Dilhara Abeygoonesekera
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.
Nicole Tsui
Assistant Head of School
Lead Guide of Toddler Community
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.
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, 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.
Alexis Mooring (Lexi)
Assistant Guide of Toddler Community
Ms. Lexi was born and raised in California and holds an Associate’s degree in Cosmetology. After working as a hairstylist for several months, she felt inspired to expand her career into caregiving and education by becoming both a caregiver and a teacher assistant. She is currently studying Early Childhood Development at Foothill College to further her knowledge and skills in the field.
As the oldest of three younger siblings and several cousins, Lexi found joy in watching them grow and discovered her passion for working with children. She has always dreamed of working with both the elderly and children, as they hold a special place in her heart. Lexi is continually inspired by the curiosity and growth she sees in kids and is excited to begin this new chapter of her journey at Olu Montessori.
Neda Khonbani
Lead Chef & Assistant Guide
Neda Khonbani was born in Iran and raised in California. With over 13 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.
Dania Gonzalez
Assistant Guide
Dania Gonzalez was born in Palo Alto and raised in Redwood City. She graduated from Tide Academy and is currently attending Cañada College, where she is pursuing a Medical Assistant degree. Her goal is to transfer to a University of California campus to continue her education.
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.