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.

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!

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.

Zahira supports early childhood development by creating a nurturing, safe, and engaging learning environment that promotes growth in social, emotional, and developmental skills. Zahira is dedicated to supporting young children during their earliest stages of learning and enjoys partnering with families to help each child thrive.