Born and raised in Arizona, Adrian grew up as the middle child with a ten-year gap between siblings – a role that naturally made him the family babysitter for his brothers, sisters, and many cousins. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Navy in search of adventure and new stories to tell.

When his Navy chapter came to a close, Adrian returned to what he knew best: working with children. He continued serving families through the Navy Child & Youth Program, where he discovered a love for teaching as a Performing Arts teacher. Inspired by this experience, Adrian realized he had found his calling and began pursuing a degree in Child Development at City College of San Francisco, where he is still continuing his studies.

Outside the classroom, Adrian enjoys hiking, attending concerts, playing music, and cooking extravagant meals for friends. He brings his creativity, energy, and heart for community into every space he joins.

Dipti is excited to join the Growing Light community as a Montessori Teacher. Originally from India and now happily settled in the Bay Area, she brings over eight years of experience working with young children in Montessori environments.

Her journey into education began with a deep curiosity about how children learn and develop. This led her to pursue a degree in Psychology and complete her AMI Primary Diploma. She has since guided children ages 2 – 6 in both India and the United States, thoughtfully preparing classroom environments that nurture independence, confidence, and joyful exploration.

Before joining Growing Light, Dipti worked in Montessori schools in Pleasanton and San Ramon as both an Assistant Teacher and a Lead Teacher. In these roles, she partnered closely with families and crafted developmentally responsive lessons tailored to each child’s needs and interests.

Outside the classroom, Dipti enjoys gardening, cooking, and spending time with her family. She looks forward to building meaningful connections with the children and families at Growing Light and becoming an engaged member of the school community.

Emilia is thrilled to be joining the Growing Light community! A Bay Area native, she loves spending time outdoors on nature walks and traveling with her family. Her passion for early childhood education began when she first learned about Montessori in school, and in 2022 she started her career as an Assistant Teacher. Through dedication and love for the work, Emilia grew into a Lead Teacher role in January 2024.

She is currently pursuing her degree in Child Development and is excited to continue learning and growing alongside our teachers, families, and students.

Gabriella is excited to join the Growing Light community, continuing her education while teaching at GLMS. At 22 years old, she brings six years of experience as a dedicated preschool teacher. Gabriella is passionate about creating a nurturing and engaging environment where young learners can grow, explore, and thrive. She can’t wait to meet the students and their families!

Outside the classroom, Gabriella enjoys hiking, staying active, and reading. Her caring nature and enthusiasm for working with children help her build meaningful connections and support each child’s development.

Jackie was born and raised in the Bay Area. She is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish.  Jackie became an educator because she is passionate about playing a major role in children’s learning. In her free time Jackie loves to spend time with her family and staying at home to bake!

Keeley is originally from Minnesota and made her way to the Bay Area nearly a decade ago, transitioning from Southern California. After settling in the Moraga community, she discovered her passion for working with young children at a local preschool, where she dedicated many years to nurturing the youngest age groups. Last year, she took a step further in her career by becoming a special education aide for the Moraga School District.

In addition to her professional roles, Keeley has been an active volunteer with Mindful Littles, a nonprofit that teaches children the importance of giving back to families facing difficult circumstances. Her commitment to community service is a true calling, and she finds immense joy in being involved and making a difference.

With over 10 years of childcare experience, Keeley cherishes the vibrant energy that little ones bring to the classroom and deeply appreciates the lasting impact that positive teaching can have on a child’s life. Outside of her work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, staying active with her two elementary-aged children, or unwinding with a good book.

Laura was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. She has been a California resident for 40 years. Laura has a BA in Human Development and an AMS teaching credential. She has been a preschool teacher for 21 years and a children’s dance and movement teacher since 1989.

Laura enjoys teaching all subjects, but especially loves sharing nature with children. She believes art education is essential in early education and encourages children to be thinkers and creators.

Laura enjoys ballet and ice skating among other hobbies. She also loves spending time with her husband, Carlos Arellano.

Mari was born and raised in Chavinda Michoacan, Mexico. Her first language is Español.  While in the classroom Mari loves teaching the students Español, doing art projects and gardening. In her free time, Mari enjoys cooking, listening to music and going for walks.

Mireya was born in Mexico City and is  fluent in Spanish and English. She have over 16 yrs of teaching experience.  Mireya loves working with children of all ages , and is thrilled to be working in a leadership role passing at GLMS. . Mireya enjoys learning about different cultures and traveling to different continents. In her free time she enjoys hiking, being with her loved ones, and volunteering with Make a Wish Foundation.

Nicole grew up in Pleasant Hill and has a deep passion for working with young children, particularly infants through preschoolers. With over 15 years of experience in childcare, caring for babies has always come naturally to her. She cannot wait to be a mother one day and this is the next closest thing! Watching children grow and reach developmental milestones inspired her to pursue a B.A. in Child Development from Chico State, leading to a fulfilling career teaching in infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms.

After college, Nicole returned to the Bay Area and later obtained her esthetician license, expanding her skills in a new field. She also had the opportunity to live in Tennessee for a time, appreciating its beauty before deciding to return to California. Now, she is excited to embark on a new adventure as part of the Growing Light team and continue making a positive impact on children’s lives.

Norma was born and raised in Walnut Creek, California and is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish. She is an AMS Montessori Teacher and MACTE (Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education) certified.

Norma has two decades of experience in enriching children’s development and a true passion for working with young learners! Helping each child progress in all areas of their development-  is a challenge that she is honored to accept daily. Norma strives to create and nurture a space for growth in a positive, fun environment.

In her free time Norma loves to be outdoors, swimming, relaxing at the beach, and spending time with her cute albino chihuahua named Pinky.

Yesenia attended Berkeley City College and is continuing her education in early childhood development. She has 7+ years of experience working with children. She has worked for a local school district as a TK assistant and a Special Education Aid. During her free time, she enjoys working out and being active in nature by going on hikes with her dogs. She is also passionate about wellbeing through yoga and nutrition.