learning (MRL) Lab
Dr. Karen Smith
RU-N Psychology Assistant Professor, Stress Psychophysiology and Affective Neuroscience (SPAN) Lab
Rosalina Cerda-Lopez
Community Liaison
Board of Advisors
Dr. Deja L. Jones
Board President
Founder, Honeypot Montessori, Newark, NJ
DeQuan A. Foster
Board Vice President
Corporate Partnerships & Activations, New Jersey Devils
Naketa C. Michael-Thomas
Board Treasurer
Marketing Analytics & Financial Services Consultant
Dr. Angelina Hawley-Dolan
Board Secretary
Co-Founder, Head of School Aster Montessori, Cambridge, MA
Joie M. Langford, CFRE
Board Fundraising Chair
Vice-President of Strategic Philanthropy, Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey