Staff
Dedicated to authentic Montessori education, the administration and staff at Waypoint Montessori are highly trained, talented, and love working with children.
We believe that great teachers are our best asset.
Teaching Staff
Alessandra Macchiarella
AMI Toddler Lead Guide
Alessandra graduated from the University of Palermo, Italy, with a degree in Geology. Alessandra holds the AMI Assistants to Infancy (0-3) diploma and the Montessori Core Principles Certificate from the Montessori Institute of North Texas (MINT) in Dallas. Alessandra reads albums and offers support for AMI 0-3 teacher training courses for MINT, the Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies (SIMS) in Arizona, and the Instituto Montessori Valencia in Spain. She moved to the United States with her family--her husband, her daughter, her son, and their dog Benji--in 2015. She enjoys knitting and crocheting, walking, playing piano, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Joined Waypoint Montessori in 2021.
Pilar Lourido
Toddler Assistant to Ms. Alessandra
Pilar attended the University of San Luis Potosí, Mexico, where she studied two years of Law. She later studied Stained Glass for two years in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. Pilar has taught Spanish, facilitated art classes, and assisted in various levels of Montessori classrooms at Waypoint for 15 years. She has two daughters and a granddaughter who currently attends the toddler class at Waypoint. Pilar enjoys working with children because she gets to be part of providing a nurturing environment to fulfill the children’s needs.
Joined Waypoint Montessori in 2007.
Columba Cunningham
AMI Toddler Lead Guide
Columba graduated from The Universidad del Centro de Mexico with a B.A. in Communications. She received her AMI Assistants to Infancy (0-3) diploma from the Training Center of British Columbia in Vancouver, and her AMI Primary (3-6) diploma from The Texas Montessori Education Center in Austin, Texas. Columba developed one of the premier all-day toddler programs in Dallas Texas. She has been working with children for 26 years as a Primary and Toddler guide. She enjoys dancing, singing, cooking, walking and traveling.
Joined Waypoint Montessori in 2015.
Claudia Cifuentes
AMI Toddler Lead Guide
Ms. Claudia is the proud mother of two, Camila and Alejandro, who first inspired her love and passion for the Montessori approach. Originally from Guatemala, she earned her degree in early education and later completed her AMI 0–3 diploma at the Montessori Institute of North Texas.
She is excited and honored to be part of the Waypoint Montessori community, where she feels privileged to contribute to each child’s journey of growth and discovery.
Sarah Delisca
All Day Toddler
With a Bachelor’s degree in English and a concentration in Education, Ms. Sarah brings nearly a decade of experience working with children to the classroom. Originally from New York City, she has a heart for nurturing young minds and creating a supportive, engaging learning
environment.
Outside of school, she finds joy in her faith, attending church regularly, and cherishing the time she spends with God. She also enjoys taking long walks with her dog and staying connected with her close-knit family, which includes three sisters and one brother. Known for her strong work ethic and compassionate nature, Sarah is deeply committed to making a positive difference in the lives of children.
Blanca Del Mundo
Assistant - All Day Toddler
Originally from Manila, Philippines, Ms. Blanca brings a rich and diverse background to the Waypoint Montessori community. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and began her professional journey in television and film in the Philippines. Her career later expanded into corporate communications at an oil company, banking in Singapore, immigration law, and customer experience at DFW Airport. Most recently, she spent two and a half years working in a preschool setting, where she discovered her deep passion for early childhood education.
Having lived in Venezuela, New York, Singapore, and Toronto before settling in Trophy Club, Texas, Ms. Blanca has cultivated a global perspective and deep appreciation for cultural diversity. Her love for travel is matched only by her enthusiasm for food—especially doughnuts, chocolates, and ramen. She enjoys Pilates and is an avid sports fan, particularly of Formula 1 and the Olympic Games.
Ms. Blanca has been happily married for 35 years to her husband, an IT consultant with a global firm. They have one daughter, a software engineer, who resides in New York City. Their family recently expanded to include a senior rescue cat named Ming.
Grateful to be part of the Waypoint Montessori community, Ms. Blanca is excited to support the school’s mission and serve its children and families with warmth, dedication, and a global heart.
Sarah Sanchez
Assistant - All Day Toddler
Ms. Sarah is a dedicated and enthusiastic early childhood professional currently pursuing her degree in Child Development at Tarrant County College. She brings over three years of hands-on experience working with toddlers in a Montessori environment, where her gentle guidance and patient nature help foster independence, curiosity, and confidence in young children.
Born in Miami, Florida, and now living in Northlake, Texas, Ms. Sarah blends her vibrant cultural roots with a calm, nurturing presence in the classroom. As a middle child with two brothers, she brings a natural sense of cooperation and empathy to her work. Outside of school, she enjoys baking professionally as a side business and cherishes her weekends spent with her aunt and cousins.
With a genuine passion for working with young children and a growing knowledge of Montessori philosophy, Ms. Sarah is excited to continue growing alongside the children she supports at Waypoint Montessori.
Mirtha Perez
Assistant - All Day Toddler
Ms. Mirtha brings more than 10 years of teaching experience, including her work as a chemistry professor, to our Waypoint community. Originally from Cuba, she is deeply passionate about education and the lifelong joy of learning. She enjoys reading, sewing, and gardening, and treasures time with her two daughters and son. Ms. Mirtha feels privileged to share her love of discovery with the children at Waypoint Montessori.
Robbin Winn Mendoza
Assistant - All Day Toddler
Ms. Robbin brings a wealth of experience to Waypoint with a professional background in mental health, where she dedicated over 30 years to supporting individuals and families. Beyond the classroom, Ms. Robbin spent 25 years as a Special Olympics coach, guiding and encouraging athletes with the same enthusiasm and care she shares at Waypoint. She is also deeply passionate about animal rescue, dedicating her time to giving vulnerable animals the chance at a better life. Her lifelong commitment to service and care enriches both our school and the wider community.
Michelle McIntyre
Assistant - All Day Toddler
Ms. Michelle brings over two decades of Montessori experience to Waypoint, with 22 years of working in thoughtfully prepared environments for young children. She earned her 0–3 diploma
from the North American Montessori Center in Surrey, British Columbia, and holds an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Development. Her deep understanding of early childhood education is matched by her dedication to supporting each child’s unique journey of growth and independence. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys spending time in nature and especially loves camping trips with her family, where they can explore, relax, and make lasting memories together.
Georgina Arzaga
AMI Primary Lead Guide
Georgina brings over ten years of experience working closely with children, driven by her profound love for Montessori philosophy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and the AMI primary (3-6) diploma. Georgina is committed to guiding, nurturing, and supporting the 3-6-year-old children in their development under the Montessori principles.
Joined Waypoint Montessori in 2024.
Ashley Robles
Primary Assistant to Ms. Geo
Ms. Ashley has been working in early childhood education and proudly received her AMI Primary diploma in May 2022. Growing up in Dallas, she has a deep love for her community and enjoys bringing that warmth into her classroom. In her free time, Ashley loves staying active with
kickboxing and swimming, relaxing with a good book, and experimenting in the kitchen. She also enjoys concerts and traveling, always seeking out new experiences to share with her students.
Fatou Ka
AMI Primary Lead Guide
Fatou graduated from the Université Privée de Gestion IPG/ ISTI in Dakar with a diploma in Computer Science. She has over 15 years of experience working in the Elementary and Primary environment with 12 years as an assistant at Waypoint. As a native French speaker, Fatou was also the French Specialist for the Waypoint Adolescent Program for several years. Fatou also received the Montessori Core Principles Certificate from the Montessori Institute of North Texas (MINT) and her AMI Montessori Primary 3-6 Diploma. Fatou enjoys spending time with her husband and four children.
Venkata Sowjanya Devi Dodd
Primary Assistant to Ms. Fatou
Sowjanya obtained her Master of Science in Microbiology from Andhra University in Visakhapatnam, India. She has experience as a lecturer for three years at NRI Engineering college as well as teaching for two years at the high school level. Sowjanya enjoys bonding over arts and crafts with her two children. Sowjanya was born and raised in India and lives in Trophy Club, Texas.
May Monfiston
Primary Lead Guide
Ms.May holds the AMI diploma for 3-6 from the Montessori Education Center of Arizona, alongside an M.Ed from Loyola University in Maryland and a BS in Psychology from Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana in Mexico. With a joyous spirit, she has dedicated the past 20 years to the Montessori field, passionately working to enrich the lives of young learners.
Throughout her career, she has had the unique opportunity to live in various places, including Florida, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Arizona, Haiti, and Mexico. This diverse background has significantly influenced her teaching philosophy, enabling her to bring a rich, multicultural perspective to the classroom.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, she enjoys hiking through nature trails, gardening, traveling to new places, and watching movies. As a proud mother of two, both raised according to Montessori principles, May strives to make a meaningful difference in each child’s life by equipping them with the tools and guidance they need to become their best selves.
Ms. May is excited to be part of the Waypoint Montessori community and looks forward to inspiring the next generation of learners!
Elaine Jimenez
Assistant - Primary Class
Ms. Elaine holds an Associate of Science degree from Dallas College and earned her AMI Assistants to Infancy (0–3) Diploma from the Montessori Institute of North Texas. Born and raised in Dallas, she brings both local roots and Montessori expertise to her work with our primary aged children.
Outside the classroom, Elaine enjoys gardening, going on hikes, and is currently learning to play the guitar. She also has a special love for guinea pigs, which always brings a smile to her students!
Rosa Alvarez-Aguirre
Lower Elementary Lead Guide
Rosa obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Education from the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro in México. She also holds AMI Primary and Elementary diplomas from the Montessori Institute of North Texas (MINT). Rosa has been involved in the field of Montessori education since 1999 and has over 10 years of experience as an Elementary Guide. She has worked as course support for elementary training courses at MINT. Rosa has two daughters who attended Montessori school. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading and music.
Isbeyde Tellez
Lower Elementary Assistant to Ms. Aguirre
Isbeyde has been working with children in 2021. She began her career working with infants. When she joined the Waypoint team as a substitute, she was able to experience working with older children and discovered the joy of the elementary age group. She is currently in college pursuing her degree.
Laura Keller
AMI Upper Elementary Lead Guide
Ms. Keller has her bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and her master’s degree in Theology, having graduated with honors. She holds the AMI 6-12 Diploma and the Montessori Core Principles Certificate. Laura has years of experience working in an AMI 6-12 classroom. She has worked with different organizations supporting teachers and leading classes, creating academic and fitness curriculums and camps for children from ages 4 years to adolescent ages. Ms. Keller and her husband, Matthew, have two teenage sons that attended Montessori schools. Laura loves animals and nature, is an avid reader, and enjoys being active outdoors.
Joined Waypoint Montessori in 2024.
Marjorie Davis
Assistant - Almost Home
Ms. Marjorie is currently pursuing a degree in Elementary Education and brings valuable experience from working with children at both HEB ISD and Primrose Schools. She lives in Bedford and enjoys an active lifestyle that includes going to the gym, swimming, reading, and writing. Family is an important part of her life—she enjoys spending time with her parents, her two sisters (ages 7 and 21), and their lively household that includes three cats and one dog. She is passionate about education and is excited to continue growing in her work with children.
Yasmin Flores-Aguilar
Assistant - Almost Home
Originally from El Salvador, Yasmin has spent the first 19 years of her life there before moving to California and eventually settling in Texas. With a background in food service management and quality control, she brings strong organizational skills and a dedication to excellence in everything she does.
A proud mother of two energetic boys, ages 12 and 10, and two beloved dogs, Yasmin enjoys a lively home life. In her free time, she loves listening to music, cooking traditional Salvadoran dishes, and playing soccer—a passion she looks forward to sharing with the children at Almost Home.
Her warmth, enthusiasm, and love for children make her an excellent addition to the Almost Home team.
Shabana Hasam
Librarian
Shabana holds a Bachelor's degree in commerce and has over 15 years of experience teaching in the Montessori classroom. She was born in India and then moved to New York and has lived in Dallas for the past 20 years. Shabana enjoys needle work embroidery, crochet and cooking new recipes for her family.
