Our Teachers


Peachtown Staff

Peachtown encourages cooperative learning for its students and cooperative teaching for its teachers and administrators.  We work as a team and often pull from each other's experience and expertise.  The result is a tight knit and highly cooperative community of learners.  



Head of School
Alyssa Binns Gunderson, B.A. Hartwick College, English, Teacher Certification, Wells College, English Language Arts, 7-12, Graduate coursework in Educational Leadership and Curriculum and Instruction.

Alyssa has worked at Peachtown for 12 years.  She brings an array of administrative and community action experience and taught high school English early in her career.  She is passionate about education and is grateful for to the opportunity to foster the curiosity and excitement that children bring.


Upper Classroom Lead Teacher


Bird CramerB.A. Wells College, Psychology; M.S. SUNY Oswego, Literacy Education, NYS Certification, Pre-K through Grade 6, Literacy, Birth through Grade 6  

Bird Cramer is in her 20th year at Peachtown and is glad to be a part of this vibrant community. She is passionate about Young Adult Literature, all kinds of theater, and most of all, putting great books into the hands of incredible children. 








Lower Classroom Lead Teacher

Sonjia Turner, B.A. SUNY New Paltz, Graduate coursework in Elementary Education, K-6. 
Sonjia has been working in the fields of child care and early childhood education for more than 20 years.  She created a Friday enrichment program called Creative Academy and runs many successful summer programs.    


Adjunct Teachers

Peachtown has adjunct teachers in the fields of Reading Recovery, Art, Dance, and other subjects, as needed.  Weekly swim instruction and the After School care program are staffed with Wells College students.




Mary Heather Harrington finished her B.A. music degree coursework at SUNY Cortland and has been a private music instructor for 40 years. Mary-Heather is thrilled to engage and instruct her students toward personal musical appreciation and competency as well as cooperative ensemble experiences. Her goal is helping each individual student reach his/her musical potential via both formal and loosely structured creative activities.








Ellen Wood Hall holds a B.A.  in French Studies from Agnes Scott College and an M.A. and Ph.D. in French Literature from Bryn Mawr College.  She has held several college level teacing and administration positions throughout her career and now teaches French to our 4th-8th grade students.  She also spends her days growing dahlias, and participating in the Aurora Farmer's Market.    








Laura Evans more information coming soon!