Faculty & Staff

Karissa Leahy

Head of School

Karissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and an AMS Montessori Early Childhood Education Diploma. With over 25 years of experience in Montessori education, she brings a wealth of knowledge, warmth, and leadership to her role as Head of School. Her extensive background as a Toddler and Children’s House Guide reflects her deep commitment to fostering environments where young learners can thrive with independence, curiosity, and confidence.

As Head of School, Karissa is passionate about cultivating a nurturing and inclusive school culture where children, families, and educators feel seen, supported, and inspired every day.

Whitney Nobles

Operations/ Assistant Administrator

Whitney has been a valued member of the CW team since 2022, bringing with her years of experience as both a professional nanny and a dance instructor. Through movement and the arts, Whitney encourages self-expression and body awareness—key aspects of whole-child development in a Montessori environment. Her natural ability to connect with children helps create a calm, nurturing space where they feel safe, respected, and inspired to grow.

Kourtney Blair

Finance

Kourtney joined Children's Workshop in 2024 and brings a passion for both financial stewardship and Montessori education. With degrees in Accounting and Music Engineering, she combines analytical expertise with a creative perspective to help support the school's mission and daily operations.

Her connection to Montessori education is deeply personal. As the parent of a 10-year-old son who previously attended Montessori school, she has witnessed firsthand the confidence, independence, and love of learning that the Montessori method can inspire. This experience strengthened her belief that every child deserves the opportunity to learn in an environment that nurtures curiosity, respect, and individual growth.
Outside of work, she enjoys recording and editing audio, relaxing with a good book on the beach, and spending time with her son and their black lab.

Ali Bernstein

Nido Guide

Ali holds a special education degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She is a highly dedicated and compassionate educator with extensive experience addressing students' social-emotional needs. She demonstrates success in collaborating with teachers, families, and support staff to improve student well-being. Ali is committed to creating a safe and inclusive, culturally responsive learning environment that supports the holistic development of all students.

Kara Piatt

Nido Co-Guide

Kara's passion for working with children began in her hometown of Duluth, Minnesota, where she spent her high school years babysitting for families in her neighborhood. She later attended Augsburg University, studying Elementary Education and Sociology, and graduated in 2000 with a degree in Sociology. 
Throughout her career, Kara has worked in several childcare centers and has loved watching children grow, learn, and develop a sense of curiosity about the world around them. She and her husband, Kevin, have two children, Jackson and Oli. One of their favorite family activities is spending time together at bookstores and libraries, fostering a love of reading that both of their children still enjoy today.

Outside of work, Kara enjoys hiking, traveling, and tackling crossword puzzles. She is looking forward to getting to know the children and families at Children’s Workshop and becoming part of their learning journey.

Jodi Burns

Nido Assistant

Jodi has her Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education with a teaching degree for birth to 3rd grade. She has a strong passion working with children and has over 20 years of experience. In her free time, Jodi enjoys sports and activities with her two kids, and spending time with her family.

Alyssa Rodriguez

Willow Room Guide

Alyssa has been working in early childhood education since 2012, both as a nanny and in center-based settings. While the bulk of her experience is with infants and toddlers, she has been part of the learning journey for children of all ages. She studied education at Hennepin Technical College and Bethel University, and she is currently pursuing AMI Montessori training, with plans to graduate in 2026.

On a personal note, Alyssa is a mother of four and an aunt to two—children truly fill every moment of her life. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, geocaching, singing, and playing guitar. She is a classically trained soprano and occasionally performs, something she deeply enjoys.

Ambika Moscow

Willow Room Assistant

Ambika joined Children’s Workshop Montessori after serving as a long-term substitute and quickly becoming a valued part of our community. Originally from India, Ambika brings a calm, caring presence to the classroom and a natural connection with the children and we are so lucky to have her.

Sadhana Khangarot

Juniper Room Assistant

Sadhana is a Toddler Guide with a strong passion for working with young children. She believes in a playful approach to learning and strives to incorporate fun, hands-on activities into the daily routine. She views these experiences as some of the most powerful tools for fostering learning, growth, and the development of young minds.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and exploring new recipes in the kitchen.

Sofia Sandeen

Juniper Room Assistant

Sofia found her passion for working with young children as a co-teacher in a two-year-old classroom at an Early Childhood Care Center. This experience deepened her commitment to supporting children’s developmental growth through nurturing, structured, and engaging experiences. Her education, including coursework in Child Psychology and Intro to Elementary Education at Normandale Community College, provides her with a strong foundation in cognitive, emotional, and physical child development.

Charlene Pimentel

Toddler Float

Charlene brings a thoughtful and caring background to our community, with experience as both a teacher and a behavior therapist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and also has a creative eye as a photographer. She goes by Char, and we are so thrilled to have her joining our school and look forward to the warmth, insight, and creativity she will bring to our community!

Christine Ferguson

Birch Room Guide

Christine holds a B.A. in International Relations and Spanish from Augsburg University and is trained across multiple disciplines including AMI Primary Montessori education, postpartum doula care (DONA), newborn care, lactation support, and pediatric nutrition. Her comprehensive training allows her to support the whole child—and the whole family—with evidence-based practices grounded in respect, observation, and the Montessori philosophy of fostering independence from birth.



Christine also brings classroom experience as a Spanish/English Primary Guide at The Renaissance International School in Oakland, where she implemented AMI-aligned curriculum for children ages 3–6, coordinated with co-teachers and her fluency in French adds an additional layer of enrichment to her work with both families and young learners.

Kylah Klein

Birch Room Assistant

Kylah was born and raised in Hawaii and has been passionate about working with young children since 2018. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Grand Canyon University in Arizona. Before joining Children’s Workshop, she spent three rewarding years teaching kindergarten, where glitter, giggles, and growth were daily essentials.

After trading palm trees for snowflakes and relocating to Minnesota two years ago, Kylah has continued to nurture her love for early learning and supporting children as they grow and develop. She is dedicated to creating a warm, engaging environment where children feel encouraged to explore, learn, and thrive.
Outside of the classroom, Kylah enjoys spending time with her husband, Logan, curling up with a good book, going on adventures, crafting, and making the occasional Target run.

Michael Sala

Birch 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.

Jane Hwang

River Room Lead Guide

Jane has been a valued member of Children’s Workshop since 2017, following her completion of the AMI Primary training at the Montessori Center of MN in 2015. She now serves as a Lead Teacher, supporting children as they grow in independence, develop a love for learning, and build lifelong skills within our Montessori environment. In her free time, Jane enjoys gardening and playing the piano.

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."