Head of School
Mrs. Dilhara Abeygoonesekera started Olu Montessori in Fall 2021. She was born in Sri Lanka and moved to the United States when she was ten years old. Her Montessori education journey began over 34 years ago as a Montessori student in Sri Lanka.
Dilhara received her Bachelor’s of Science in Human Development and a Bachelor’s Of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Davis. After receiving her degrees, Dilhara worked in the Public Health sector as a program manager, where she managed a 24/7 mental health crisis hotline. Dilhara then obtained her Montessori Credential from the American Montessori Society (AMS) and earned her Master’s in Montessori Education from Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California. Dilhara has worked as a Montessori Teacher in numerous Montessori schools in the Bay Area. Working in Montessori schools inspired her dream of opening her school with a curriculum that honors the traditional Montessori teaching style while integrating more innovative approaches to early child development and education. She began planning in 2019 with the prospect of opening in Fall 2021.
Dilhara Abeygoonesekera
Nicole Tsui
Lead Teacher Toddler/Children House
Ms. Nicole obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from San Jose State University in 2020. While pursuing her degree, she started working in the education field in 2018. In 2021, she completed her AMS training program and obtained her AMS certificate.
Ms. Nicole strongly believes in the Montessori philosophy, which closely aligns with her personal beliefs. She values and encourages each child's individuality and firmly believes that children thrive in an environment that provides them with opportunities to reach their full potential.
Originally from Hong Kong, Ms. Nicole moved to Fremont, California at the age of 16. She is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin and enjoys exploring new cuisines, cooking, and traveling in her spare time
Melanie Marquez
Co-Teacher in the Infant Classroom
Assistant Teacher in the Toddler/Children’s House
Melanie Marquez holds a Bachelor of Science degree from San Jose State University. After working as a human resources professional for several years, she is now pursuing her lifelong dream of teaching. Melanie has always had a passion for working with children and, through her experiences, has come to believe that every individual, regardless of age, should be valued and recognized for their unique abilities.
At a young age, Melanie's family moved from the Philippines and settled in the Bay Area, and family has always been an important part of her life. She enjoys spending quality time with them, which often involves sharing great food and lots of laughter.
Melanie is driven by her love of learning and desire to grow and improve. She continuously challenges herself and is excited to begin this new chapter in her life at Olu Montessori.
Co-Teacher in the Infant Classroom
Assistant Teacher in the Toddler/Children’s House
Neda Khonbani was born in Iran and raised in California. With over 11 years of experience working with children, she specializes in providing nurturing care to infants and toddlers. Neda is passionate about creating a loving environment that fosters growth and learning for young children.
She is inspired every day by working with kids and being a part of their first school experience at Olu Montessori.
Neda Khonbani
Assistant Teacher
Dania Gonzalez was born in Palo Alto and raised in Redwood City. She is currently a senior at Tide Academy and plans to attend community college after graduation to pursue an associate degree as a nurse assistant. From there, she plans to transfer to a UC university.
In her free time, Dania enjoys going on walks. She is a kind and loving person who is highly organized and finds positivity in everything. This is her first job at a Montessori school, and she enjoys working with kids, seeing them laugh and have a great time. In the future, Dania looks forward to learning and gaining more experience working with children.
