Staff and Management

Head of School

Wanda Whitehead is Casa di Mir’s Head of School. She was the first teacher for Casa di Mir in 1989, and assisted the founding board in the establishment of the school. Her key focus and vision is Maria Montessori’s “Education for Peace.” Wanda taught for 17 years in the Palo Alto Unified school district, grades 2-6. She holds a State of California Standard Teaching Credential for elementary K-8, as well as AMS Montessori Certification for ages 6-12.

Teachers, Lower Elementary (6-9 years old)

Ariana Georgiou holds a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from the University of Cyprus, a Master’s of Education in Educational Media and Technology, and has completed her Montessori Training for the Elementary Level at the Montessori Teacher Education Center of the San Francisco Bay Area. She began her teaching career in 2003. Ariana is fluent in Greek.

Nancy Wilcox, a 6-9 class teacher since 1991, also provides art instruction to all elementary students in the school. Prior to Casa di Mir, she taught adult education programs, was an art teacher for Triton Museum and Outreach programs, and was head docent for Art Vistas fine art program at Carlton School in San Jose. Nancy holds an AMS Montessori credential for ages 6-9, a BA in Art from San Jose State, and adult education credentials.

Cyndi Young has been teaching since 1990 at Montessori schools in Santa Cruz, California. Cyndi received her Montessori Credential from the Bay Area Montessori Teacher Education Center. Cyndi joined Casa di Mir’s faculty in August, 2007.

Teachers, Upper Elementary (9-12 years old)

Tyler Bourcier holds a Montessori Credential from the Center for Montessori Education in New York and a Teaching Credential from Western Washington University. Tyler began his elementary teaching career in 2003 and has taught at Montessori schools in Arizona and Delaware.

Anne Nguyen taught at Casa di Mir for eight years. She spent three years teaching in the Palo Alto School District and returned to Casa in 2005 to rejoin our 9-12 teaching team. Anne holds a California State Teaching Credential as well as a Montessori Credential for ages 9-12. She has been teaching since 1994.

Kristi Troquato is the Assistant Teacher for the Upper Elementary classroom. She graduated from San Jose State University in 1994 with a BA in Child Development.    

Primary Director

Cathy Williams, is the Director of the Primary program and a teacher in the Primary 1 classroom. She received her Montessori training from the Montessori Teacher Education Center of the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a BA degree in English from UCLA. Cathy joined Casa’s faculty in 2004.

Teachers, Primary (3-6 years old)

Angelina Gutierrez is an Assistant and Extended Day Teacher for both Primary classrooms. Angelina has been working with young children since 2001 and has 15 units in Early Childhood Education.

Hoon Kang has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, a Montessori Credential from the Montessori Teacher Education Center in San Leandro, a Master’s Degree in Music Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Flute Performance from Yonsei University in Korea. Hoon has been teaching at Casa di Mir since 2002.

Sangeetha Sampath Kumar is the Assistant Teacher for the Primary 1 classroom. Sangeetha has completed over 27 units in Child Development and is currently working towards her Montessori Credential.

Wynne Lee completed her Montessori teacher training and her Master of Education in Early Childhood Education from New York University in New York. Wynne also holds a Bachelor’s of Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania. She has been teaching since 1995.

Kuei-Fen Lin holds a California Child Development Program Director Permit and M.A. in Early Childhood Education from St. Mary’s College. She also holds an American Montessori Society Early Childhood Credential from De Anza College. Kuei-Fen has been teaching young children since 1995. She joined Casa’s staff in 2008.

Shanon Murray completed her Montessori Teacher Training for the Primary level at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in New Rochelle, New York. Shanon also is a candidate for the Master of Art Therapy program at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, CA. Shanon has been working with children since 1998.

Specialists

New School Aikido of Santa Clara, under the direction of Sensei Leslie Simmons, provides Aikido instruction to grades 2-6 as part of Casa di Mir's Physical Education curriculum.

Ana Perez teaches Spanish. Dona Ana has been teaching Spanish for over ten years.

Ana Benderas provides physical Education instruction and supervises the elementary extended day program from 3:00 pm—6:00 pm.

Kate Rosenbaum is the Music Teacher. Kate holds a BA in Music and Political Science from the University of Richmond in Richmond, VA. She is currently taking classes toward her Montessori Credential at the Montessori Teacher Education Center of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Office Management

Karen Schuler, Business Manager, joined the staff in 1998. She has worked previously as a case manager and child care consultant as well as a preschool teacher. She holds a BA in Psychology.

Sue Dapkus, Administrative Assistant, holds a BA degree in Speech Pathology. Sue joined the Casa staff in 2000.

Tara Padget, Administrative Assistant, majored in music at San Francisco State University. Tara served as a dedicated parent volunteer prior to joining Casa’s administrative staff in 2007

Casa di Mir Board of Directors

Casa di Mir is a non-profit organization, governed by a Board of Directors made up of current and former parents of students.