Occupation: I have been head of the school at Fraser Woods Montessori School for 25 years. I was the first full-time head of the school.

Family: I’ve been married to Mark for 46 years. We have two children. Patrick and his wife, Terry Randall, live in Arlington, Va. He is a computer coder. Claudia and her husband, Marcio Garcez, live in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She does online marketing for a bank there. We have two grandchildren. Patrick’s daughter, Veronica, who is 6 years old, and Claudia’s son, Nicholas, who is 7.

Pets: We have no pets at this time; but I do have Fraser, the rabbit, here at the school.

How long have you lived here? We’ve been in Sandy Hook for 16 years. I’ve lived many places. I was born in Ipanema, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and moved to New York City when I got married, at age 23. We’ve lived in San Francisco, and lived in Wilton before moving to Sandy Hook.

What do you like to do in your free time? I like to walk on the beach. I go a lot to Westport in the summer to the beach. I was born near the ocean, so I need my “fixes,” sunsets by the ocean, when I can. I like to exercise and belong to a gym. I do travel a lot, and I read. I love the theater, and like local theaters. I love the ballet and symphony. Music is my passion. In adolescence, music was a way you could be free, during a time of dictatorship.

What kind of music do you love best? Brazilian music, the bossa nova and samba. But I love classical music, too. Mozart is one of my favorite composers.

What do you like to read? Mostly I read about Montessori education and the Montessori peace movement. We are always trying to remind people that we need to educate the children for peace. But I like to read mysteries, like the John Grisham novels, too.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? Going back home to Rio is my favorite. I’m fortunate that my whole family is still there. It’s a family reunion in a beautiful place. Rio has the nature, family, and friends. I also love Europe and South America, and I’ve traveled a lot in the United States, too.

What is the best thing about Newtown? I love Newtown! We love the restaurants, Main Street, and the shops. Sandy Hook is so beautiful now, too. If I had family in Newtown, I’d stay here forever.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? I think it’s Maria Montessori. I was a special education teacher before I became a Montessori teacher. When I discovered the Montessori philosophy, it was the whole answer for me. At any difficult moments as a teacher or school leader, I go back to her philosophy and I always find something — something to say to parents, something to say to children. It’s all there. She believed humans are good by nature, and respect is an integral part of how we deal with children and each other.

If you could spend time with anyone from the past, who would you choose? Again, it’s Maria Montessori. She lived from 1870 to 1952, and started the first Montessori school in Rome. I would love to have a conversation with her, an exchange of ideas. I would thank her for all she has done for humanity.

Do you have a guilty pleasure? Chocolate is one; but espressos are really my guilty pleasure. A second one after dinner is my splurge.