Our Staff
Administration
Deepa Simlot
Owner and Director
Biography
Ms. Deepa is a Montessori Certified Teacher for 3-6-year olds. She has 3 children, all of whom are Primary Montessori graduates. While volunteering in her children’s classes she discovered the beauty and power of Montessori philosophy and materials, and decided to make it her career. She worked in the telecommunications industry as a computer engineer for 15 years before discovering that she would rather be around children than computers.
Lisa Turner
Assistant Director
Biography
Ms. Lisa holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, with a major in Sociology and a minor in Education. As a parent of two students who attended Montessori of Chantilly, Lisa was an active member of the Parent Guild for four years and served on the Board as both Secretary and Treasurer. Lisa has 11 years of business management experience, and earned her Professional Certification in Human Resources (PHR). Ms. Lisa has served as an administrator at MCDBC since 2010.
Chris Hughes
Office Administrator
Biography
Ms. Chris holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Longwood College. She ran a successful child care business in her home for over 20 years. Ms. Chris later served as an Aftercare Teacher at a gymnastics studio. She also gained valuable administrative experience as the Office Manager at a local dance studio. She has been with MCDBC since 2017.
Lead Teachers
Haely Strock
Infant Lead Teacher
Biography
Ms. Haely is a Montessori Certified Teacher for Infants and Toddlers from Seton Institute in Illinois. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University. Ms. Haely has over thirteen years of experience leading Montessori Infant and Toddler classrooms in the Chicago area. She has been with MCDBC since 2018. Ms. Haely currently serves as the Program Director for Montessori Teacher Academy of Northern Virginia teaching adult learners.
Ingrid Jordan
Toddler Lead Teacher
Biography
Ms. Ingrid holds a Montessori Teaching Certification from Northern Virginia Montessori Institute. She has a degree in Pharmacy from Brazil. She has been with MCDBC since 2007. Ms. Ingrid is fluent in Spanish and loves to share the Spanish language with her students. Her youngest daughter was a MCDBC KG graduate.
Sandy Garcia
Toddler Lead Teacher
Biography
Ms. Sandy has been with MCDB since 2017. She received her Montessori certification from Montgomery Montessori Institute in Rockville, Maryland. Ms. Sandy is fluent in Spanish.
Teanna Peavy
Primary Lead Teacher
Biography
Ms. Teanna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mary Baldwin University, where she was
active in the Cadet Core. Ms. Teanna worked at MCDBC since 2020 with a short break.
She has previous experience working with children at in-home childcare centers, private tutoring,
behavior therapy and research opportunities. Ms. Teanna gained valuable work experience in
special education in Loudoun County Public Schools. Ms. Teanna completed her training for
Montessori certification from the Institute of Advanced Studies at Barrie School in Maryland.
Chitra Joshi
Primary Lead Teacher
Biography
Ms. Chitra received her Montessori Certification from Northern Virginia Montessori Institute.
She has a bachelor’s degree from Garhwal University in India. She served as a lead teacher at a
local Montessori school for five years and assistant teacher for two years before coming to
MCDBC in 2023. Ms. Chitra has previously worked as a home-based tutor for children K- 3.
Taylor De Jesus
Primary Lead Teacher/Academic Director
Biography
Ms. Taylor has over 10 years of experience as a Montessori certified Primary Lead Teacher,
Mentor and Assistant Head of School at a local Montessori school. Ms. Taylor earned
her AMS certification from Northern Virginia Montessori Institute in 2014. Ms. Taylor taught
the MCDBC summer transition class in 2024.
Assistant and Extended Day Teachers
Verena Heissenberger
Infant Assistant and Extended Day Teacher
Biography
Ms. Verena holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Innsbruck in Austria.
She also holds an Art Diploma from ISSA Art School in Munich, Germany. Ms. Verena has
several years of experience caring for children at both in-home and daycare centers in the area,
and in Loudoun County Public Schools. Ms. Verena’s passion is writing children’s books. She is
fluent in German. Ms. Verena joined MCDBC in 2020
Sujaathaa (Su) Jahadev
Primary Assistant Teacher
Biography
Ms. Sujaathaa holds a bachelor’s degree from Queen Mary’s College in India. She has over ten
years of experience working in early childhood education, including two years in a Montessori
environment. She has been with MCDBC since 2018. Ms. Su is fluent in Tamil and can speak
Telugu, Kannada and Hindi.
Miyuki Lin
Primary Assistant Teacher
Biography
Ms. Miyuki has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Strayer University. Ms.
Miyuki is a native of Japan and loves to share her culture and passion of sewing and origami
with her students. She has been with MCDBC since 2008. Ms. Miyuki is fluent in Japanese.
She recently completed her certification in Science Art Method designed for Montessori Teachers.
Shagufta Minhaj
Extended Day Teacher
Biography
Ms. Shagufta holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from University of Karachi. She has over ten years of experience teaching Kindergarten in a Montessori school in Pakistan. Ms. Shagufta is fluent in Urdu. Ms. Shagufta joined MCDBC in 2020.
Carrie Workman
Primary Assistant Teacher
Biography
Ms. Carrie holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication from Boston University. She
has been an active parent volunteer since 2009 working in her children’s classrooms, with the
PTA and coaching youth soccer/lacrosse. Ms. Carrie previously worked as an Assistant
Preschool Teacher for one year. Over the years, she and her family have traveled extensively
with her husband’s military career before their relocation back to Northern Virginia. Ms. Carrie
has been with MCDBC since 2019.
Moriah Fisher
Toddler Assistant and Extended Day Teacher
Biography
Pakiza Mehrabi
Infant/Toddler Assistant Teacher
Biography
Ms. Pakiza holds a Bachelor’s degree in education from Kabul University in Afghanistan. Ms.
Pakiza is fluent in Dari and has experience teaching the Dari language to high school students in
Afghanistan. Ms. Pakiza joined MCDBC in 2023.
Swati Shah
Primary Assistant Teacher
Biography
Ms. Swati earned a Bachelor of Arts from Loreto College in Kolkata, India. She holds a
Montessori Certification from Association Montessori International (AMI). Ms. Swati has 15
years of experience as a Lead teacher in a Montessori preschool in Mumbai, India. She also has
previous experience as a nanny and real estate agent. Ms. Swati is fluent in Gujarati, Hindi,
Bengali and Marathi.
Nazifa Anwari
Infant Assistant Teacher/Extended Day Teacher
Biography
Ms. Nazifa holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Edrak Institute of Higher Education and a Teaching
Certificate from the Teacher Training College in Kabul, Afghanistan. She has four years of
experience teaching English to elementary students in Afghanistan. Ms. Nazifa is fluent in Dari.
Dee Pillai
Toddler Assistant Teacher
Biography
Ms. Dee holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology and Master of Science degree in Dialysis
Therapy from Amrita University in Kochi, India. She joined MCDBC in 2023.
Shazia Harur
Toddler Assistant Teacher
Biography
Ms. Shazia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Thiruvalluvar
University in India. She joined MCDBC in 2024. She is fluent in Hindi and Urdu.
Harshita Kanchan
Toddler Assistant Teacher
Biography
Ms. Harshita has a Bachelor and Master of Commerce Degree from Osmania University in
Hyderabad, India. She has two years of experience teaching children in India. She also has
experience in a Montessori classroom as a volunteer.
Specials Teachers
Anaisa Jauregui
Spanish Teacher
Biography
Ms. Anaisa is an Early Childhood Educator with over thirty years of experience teaching preschool-age children in both the US and Mexico. In addition to teaching our students Spanish, Ms. Anaisa currently serves as a preschool instructor in the Family Literacy Program with Fairfax County Public Schools. Ms. Anaisa is fluent in both Spanish and English.
Emily Cooley
Music Teacher
Biography
Ms. Emily is a board-certified Music Therapist, with a Bachelor of Music from Shenandoah University. Ms. Emily’s musical studies had an emphasis on classical guitar. Ms. Emily has previous work experience doing music therapy and as a children’s music teacher. Ms. Emily is certified to teach Music Together and will use this curriculum throughout the year.
Sujaathaa (Su) Jahadev
Yoga Teacher
Biography
Ms. Su has been practicing Kayakalpa Yoga, Simplified Kundalini Yoga and Hatha Yoga for the
past 14 years. She is certified by Kayakalpa Yoga SKY foundation. She has also been an Assistant
Teacher at our school since 2018.
