Primary
Lisa Reynolds
Head Montessori Teacher (Primary)
Ms. Lisa Reynolds has worked for LePort Encinitas since October 2017, when she was hired as an Assistant Teacher and After Care Coordinator. Her strong work ethic, dedication, and commitment to the Montessori philosophy made her the ideal candidate when a Head Teacher position came available the following school year.
Before she found Montessori, Ms. Lisa worked as an ESL instructor in Shenzhen, China for four years, with children ages 3 to 17. Prior to her work in China, she taught ESL for 18 months in Yonago, Japan. She moved back to America in 2016 to train as a Montessori Primary teacher at the Montessori Institute of San Diego. She is excited to share her Montessori training, as well as her experience abroad, with her students. Outside of work, Ms. Lisa enjoys running, reading, drinking coffee, and of course, spending time with loved ones.
Before she found Montessori, Ms. Lisa worked as an ESL instructor in Shenzhen, China for four years, with children ages 3 to 17. Prior to her work in China, she taught ESL for 18 months in Yonago, Japan. She moved back to America in 2016 to train as a Montessori Primary teacher at the Montessori Institute of San Diego. She is excited to share her Montessori training, as well as her experience abroad, with her students. Outside of work, Ms. Lisa enjoys running, reading, drinking coffee, and of course, spending time with loved ones.
Manoha Ratnayake
Junior Montessori Teacher
Ms. Mano moved to the United States in 1979 after completing her AMI training in Sri Lanka. She moved to Minnesota and has over 40 years of experience working with children as a lead teacher and director in Montessori schools as well as traditional preschools. After spending decades in Minnesota, she and her family moved to California due to the warmer weather. She obtained her ECE credits shortly after moving to CA and has been working in Montessori schools ever since.
Ms. Mano believes that every day is a new day and is full of potential. She loves the energy that young children bring. She believes in the Montessori principle: "show me how to do it for myself," and enjoys seeing this come to life in the classroom.
When not at work, Ms. Mano enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, going to plays, gardening, meditating, and exercising. A fun fact about Ms. Mano is that her daughter is also a Montessori teacher and works at LePort Montessori Carlsbad Village!
Ms. Mano believes that every day is a new day and is full of potential. She loves the energy that young children bring. She believes in the Montessori principle: "show me how to do it for myself," and enjoys seeing this come to life in the classroom.
When not at work, Ms. Mano enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, going to plays, gardening, meditating, and exercising. A fun fact about Ms. Mano is that her daughter is also a Montessori teacher and works at LePort Montessori Carlsbad Village!
Vrunda Patwa
Head Montessori Teacher (Primary)
Ms.Vrunda has lived in San Diego, CA. since 2017. She was born and raised in India where she obtained a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies. Her first position in San Diego was in a Montessori school. Here she discovered the passion to learn more about Montessori education. Ms.Vrunda completed her AMI primary teacher certification program for 3-6 years, and also obtained a Positive Discipline certification. She has several years of experience working as a teacher, both in India, and in the United States. Ms.Vrunda has worked at LePort Solana Beach since May 2019 when she was hired as an Assistant Teacher. When offered the opportunity to become a lead guide, she jumped at the chance of running her own classroom. When not at work she likes dancing, singing, and yoga. She likes to travel and enjoys spending time learning different skills.
Roya Ebrahimi
Assistant Teacher
Ms. Roya has lived in San Diego for 38 years and is of Turkish and Persian descent. Prior to joining LePort, she worked in a hospital as a medical assistant. Ms. Roya has an associate degree in medical assistance and art photography. In childcare, she worked at a private preschool in Fremont, CA. She has worked with children for over 12 years now. She enjoys interacting with children and hearing about their experiences.
In her free time, she likes to take pictures of sunsets and landscapes. She also enjoys quality time with her family and especially with her only son.
In her free time, she likes to take pictures of sunsets and landscapes. She also enjoys quality time with her family and especially with her only son.
Ely Heredia
Head Montessori Teacher (Primary)
Mrs. Ely lives in Chula Vista CA. She grew up in Tijuana B. C., where she studied at a private college and obtained a B.S. in Early Childhood Education. After graduation she began to work in a Montessori school, and it is there where she began to have an interest to learn more about Montessori education.
Ms. Ely eventually moved to Chula Vista, and began the teacher certification program where she obtained a diploma from the American Montessori Society for teaching children 2 1/2- 6 years. She has several years of experience working as a Head Teacher, both in Tijuana and in the United States.
Ms. Ely decided to be a teacher when she was very young. She even attended a Montessori school during her preschool years, and she retains very beautiful memories of her preschool teachers. She loves animals, shopping, visiting cultural and historical places, and going to museums. She likes going to the gym and swimming, enjoys going to the beach and playing with her puppies. She loves to travel and spend time with family.
Ms. Ely eventually moved to Chula Vista, and began the teacher certification program where she obtained a diploma from the American Montessori Society for teaching children 2 1/2- 6 years. She has several years of experience working as a Head Teacher, both in Tijuana and in the United States.
Ms. Ely decided to be a teacher when she was very young. She even attended a Montessori school during her preschool years, and she retains very beautiful memories of her preschool teachers. She loves animals, shopping, visiting cultural and historical places, and going to museums. She likes going to the gym and swimming, enjoys going to the beach and playing with her puppies. She loves to travel and spend time with family.
Elnaz Vandaie
Assistant Teacher
Miss Elle was born and raised in Cupertino, California, and moved to San Diego from Silicon Valley where she earned two degrees, an Associate in Arts in Child Development Associate Teacher, and in Liberal Arts Emphasis in Social and Behavioral Sciences. Her passion is working with children and she hopes to continue her education by taking the training to become a Montessori Teacher one day. Miss. Elle is a pianist and taught piano to young children before she pursued her dream in education. Miss Elle is also bilingual in Farsi and English. When she is not working, she loves to garden and collect different plant varieties from her travels, and also has a passion for cooking!
Michelle Aguiniga
Head Montessori Teacher (Primary), Spanish Immersion
Ms. Michelle Aguiniga was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico. She finished her Montessori training in 2002, and started a classroom for children of all abilities. Over the years, she has worked with the parents and other non-profit organizations to empower the community, and she has given lectures in Mexico about Maria Montessori and how the Montessori curriculum can help a child's development and prepare them for a traditional classroom. She also has helped introduce interpreters (both sign language and Spanish) into the classrooms.
Ms. Aguiniga’s love of learning and interest in cultural diversity were part of her decision to come to LePort, where she is a part of the Spanish Immersion program, along with the opportunity to experience the diversity here in America. Ms. Aguiniga would love to see her students become fluent in Spanish, and she looks forward to sharing old traditions and songs that share values and respect for others. In her free time, Ms. Aguiniga loves new experiences and food, and she enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors. She has a son, Antonio, and a daughter, Aranza, who both live in Tijuana and attend the university there.
Ms. Aguiniga’s love of learning and interest in cultural diversity were part of her decision to come to LePort, where she is a part of the Spanish Immersion program, along with the opportunity to experience the diversity here in America. Ms. Aguiniga would love to see her students become fluent in Spanish, and she looks forward to sharing old traditions and songs that share values and respect for others. In her free time, Ms. Aguiniga loves new experiences and food, and she enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors. She has a son, Antonio, and a daughter, Aranza, who both live in Tijuana and attend the university there.
Elga Chavez
Head Montessori Teacher (Primary), Spanish Immersion
Ms. Elga Chavez is originally from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. She completed a bachelor’s degree in preschool education where she carried out fieldwork applying strategies on how to strengthen autonomy in preschool children. She began her career as a teacher in public schools at the preschool level and then continued on to a master’s degree. Her research was based on providing tools to young people in special education to use in work and daily life.
Ms. Elga was interested in Montessori education early on in her studies and she began to read about it. She incorporated some of Montessori’s principles in her classroom and was impressed by the results. As a result, she completed Montessori training in the U. S.
She believes in Maria Montessori for the construction of the man of tomorrow.
In her free time she likes to do yoga, swim at the beach, draw, cook, read, write, investigate, and listen to music. She likes to spend time with her family discovering new places, trying different dishes, and being in contact with nature.
Ms. Elga was interested in Montessori education early on in her studies and she began to read about it. She incorporated some of Montessori’s principles in her classroom and was impressed by the results. As a result, she completed Montessori training in the U. S.
She believes in Maria Montessori for the construction of the man of tomorrow.
In her free time she likes to do yoga, swim at the beach, draw, cook, read, write, investigate, and listen to music. She likes to spend time with her family discovering new places, trying different dishes, and being in contact with nature.
