The educators who know, guide, and grow alongside our students.
Every AIA classroom is led by a Montessori-credentialed Lead Guide and supported by experienced assistants and specialists. Many members of our faculty have served the AIA community for a decade or longer.
Because AIA is an independent academy, we're free to hire the strongest Montessori educators we can find, regardless of which training organization certified them. That's why credentials on this page come from AMI, AMS, NAMC, and other respected pathways, see our Accreditation & Affiliations page for more on that philosophy.
Educators who have grown alongside generations of AIA students.
Children may arrive at AIA as young as eighteen months and remain through eighth grade. Educators who stay for a decade or longer have the rare opportunity to witness nearly an entire childhood unfold.
They welcome younger siblings, remember the families who came before, and build relationships that continue across classrooms and years. Several began as assistants, grew into lead or leadership roles, and have made AIA an important part of their own lives.
Primary Teacher · At AIA since 2004
Pre-Primary Teacher · At AIA since 2008
Admissions Director · At AIA since 2009
Primary Teacher · At AIA since 2011
Art Teacher · At AIA since 2012
Lower Elementary Teacher · At AIA since 2016
Administration
Sarah Prosser
Sarah joined AIA as Head of School in 2026, bringing more than 15 years of experience in Montessori education and school leadership. She holds AMS credentials in Infant and Toddler education and Montessori administration and is committed to building a warm, collaborative school community where children, families, and educators can thrive. Read her full story →
Shweta Parkash
An AIA parent of two since 2016, Shweta developed a deep appreciation for the school’s community and mission before joining the staff in 2023. She holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing and is a Certified Associate in Project Management. Shweta works to make billing straightforward, communication clear, and every family’s financial experience with the school transparent and supportive.
Lori Murphy
Lori joined AIA in 2009 as a Pre-Primary Assistant and later spent ten years leading a Montessori classroom. She earned bachelor’s degrees in Advertising and Psychology from the University of Florida and also holds a Toddler Montessori credential. Since 2020, she has guided prospective families through the admissions process, helping them discover AIA and feel welcomed into the school community from their very first conversation.
Maegen Flynn
An AIA parent of two, Maegen was already a deeply involved member of the school community before joining the staff in 2025. While serving as a substitute and an exceptional room parent, she became known for her reliability, warmth, and willingness to help wherever needed. She now manages the school library and supports the daily life of the Elementary office.
Pre-Primary (18 Months–3 Years)
Neasie Cook
Neasie has been part of the AIA community since 2008 and brings more than two decades of experience in early childhood education. She holds an Infant and Toddler Montessori certification from the Atlanta American Montessori Teachers Society and creates a nurturing environment where AIA’s youngest students can feel secure, capable, and increasingly independent.
Mary Guzman
Mary joined AIA in 2022 after five years of experience in early childhood education. She holds a Montessori certification in Infant and Toddler education and brings warmth, patience, and consistency to the classroom, helping young children build confidence through their earliest school experiences.
Primary & Kindergarten (3–6 Years)
Roshnak Siganporia
Roshnak has been teaching at AIA since 2011 and holds a Montessori certification in Early Childhood Education. She values the opportunity to guide children through the full three-year Primary cycle and watch their personalities, confidence, and independence unfold.
Laryn Alfred
Laryn has been part of AIA since 2004, making her the school’s longest-serving educator. She completed her AMS Montessori training in 1999 and brings decades of experience, consistency, and a deep understanding of how children learn and grow within the Montessori classroom.
Ana Lopez
Ana joined AIA in 2023 and holds a Teaching Assistant Diploma earned in the United Kingdom. She supports children throughout the school day with warmth, attentiveness, and encouragement while continuing to deepen her Montessori practice.
Maya Menon
Maya joined AIA in 2017 and holds an Early Childhood Montessori Diploma from the North American Montessori Center. Raised in a family of educators, she brings a natural appreciation for learning and is passionate about supporting each child’s academic, social, and emotional development.
Alberta Hackett
A lifelong Montessorian, Alberta joined AIA in 2022 and holds an AMS Early Childhood credential. Her experience in both Primary and Pre-Primary classrooms allows her to support children with a thoughtful understanding of their development, independence, and changing needs.
Manasi Khadilkar-Joshi
Manasi has been part of AIA since 2020 and brings more than six years of Montessori teaching experience to the Primary classroom. She helps create an engaging and supportive environment where children feel encouraged to explore, participate, and grow in confidence.
Lower Elementary
Aparna Rao
Teaching at AIA since 2016, Aparna brings ten years of Montessori classroom experience and a deep understanding of child development across the Primary and Elementary years. She creates a thoughtful and supportive environment where students can grow in confidence, independence, and curiosity.
Sneha Shenoy
Sneha joined AIA in 2023 and holds a Lower Elementary Montessori certification. Before joining the school, she co-authored phonics materials for children in learning centers. She brings creativity and a strong understanding of literacy development to the Lower Elementary classroom.
Sandra Garza
Sandra joined AIA in 2018 and brings a rich background in bilingual education, with previous teaching experience in South Florida, Geneva, and Chicago. She supports Lower Elementary students with patience, encouragement, and an appreciation for the many cultures represented within the AIA community.
Jessica Dahlgren
Before joining the classroom team in 2023, Jessica was an AIA Montessori parent for 11 years. Her longstanding connection to the school gives her a meaningful understanding of its community, values, and Montessori approach, which she now brings to her work with Lower Elementary students.
Upper Elementary
Jason Kleiber
Jason joined AIA in 2017 and brings more than 20 years of Upper Elementary experience. He holds a master’s degree in Montessori Elementary Education from Loyola University Maryland and an AMI 6–12 Diploma from the Washington Montessori Institute. His extensive training and experience help students develop independence, intellectual curiosity, and a deeper understanding of the world.
Mahalaxmi Kumar
Mahalaxmi joined AIA in 2024 and brings warmth, attentiveness, and steady encouragement to the Upper Elementary classroom. She supports students as they grow academically, socially, and emotionally and become increasingly confident and independent learners.
Middle School (7th–8th Grade)
Uma Narayan
A former AIA teacher, Uma returned in 2024 to help launch the school’s Middle School program. She teaches Language Arts and Social Studies and holds a master’s degree in English Literature, a Montessori Elementary credential, and Adolescent Montessori Orientation certification. She encourages students to think deeply, communicate thoughtfully, and engage meaningfully with literature, history, and the world around them.
Gauri Mhaskar
Gauri has taught Math and Science at AIA since 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering from the University of Bombay and brings analytical thinking, curiosity, and real-world perspective to the classroom. She helps students approach complex ideas with confidence and persistence.
Enrichment & Specialists
Becky Wilson
Becky has taught art at AIA since 2012 and brings more than 40 years of teaching experience to the program. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art from the University of Missouri–Columbia and encourages students to experiment, take creative risks, and discover their own artistic voices.
Divya Agarwal
A former AIA parent, Divya brings creativity, warmth, and a meaningful connection to the school community into the art classroom. She helps students explore new materials, develop confidence in their ideas, and experience the joy of creating.
Devon Cantwell
Devon leads music enrichment from Pre-Primary through Middle School. Through rhythm, melody, movement, and musical exploration, Devon helps students develop creativity, confidence, and an appreciation for music as a joyful form of expression.
Karla Ramírez, LCSW
Karla joined AIA in 2024 and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than a decade of experience in trauma-informed care. She supports the emotional well-being of students and families and helps children develop resilience, self-awareness, and healthy ways to navigate challenges.
Sandra Yáñez
Sandra joined AIA in 2024 and holds a 500-hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Certification, including specialized training in children’s yoga and meditation. Through movement, breathing, and mindfulness, she helps students strengthen body awareness, balance, focus, and emotional regulation.
Mark Lesser
Mark joined AIA in 2025 and brings more than 40 years of software-development experience to the Elementary program. Through hands-on coding and engineering experiences, he encourages students to experiment, solve problems, think creatively, and bring their ideas to life.
Ana Lopez
Ana teaches Spanish to Upper Elementary and Middle School students and has been part of the AIA community since 2023. Through language and cultural exploration, she helps students develop practical communication skills, confidence, and a broader understanding of the world.
Lisandra Arismendi
Lisandra joined AIA in 2021 and teaches Spanish to Primary and Lower Elementary students. She creates a warm and engaging introduction to language learning while also bringing Montessori mindfulness practices into her work with children.
Extended Day
Mary Guzman
In addition to teaching in the Pre-Primary classroom, Mary leads AIA’s Extended Day program. She creates a warm and dependable afternoon environment where children can enjoy purposeful activities, creativity, movement, and time with friends.
Inma Soto
Inma joined AIA in 2024 and supports children throughout the afternoon with warmth, patience, and consistency. She helps create an inviting Extended Day environment where children feel comfortable, engaged, and cared for at the end of their school day.
Ana Lopez
In addition to her work in the Primary classroom and Spanish program, Ana supports children during Extended Day. Her warm and attentive approach helps provide continuity and a familiar, supportive presence throughout the afternoon.
Lisandra Arismendi
In addition to teaching Spanish, Lisandra supports children in AIA’s Extended Day program. She brings warmth, creativity, and Montessori mindfulness practices to the afternoon, helping children transition from the classroom into a relaxed and purposeful end to their day.