Our team
Each Fiore team member is hand picked for their commitment to your child’s wellbeing and success. Guides are AMI trained and this makes them experts in child development, observation and assessments and connecting a child to their inner self to excel at academics and social engagements.
Management
Sailini Lohia
Head of school
Sailini founded Fiore Montessori School along with husband Sandeep in 2010. She is trained as an AMI Montessori Primary Guide and has over 8 years of experience working with children ages 3 - 6. Sailini holds a M.B.A. in Finance and B.S. in Commerce. In a previous life, Sailini worked as a Business Director for Capital One. She and her husband have two sons, ages 17 and 19, and live in Vienna, VA. She is a committed Iyengar Yoga student and enjoys playing Bridge.
Sandeep Lohia
Strategic Head
Sandeep founded Fiore Montessori along with his wife, Sailini, in 2010. In 2012, Sandeep assumed the role of head of school at Fiore Montessori which he passed on to Sailini in 2019. Sandeep is trained as an Engineer and holds an M.B.A. He believes that a strong foundation is essential to long term success and is passionate about producing a conducive environment at Fiore for every child to develop a strong foundation for success and happiness.
Kelly McDermott
Director of Enrollment
Kelly is originally from New York, but now lives in Reston with her husband, daughter, and son. Kelly has more than a decade of childcare experience and a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Administration. Kelly has been in the admissions field for more than 8 years and thoroughly enjoys working with families. In her downtime, Kelly enjoys watching movies, spending time outside, baking, and watching her children grow more everyday.
Sandra Caraballo
Director of Operations
Sandra has a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education from Florida International University, a Masters in Education from Loyola University and is AMI Primary certified from Washington Montessori Institute in Maryland. She has served in the United States Army, and has worked with young children for over 15 years. Sandra greatly enjoys being outdoors,  woodworking and interior design. She lives in Vienna along with her husband and daughter.
Donna Ferko
Director of Business & Finance
Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Donna graduated with a BA in Psychology from Lock Haven University. Her career spans several industries in which she held key leadership roles in Healthcare Finance Administration, Education Directorship, and HR Operations. Currently residing in Alexandria, VA, she maintains that wherever she travels or lives, she has not forgotten her roots…and consequentially maintains a life-time supply of Hershey’s Chocolate. During her free time, Donna enjoys horseback riding, sailing/boating, tennis, swimming and her latest adventure - pickleball.
Pedagogical Council
Pedagogical Council Members are Montessori-trained experts for ages 0-3, 3-6, and 6-15 who collaborate with and coach Fiore’s Guides on how to best support the developmental paths of each child toward success in the classroom environment. By way of regular oversight, observations, assessment and feedback, they make recommendations, offer resources, guidance and new techniques, and lead professional development for our faculty to help Fiore children reach their full potential.
Nicole Barba
Nicole received a Master’s in Education from Loyola University, MD and is certified in AMI 0-3 from The Montessori Institute in Denver, CO. She has worked with the 0-3 group for over 10 years, including running a Baby and Me course for parents.
Janet McDonell
Janet holds a primary, elementary, and special education diploma from AMI and is an AMI primary trainer of guides and Consultant. Janet also has over 25 years of Montessori classroom experience and leads lectures, workshops, and consults all over the world.
Michele Hutchinson
Michele has nearly 30 years of experience as a Montessori guide and administrator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Health Care Planning and Health Psychology from the University of Rochester, two Montessori teaching diplomas, and a Master of Arts from St. John’s College in Annapolis.
Guides
Estefanía Funes
Nido Guide
EstefanÃa, also known as Stefi, was born and raised in California and recently moved to Virginia to pursue her teaching career as a Nido guide. Stefi is bilingual in English & Spanish and has been working with children for almost 10 years. She is certified AMI 0-3 from The Montessori Institute in Denver, Colorado. She has 6 years of experience working with infants in a Montessori classroom. Stefi likes to go thrifting, spend time with her cat Lemon and is excited to explore the East Coast. She is happy to be part of the Fiore family and develop relationships with staff, parents and children.
Iyanna Harris
Toddler Guide
Iyanna has lived in Virginia her whole life and has been working with children for the last four years. She particularly enjoys watching children grow and develop. Iyanna loves learning and looks forward to continuing to learn more about the Montessori philosophy at Fiore. When she is not at school, Iyanna enjoys spending time with her partner, reading books, and trying new vegan recipes.
Aimee Miller
Primary Guide
Aimee grew up in Recife, Brazil and Takoma Park, Maryland. She studied Education, Visual Art and Psychology at Scripps College for her undergraduate degree. She received her AMI Primary diploma from Washington Montessori Institute and has worked in DC and MD Montessori schools since 2016. Aimee enjoys nature walks, live music, sketching, and spending time with her husband and her pets.
Diana Goshorn
Toddler Guide
Diana is a native of Colombia, South America. She received a Masters in Education from Loyola University, Maryland and is certified AMI 0-3 from The Montessori Institute in Denver, Colorado. She has over 25 years of experience working with children under the age of 3 and has worked in a Montessori classroom over a decade. Diana loves to spend time with her husband of 25 years and enjoys creating art in her free time. Diana is a joyful and loving person who yearns to give back to the world through sharing her experience and knowledge of Montessori.
Erika Heikkinen
Primary Guide
Erika received her AMI Primary training from the Washington Montessori Institute in MD. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies with a minor in French from Juniata College as well as a Master of Education in Montessori Education from Loyola University Maryland. Erika has worked with young children in various settings for most of her adult life and, as a former Montessori student herself, is passionate about the importance of joy in learning and using education as a tool for peace. She is the child of two professional musicians and is thrilled to share her love of music with the children in her classroom. In her spare time, Erika enjoys walking with her dog, playing her ukulele, and exploring with her nephews.
Francesca Martin
Primary Guide
Francesca received her AMI Primary Diploma from the Washington Montessori Institute and holds a Master of Education from Loyola University Maryland. For the past eleven years, she has passionately guided children to reach their fullest potential in the Montessori method. Francesca is a semi-professional classical violinist and has performed with local groups, including The McLean Symphony Orchestra. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, three Yorkshire terriers, cooking and traveling with her family.
Evelyn Maldonado
Toddler Guide
Evelyn was born in Ecuador. She has a B.A Degree in Education Science and has been working with children for over 12 years. Evelyn is certified AMI 0-3 from the Montessori Institute in Denver, Colorado. Evelyn used to work in another Montessori school before coming to Fiore. She is passionate about working in the development of education for children. In her spare time she likes to dance, cook, and go hiking with her husband. Evelyn also recently welcomed her son, Andrew into the family!
Meagan Healy
Primary Guide
Meagan has learned the values of patience, open communication, and of guiding a practice through her previous career in commercial art and children's animation. Watching her nephew thrive at Fiore helped her to make the decision to enter the field of Montessori education! She received her AMI primary training and her Master’s in Education at the Washington Montessori Institute. Her priorities are safety, love and compassion, and exploration. She looks forward to new adventures with the children, families, and staff at Fiore!
Tara Kibler
Elementary Guide
Tara has a deep-rooted passion for the Montessori method, and for understanding the science behind it. She first became acquainted with Montessori as a 2-year old and was a Montessori student through age 12. Later, she attended the University of Rochester where she studied the science of learning, motivation, and spoken and written language acquisition. She graduated with a dual Bachelor's in Linguistics and Psychology and a minor in Brain and Cognitive Sciences. In 2017, she completed the AMI Elementary Training at the Washington Montessori Institute and received her Master's in Elementary Education from Loyola University Maryland. Outside of the classroom, you may find her getting lost in historical fiction, dabbling in various creative outlets, or attempting to master the art of raising a toddler.
Carly Jongema
Elementary Guide
Carly is a native of Northern New Jersey and has been living in Virginia since 2016. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Arts Management with an emphasis in dance from Belhaven University and a Masters of Elementary Education from Loyola University in Maryland. Carly began her Montessori journey in 2012 working at a Montessori school in Philadelphia, first as a substitute in both toddler and Children's House and then as an administrative assistant. In 2015, she began her AMI Elementary training through The Washington Montessori Institute, completing training in 2016. Carly has experience leading both 6-12, lower and upper elementary classes. She enjoys bringing her love of the arts literature, history, and gardening to the communities she leads. When not in the classroom, she spends time with her husband and two young children.
Kareen Nacua
Adolescent Guide
Kareen is an educator with a Bachelor of Secondary Education majoring in Physical Sciences and 8+ years of teaching experience in elementary, middle, and high school math and science in the Philippines and United Arab Emirates. In addition, Kareen has completed nearly all of the exams and other requirements for the AMI Adolescent Diploma Course at the International Montessori Training Institute, Kareen also brings 3 years of valuable expertise from The Abba's Orchard School's Montessori Adolescent program. With a deep passion for engaging and interactive learning, she firmly believes in Montessori education's transformative power to fulfill her vision.
Andrew Riddile
Adolescent Guide
After earning both his Master's in Education and Bachelor's in English at Virginia Tech, Andrew taught English Language Arts for over a decade at the secondary level. More recently, he studied the Montessori approach to education, and received the AMI Primary and Adolescent Diplomas to add to his credentials. Ever since he welcomed his first students to the classroom, he has been wholly committed to each individual’s intellectual growth, innate curiosity, and fundamental desire to make positive, meaningful contributions to the world. After enrolling his daughter in a Montessori school, he quickly became enamored with its unique approach to education. Outside of work, Andrew loves to spend time with his wife, three young children, and their menagerie of dogs, cats, and hens.