Our Staff
Palo Alto Preschool • Pleasanton Preschool • San Jose Preschool
Palo Alto Elementary • Pleasanton Elementary
President
Charles D. Bernstein, Ph.D.
Chuck Bernstein is the creator of the HeadsUp!® Approach to early learning and president of Early Learning Institute. He earned his Ph.D. in languages and linguistics from Stanford University as well as an MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. …
Palo Alto Preschool
Director
Kimberly Kostepen, M.A.
Kim earned her Preschool Montessori Certification from the Maria Montessori Institute in London. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of West Georgia. When she relocated to California she began her time …
Staff
Vittoria Barberis-Willner –
Assistant Director & Room 1 Head TeacherAishna Kirpal –
Infant TeacherMaryAnne Prather –
Infant TeacherAngelica Zamora –
Infant TeacherAnna Guardado –
Infant TeacherMaya Kort –
Infant & Preschool TeacherPersephone Boyer –
Preschool TeacherShihju Yang Wang –
Preschool TeacherMarina Camenforte –
Preschool TeacherArthur Nunez –
Preschool TeacherBhawna Kirpal –
Preschool TeacherRona Nunez –
2’s TeacherJackie Gibson –
2’s TeacherCarolina Hernandez –
Spanish TeacherPeggy H. Chin –
Chinese TeacherLori Spelick –
Substitute TeacherAngelica Contreras –
Substitute TeacherGloria E. Torres –
Administrative Assistant
Pleasanton Preschool
Director
Imelda Acosta, B.A.
Imelda earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Philippines. She completed both her elementary and preschool Montessori training at the Montessori Teacher Education Center in San Leandro. She has been with Early Learning Institute since 1988, …
Staff
Nini Cai –
Head Teacher, BilingualNasreen Serang –
Head Teacher, Two Year OldsJenny Dai –
Head Teacher, PreschoolFazila Osmani –
Head Teacher, Infant/ToddlersAniko –
Infant/Toddler TeacherBandana –
Infant/Toddler TeacherAbira –
Preschool TeacherParul –
Preschool TeacherPriyanka –
Preschool TeacherWen –
Chinese & Bilingual Preschool TeacherLigia –
Spanish & Preschool TeacherMatthew Howden –
Facilities ManagerLiz –
Admin Assistant
San Jose Preschool
Director
Danielle Ewing, B.A.
Kindergarten Head Teacher at Emerson Preschool San Jose. Education: BA Psychology, University of California, Berkeley and Early Childhood Credential, American Montessori Society Joined Emerson Schools in 1994 Favorite classroom activity: Reading great books, talking and listening. It is refreshing and …
Staff
Angie Mayo –
Head Teacher, 2’sCatherine Ding –
Head Teacher, Bilingual Preschool & KindergartenTarcito Rocha –
Head Teacher, Preschool & KindergartenLiza Hong –
Head Teacher, Infants & Toddlers
Palo Alto Elementary School
Director
Linda Paz, B.A.
Linda is the director of Emerson School. She was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies at San Francisco State University. She obtained her Elementary I, Elementary II and Primary …
Staff
Thomas Lubrano –
Music TeacherNancy Primroy –
Spanish TeacherElizabeth Cox –
Middle School TeacherChristopher McCloskey –
Science & P.E. Teacher
Pleasanton Elementary School
Director
Imelda Acosta, B.A.
Imelda earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Philippines. She completed both her elementary and preschool Montessori training at the Montessori Teacher Education Center in San Leandro. She has been with Early Learning Institute since 1988, …
Staff
Freada Khem –
Head Teacher, Lower ElementaryLi Berkely –
Head Teacher, ChineseRuben Guzman –
Head Teacher, Art & SpanishPunita Ghose –
Head Teacher, Upper Elementary & Middle School