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

Assistant Director

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.

Stephanie Valle

Willow Room Guide

With experience as both a Lead Preschool Teacher and Lead Toddler Teacher in Montessori environments, she brings a warm, nurturing approach to the classroom. Most recently, she served as a Lead Teacher at a Montessori school in Maple Grove.



She is passionate about creating an environment where children feel safe, respected, and encouraged to explore, develop independence, and learn at their own pace. As a bilingual English and Spanish speaker, she enjoys connecting with children and families in both languages and building strong, supportive relationships within the classroom community.

She looks forward to getting to know each child, supporting their individual development, and becoming a valued part of the Children’s Workshop community.

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.

Zoe Jurbala

Willow Room Assistant

Bio Coming Soon!

Sadhana Khangarot

Juniper Room Guide

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.

Kylie DeDominces

Juniper Room Assistant

Bio Coming Soon!

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.

Alyson Vilmain

Birch Room Assistant

Bio coming soon!

Adriana Ballas

River Room Guide

Adriana grew up in Singapore, where she attended an American school before moving to the U.S. at eighteen to attend college. She attended Simmons University in Boston, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Master’s degree in Elementary Education. Adriana worked in public schools in Boston for three years before discovering her passion for Montessori education. She spent two years as a Children’s House Assistant before completing her AMI Primary Diploma training. She recently graduated with her 3–6 Diploma this July and is so excited to be part of the Children’s Workshop community.

Adriana feels passionately about the Montessori philosophy and believes that children supported with love, patience, and respect grow into kind, compassionate, and confident individuals. She hopes to partner with families to help each child thrive both in the classroom and beyond. She believes one of the most important roles of the Montessori adult is to “serve the child” and feels honored to have the opportunity to do so each day.

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."

Eloise Merten

River Room Assistant

Bio coming soon!

Yvonne Jimu

Maple Room Guide

Yvonne brings over six years of experience working in Montessori education, with a background that spans Montessori schools in the United States, United Arab Emirates, and South Africa. She has worked with children ages 3–6 and is passionate about creating thoughtfully prepared Montessori environments where children feel supported, confident, and excited to learn. Throughout her Montessori career, Yvonne has focused on individualized learning, classroom leadership, curriculum planning, and building strong partnerships with families. She believes in following each child’s unique interests and developmental needs while encouraging independence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.

Yvonne is excited to bring her experience, passion, and dedication to the Children’s Workshop community and looks forward to supporting each child as they grow and discover their own capabilities.

Jane Hwang

Maple Room Assistant

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.

Ramya Mahesvaran

Maple Room Assistant

Bio Coming Soon!