Team

Your child is the focus of our team members

Each lead preschool, kindergarten and elementary teacher holds a Montessori certificate, as well as an A.A. or B.A. in Early Childhood Development or equivalent. Additionally, a number of our teachers hold an M.A. in teaching and/or are Washington State Certified K-12. On average, our lead teachers have 10 to 12 years of experience and most of our Teacher's Assistants have an average five years of experience in the field of education.

You can have confidence
in our faculty training standards

You are an important part of our professionalism and parent-faculty relationships

Discussing children's behaviors in their presence is disrespectful to them and is discouraged. We strive to create an environment for your child that is respectful, professional and supportive of team building so we can maintain harmony and high standards, ultimately benefiting the children.

Parents and faculty are considered team members in the task of educating and caring for young children. Therefore, we expect that each individual is treated with utmost respect. We highly value our faculty and require that they be treated as professionals.

Meet the team members who facilitate your child's learning

Administrative Team:

Afrose Amlani – Principal Afrose entered the field of education in 1980. She began her career in East Africa working in a Montessori school and teaching Drama and Gymnastic to Preschool and Elementary students at the Kampala, Uganda YMCA. Afrose studied Early Childhood Education in England and Business Administration and Management in the U.S. After working with troubled teens and researching the powerful impact of the first seven years of children's lives, Afrose determined the importance of building a strong foundation to support children to mature into autonomous, respectful human beings full of curiosity and a love for learning so they can develop to their fullest potential. With this in mind she was inspired to open Planet Kids Seattle in 1997 and soon founded Planet Kids Bellevue, now Living Montessori, in 2005. Afrose favors a hot cup of chai while reading a good book. She is also passionate about education, enjoys ballroom dancing, hiking and kayaking with her husband Will, and loves spending time with her three daughters. She is a certified Residential Interior Designer with a focus on environmental design and worked very closely with our Architect in the design of Living Montessori.

Aliya Hirji – Admissions Director and Nutritionist Aliya received a Bachelor's of Science degree in Nutrition from Bastyr University and an Associate’s degree in Business Administration. Aliya entered the field of Early Childhood Education in 1997 as a teacher, administrator and business manager. Aliya joined the Living Montessori team in 2005 and is currently the Admissions Director and on-staff Nutritionist. Aliya enjoys creative cooking, experimenting with food and science, trying new restaurants, reading in bed and spending time with her family.

Linda Crisalli: Education Supervisor Linda joins the Living Montessori Community with over 40 years of working with and on behalf of children and families. She holds a Bachelor's and Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education. Linda also earned a Post-Graduate Certificate in Collaborative Leadership in Education. Linda has extensive training and in-depth experience working with children of special needs, challenging behaviors, and difficult circumstances. She prides herself in strengthening her educational knowledge through attending conferences and staying up to date of current literature. In her free time she enjoys music, live theatre, quilting, reading, and walks. She is also a professional puppeteer!

Sarah Mace: Early Education Program Supervisor Sarah joins the Living Montessori Community with several decades of childcare management experience beginning in 1987. She holds a Bachelor’s in Applied Behavioral Science and is a an approved STARS/MERIT trainer. Sarah's passion is in nurturing the "whole child" guiding them to realize their full potential. She has training in child development, child care management, parent education and behavioral science. Sarah loves the outdoors and the natural world. She enjoys hiking, riding her bicycle on the Tolt Pipeline trail, doing yoga, weight training and gardening. She is the mother of two lovely daughters.

Ryan Caton: Operations Director Before joining the Living Montessori Community, Ryan enjoyed a successful career in sales management. He sold everything from new cars to legal real estate services and eventually was managing top selling sales teams. Growing up, Ryan spent much of his time helping out in his mother's childcare facility. Perhaps this is why he feels so at home at LMA! Ryan is an avid golfer with a low, single digit handicap. He is currently in the final stages of becoming a certified golf instructor and is always up for a friendly competition.

Gina Kirilenko: LMA Administrative Assistant Gina joins the Living Montessori Community with over 20 years of administrative experience, 13 years of which were in a Montessori environment. She has worn many hats in the Montessori arena ranging from administrative to classroom experience. Gina is mother to an amazing daughter, who is the light of her life. They enjoy hiking, riding bikes, camping, attending concerts, sharing good food, and local theatre. Gina was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, however after raising her daughter in the Seattle area, she can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Jennifer Borodian: LMEE Administrative Assistant Jenny holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University. Before moving to the Seattle area from California in 2010, she spent many years in Sales and Marketing. She joined Living Montessori in the summer of 2011, as the Director of Summer Programs. In her free time Jenny enjoys cooking, reading, yoga, outdoor activities such as hiking or boating, kickboxing, travelling, and spending time with her family and friends.

Academy Faculty:

Azra Govani: Lead Elementary Teacher Azra holds a Bachelor's in Biology, a Master's in Teaching, and is in the process of completing elementary Montessori certification through MEIPN. She also holds a current Washington State Teaching Certificate. Azra has been in the field of education for over 15 years and owns a private tutoring company that serves the needs of students K-12. Prior to joining the Living Montessori Community she taught in the Mukilteo School District for eight years. Azra is mother to three children, the last of which is just finishing college. In her spare time she enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time in her garden.

Berton Herrlinger Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Herrlinger received his Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Liberal Arts from Connecticut College, and his Master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Xavier College in 2004. He was particularly drawn to the whole child approach Montessori so clearly embraced, aligning with his own belief; education of young children isn’t complete without social and emotional growth partnering with academics. Upon completing his M.Ed., he moved to the Seattle area to begin his teaching career and has been leading classrooms ever since. Before receiving his M.Ed., Mr. Herrlinger worked for a number of years in performing arts management, culminating in a six-year stint managing the operations of a professional chamber orchestra. Mr. Herrlinger is an accomplished pianist, a singer with the local Cantaré Vocal Ensemble, and particularly enjoys bringing music into the daily routine of his classroom. Admittedly, though, his favorite audience consists of Barclay and Teddy, his two small dogs at home.

Adoum Zanguina Mr. Zanguina holds a Montessori certificate from the Montessori Institute of America (MIA) and comes to us from Niger, Africa. Mr. Zanguina completed his Montessori internship in 1988 and entered the field of Early Childhood Education in 1992. Before joining the Living Montessori team in 2007, Mr. Zanguina started as an assistant in a Montessori preschool classroom and became a lead teacher just before completing his MIA Certification. When he’s away from his students, Mr. Zanguina loves to take long explorative road trips around the West Coast, enjoys sight-seeing, nature and being outdoors, and loves plants and animals.

Early Education Faculty:

Brittney Osborn Ms. Brittney completed the 3-to-6-year-old Montessori certification program and received a Bachelor's degree in Behavioral and Social Sciences. Ms. Brittney entered the field of Early Childhood Education in 2001. Before joining the Living Montessori team in 2010, Ms. Brittney spent seven years coaching children's athletics and two years teaching sports and motivational classes. Ms. Brittney enjoys laughing, cooking, cleaning and doing cartwheels.

Doris Vuorinen Ms. Doris obtained her Montessori degree and certification in Montreal, Quebec, in 2004 and volunteered at Montessori schools in Montreal until 2007. Ms. Doris entered the field of Early Childhood Education in 1999 and joined the Living Montessori team in 2007. She spent six years as the coordinator of curriculum at an English Immersion School in Finland and as the Native English teacher with the 3-to-5-year-old groups. Ms. Doris loves hiking, biking, golf, watercolor painting, cooking, baking, gardening and being a grandmother of four.

Jennifer Robinson Ms. Jennifer completed the 3-to-6-year-old Montessori certification program and coursework in Early Childhood Education and Development. Ms. Jennifer entered the field of Early Childhood Education in 2004, became a lead teacher in 2006, and joined the Living Montessori team in 2010. Ms. Jennifer enjoys reading, hiking, exploring nature, writing and home improvement.

Noor Karkutly Ms. Noor completed coursework in Early Childhood Education and Child Psychology, and entered the field of Early Childhood Education in 1980. She joined the Living Montessori team in 2005. Ms. Noor enjoys swimming to stay fit, manicuring her gardening and spending time with her two grandchildren.

Traci Hollingsworth Ms. Traci completed the 0-to-3-year-old Montessori certification program and received a degree from Northwest Nannies Institute and an Associate of Arts degree in English. She entered the field of Early Childhood Education in 1998 and joined the Living Montessori team in 2009. Ms. Traci loves spending time with her dog, Oscar, and also reading, cooking, hiking, dancing and exploring the world with her friends.

Chelsea Delaney Chelsea holds a Bachelor's in Early Education and Visual Arts, as well as a Master's in Integrated Teaching through the Arts. From childhood, Chelsea was always surrounded by children as her mother ran an in home daycare center. She felt it was the natural progression to pursue a career in education, doing what she knew and loved best. Prior to joining the team, Chelsea spent time in the Montessori setting, as well as the public and private school systems. In her free time she enjoys art, design, yoga, cooking, and being outdoors, even in the Seattle sprinkles!

Enrichment Specialists:

Xenia DeLeon – Enrichment Program Manager Ms. DeLeon earned a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from St. Martin's College and a Master's degree in Creative Arts in Learning from Lesley University. Before joining the Living Montessori team in 2008, she taught in the Mukilteo School District and at the Open Arts Studio in Tacoma. Xenia enjoys creating and listening to music, reading, practicing yoga with her father and spending time with her family and friends.

David Repyak: Media and Literacy Instructor David holds a K-8 Teaching Certificate through the University of Washington’s education program as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts though Syracuse University, N.Y and S.U London program. Prior to his education career, David had a long career in Advertising and Communications. He has a passion for Science and Technology as well as collaborating with curious minds and creative imaginations. David is an experienced Art Docent with the Lake Washington school district and with the Kirkland Art Center. In his free time, David enjoys fine art painting, gardening, hiking in the great Northwest and spending time with his family.

Kelly Anderson: Dance and Gymnastics Instructor Kelly holds a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts. She has dedicated the past ten years to teaching a variety of dance and gymnastics classes. When she is not teaching our students or managing her studio, she enjoys volunteering for the Pacific Northwest Ballet and Velocity Dance Center.

Elizabeth Holmes: Yoga Instructor Liz brings a lifelong interest in Yoga to the Living Montessori Community. Her mother discovered the practice around the time she was born, while the family was living in south India. Throughout her childhood and adolescence she practiced yoga and enjoyed the varied benefits of the practice. Over the years, a background in yoga has helped her to excel at dance, running, rock climbing and mountaineering. Liz attended Purna Yoga College and is a certified adult and child yoga instructor.

Teaching Assistants:

Kathy Stanovich: Assistant Teacher Kathy joins Living Montessori with vast educational experience ranging from times spent as an elementary para educator, special education teacher, a behavioral specialist, and a Head Start teacher. Kathy has raised four children and now that they are all grown, she has decided to return to school. She will finish her teaching degree through the City University's Bellevue campus. In her spare time, Kathy enjoys the outdoors, gardening, biking, hiking, and participating in all kinds of sporting activities. Kathy is a proud Husky mom and avid Husky football fan!

Cheryl DePra: Assistant Teacher Cheryl holds a Bachelor's in Liberal Studies from Purchase College at State University of New York. She is fascinated by how children respond to music at various stages of development and has been teaching piano to children of all ages since 2004. In her free time Cheryl enjoys hiking, gardening, playing piano, and sipping tea with her husband.

Stacey Moon: Teaching Intern Stacey Moon will be interning in the Aspen class as well as joining our extended care staff. She comes to us from Montessori Teachers Prep Academy of Washington. Stacey has an Associate of Arts degree in Arts and Sciences and is originally from Korea. She attended high school in Canada and moved to the Seattle area in 2005. She looks forward to a career as a Montessori Teacher or as a counselor at an elementary school.

Find out more about how your child will thrive in our learning community under the guidance of excellent instructors.