Administration

Monica N. LePort - Administrative Director Since joining LePort Schools in 2000, Ms. LePort has been running the operations of all the LePort School campuses. With her supportive leadership style and commitment to excellence, Ms. LePort has helped LePort Schools become one of the leading places of learning in Orange County. Ms. LePort's duties include human resources, facility management, liaising with parents, and daily operations. Ms. LePort's enthusiasm for education, and life in general, has created a safe and caring environment where parents are pleased with their child's learning and social development. This same environment makes for a satisfying work place for our teachers, who are committed to both LePort Schools and the Montessori philosophy. E-Mail: mnleport@leportschools.com

Lucia Tompkins - LePort Schools Montessori Academic Director For over 35 years Mrs. Tompkins as been an integral part of the Montessori community in Orange County. She has first hand knowledge and experience in Association Montessori International (AMI) school administration and classroom management. Mrs. Tompkins received her Montessori Primary Diploma from the Montessori Institute of Los Angles in 1972. After teaching for over 20 years, she then bought and operated her own Montessori school in Orange County. As the Montessori Academic Director for LePort Schools, Mrs. Tompkins is looking forward to working with a skilled and experienced faculty committed to the integrity of Montessori education of the highest quality. Mrs. Tompkins believes that, as educators, our work is to understand and serve the needs of the “whole” child to develop the attitudes and practical skills for a lifetime of wonder and learning. Through the implementation of the Montessori curriculum we are opening doors of knowledge and understanding for our children. Each classroom represents a miniature society where the values of respect, harmony, interdependence and unity are given the opportunity to blossom and grow, a place where children are learning how to think, not what to think. E-Mail: ltompkins@leportschools.com

Teachers - Mission Viejo

Marita Bonazza Ms. Bonazza earned her credential from the Palo Alto A.M.I. Institute under the direction of Miss Lena Wikramaratne, a former colleague of Dr. Maria Montessori. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Francisco State University, with majors in English and art, and is the author/illustrator of a children's book on scientists. Ms. Bonazza has been a Montessori primary educator for over twenty years. She prides herself on nurturing the natural creativity and intellectual explorations of 3 to 6 year-old children. Ms. Bonazza is excited about teaching at our Mission Viejo campus and working with children, which is her passion.

Stacy Blailock Mrs. Blailock began her teaching career in Flagstaff, Arizona, where she earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education. Upon graduation she worked in a primary summer program for a Montessori school and was amazed with the individualized education that each child received, and the various materials that helped each child understand core lessons. It was these experiences that lead her to take her Montessori training through CMTE in Phoenix, Arizona, and attain a 6-12 years old certificate. Mrs. Blailock is currently finishing up her Masters of Arts degree. Mrs. Blailock’s experience over the past 12 years has ranged from primary through sixth grade, giving her vast knowledge of the Montessori child. She is committed to educating the “whole” child and providing a loving, safe and nurturing environment for the children to flourish. Mrs. Blailock is honored and excited to be teaching in the lower elementary classroom at LePort Schools Mission Viejo campus.

Janet Chung

Teachers - Huntington Beach

Fatima Asghar Mrs. Asghar has been working in Montessori classrooms since 1989. She received her AMI Montessori diploma in 1997 in Hydernbad, India, her hometown. After teaching at a Montessori School in College Station, TX for two years, she moved to California and joined our staff in 2000. Mrs. Asghar is a primary teacher at our Huntington Beach location.

Lisa Bonazza Ms. Bonazza has been an A.M.I. elementary teacher for over twenty years. She feels privileged to have taken her elementary training under Mario Montessori in Bergamo, Italy and to have graduated with honors. Prior to those studies she majored in foreign languages at UC Irvine and UC Berkeley. She has taught children ages 6 to 12 in Seattle, San Francisco, and most recently for 17 years in Orange, California. She is a California CBEST teacher. She looks forward to continuing to build an exceptional Montessori elementary class at the Huntington Beach campus. Ms. Bonazza is a firm believer in Maria Montessori's philosophy of “freedom with responsi-bility” that, coupled with the Montessori materials which lead from the concrete to the abstract, inculcate in our children a sense of independence and the desire to do work thoroughly and beautifully. The self-confidence gained here stays with the child in their future schooling. Ms. Bonazza has Montessori graduates attending M.I.T., Stanford, USC, Purdue, UCLA, and many other prestigious schools, as well as those pursuing interests in music, fashion, and travel. It is remarkable that these graduates continue to stay in touch with Ms. Bonazza, but then a Montessori education can create remarkable students.

Vivian Lo Ms. Lo received her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Institute of San Diego. She also has a B.A. in Child and Family Studies from the California State University, Los Angeles. Ms. Lo enjoys seeing the children develop strong social skills, grace and courtesy, as well as progress rapidly academically. Ms. Lo is a Primary Directress at our Huntington Beach Campus and has been with LePort Schools since 2001.

Caroline Perez Mrs. Perez received her AMI Diploma from the Montessori Institute of Los Angeles in 1993. She has 13 years experience with the Montessori Philosophy, which she has applied to teaching. She has been with LePort Schools since 2000. Mrs. Perez is a primary teacher at our Huntington Beach location.

Bonnie Stockton Ms. Stockton is a dedicated teacher with a deep love and respect for the children. She believes in the teaching approach of supporting each child’s unique individuality, providing an environment for the children to enrich themselves, and delights in watching their independence and love of learning blossom. Ms. Stockton has been with LePort Schools since 2005. She has completed numerous child development classes. Ms. Stockton is a devoted teacher who enjoys working with the toddlers in the Montessori environment. Ms. Stockton is our Head Toddler Teacher at our Huntington Beach campus.

Teachers - Irvine, 26 Lake Rd

Rosanne Fernando Mrs. Fernando received her AMI Primary diploma from Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Center, Sri Lanka in 1996 and her AMI Assistants to Infancy diploma from the Montessori Institute Northwest, Oregon in 2007. She has been working since 1996 as a Primary Teacher in Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and San Mateo, California. After completing the Assistants to Infancy training course, she worked in a Toddler classroom in Naples, Florida. Mrs. Fernando believes that every child has within, a budding curiosity for acquiring knowledge and skills, which has to grow and flourish productively. Preparing the environment and linking the child to the environment gives the child guidance to thrive within and beyond the classroom. Mrs. Fernando is a Primary Directress at our Irvine Campus.

Waruni Kumaratunga Ms. Kumaratunga received her AMI Primary Diploma from the Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Center, Sir Lanka March 2001. She has been teaching since 1998. Prior to joining LePort Schools she taught at a Montessori school in San Mateo, California. The knowledge she has amassed during the AMI course has given her the classroom management skills that will spark an interest in the learning process of each child and the tools to explore further. Literature and first hand experience have taught her that Montessori teaching is a process through which the teacher and the student explore knowledge. Ms. Kumaratunga believes that the best retention is achieved when innovative ideas are incorporated to make learning an enjoyable experience. Ms. Kumaratunga is a Primary Directress at our Irvine Campus.

Kandy Newberg Mrs. Newberg has been with LePort Schools since 2003. She has completed numerous child development classes plus several administration courses. Mrs. Newberg is a devoted toddler teacher who enjoys working with toddlers in the Montessori environment. She believes that by placing the young child in a Montessori program will enable the child to progress at their own pace, enhance their independence, development and encourage a love for learning.

Becci Rees Ms. Rees graduated with her AMI Primary Teaching Diploma in 2005 from the Montessori Training Institute, London, England. She received her B.A. Honors Degree in Early Childhood Studies from Sheffield University, England. Prior to arriving in California, Ms. Rees worked in several childcare settings throughout England; she is particularly proud of her time spent working with children and parents in deprived communities as part of a British government initiative. Ms. Rees is dedicated to encouraging and enhancing each child's individual experiences, interests and explorations, and to guiding them through a path of knowledge, understanding and discoveries within the Montessori environment and the world.

Sunita Sahota Ms. Sahota has been with LePort Schools for three years. Ms. Suhota received her AMS Primary Diploma from Montessori Western Teachers Training Program located in Garden Grove, CA in 1999. She completed her Master's Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Pune, in India. She also completed an extensive research study in India conducted by the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The subject of the study was the effects of education on urban and rural women in India and the United States. Ms. Sahota loves working with children and believes that every child has great potential just waiting to be tapped. Ms. Sahota is a Primary teacher at our Irvine Campus.

Teachers - Irvine, 1055 San Marino

Andrea Magistrado Ms. Magistrado earned her credential from the Foundation for Montessori Education under the direction of Mrs. RenildeMontessori, the granddaughter of Dr. Maria Montessori. Ms. Magistrado received her AMI primary diploma in 1991 in Toronto, Canada. Ms. Magistrado has been a Montessori educator for over 15 years, having experience in Orange County, California. She has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees, major in Soil Chemistry from the University of the Philippines. Ms. Magistrado looks forward to directing the primary level at our San Marino campus. She enjoys working with children and it is her goal to create a classroom where your child can explore, be independent and make decisions, develop self control and use their creative imagination making each school day a joyful discovery.

Brigitte Hart Ms. Hart earned her AMS Montessori Certification from the Dallas Montessori Training Center under Jim and Dina Paulik in1994. Ms. Hart also holds a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education from the Lutheran College in Freiburg Germany in 1977. Ms. Hart had been teaching and guiding children ages 3-6 in the Primary class for 15 years in Plano,Texas before moving to Orange County in January 2007. Ms. Hart is a member of the American Montessori Society and attends the annual conferences and seminars. Ms. Hart strongly believes that Montessori Education addresses not only the academic, but also the physical, emotional and social development of the child. Ms. Hart is excited to be working with the children and their parents at LePort Schools in Irvine.

Jennifer Williams Ms. Williams was first introduced to Maria Montessori’s Methods in college while assisting an AMI Directress in a lower elementary classroom. Throughout her college career, Ms. Williams continued to work as an assistant at both the primary and elementary levels. Inspired and curious she then became motivated to pursue her certification. Ms. Williams received her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Education Center of Arizona in 1999. She also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech and Language Pathology from Arizona State University. Ms. Williams possesses a deep admiration and appreciation for the Montessori Method, she says it is a wonderful feeling to help children develop, and acquired knowledge and builds character. Ms. Williams is a Primary Directress at our Irvine San Marino Campus.

Shan Shan Fu Ms. Fu earned her AMI primary diploma in 2002 from the Montessori Institute of San Diego. Prior to this, she received a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education from National Hsinchu Teachers College in Taiwan and a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining the LePort School, Ms. Fu taught in the Department of Early Child Care and Education of Shu-Te University and taught a primary class at a Montessori school in Fremont, California. Ms. Fu enjoys working with children and believes strongly in the Montessori Philosophy, knowing that it gives children a feeling of independence, love of working, and a sense of responsibility. Ms. Fu is a Primary Directress at our Irvine San Marino Campus.

Amy Kwong Ms. Kwong discovered her love of working with children while helping out in a summer school program when she was in high school. She graduated from State University of New York at Stony Brook with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and a Minor in Child and Family Studies. Afterwards, Ms. Kwong interned at a Montessori Child Care Center in Islandia, New York and stayed there for the next 3 1/2 years, moving quickly from an internship to an assistant teacher position and then to a Head Teacher position all while training at Denver, Colorado to become certified in AMI Assistance to Infancy. Soon after, she received her Masters Degree in Education with emphasis in Montessori Method from Loyola College in Maryland. After moving to Southern California in 2003, Ms. Kwong continued to further her education by receiving a credential for Elementary Education at California State University, Los Angeles. Ms. Kwong believes that structure and routine help keep the child centered, while repetition helps master each skill. Ms. Kwong likes to use the child’s natural curiosity to keep their interest while providing proper motivations and choices to guide the child in the right direction. Even at a young age every child is capable of capturing knowledge, it is up to us as adults to facilitate and aid them in doing so. Ms. Kwong’s favorite motto is: “Help Me Help Myself.” Ms. Kwong is a Toddler Directress at our Irvine San Marino campus.

Veronica Flores Ms. Flores was born and raised in Southern California. She has worked in the preschool setting for over 10 years. Ms. Flores has completed numerous early childhood courses and continues to enhance herself by participating in various early childhood courses and seminars. Ms Flores has been a head toddler teacher, program specialists and school site director. She is a dedicated teacher with love and respect for the children. She is supportive of each child’s unique individuality, and delights in watching their independence and love of learning grow. Ms. Flores is a Head Toddler teacher at our Irvine San Marino campus.

Ms. Ana Ms. Ana has enjoyed working with children in a preschool setting for over eight years. Her experience began assisting in preschool classes as well as teaching the infant and toddler level children. Over the years she became the head pre-school teacher in a toddler/infant program in Irvine. Soon after, she ascended to Program Coordinator and Assistant Director in the same school. She is in the process of obtaining her degree in Child Development from the University of Phoenix. Currently, Ms. Ana is the Head Toddler Teacher at Le Port Schools campus Irvine, San Marino. She believes in the Montessori approach providing a nurturing and stimulating environment allowing the children to develop a love for learning.