Meet Our Faculty and Staff

A woman in a blue shirt is smiling for the camera.

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.

Tami Levandowski

Position

Primary Montessori Teacher - Rose Room

Time at AVMS

Since 2023

Personal Statement

Tami was born in Illinois and moved to Wyoming at a young age, where she developed a love of nature and outdoor activity. Tami always knew she wanted to be a teacher. She attended the University of Wyoming to receive her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education. She worked in the public school until she moved back to Illinois. Tami discovered Montessori when she accepted a job as an assistant in a Montessori school. She instantly was mesmerized by the children's independence, confidence and academic abilities. Tami decided to pursue her primary training at MMTTC in Evanston and has been teaching Montessori for over 20 years. Tami's husband owns a garage door business and they have a son who has been in Montessori from the age of 18 months to 9 years old. Tami enjoys sharing her love of nature with her students, and guiding them towards being self-sufficient, confident individuals who love learning. She is thrilled to be joining AVMS!

Rebecca Appleby

Position

Primary Montessori Teacher - Lilac Room

Time at AVMS

Since 2025

Personal Statement

Rebecca grew up in Miami, Florida, and moved to the Chicago area about twenty years ago. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Georgia and later completed her Master of Education at St. Catherine University.

Rebecca discovered Montessori education through her own children, who attended The Children’s House in Deerfield. While volunteering there as a music teacher, she found her calling in the Montessori classroom — a place where her many passions came together: music, art, baking, sewing, singing, and sharing knowledge with young children.

She lives in Barrington with her two teenage sons, where they enjoy exploring local forest preserves, cooking together, and playing music at home. Rebecca finds joy in integrating her lifelong love of music, nature, and science into her teaching, inspiring creativity, curiosity, and a deep love of learning in each child.

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.

Cailee Russell

Position

Infant Montessori Teacher - 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.