Faculty and Staff

Gloria Jauregui has over 20 years of experience working with young children and parents in different settings. She worked with private families for many years as a nanny and Spanish and math tutor. Eventually, Gloria had the opportunity to become a talent recruiter, helping families with the process of finding Nannies, Au pairs, and tutors internationally. This experience gave her a different perception of families, and she discovered that although all parents have similar concerns and needs regarding the care of their children, it was also necessary to understand and genuinely accept the particularities of each family and adapt and adjust as necessary to meet their needs. Gloria also offered guidance and support to a new school in Morocco while they were opening and also virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gloria is now the mother of a 3-year-old girl, and feels that her current situation, in addition to her broad experience, allows her to be in a privileged position to connect better not only with children but also with their families and to work together in partnership.

Gloria has a family of three but also has a wonderful extended family worldwide. They enjoy a simple life, full of traveling, watching the sunsets, having meals together, watching soccer matches, and keeping in touch with their extended family and friends.

Zinat started her career at Aidan in 2004 by spending nine years as a Lower Elementary Classroom Assistant. She expanded her role at the school in 2009, when she joined the After School Program (ASP) staff. She also spent one year as a Toddler Assistant, several years as a Substitute and several years as a Primary Assistant - a role for which she earned AMI certification. Zinat currently serves as the Assistant for the Sassafras Young Children's Community. Her career in education began in her hometown of Ramallah, where she co-founded a private preschool and worked there as a teacher and administrator. After moving to the US, she worked for several years as an Educational Aid at Hearst Elementary and as a Primary Assistant at Franklin Montessori School. She has also completed Montessori workshops on a variety of topics including music and parent education.

Zinat is a native of Palestine and a native Arabic speaker. She enjoys working in her community garden, reading, cooking and traveling. Her daughter, Janine, is an honors graduate of Brown University and recently completed an MBA at Harvard University. Her son, Omar, is an honors graduate of the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University.

Vanessa grew up in Puerto Rico and had the privilege of having a bilingual Spanish and English Montessori education growing up. Her mother has been a Montessori guide for 45+ years, so this pedagogy has been a way of life for her from the start.

At 13 years of age she left to study at the Bolshoi Ballet School in Moscow, Russia later graduating with an “Artist de Ballet” Diploma as well as learning Russian language and culture during her 5-year stay. She danced professionally for 20 years living in Ukraine, Russia, USA and Austria. These years provided her the opportunity to travel and experience many countries, cultures and people around the world. After becoming a mother, she came back to her Montessori roots and began her formal training.

Vanessa has taught dance for many years to both children and adults. She became a Lead Guide in a bilingual French/English Montessori school in Lyon, France in 2020 and helped create and establish the young children’s community program there. She is also certified as a Movement Lesson LLC Practitioner, functional movement teacher birth to adulthood.

Mother of two girls Aila and Kailani she loves cooking, baking, feng-shui, yoga, reading, meditation, music, dance, art and travel as well as subjects such as neuroscience and psychology. As a hobby she is currently pursuing macrame.

Janet Reyes joins Aidan as a member of the ASP staff for the 2023-24 school year. Prior to her arrival at Aidan, she served as a preschool and after school assistant at the Montessori School of Chevy Chase and St. Michael’s Family Day Care. Janet also worked as a senior sales and services representative for Philippine Airlines for close to twenty years.

Janet was first introduced to Montessori when her grandson enrolled in program a little over two years ago. In her free time, Janet enjoys the arts and music.

Rut Salas joined Aidan in the 2022-23 School Year. From July 2015 through March 2021, Rut worked as an Administrative Assistant for Trazitos and Colors, a daycare preschool in Cochabamba, Bolivia. In this position, she accomplished many tasks in accounting and business management, and found joy in communicating with families and assisting teachers. In this position, Rut also taught as a Substitute Teacher and created and developed lesson plans to meet students' academic needs. Overall, she is quite experienced in classroom management, lesson planning, student engagement, and collaborating with her colleagues. She also completed the AMI 0-3 Orientation Certificate Course with the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies in 2024.

Rut was born in Colombia, and was raised in Bolivia. She grew up with Christian values, and she has always loved music and singing. Currently sings in her church choir. She and her husband enjoy playing music together, watching movies and spending time as a family.

Pamela started at Aidan in 2019 as a Toddler Assistant, and currently works as the Toddler Teacher in Mountain Silverbell. Pamela was born and raised in the Dominican Republic to a large family and moved to the United States in 2017. During this time, she worked as a sales representative. After giving birth to her son Andrés, Pamela decided switch careers and began working at Aidan as a Toddler Assistant as she completed the Infant and Toddler Assistant Orientation from Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies, which she finished in 2020. Being in the classroom sparked Pamela's passion for Montessori methodology, and she began pursuing training to become a Lead Teacher. Pamela finished the Infant and Toddler Teacher Training Course from Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies in 2021.

Outside of work, Pamela enjoys cooking and doing crafts with her son Andrés, watching movies and shows with her husband, and cooking, eating, and working in her garden with her mother and sister. Pamela also loves to spend time at the beach and try foods from different cultures. She is a dog and cat lover, and currently owns two dogs, Bruno and Duke, and two cats, Tails and Sonny.

Cecilia Aker is the lead Primary teacher in the Persimmon class. After completing her Montessori training in 2014, Cecilia co-taught in Pennsylvania and Minnesota, and served as the lead teacher in the same classroom where she started out as an assistant. Prior to joining Aidan, Cecilia spent two years teaching at Rochester Montessori School in Minnesota.

Cecilia comes from a foreign service family and grew up moving all over the world. She lived in the DC area between assignments, and is excited to be back in the District. Outside of the classroom, Cecilia can be found enjoying green spaces, reading, exploring museums, and trying new recipes.

Claudia entered the Montessori world in the summer of 2007 at Arlington Montessori House. While there, she served in multiple assistant roles, earning her AMI certification as an assistant prior to becoming a lead teacher in a Montessori summer program in 2015-16.

Though Claudia has lived in the US since 1997, when her parents relocated here with her and her two older brothers, Claudia was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is a fluent speaker of both English and Spanish.

Claudia is a proud Aidan parent to her daughter Mia, who is transitioning from Toddler to Primary this year. Outside of the classroom, Claudia enjoys making Montessori materials, drawing, and dancing.

Katia Kozhakova joins the Aidan Community as the new lead teacher in the Dogwood Primary Class. Originally born and raised in the beautiful city of St. Petersburg, Russia, Katia moved to the United States in 2008 as part of a student exchange program. She aspired to be a teacher from a young age and began her career by teaching German at the St. Petersburg Policy Academy. After moving to the States, Katia continued her studies and pursued a master’s degree in education and her AMI Montessori Primary certification. Prior to joining Aidan, she spent 5 years as a Primary Guide at the Montessori Public School of Arlington.

In her spare time, Katia enjoys traveling, exploring new activities and discovering great restaurants in and around DC. She practices meditation and Kundalini yoga, and also loves art, reading, and spending time with her friends.

Mila Rey came to Aidan as a parent in 1995 and joined the staff in 1997. She grew up in the Philippines, and received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Far Eastern University in Manila. She also holds a Certificate from the AMI Assistants Course in Washington, DC and from the Montessori Institute at Loyola University in Maryland.

Mila speaks Tagalog, likes cooking, and enjoys reading. Her daughter, Kristine, graduated from Aidan in 2004.

Julia is the school counselor, and will be providing social, emotional and mental health support to students at Aidan. She entered the field of school counseling because she wanted to combine her interest and experience in both education and mental health and provide a wider impact in the school community. She is excited to be at Aidan Montessori School and in such a nurturing, caring, and child-centered environment. Julia has spent her professional career working with infants through 8th grade. She is a licensed social worker since 2020 with experience in early childhood and special education. Julia holds an undergraduate degree in sociology with a minor in psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University, in Madison, NJ and a master's degree in social work from Indiana University with a concentration in school social work. She has worked in both public and private schools, with very diverse student populations. She has had several years of experience providing mental health support in schools and has been at Aidan since the beginning of the 2023/2024 SY.

Julia is originally from New Jersey, and moved to DC three years ago after attending graduate school in Indianapolis, IN. She loves exploring DC and her hobbies include hiking, biking, and reading.

Daphnnet Garces joined Aidan in 2022 and brings more than a decade of experience working in education. She holds a BA in Prekindergarten/Primary Education from Universidad del Este as well as multiple certificates from Montgomery College, including Child Growth and Development Certificate, Creating Schedules and Routines Certificate, Active or Hyperactive Certificate, 3 Hour Mixed-Age Groups in Early Childhood Programs Certificate, and Including All Children and the Americans with Disabilities Act Certificate.

Over the years, Daphnnet has worked primarily with preschool and kindergarten-aged children. One of her most formative workplace experiences was working as an Intern for Montgomery County Public Schools. In this position, she worked in a kindergarten class and learned how to incorporate integrated strategies and standards in the classroom.

Daphnnet loves hiking, exploring the great outdoors, sports, and eating new and interesting foods. She also enjoys traveling to different countries and experinecing new cultures—though one of her favorite places to be is back home with family in Peru, where she was born and raised.

Jade Jackson joins Aidan as a Learning Support Specialist for Literacy with a great deal of experience. In 2016, Jade served an AmeriCorps term with Reading Partners DC after earning her BA in Sociology from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and working at a non-profit supporting Middle School literacy intervention. Jade has lived a life of service and has volunteered with several organizations, including Peace Corps, to achieve educational equity. During her time at Reading Partners DC, Jade worked one-one with students using an evidence-based literacy curriculum, managed a team of AmeriCorps members to individualize instruction further, and served as the program director, creating a vision for an effective literacy program in 22 partnerships.

Jade loves to get creative through jewelry-making, sculpting, and fashion. She writes letters to loved ones during the quiet moments, reads, and goes outside for a walk. Her favorite movie genre is horror, which stemmed from reading Goosebumps and ghost stories as a child!

Dairo joined Aidan in the 2022-23 School Year. He previously worked as a Lower Elementary Montessori guide and Spanish Reading Interventionist at a public school, and is currently in the process of finishing his Montessori Certification for Lower Elementary with the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector (MACTE). He also has two years of experience teaching adults and working as a music teacher for a bilingual music institute in the D.C. metro area.

Dairo has been involved with Montessori education for the past 11 years—first as a parent, and later as a teacher. His children attended a bilingual Montessori school in DC through their elementary years, and those years helped him imagine how wonderful it would be to work in a Montessori school.

Dairo is from Colombia. Though the majority of Colombians play futbol (soccer), Dairo has been in love with volleyball since he was 15 years old. He is also a musician and loves to play a variety of different instruments.

Phillip Katinas joined Aidan in 2018 and currently serves as the Director of Auxiliary Programs. Phillip’s work in education began at the Sheridan School in DC, where he served as a camp teacher before becoming the Assistant Director at their Creative Arts and Summer Adventure Camp (CASA). After three years at Sheridan, Phillip joined the Aidan community. In addition to managing Aidan's After School Program (ASP), Discovery, and Summer Camp, Phillip also teaches PE to the Elementary students.

Phillip and his family are DC-natives and still reside in the area. Phillip loves playing sports, especially ice hockey. He also enjoys exploring the great outdoors by biking, camping, and hiking. Phillip spends his free time training his two Newfoundland dogs, who not only love to swim but are water-rescue certified.

Margaret joined Aidan as Art Teacher in 2016, in a convergence of her professional background in both art and childcare. Margaret originally came to DC to study at Georgetown University. While pursuing her art degree, she had the wonderful opportunity to study curation with curators at the National Gallery of Art, and create documentary content for local non-profits. She later worked as a content creator for DC Public Schools. Margaret has worked as a photographer, nanny, and has designed art workshops and events for children throughout her career. In addition to photography, her other art passions are drawing (charcoal specifically), painting, printmaking and process based workshops. In addition to studies in Art Education, she continues to avidly pursue studies in Art History through museum programs for educators and research.

She was first introduced to Montessori learning through her niece and nephew who attended Aidan, and was so excited to become part of this community of educators where she can create unique, integrated learning opportunities for her students. Margaret loves to read, travel, see movies, visit museums, spend weekends in New York, and relax in nature. She spends a lot of her spare time back in Minnesota with her family, or on their dock in Lake Superior.

Nell started her library career working in academic and research libraries. She worked at Georgetown University's Medical Library, and was lucky enough to get a summer position in the Reference Department of the Library of Congress, working in the beautiful Jefferson Building. After being home raising her children she became interested in school libraries, so she took courses in School Library Media and worked as a substitute librarian in independent and public schools in the DC area. Nell has Master's degrees in Library Science and in European History. Her recent Professional Development work has been in children's literature translated into English from other languages.

Nell has been in a book club for 20 years! Besides reading she enjoys biking, swimming, gardening, baking, and spending time with her family.

Leslie is currently an assistant for the Auxiliary School Program (ASP) at Aidan Montessori School in Washington, DC. Previously, she served as a dedicated aide in the Special Education department, where she worked closely with children on the autism spectrum and those with other learning disabilities. This role honed Leslie’s abilities in communication, quick problem-solving, and fostering patience and empathy in working with young learners. Outside of work, Leslie is passionate about the arts, particularly painting with acrylics and using oil pastels.

Phillip Katinas joined Aidan in 2018 and currently serves as the Director of Auxiliary Programs. Phillip’s work in education began at the Sheridan School in DC, where he served as a camp teacher before becoming the Assistant Director at their Creative Arts and Summer Adventure Camp (CASA). After three years at Sheridan, Phillip joined the Aidan community. In addition to managing Aidan's After School Program (ASP), Discovery, and Summer Camp, Phillip also teaches PE to the Elementary students.

Phillip and his family are DC-natives and still reside in the area. Phillip loves playing sports, especially ice hockey. He also enjoys exploring the great outdoors by biking, camping, and hiking. Phillip spends his free time training his two Newfoundland dogs, who not only love to swim but are water-rescue certified.

Bella Noumba recently graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in information science. She has had an array of work experiences in different fields but finds working with children to be extremely fulfilling. She enjoys reading, dancing, and spending time with her family and friends.

She is thrilled to have joined the Aidan community!

Ava Pacheco's love for working with children moved her to leave her former corporate position to pursue her passion of early childhood education with Aidan. Before Aidan, she worked as a Summer Counselor at an international education company where she wrote and lead classroom lessons for groups of students from China, an English language tutor for young Korean students, and a Spanish tutor for high school students. She’s excited to be a part of the Aidan community and to be fully immersed in Montessori pedagogy!

In her free time, Ava loves to read, play card games with friends, and hike in Rock Creek

Blake Brophy brings to Aidan Montessori School more than 30 years of accumulated experience and expertise managing financial and accounting matters, with extensive experience within the non-profit sector. A graduate of Hamilton College and the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University, Blake began his career in the tax practice of Arthur Andersen LLP servicing a broad array of clients with a focus on exempt organizations. This foundational experience inspired Blake to pursue a professional career in service to non-profits, serving as controller and chief financial officer for two professional membership associations, an international grant-making foundation and a philanthropic advisory firm. At Washington National Opera, Blake led the accounting and financial reporting operations for seven seasons and assisted in the organization’s ultimate merger with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Throughout his career, Blake has been committed to providing insightful financial analyses to a wide range of audiences to communicate clearly the link between strategic planning and allocation of resources to assessments of financial and operational performance.

Outside of work, Blake is committed to supporting a vibrant arts & culture environment throughout the greater Washington, DC community. He has served on the boards of three performing arts organizations and has performed in and directed numerous staged productions with several local theatre groups. Blake lives on Capitol Hill and enjoys travel, cooking, and

and spending time with his two dogs, Chauncey and Phoebe.

Linda, born and raised in Maryland, attended Washington Bible College where she earned her B.A. in Education. After graduation, Linda was a Kindergarten teacher until the birth of her son. Rejoining the work force in 1988, she was offered a position as a Children’s Library Associate for Prince Georges County, Maryland, where she enjoyed planning story times for local schools until the birth of her daughter in 1991. After raising her daughter, Linda became the office manager for a computer company for six years but was anxious to return to work in an academic environment. From 2002-2013, she worked as an administrative assistant for the Speech-Language Department of The Lab School of Washington.

Linda enjoys traveling to the West Coast to spend time with her two grown children and their spouses. On the weekends, Linda loves to dog sit and discover walking trails, and can often be found her with her nose in a good book.

Sarah Fondriest is a long-time Montessori leader and educator committed to promoting Montessori education, supporting students and their families through the early years of childhood, and encouraging school leaders and educators as they nurture and guide the development of children. With AMI diplomas at the Assistants to Infancy, Primary, and Elementary levels, Sarah has over 15 years of teaching experience and served as the Head of School for 13 years at a Montessori school in Northern Virginia, which she founded in 2011. She is also a primary-level consultant for AMI/USA, and recently launched a private Montessori consulting business, along with a Montessori-specific virtual assistant company. Sarah has been immersing herself in every aspect of educating children and adults alike for the past 25 years of her impassioned Montessori career, and she feels very fortunate to work with so many incredible educators and visionaries in the field of Montessori education.

Sarah is originally from Detroit but has called Northern Virginia home for most of her adult life, with the occasional adventure outside the area. Her favorite place to live, however, was Italy, where she embraced the culture and lifestyle - and copious amounts of cappuccino and wine! Sarah loves spending time outdoors and traveling both across the USA and abroad. Gardening and cooking are two of her greatest passions, allowing her to nurture both the earth and her family. Above all, Sarah cherishes time with her two incredibly independent, responsible, elementary-aged Montessori-raised children, who are the center of her universe.

Jacqueline Gibson-Barrow grew up in Barbados, where she studied accounting, and moved to the United States in 1985. She received her childcare certification from Montgomery College. Before joining Aidan, she worked as a nanny for eight years. She also works at the Arcola Health and Rehab Center (Nursing Home) part time. Jackie is a member of the Barbados National Association and is always ready to volunteer.

She enjoys all kinds of craft and meeting people. Jackie has been married to her wonderful husband, Earl, for over 25 years. They have an older son, Emerson, and a daughter, Lisa-Anne, (Aidan Class of 2009) Holton-Arms class of 2015. Lisa-Anne recently graduated from San Diego State University, where she received a Track and Field scholarship.

Phillip Katinas joined Aidan in 2018 and currently serves as the Director of Auxiliary Programs. Phillip’s work in education began at the Sheridan School in DC, where he served as a camp teacher before becoming the Assistant Director at their Creative Arts and Summer Adventure Camp (CASA). After three years at Sheridan, Phillip joined the Aidan community. In addition to managing Aidan's After School Program (ASP), Discovery, and Summer Camp, Phillip also teaches PE to the Elementary students.

Phillip and his family are DC-natives and still reside in the area. Phillip loves playing sports, especially ice hockey. He also enjoys exploring the great outdoors by biking, camping, and hiking. Phillip spends his free time training his two Newfoundland dogs, who not only love to swim but are water-rescue certified.

Ellie Lehnert joined Aidan Montessori School as the Business Manager in 2019. After graduating from college, Ellie served as a bookkeeper and assistant property manager for three years at a firm that managed 100+ residential properties in Maryland and DC. She later spent 6-1/2 years with Keller Williams Realty as the Market Center Administrator for offices in McLean, Arlington, and Tysons Corner. During her time with Keller Williams, Ellie managed the office financials and reporting, coordinated charity golf tournaments and supported numerous community outreach and fundraising initiatives. Aidan is pleased to have Ellie and her considerable experience as part of its Business Office.

Ellie is a DC native and currently lives in Fairfax, Virginia. In her free time, Ellie enjoys photography, hiking, sewing and watching movies.

Aidan is pleased to welcome Oscar Manzano as our Buildings and Grounds Coordinator. Prior to joining the Aidan community, Oscar was employed at the National Press Club for 35 years. Before that, he was employed for five years as a Maintenance Supervisor.

Oscar was born in El Salvador and came to the United States in 1985. He currently lives in Virginia with his beautiful wife and children.

Jamie is well-known in the AMI Montessori world. In the past four years she founded Rising Tide Montessori, an online resource center, and Sea Lavender Montessori, a micro-school associated with Wildflower Schools. Her career in Montessori education is now in its third decade, and includes more than 10 years as a classroom teacher and school administrator and over 10 years as a trainer of teachers. She is an Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) trainer, examiner, and consultant at the elementary level. She has coached teachers and advised administrators at schools around the world, and she has presented at conferences and for parents throughout the United States, and in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. She also regularly participates in the podcast All Things Montessori. Born and raised on an island in the Pacific Northwest, Jamie now lives in Washington, DC. She loves to read, cook, and travel with her family in her spare time. Jamie and her husband, Jesse Tarbert, a historian of American politics, have two grown daughters who both attended Montessori schools.

Bianca was born and raised in Miami, Florida where she attended Design and Architecture Senior High. She later attended Oregon State University where she majored in Graphic Design. After graduating from Oregon State, Bianca worked with the Juntos program, a program designed to empower Latino students around Oregon. Additionally, Bianca is the owner of her own online plant shop, and spends her days managing both the business and botanical aspects of the store.

After growing up around the lush tropical plants in Florida, Bianca is passionate about plants and often uses them to find inspiration for her designs. Bianca also enjoys spending lots of time with her beagle, Bowie, and two cats, Teresita and Suki.

As a Montessori child, Mariana knew from an early age that her passion was working with children, helping others, and making a difference in the world. After graduating, she attended the University of Florida, where she got a bachelor's in Sociology and Latin American Studies. Mariana continued her education at The Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico earning a master’s degree in Special Education. During this time, she worked as a Teacher Assistant at a local Montessori school. Mariana returned to the United States for Montessori Training and graduated with a master’s degree in Montessori Education from the Washington Montessori Institute (AMI) at Loyola University Maryland. After 5 years of teaching at the Primary level, she decided to continue her education and received her Assistance to Infancy Diploma from The Montessori Institute in Denver Colorado.

Mariana loves her Caribbean roots and incorporates the Puerto Rican rhythm, love, food, and language into her daily life and interaction with her students and families. With each passing day, the children inspire her to become a better person. In her spare time, Mariana enjoys doing outdoor activities, traveling, learning about other cultures, and spending time with her family and friends.

Vernon joined Aidan in 2018 as the Assistant in the Red Oak Lower Elementary Classroom. Vernon is actively engaged in the Montessori community and Montessori remains a big part of his life both in and outside the classroom. He served as a presenter at the AMS conference in Denver, where he spoke about Peace and Cosmic Education. He has also served as the program coordinator for the Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN) and the coordinator for the Monthly Peace Pole Gatherings. Before joining Aidan, Vernon established his own after school program, P3 (Power, Poise, Presence), which focused on building self-confidence, self-worth, leadership skills and promoting principles of scholarship and diversity among adolescents.

Born in Baltimore, MD and raised in Short Hills, NJ, Vernon is most passionate about his work with youth. Vernon’s mission is to help foster positive, productive global citizens and he works to achieve this goal daily. He enjoys incorporating the Montessori Method into his Sunday school classes and serves as a deacon at his church. When he is not in the classroom, Vernon enjoys traveling, socializing with friends and family, and long walks with his poodle, Korden.

John Worsham joined Aidan in 2021 as our Security Officer and is known by all the staff and students as "Officer John." After receiving his Diploma from Crossland High School in Maryland, John joined the United States Navy, where he served as a Sailor. Before joining the Aidan community, John spent years working as a Security Officer for multiple different businesses and organizations.

John is a proud father of 7 children, and in his free time he loves to draw, paint, and listen to music.