Meet Our Faculty and Staff
Sophia Ginder
Position
Head of School
School Founder
Time at AVMS
- Since 1998
Personal Statement
Sophia was born and raised in Greece and moved to the USA in 1973. She attended Northeastern Illinois University and she received her B.S in Science Secondary Education with a minor in School Administration. She taught Greek Language to elementary students at a Chicago parochial school while in college and after graduation from college she taught Biology, Chemistry and General Science at several High Schools in the Chicago area.
Sophia discovered Montessori by chance in 1989 when she and her family moved to California and she was looking for a career change. Her first experience with Montessori was as the Assistant Administrator at a California Montessori School. The owner and administrator of that school became her first mentor and teacher about Montessori theory and practice as well as school administration. To a traditionally trained teacher looking for something different in education, Montessori was like a miracle and Sophia continued her studies and work with Montessori for the next seven years until she moved back to Illinois and founded Alta Vista Montessori School in 1998.
Sophia has two daughters and three grandchildren, all Alta Vista Montessori students. She lives in Wauconda with her husband, “Mr. Bob, the fix it man”, as the Alta Vista students like to call him.
Sophia enjoys traveling in the United States and abroad and has been fortunate enough to have traveled to many places around the world. In the summers Sophia loves gardening especially vegetables that she can share with her grandchildren and perennial gardens. Her love these days is her grandchildren and spending time with them is very special.
Samantha Kunio
Position
School Administrator
Primary Program Coordinator
Time at AVMS
- Since 2015
Personal Statement
Samantha was born in Chicago and spent her childhood in Denver, San Francisco and the Chicago suburbs. She received her B.A. in History from the University of Wisconsin—Madison in 2006. She began working as a summer teaching assistant at Alta Vista during the summer of 2002, and she continued summer work for a number of years. She immediately loved everything about Montessori, especially the joy of learning it promotes. She pursued her passion to become a Montessori teacher and completed her AMI Elementary Teacher Certification in 2007. Once she obtained her diploma she accepted an Elementary Teaching Position in Portland Oregon, where she enjoyed teaching lower elementary for 7 years. While living in Portland she obtained a Masters in Montessori Education from Loyola University of Maryland and also an AMI Primary Teaching Certificate from Montessori Northwest.
In 2014, Samantha and her family moved back to Illinois to be closer to home and she joined the Alta Vista team. Samantha is entering her 6th year as the Rose Room Primary Guide. She has 2 elementary aged children, both Alta Vista alums! In her free time Samantha loves cooking, reading, yoga, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Sky Garcia
Position
- Primary Montessori Teacher - Lilac Room
Time at AVMS
- Since 2017
Personal Statement
Sky was born in Washington and spent most of her childhood in Mexico and Texas before moving to Illinois in 2016. Her first language was Spanish since her family is from Mexico. She loves working with children and enjoys teaching them Spanish in the classroom.
Sky received her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Texas Pan-American and her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis. In 2020 Sky gave birth to her first daughter Ivannah who has attended Alta Vista since she was 3 months old.
Tami Levandowski
Position
- Primary Montessori Teacher - Rose Room
Time at AVMS
- Since 2023
Personal Statement
Suzanne Booth
Position
- Toddler Montessori Teacher - Lily Room
- Infant/Toddler Program Coordinator
Time at AVMS
- Since 2006
Personal Statement
Suzanne was born and raised in the Chicago area. She and her husband, Karl, live in Mundelein, raising their two boys (both A.V. alums) and their boxer mix, Ella. Suzanne attended Bradley University, where she trained as a mezzo-soprano and graduated in 2006 with a B.A. in music with a vocal and choral conducting emphasis. Immediately following graduation, she decided to pursue Montessori training as she had a passion for teaching. She graduated with her Assistance to Infancy Montessori Diploma (ages birth to 3) from the Montessori Institute of Denver in 2007 and took over the position of lead toddler teacher at AVMS. In her free time, Suzanne enjoys cooking, hiking, singing, and playing her ukulele.
Gisella Maniscalco
Position
- Toddler Montessori Teacher — Sunshine Room
Time at AVMS
- Since 2008
Personal Statement
Gisella was born and raised in the small Sicilian town of Burgio. She completed her infant teaching certification in 1996 in Italy. After graduating she worked with infants for 3 years. In 1998 she married her husband, Bartolo.
Gisella and her husband moved to the United States and started a family. They have two sons, Francesco and Nino, who are both graduates of AVMS.
Gisella began working at Alta Vista in 2008 as our Toddler Teaching Assistant and in 2022 she received her AMS Infant/Toddler Diploma from Seton Montessori Institute and she is now a lead toddler teacher.
She has said that Montessori feels like home to her and she does not feel like she is at work. She loves singing Italian songs and teaching Italian words to the children as well as baking and cooking with them.
Gisella enjoys cooking, spending time with her family and friends and going on vacation with her family.
Gabriela Martinez
Position
- Assistant Teacher - Lilac Room
Time at AVMS
- Since 2023
Personal Statement
Taylor Skewes
Position
- Assistant Teacher - Rose Room
Time at AVMS
- Since 2023
Personal History
I was born and raised in Illinois.
After having my daughter in 2018 and raising her in a Montessori home, I started to nanny in 2019, and started working at my first Montessori school in 2020.
I have a background in child development, and my goal is to become a Montessori teacher and one day have my own classroom.
Rose Brugioni Piacenza
Position
- Assistant Teacher - Lily Room
Time at AVMS
- Since 2018
Personal Statement
Rose was born in Highland Park and was raised in Highwood. Her family is first generation from Italy. Rose has her CDA Preschool Certificate and has worked in the Early Childhood Education field for 15 years, but working at Alta Vista is her first experience with Montessori, which is a wonderful new challenge for her. Rose currently resides in Grayslake with her husband. In their free time, they enjoy camping, traveling, ice fishing, and hanging out with family and friends.
Anita Dobrowolski
Position
- Assistant Teacher - Sunshine Room
Time at AVMS
- Since 2023
Personal Statement
Anita was born and raised in Poland. She moved to Chicago when she was seventeen years old. She graduated from Steinmetz Academic Center in 2010.
Anita has lived in Lake Zurich for the last 7 years with her husband Pawel, their two boys Leo and Henry and their dog Flash. In her free time, she loves to travel with her family, hiking, biking, and discovering new places.
Anita has always had a passion for working with children, and she is very happy to join the AVMS family.
Cailee Russell
Position
- Infant Team Leader - Nido Room
Time at AVMS
- Since 2022
Personal Statement
Cailee was born and raised in Schaumburg, Illinois. She currently resides in Prospect Heights. Cailee has worked in medical care, a therapeutic day school as a paraprofessional, and in various daycare settings with the infant-toddler age group. She has always had an interest in childcare and infant development, which grew after having her own baby. Cailee has a 2-year-old son, Levi, who is also enrolled in the school and, before coming to work at Alta Vista, was a stay-at-home mom where she practiced Montessori-style parenting at home. In her free time, Cailee enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dog, and reading books.
Nikki Solberg
Position
- Infant Team Member - Nido Room
Time at AVMS
- Since 2023
Personal Statement
Nikki was born in Park Ridge and was raised in Wheeling along with her three younger siblings and has always loved being the big sister. She has two small dogs, Winston and Merry, who always keep her on her toes. The love and compassion Nikki has for her family, and pets does not stop there. She has always had a strong desire to lend a helping hand to all who come in her path.
Nikki graduated from Wheeling High School and has worked as a private nanny for many years. Her desire for change has brought her to AVMS, where she can follow her passion for working with children
Daniela Betancourt
Position
- Infant Team Member - Nido Room
Time at AVMS
- Since 2022
Personal Statement
Daniela was born in Highland Park, Illinois. She is the youngest of 3 to immigrant parents from Mexico. Since a young age, she has always wanted to work with children and is pursuing a career in early childhood care. She finds inspiration every day through working with the babies in the Nido room, knowing that she is a part of their first school experience. Daniela currently resides in Gurnee with her family and is a charcuterie enthusiast.
Alejandra Aldana
Position
- Infant Team Member - Nido Room
Time at AVMS
- Since 2024
Personal Statement
Alejandra Cortes
Position
- After School Staff – Primary
Personal Statement
I was born and raised in Lake County, Illinois, and currently live in Round Lake Beach. I am a student at the College of Lake County, and majoring in Secondary Education with a focus on English. My goal is to become a high school English teacher, and eventually a college professor or instructor.
My interest spans to all educational levels, and for now, I find great joy in working with younger students. I hope to positively impact their lives and education.
In my free time, I enjoy running, working out, spending time with my family and friends, reading books, watching shows, and traveling.
Cadence Masters
Position
- After School Staff – Toddler
Time at AVMS
- Since 2023
Personal Statement
I was born in Cook County, Georgia. I am the only child and a military brat of chief Chad Goss and mother Shebba Goss. I graduated early from North Chicago Community High School and look forward to going to college in the fall. For my end goal, I would like to become a Nicu Nurse and get my masters in nursing. In the meantime I love working with children at Alta Vista. In my free time I love to hang out with friends, watch movies, and play with my dog named Bear.
Vanessa Gomez
Position
- After School Staff – Toddler
Time at AVMS
- Since 2023
Personal Statement
I was born in Highland Park, Illinois. I am the youngest of two, to Mexican parents. I am currently in college studying to become a Speech Language Pathologist for little children. I have always enjoyed working with children. In my free time I love to travel, hanging out with family and friends, and playing with puppies.
Fozia Abbasi
Position
- Substitute Teacher
Time at AVMS
- Since 2003
Personal Statement
Fozia was born and raised in Wimbledon, England.
After college she got married and moved to Chicago in 1990. She has two daughters, both graduates from U of I. She has the distinct honor of being the most senior employee at Alta Vista aside from our Administrator. She graduated from Reading College of Technology in England and her focus was in Hotel Management & Business/Finance.
Fozia enjoys working with children. She finds it life enriching and rewarding. She has developed a great appreciation for Montessori especially the structure in the toddler and primary environments.
She love to travel with her family, visiting art museums, gardening and yoga.