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LePort Montessori Orchard Hills Staff

School Administration

Ayanthi Ratnayake

Head of School

Ms. Ayanthi Ratnayake was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her first experience with Montessori came as a child. She attended the same school where her mother taught primary children. She remembers some of her favorite Montessori materials from childhood: the color boxes and dressing frames. In hindsight, she believes that her experience as a Montessori child has led her to be more flexible in thought and more accepting of others.

Ms. Ayanthi completed her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and worked at a Montessori school and a traditional preschool ever since graduating. She completed her Association Montessori International Diploma at the Montessori Institute of San Diego. In conjunction with her diploma, she earned a Master's Degree in Education with a specialization in Montessori from Loyola University Maryland. Ms. Ayanthi feels strongly that the Montessori approach provides a holistic approach towards learning. She loves that each day of working with young children brings new experiences and growth over time. She enjoys working with the staff to strive for academic rigor with their students.

Outside of teaching, Ms. Ayanthi enjoys traveling and learning about different cultures, trying new restaurants, listening to music, shopping, and last but not least, spending time with family and friends.

Jessica Galante

Business Manager

Ms. Jessica Galante, originally from Washington state, has relocated to Southern California to join our vibrant community. With over 15 years of business management experience, Ms. Jessica brings a diverse perspective to the school team. Her journey into Montessori education began at her family-owned school in Bothell, Washington, where she discovered her passion for fostering children's sense of ownership and deep understanding of their potential and a way to integrate her business experience into growing a thriving community.

Ms. Jessica holds a degree in Integrated Studies with an emphasis in business, complemented by her certification as a Montessori Assistant Teacher. She believes that Montessori education empowers children to reach for and achieve their full potential, providing them with the tools they need to thrive and adapt in an ever-changing world. One of the aspects Ms. Jessica cherishes most about her role is the daily interactions with her work environment. She finds joy in creating connections with parents and witnessing the growth of the community each day.

In her free time, Ms. Jessica enjoys spending time in nature, savoring a cup of tea, and practicing meditation. She is an explorer who finds inspiration in learning about new cultures and landscapes. Ms. Jessica shares her adventures with her English bulldog, Caavi, her husband and family.

Toddler

Yan Long

Head Montessori Teacher (Toddler)

Ms. Yan Long holds an AMI Montessori Assistants to Infancy (age 0-3) certification from Denver and Association Montessori Internationale Montessori Primary (age 2.5-6) certification from Montessori Northwest. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English and Spanish from Sichuan International Studies University in Chongqing, China. Before joining LePort Montessori, Ms. Yan had 3 years of experience as a lead teacher in a Montessori classroom, and 8 years of experience in childcare and Mandarin tutoring. During the pandemic, she created a Mandarin Immersion Montessori pod in Redwood City, California. Likewise, she spent a year as the lead Mandarin instructor at the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In her free time, Ms. Yan enjoys silk embroidery, gardening, hiking, arts and crafts, yoga, swimming, exploring new foods and new places. Ms. Yan also has an interest in philosophy and literature; her favorite thinkers are Zhuangzi, Maria Montessori (naturally), Piaget, and Jane Austen.

Dania Hernandez Bernal

Assistant Teacher

Ms. Dania was born and raised in Orange County, California. She always wanted to work with young children since she is an older sister. Her journey began in 2017 when she volunteered as a teacher's assistant at her local church, working with first through third-grade children. She first attended Orange Coast Community College to begin her career in Early Childhood Education. She then graduated from Cal State Dominguez Hills and received her Bachelor of Science in Child Development in Spring 2023.
Ms. Dania enjoys learning new things and is excited to learn about Montessori! During her free time, she enjoys making puzzles, playing video games, and engaging with her pet Rango, a bearded dragon.

Primary

Shaista Hasan

Head Montessori Teacher (Primary)

Ms. Shaista has always enjoyed working with children for over a decade. Her journey began in 2013 when she started working toward her Associates in Early Childhood & Development from Houston Community College. In 2017 she began working in a Montessori environment and she was inspired to earn her certification. Ms. Shaista is certified by the American Montessori Society and has earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology, English literature and Economics. Ms. Shaista received her teaching credentials from Houston Community College and then Irvine Valley College. Recently, Ms. Shaista began working towards a Business Administration Certification in University of California Irvine. As a mother, Ms. Shaista understands how challenging it is to raise a child in a balanced way. She really appreciates all the parents who are so involved in their child’s education. Ms. Shaista always has a very open line of communication with parents and plans her lessons in such a way that can keep children engaged and learning at the same time.

Estefany Sanchez

Assistant Teacher

Ms. Estefany Sanchez was born and raised in Orange County. She had attended North West College to become a Medical Assistant. Ms. Estefany decided to switch careers and become a teacher’s assistant because she enjoys helping and teaching others. She is currently attending Theoria Technical college to receive her training in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Estefany loves spending time with her 3 wonderful daughters. Her favorite hobbies are arts and crafts, puzzles, reading and watching movies.

Farheen Khan

Head Montessori Teacher (Primary)

Ms. Farheen Khan received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Pakistan and has earned a certificate in Montessori education from the University of California, Irvine. She also studied early childhood education at Santa Ana College. Ms. Khan completed her AMI Montessori training in the Primary level from the Montessori Institute of San Diego and worked as a Junior Teacher before taking on the role of Head Teacher. Ms. Khan has been with LePort Orchard Hills since it opened has maintained an enthusiasm for the Montessori pedagogy from day one. In her free time, Ms. Kahn enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Yeeun Moon

Assistant Teacher

Ms. Yeeun is a native Korean, who has had many experiences living and traveling to other countries. After attending high school in New Zealand, she returned to Korea and taught children for 15 years. After being married, she felt compelled to become an educator. Ms. Yeeun had a strong interest in Montessori philosophy. During the pandemic, Ms Yeeun had to return to Korea, where she researched the top Montessori schools in Korea. Ms. Yee-un aspired to introduce Montessori pedagogy to Korean parents by opening a Montessori school after studying their systems and observing children. Ms. Yeeun returned to California to join the LePort family, with a focus on Infant and Toddler Montessori philosophy.

Sophia Rusaw

Head Montessori Teacher (Primary)

Ms. Sophia was born and raised in Massena, New York. She earned her Bachelor's of Arts in Early Childhood Education and her Master's of Science in Special Education from The State University of New York at Potsdam. Ms. Sophia has always had a passion for working with children and becoming a teacher. She has previously worked as a recreational leader and has volunteered in many different classrooms. Ms. Sophia is currently enrolled in The Center for Guided Montessori Studies to get her Primary Montessori Certification. In Ms. Sophia's free time, she enjoys being outdoors and spending time with friends and family. She also enjoys traveling to new places any chance she gets!

Amanda Marin

Assistant Teacher

Ms. Amanda was born and raised in Orange County. She has studied at Child Development at Santiago Canyon College. Ms. Amanda has experience in many after school programs, as well as observing different classroom settings. She has always had a strong passion for working with young children, and watching them grow. When she first observed the Montessori method, she was amazed by the philosophy & wanted to continue gaining experience. When not at work, Ms. Amanda loves to spend time with her two dogs and family. She also loves playing softball with friends.

Dilusha Gunaratne

Head Montessori Teacher (Primary)

Ms. Dilusha's life story reflects a rich blend of cultural experiences and a commitment to education. Born and raised in Sri Lanka, she has a deep connection to her roots. Her educational journey spans both Sri Lanka and the United States, showcasing a diverse and well-rounded academic background. With over 20 years of experience as an Association Montessori Internationale trained teacher Ms. Dilusha brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. Her passion for helping the needy is evident through her active involvement in various charitable organizations. As a mother, Ms. Dilusha not only brings professional expertise but also a personal understanding of the dynamics of raising and nurturing a child into adulthood.

Ms. Dilusha believes in the importance of education and is dedicated to providing a nurturing and stimulating environment for her students. She is known for her patience, creativity, and love for teaching. Her goal is to inspire her students to become independent thinkers and lifelong learners. As a member of the team at LePort Montessori, Ms. Dilusha's unique blend of experiences, dedication, and passion for education is sure to leave a lasting imprint on the educational journey of her students.

Additional Staff

Min Hee Lee

Junior Montessori Teacher

Ms. Min Hee Lee earned her B.A. in Early Childhood Education from Duksung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea in 1992. Throughout her college education, she was introduced to several aspects of the Montessori method and became particularly interested in the program designed by Dr. Montessori. After receiving a scholarship from her university, she received her AMI diploma from the Montessori Teacher Training Center of Northern California, Mountain View in 1994.

Prior to joining LePort, Ms. Min Hee worked in a university preschool for 8 years. After relocating to the U.S. in 2003, she put her career on hold in order to raise her children. Ms. Min Hee passion for teaching eventually brought her back to classroom, a place that most teachers call their second home.

Outside of work, Ms. Min Hee enjoys reading, taking a walk on a sunny day and spending time with her family.

Tejalben Luni

Assistant Teacher

Bio coming soon.

Alejandra Ramirez

Assistant Teacher

Ms. Alejandra Ramirez was born in Orange County, Ca. Growing up, she has always had a passion for working with children. She graduated from Santa Ana College with an Associates Degree in Psychology. She had previously worked as an assistant teacher for her church. Ms. Alejandra loves the Montessori philosophy because she enjoys when the children gain independence and growth. She is currently furthering her education by finishing her Early Childhood Education units at Theoria technical college. In her free time she enjoys spending time at the beach and hiking.
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