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
Vittoria Barberis-Willner
Until her promotion to director of the HeadsUp! ® Montessori Preschool in Palo Alto, Vittoria worked as a teacher in both infant-toddler and preschool rooms. She served as head teacher of the infant-toddler program for five years and as assistant director for three years. Vittoria possesses a bachelor’s degree in education sciences from Genoa State University in Italy, where she grew up. She has earned both the infant-toddler and preschool Montessori certificates from the Montessori Teacher Education Center in San Leandro. Vittoria and her husband, Jon, live in Redwood City with their five-month-old baby, Luca, who is enrolled in our infant-toddler room.
Staff
- Aishna Kirpal –
Infant Teacher - MaryAnne Prather –
Infant Teacher - Angelica Zamora –
Infant Teacher - Anna Guardado –
Infant Teacher - Maya Kort –
Infant & Preschool Teacher - Persephone Boyer –
Preschool Teacher - Shihju Yang Wang –
Preschool Teacher - Marina Camenforte –
Preschool Teacher - Arthur Nunez –
Preschool Teacher - Bhawna Kirpal –
Preschool Teacher - Rona Nunez –
2’s Teacher - Jackie Gibson –
2’s Teacher - Carolina Hernandez –
Spanish Teacher - Peggy H. Chin –
Chinese Teacher - Lori Spelick –
Substitute Teacher - Angelica Contreras –
Substitute Teacher - Gloria 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, Bilingual - Nasreen Serang –
Head Teacher, Two Year Olds - Jenny Dai –
Head Teacher, Preschool - Fazila Osmani –
Head Teacher, Infant/Toddlers - Aniko –
Infant/Toddler Teacher - Bandana –
Infant/Toddler Teacher - Abira –
Preschool Teacher - Parul –
Preschool Teacher - Priyanka –
Preschool Teacher - Wen –
Chinese & Bilingual Preschool Teacher - Ligia –
Spanish & Preschool Teacher - Matthew Howden –
Facilities Manager - Liz –
Admin Assistant
San Jose Preschool
Director
Ryan Lee, M.A.
Education: San Jose State University, B.A-Child Development.; Santa Clara University, M.A.-Education Administration; University of San Francisco, Ed.D.-Organization & Leadership Joined HeadsUp! in 2021 …
Staff
- Angie Mayo –
Head Teacher, 2’s - Catherine Ding –
Head Teacher, Bilingual Preschool & Kindergarten - Tarcito Rocha –
Head Teacher, Preschool & Kindergarten - Liza 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 Teacher - Nancy Primroy –
Spanish Teacher - Elizabeth Cox –
Middle School Teacher - Christopher 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 Elementary - Li Berkely –
Head Teacher, Chinese - Ruben Guzman –
Head Teacher, Art & Spanish - Punita Ghose –
Head Teacher, Upper Elementary & Middle School