Faculty & Staff

Say Vang

Head of School

Say Vang joined the Children’s Workshop community on April 11, 2022. Say has an MBA with a concentration in Public Administration and an BS in Technical Management with a technical specialty in Healthcare. She completed her AMI Primary Teacher training at the Montessori Center of Minnesota and was the Head of School of a dual language Hmong/English Montessori Program called Hmoob Toj Siab Children’s House from 2017-2021 and Interim Head of School for Cornerstone Montessori Schools in 2021. Prior to moving to Minnesota, Say was the Executive Director of Dogwood Literacy Council in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. In her free time, she enjoys arts and crafts, cooking, spending a lot of time at the farmers market in the summer, exploring nature, and creating memories with friends and family.

Ashley Marquette

Assistant Administrator

Ashley has a BA in Communication. She currently processes all of our enrollment paperwork, steps in the classrooms to give our staff a lunch break. She has taught swimming lessons at Foss Swim School for many years before coming to CW in 2022.

Isabelle Oien

NIDO CO-Guide

Isabelle has been with CW since 2019. Seeing the children’s curiosity and natural desire to learn in an environment that is created to foster their independence has been truly inspiring to her. She is currently in school getting her Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education and an Associate's in Interpreting. In her free time, she likes to read, be outside, practice her ASL and spend time with her family.

Sheena Lor

NIDO CO-Guide

Sheena graduated with an AMI A to I diploma in 2015 and began her career at CW in 2015! She also holds a BS in Early Childhood Education. Supporting children in their development brings her so much joy. She loves that CW provides an opportunity for her to live out Montessori values and to make a positive impact in the lives of children and beyond. Sheena more recently became passionate about bringing diversity and social justice actions into her daily practice with children; an example of this is creating windows and mirrors in the environment so that children may see themselves and others respectfully represented and celebrated.

Montessori is a way of living that Sheena applies in her personal life, too. She creates beautiful infant and toddler materials for loved ones, is inspired by the beauty of nature, and takes a holistic approach to lifelong learning. Her favorite Montessori quote is: "Education is the best weapon for peace."

Alex Smith

Nido Assistant Teacher

Alex Smith has been with CW for over 10 years!

Karissa Leahy

Willow Guide

Karissa has a degree in BS Finance and a Montessori Early Childhood Education Diploma. She’s been teaching in Montessori for more than a decade. She came to us from California and has been an amazing Toddler Guide for our children. Karissa has two young boys at home who love playing football and hockey. She says motherhood drives her passion for teaching.

Whitney Nobles

Nido Assistant

Whitney has many years of experience as a Nanny and teaching dance to a variety of age groups. She loves working with children of all ages.

Hlubtshaj Yang

Juniper Guide

Hlubtshaj has her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and a Montessori A to I Diploma. She has a strong passion working with children and years of experience. In her free time, she enjoys singing, creating art, and spending time with her family.

Sabrina Xiong

Juniper Assistant

Sabrina’s love for children brought her to CW. Prior to CW, she worked as a Nanny and is now committed to the development and joy of young children in the toddler community at CW. She is currently part of our PM Care team who closes the school in the evenings.

Avery Jenson

Floating A to I Aide (Infant and Toddler)

Avery Jenson is a Floating Teacher’s Aide who will be supporting our A to I team (infant and toddler age groups) with staff lunch breaks, recess duty, and Pm care duties. Before coming to CW, Avery was a Teacher’s Aide at the Goddard School and an Art Teacher for Kid Create Company in Eden Prairie.

Julia Nuemann

Birch Room Guide

Attending Montessori school herself from ages 3 - 14, Julia has a wealth of knowledge in the Montessori method! She completed the Montessori Center of MN’s primary training in 2017, received a Master’s of Education from St.Kates in 2018 and worked as a Lead Guide in North Minneapolis before coming to Children’s Workshop in the fall of 2018. Her favorite parts of this community are the love, respect and peace that is shared with everyone.

Rachel Ivascu

Birch Room Assistant

Rachel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota before being trained at the Montessori Center of Minnesota where she received an AMI Primary diploma. Rachel has filled a variety of positions since joining Children's Workshop over ten years ago to include Guide and Assistant Guide positions in both Toddler and Children's House communities as-well-as a long-term Assistant Administrator substitute position. Rachel's twin boys attended both the Toddler and Children's House programs at CW!

Natalie Runde

River Room Guide

Natalie has her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Miami University (Ohio). She moved from Pittsburgh, PA to St. Paul, MN in 2016 to start her Montessori Training at the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota. She earned her AMI Diploma in 2017 and finished her masters in Education from St. Catherine University in 2018. Natalie has been at Children's Workshop since the summer of 2017. Natalie and her husband Kevin live in Minneapolis. In her free time, Natalie likes to spend time reading, going to restaurants, coffee shops, and exploring the North Loop, spending time with her friends and family, and watching hockey (Go Penguins!).

Brenna O’Gara

River Room Assistant

Brenna loves that children are given freedom to explore in Montessori school. She comes to us with an amazing attitude, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Reading Instruction and previously worked at Wayzata schools with children from Pre-K to 5th grade. Her favorite Montessori quote is, "The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence."

Ted Thompson

Maple Room Guide

Ted began as a substitute teacher at CW in the Spring of 2021 and quickly endeared himself to both his colleagues and to the children. Ted came to Montessori later in his life and quickly became a true believer in the method. After being introduced to Montessori, he enrolled at the Montessori Center of Minnesota where he later graduated as an AMI certified Lead Guide.

Ted is a father of three: one in college, one in grad school, and one who recently became a father! When not at school he spends his time in his painting studio (he attended Art school years ago). He frequently visits Lake Superior where he likes to explore new restaurants and he is pursuing his interests in classical music!

Michael Sala

Maple Room Assistant

Michael obtained his masters degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin and for more than 20 years has been pursuing the helping and healing professions. As a licensed social worker, he has worked in mentoring, foster care, Special Education, and hospice. He is also a yoga teacher, Thai bodywork therapist, energy medicine practitioner, spiritual mentor, and death midwife. Having such a broad repertoire of interests and skills, Michael ultimately thrives working as part of a cohesive team in a small community that has great integrity—that is what draws him to Children’s Workshop. He lives in Eden Prairie with his husband, an educator in public schools. He enjoys movies, bicycling, poetry, playing tennis, cooking, knitting, sewing, and reading.

Elizabeth Xiong

Floating Children’s House Assistant

Elizabeth comes to CW with an education in Medical Office Assistant and has years of Nanny experience. She is a mother of 3 children and is fascinated about the Montessori Method and its holistic approach.