A ToTH parent since 2018, Stephanie joined the ToTH administrative team in 2019. As Administrative Director, and then as Head of Administration, she managed daily operations, human resources, communications and licensing requirements for ToTH. As Head of School, Stephanie focuses on building and strengthening school culture, providing programmatic support and leadership, and supporting the parent, student, and staff communities.

Stephanie received her certificate in Montessori Administration in 2022 from the Association Montessori Internationale and is currently pursuing a certificate in Montessori leadership through the Whole School Leadership Institute. She is an Arizona native with a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Arizona State University. After working in higher education at the Corcoran College of Art + Design and the George Washington University, Stephanie became a mom to ToTH student Leli. In her spare time she plays the violin in the Capital City Symphony. Together with ToTH’s three founders, Stephanie serves on ToTH’s Board, which is responsible for ToTH’s longer term vision, planning and sustainability.

Ila joined ToTH in 2015. She manages admissions and enrollment for the school and is usually the first person with whom all prospective families interact.

As a mother of two young boys and a resident of Navy Yard, Ila has been actively involved in local early childhood programs, including serving on the board of the parent teacher association at her children’s elementary school. She was even an early volunteer in ToTH’s start-up in 2012.

Ila holds a B.A in Art History and Archaeology from Emory University and an M.A. in Art History from the University of Arizona. She previously procured art and managed exhibitions in several museums and galleries in Washington, DC.

As a young toddler, Sara’s son, Aniket, seemed to need more stimulus than his nanny alone could provide. Sara looked for a high-quality part-time Montessori program on Capitol Hill, but couldn’t find one. So she decided to build one from scratch.  After finding several like-minded Capitol Hill parents and months of effort, ToTH was born in October 2012. From ToTH’s earliest years, Sara worked to bring a broad and competitive set of employee benefits to ToTH, and, with help from parent volunteers, she built our initial scholarship program. She continues to serve as an active member of the Board. Sara holds a M.B.A. from Insead Business School. She is a former Peace Corps volunteer and specializes in supporting the use of technology in economic development worldwide.

Joy has always been passionate about building community, so when the opportunity arose to help start ToTH for the Capitol Hill community, she rolled up her sleeves. Integral to its launch and licensure by the DC Office of the State Superintendent for Education, Joy continues to support ToTH through her active participation on ToTH’s Board. She also worked to make ToTH the first Montessori preschool in the city to enroll families through OSSE’s voucher program. Joy and her husband moved to Alexandria, Virginia to serve as Location Pastors for Capital City Church. She has since shared her passion for Montessori with her community by creating Montesshare, an in-home, Spanish bilingual, Montessori preschool.

Javacia has spent nearly twenty years teaching young children in the Washington DC area.

She received her Master’s Degree in Montessori Education at Loyola University Maryland and completed her Bachelor’s Degree from York College in Sociology. She received her Association Montessori Internationale Diploma for Primary (3-6 yo) from the MACTE-accredited Washington Montessori Institute and guided in Montessori environments for seven years before joining ToTH in 2018.

In 2021, Javacia completed her Infant/Toddler Montessori teaching certification through the MACTE-accredited Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Javacia also taught at the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center for five years before joining ToTH.

Naya joined ToTH in June of 2021. She was born and raised in Washington, DC, before moving to Daytona Beach, Florida.

Naya received her bachelors degree in Social Sciences, with a major in Criminal Justice and minors in Social Work and Psychology from Bethune Cookman University.

Naya has been working with infants, toddlers and preschoolers for many years, including in a Montessori Primary classroom.

Katherin joined ToTH in August 2023, having recently relocated from Colombia, where she received her Bachelor’s in Science degree in Psychology from the Pontifica Universidad Javeriana. In 2022 Katherin completed her training in Gestalt Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy from the Centro Gestaltico Perú. She has worked in clinical, hospital and rural settings as a psychologist. After reading about the Montessori Method in her coursework, Katherin became interested in working with young children in a Montessori setting and pursing formal training. She lives with her husband, who is a Montessori elementary guide in Northern Virginia.

After occasionally substitute teaching at ToTH during our 2019-20 school year, Karen officially joined the Full Day Toddler classroom in January 2020. She felt right at home with the children and she now leads the Full Day Toddler Classroom.

Karen is a native Spanish speaker and grew up in Mexico. She is excited to help build Spanish language programming at ToTH in the months and years ahead.

Karen earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development from the Instituto Technologico de Morelia and has over seven years of experience working with young children, prior to coming to ToTH.

Karen is currently pursuing her Infant/Toddler Montessori teacher certification at the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. She finds her inspiration for guiding children in the moments where the young child finds their own voice, asserts their autonomy, or expresses personal pride in having accomplished a task independently.

Ayshemgul joined ToTH in April 2023 teaches in the full day toddler classroom. Ayshemgul holds an early childhood education degree from Xinjiang Normal University in Urumqi, China. After settling in the United States with her family, Ayshemgul  earned an early childhood credential from the state of North Carolina and an Infant and Toddler Certificate from the College of Albermarle in Manteo, North Carolina.

Ayshemgul has more than 7 years teaching experience, including 4 years in Montessori toddler and primary classrooms in the District and in North Carolina. Ayshemgul speaks Uyghur, English, Turkish and Chinese. She is currently pursuing a Montessori teaching credential at the Infant Toddler level from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies and she looks forward to deepening her Montessori practice at ToTH.

Con joined ToTH in the fall of 2023 and currently teaches in the full day toddler classroom. Originally from the Philippines, Con earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the Centro Escolar University in Manila and she completed all of the academic requirements for a master’s degree in special education from the University of the Philippines.

After coming to the United States, Con worked in several educational settings but settled on Montessori as the approach that most suited her personal philosophy toward working with young children. Most recently, she worked at Broad Branch Children’s House Montessori School in NW DC. Con earned her Montessori teaching credential at the infant/toddler level from the The Prepared Montessorian Institute in 2023.Con joined ToTH in the fall of 2023 and currently teaches in the full day toddler classroom. Originally from the Philippines, Con earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the Centro Escolar University in Manila and she completed all of the academic requirements for a master’s degree in special education from the University of the Philippines.

Laura joined ToTH in the fall of 2021 and currently teaches in the full day toddler classroom. Laura has worked with very young children for a number of years, most recently as a caregiver to several families during the pandemic. Laura spent several years working with a family whose children attended ToTH and she became very interested in the Montessori Method, and in getting training for the Montessori early childhood classroom setting.

Laura recently completed her Master’s in Education and Human Development, with a major in International Education, from the George Washington University. She spent spent a number of years working in the field of international/cross-cultural education, interfacing with students and colleagues in various roles. Laura lived in Saudi Arabia for over ten years as a child, and studied abroad in Jordan as an undergraduate.

Sasha was born in Memphis, TN and raised in the Bronx, in New York City. Sasha joined ToTH in 2018 and has worked in our Primary community since then. She received her Early Childhood 3-6 certification from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies in 2022 and has a BA in Human Relations and Early Childhood Education from Trinity Washington University.

It was during her time at Trinity that Sasha discovered and researched Maria Montessori’s teaching philosophy and methods, and that experience sparked her desire to do an internship with another local Montessori school where she saw the method in action. She was inspired to become a teacher who not only helps shape the future for the children in her classes, but also one who cares deeply for each child she encounters. She believes that one of the most important aspects of a Montessori education is that it allows children to freely explore and fulfill their individual needs. She enjoys using observation to learn what every child needs to be successful and learn about the world around them.

Gladys joined ToTH in January 2020. She currently teaches in the Primary classroom, providing instruction in both English and Spanish. Gladys was raised in Maryland and Panama and is a fluent Spanish speaker. She earned her associate’s degree in general studies from Montgomery College in 2023. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.

Gladys has been working with children professionally since 2013, and previously spent six years working in a Montessori environment at the White Flint Children’s House. She also worked in a Spanish immersion early childhood classroom and she pioneered a Spanish program geared towards five and six year olds in order to prepare them for elementary school.

Gladys is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in early childhood education. She enjoys spending her free time with her two dogs.

Elizabeth joined ToTH in September 2021 and is a guide in the Primary classroom. She earned her Montessori Early Childhood teaching credential through the West Side Montessori Teacher Education Program in New York City in 2023.

For the four years prior to joining ToTH, Elizabeth worked as a full time nanny for a family in DC. Elizabeth is passionate about working with children and has been looking for the right teaching environment that is truly committed to the values and principles of Dr. Montessori. She is also passionate about social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion work.

Elizabeth has a BA in Political Science from the College of Charleston and she studied abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Cecilia joined ToTH in June of 2021. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Universidade Paulista and originally hails from the state of São Paulo, Brazil. She has worked as a caregiver for young children since 2013 and as a pandemic pod teacher in the DC area. Cecilia has spent time in each of ToTH’s classrooms, first as our full-time floating teacher, and as an assistant teacher in our part day toddler classroom. In fall 2022, she began working on a Master’s degree in counseling and is now working part time with children and families as a Qualified Mental Health Professional.