Our Staff

Tyler Bourcier

Head of School

Tyler trained at the Center for Montessori Education in New York, holds an American Montessori Society Credential for Elementary I and II, as well as a State of California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Tyler began his elementary teaching career in 2003 and taught at Montessori schools in Arizona and Delaware before joining Casa di Mir’s Upper Elementary faculty in 2007. Tyler is also an instructor at the Montessori Teacher Education Center of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Monica Lalanne

Director of Enrollment Management

Monica joined the Casa team in 2022 with over 30 years of experience in Montessori and teaching.  Monica is a skilled administrator with a true passion for Montessori education. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Santa Clara University and Certification from Association Montessori International (AMI). 

Deepti Devanagondi

Director of Finance and Operations

Deepti joined Casa’s staff in 2022. Deepti has over 20 years of business experience in both for-profit and non-profit organizations. She holds an MBA in Finance from California State University, East Bay.

Anna Chan

Director of Human Resources

Anna has over 20 years of Human Resources experience in global corporations and non-profit organizations. Anna holds a BA in Business Administration and a Professional Human Resources Certification. Anna joined the Casa family in the summer of 2020.

Megan Shumate

Director of Marketing and Development

Megan joined Casa di Mir in 2022.  Megan has over ten years of experience in the education and marketing fields. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Joy Yap

Primary Director

Joy has been an early childhood teacher since 2004. She holds an American Montessori Society Early Childhood Credential from the Montessori Teacher Education Center. Joy also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology.

Purva Sethi

Executive Assistant to the Head of School

Purva has 7 years of experience as a preschool school teacher along with 4 years as a school administrator. She completed her Montessori training at North American Montessori Center and has credits in early childhood education. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Japanese Language and Literature. She joined Casa in early 2023.

Hema Munshi 

Registrar/Administrative Assistant

Hema holds a BA and certificate in Administrative Assistant/Office Technology. In addition to her extensive experience working in the non-profit sector, Hema is also a graduate of a Montessori High School.

Kris Morgan 

Operations Assistant

Kris joined Casa as a teaching assistant in 2020.  It soon became clear that Kris excelled at all things operational and tech, and in 2021 he was hired as the school’s Operations Assistant.  Kris oversees facility maintenance, supports the school’s computer network, coordinates parent participation and supports front office administration.  Kris has a background in assistant teaching and restaurant management.

Diane Heiba

Primary Guide

Diane has worked in early child development since 2010. She has been at Casa since 2016 in the business office, then as a primary teacher since 2017. Diane completed her AMS Credential for Early Childhood from the Montessori Teacher Education Center. She has an AS Degree in Child Studies at West Valley College and holds a BS Degree in Business Administration from SFSU.

Radha Kadich 

Primary Guide

Radha received her American Montessori Society credential in Early Childhood Education at the Montessori  Teacher Training Center, and has been teaching since 2009. Radha also completed her chef training in South Africa and earned an associate degree in Nutrition and Catering.

MaryJane Navarra

Primary Guide

MaryJane started with Casa in 2021 as a Primary Assistant Guide. MaryJane has over 20 years experience teaching from toddlers, preschool & lower elementary. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development from San Jose State University and received training from the San Francisco Bay Area Montessori Teacher Education Center.

Chi Luu

Primary Guide

Chi joined Casa di Mir in 2022 and holds the American Montessori Society credentials for Early Childhood Education, which she obtained in 2008. She began her teaching career at Montessori schools and has continued to work in this field ever since. Chi thoroughly enjoys witnessing children flourish within Montessori environments and finds great fulfillment in their growth and development.

Yan Qu

Primary Guide

Yan started at Casa as a substitute teacher and was such an asset in the classroom that she was subsequently hired as a full-time Primary Teacher.  Yan has completed her Montessori credential for early childhood educators through the Montessori Teacher Education Center. Yan is bilingual and has developed and taught Mandarin language lessons for preschool-age children.  Yan holds a BS in Electrical Engineering.

Cynthia Vazquez

Primary Guide

Cynthia holds a BA in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Child Development from the National Hispanic University, and a Montessori Early Childhood credential.

Pheroza Doshi

Lower Elementary Guide

Pheroza obtained her Montessori credential from the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies in Silver Spring, Maryland. She has been a classroom teacher since 2007. Pheroza has lived in Kenya and is fluent in French and Swahili.

Karla Phillips 

Lower Elementary Guide

Karla started teaching in 1989, after having received a Bachelor of Education with an Art minor, from Surrey University in London, England. She has worked in Montessori and traditional educational programs, in the private and public sector. At her most recent position, as a public Montessori School teacher, Karla headed the Positive Behavior Implementation Taskforce which helped merge Montessori positive discipline with the positive discipline used by the other schools within the district. She holds N.A.M.C. Montessori Teaching Credentials in both the 3-6 age range and the 6-9 age range.

Lisa Bird

Lower Elementary Guide

Lisa has taught at both the elementary and middle school levels since 1991. Lisa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UC Santa Cruz, a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Jose State University, and Montessori credentials for both lower and upper elementary from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies. Additionally, Lisa was a Writing Project Fellow at University of California and earned a certificate in Library and Informational Science from San Jose State. Lisa joined Casa’s Lower Elementary team in 2022. 

Erin Mitchell

Lower Elementary Guide

Erin has been teaching since 2016. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology, a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California Polytechnic State University, and has completed Montessori training at the Montessori Teacher Education Center of the Bay Area. Erin joined Casa’s Lower Elementary team in 2022. 

Kevin Lang 

Upper Elementary Guide

Kevin holds a M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Loyola University in Baltimore and American Montessori International certification in both Elementary and Adolescent Studies. He has a BS in Environmental Studies from Northland College in Ashland, WI. Kevin has many years of experience as a Montessori educator with both upper elementary and middle school students. Kevin joined Casa di Mir's faculty in 2014.

Madhu Shridhar 

Upper Elementary Guide

Madhu has been a Montessori Guide since 2011.  She received a Masters of Education with a Montessori Specialization from Southern Methodist University, and a Montessori STEM certificate from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. Madhu also completed the American Montessori Society, Elementary Education Credential from Dallas Montessori Academy, Dallas, TX.

MacKenzie Soldan

Upper Elementary Guide

MacKenzie joined Casa di Mir in 2020. She started teaching in public schools in 2019. She has a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. In addition, MacKenzie holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from California Polytechnic State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Santa Clara University. 

Anne Nguyen

Upper Elementary Guide

Anne has taught since 1994 and has spent most of her career at Casa di Mir. Anne holds a California State Teaching Credential from San Jose State University and an American Montessori Society certificate for ages 9-12 from the Montessori Teacher Education Center. Anne has held many positions at Casa di Mir, including Director of Admissions, Assistant Head of School and Upper Elementary Guide.

Christine Forster

Upper Elementary Guide

Christine has taught since 1997 and been part of the Casa di Mir community since 2000. She was first introduced to Montessori philosophy in Naples, Italy and has previously taught in Boston and Pleasanton. Christine was educated in Germany and holds an American Montessori Society certificate for ages 6-12 from the Center for Montessori Teacher Education. She is currently teaching Upper Elementary.  

Holly Martin

Middle School Humanities Guide

Holly has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Masters in English. In addition to middle and high school teaching experience, she has also managed non-profits and worked as a freelance writer. She joined Casa's teaching staff in 2023.

Ross Paquette

Middle School Science Guide

Ross earned his Bachelors and Masters in History from San Jose State University and has his Montessori credential for secondary education.  He has over 6 years of Montessori teaching prior to joining Casa in 2023. 

Robert Taylor

Middle School Math Guide

Robert joins Casa with experience in teaching design thinking with mathematics along with over 10 years of experience with Engineering firms.  He has both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering. 

Wanda Whitehead

Music Teacher

Wanda Whitehead was founding teacher/administrator of Casa di Mir and has worn many hats from teacher to Head of School during the years between 1989 – 2019. From 2019-2023 she continued to serve Casa and the community as Director of Education. Her key focus and vision is Maria Montessori’s “Education for Peace.” Wanda is now focused on her great passion of teaching our Orff music classes and delighted to be serving this wonderful school community. She holds a California State Teaching Credential K-8, ELE I & II Montessori Certification, Orff Level 1 Certification, and various certifications in Special Education approaches to learning differences. Wanda has been an educator since 1973.

Max Cheung

Music Teacher

Max Cheung joined Casa in 2024 as a Music Teacher. He is currently working on his Bachelor's Degree at San Jose State, and is certified for Early Childhood Education as an Assistant Teacher. Max has experience teaching music to various age groups, and also is a private piano instructor.

Lily Martinez

Elementary and Middle School Spanish Teacher

Lily was born and raised in Peru, holds a BA in Sociology from San Jose State University and a certificate in Early Childhood Development from West Valley College. Lily began her teaching career in 2008 and has been with Casa since 2016.

Carolina Rafols

Art Teacher

Carolina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, and has been an art instructor since 2012. Carolina enjoys supporting students in their creative expression, as well as teaching drawing, painting, digital art, and art appreciation. In addition to teaching, Carolina has served as a board member for the Pacific Art League of Palo Alto. Carolina is bilingual and speaks both English and Portuguese. 

Jay Voigt 

PE Teacher & Elementary Extended Care Guide

Jay is the school’s Physical Educational Teacher and Elementary Extended Care Guide.  Jay’s teaching career began in 2018. He spent two years in China working at New York University's Shanghai Campus, helping develop their athletics program. Jay received his BS degree in Sports Nutrition from San Jose State University. He has a broad background in physical education that includes personal training, coaching youth and teaching Physical Education.

Kai Shuart

Lower Elementary Assistant Guide

Kai received her Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Golden West College, and her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development from Humboldt State University. She received her Montessori training for lower elementary at the North American Montessori Center and joined the Casa team in 2018 as a Lower Elementary Assistant Teacher and Extended Care Teacher. Kai is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Elementary Education at Western Governor's University.

Pallavi Redkar

Primary and Lower Elementary Assistant Guide

Pallavi is a Primary Assistant. She worked five years in the preschool environment before joining Casa in 2022. She has experience tutoring and teaching at the Elementary and Middle School levels. She received her Child Development units from De Anza College.

Silvia Infante

Primary Assistant Guide/ Extended Care Guide

Silvia joined the Casa teaching staff in 2022 and brought with her 10 years of experience working in a Montessori classroom. She attended the Child Development Program at Mission College.

Shama Senawiratne

Lower Elementary Assistant Guide

Shama trained at Atlanta Montessori Teacher Education in Atlanta, Georgia, holds an American Montessori Society Credentials for Early Childhood Education. Shama began her early childhood teaching career in 2004 and taught at Montessori schools in Georgia and New York before joining Casa di Mir in 2022.

Renee Jones

Human Growth Teacher

Renee, co-founder of Casa di Mir, and RN, has been teaching Human Growth to Casa's Upper Elementary and Middle School students since the Human Growth program began in 1994. She brings her knowledge of human biology, a strong belief that this education encourages young people to make safe and informed decisions about their health, and Montessori core values to her work with Casa students.