Primary
Roshika Ruhunage
Head Montessori Teacher (Primary)
Ms. Roshika joined LePort with over seven years of experience working as a Montessori Toddler and Primary Teacher. She fell in love with the Montessori approach after caring for her two children. Ms. Roshika earned her diploma in Primary Montessori Education at the Colombo Montessori Teacher Training Center in Sri Lanka, which is affiliated with Fairfax University in the United Kingdom. She also has numerous continuing education credits in Early Childhood Education from various colleges in the United States. Ms. Roshika describes herself as simple but strong-willed, and a passionate and kind person.
Delmy Zavala
Assistant Teacher
Ms. Delmy Zavala was born and raised in El Salvador. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Francisco Gavidia University. After four years of working in Human Resources, she realized that it wasn’t her passion, so she became a nanny for a child with special needs for six years. Ms. Zavala is excited to be working with the children at LePort. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her own two children, and also likes traveling.
Daniela Monteiro
Head Montessori Teacher (Primary)
Daniela Monteiro was born and raised in Brazil where she earned a BA in Education, a BS in Psychology, a Parental Coaching training, and a Certification in Education Management. Daniela was first introduced to Montessori’s method in 2006. From that moment forward she never stopped studying, researching and working with the Montessori Method. She received her AMS Montessori Training Certification for 2.5- to 6-years-old from the New England Montessori Teacher Education Center in 2011 after living in Boston, MA for a year. In 2013, she founded Educare, a company dedicated to coaching parents and teachers with a focus on the Montessori philosophy. Before joining LePort Montessori, she was the Curriculum Coordinator of a Bilingual Montessori School in Brazil, and her primary job was implementing the Montessori Philosophy and mentoring all staff towards the best Montessori Practicum. She has been with LePort since January 2016 as the Assistant Head of School of the Irvine Spectrum North campus.
The year of 2017 was a landmark year for Daniela. Her first child was born in May and she knows that being a parent will only make her grow even more.
In her free time, Daniela loves to spend time with her family and friends, watching movies and TV shows, cooking, and reading.
The year of 2017 was a landmark year for Daniela. Her first child was born in May and she knows that being a parent will only make her grow even more.
In her free time, Daniela loves to spend time with her family and friends, watching movies and TV shows, cooking, and reading.
Merel Hogeweg
Head Montessori Teacher (Primary)
Ms. Merel Hogeweg was born in the Netherlands and moved to the United States in 2001. She grew up in Redlands, California and made her way to Orange County to attend the University of California, Irvine. It was during her time at UC Irvine, that Ms. Merel found her passion for working with students. She went on to graduate in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Educational Sciences. After graduation, Ms. Merel began working as an Assistant Teacher in a Montessori classroom and was quickly inspired to become Montessori trained herself. Ms. Merel received her AMI Primary Diploma from the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies in Phoenix, Arizona and obtained a Masters of Education with an emphasis in Montessori Studies from Loyola University Maryland.
During her free time, Ms. Merel enjoys being outdoors, traveling, going to Disneyland, and spending time with her family and friends.
During her free time, Ms. Merel enjoys being outdoors, traveling, going to Disneyland, and spending time with her family and friends.
Patricia Shaw
Assistant Teacher
Mrs. Shaw was born and raised in Mexico and moved to California in 1985. Prior to joining LePort, she worked in the medical field, but had always desired working with children. Mrs. Shaw attended Laguna Technical College to receive an education in Human Development and Childhood Education. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys reading, movies, music, and most of all, spending time with her two sons and family in Mexico.