OUR TEAM
At Neo Immersion Montessori School (NIMS), we know how much it means for families to find a place where their children are cared for, guided, and inspired every day. Our team is more than a group of educators — we are a community that treats each child with the same warmth and respect we would want for our own. Parents entrust us with their little ones at a time when curiosity, wonder, and independence are just beginning to bloom, and we honor that trust with both professional excellence and heartfelt care. Every member of our staff is trained in early childhood education, meeting the requirements of San Mateo County childcare licensing, the American Montessori Society, and the California Association of Bilingual Education. But beyond certifications, what truly defines us is a shared belief: that nurturing children with patience, kindness, and bilingual literacy creates not only a love for learning, but also the confidence to grow into compassionate global citizens.
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From our CORE (2.5–3.5 years old) through Kindergarten (5-6 years old) cohorts, each classroom is guided by MACTE-qualified Montessori teachers and supported by assistant teachers with Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) credentials. Our educators are trained in Mandated Reporting, First Aid, and CPR, and complete extensive background checks to ensure the highest levels of safety and trust. Many also hold certifications in EMSA and enrichment-focused early childhood development, bringing creativity, culture, and language into each child’s daily experience.
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We hold ourselves to high standards of quality — not only in teaching, but in nurturing. Every teacher has a minimum of two years of Montessori training or equivalent experience, ensuring that children are supported by caring adults who understand their needs. Whether guiding a child as they discover a new Montessori material, helping them find their voice in both English and Chinese-Mandarin, or celebrating a milestone with gentle encouragement, our educators create a warm environment where children feel seen, valued, and deeply cared for.
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At NIMS, we believe in cultivating young global minds — children who not only embrace two languages and cultures, but also learn to value kindness, respect, and their ability to contribute to the well-being of their communities. With the partnership of our families, we strive to raise children who flourish with curiosity, compassion, and confidence — ready to carry their love of learning into the wider world.
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If you are passionate about Montessori education and interested in future teaching or administration opportunities at NIMS, we would love to hear from you — contact us!
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Elina C. Chen
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Pacifica, California
Elina has always carried a love for learning and a deep curiosity about the world — a passion that first led her to a successful 18+ year career in marketing and digital media for Fortune 100 companies. Yet her heart was always drawn to working with young children, nurturing their curiosity, creativity, and joy of learning. Inspired by her son’s love of learning, Elina followed her dream and became the first to bring bilingual Montessori education in early childhood learning development to the heart of the Pacifica, California community in creating a space where children can start their educational journey early and grow into confident learners who make a positive impact on their families and community for generations to come.
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Trading high heels for her favorite Puma sneakers, Elina stepped into Montessori classrooms as a certified teacher from the American Montessori Society (AMS) and a Yoga Alliance - Kids Yoga (RCYT) instructor since 2016. She specializes in administration management, integrated curriculum design, and kids yoga for mixed-age classrooms of children aged 2.5 to 6 years old. Fluent in Chinese-Mandarin, Japanese, and English, she brings research-based approaches to dual-language immersion, believing that early learning lays the foundation for lifelong skills, global awareness, and meaningful community contributions.
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As founder of our school, Elina’s vision is to create a nurturing and joyful environment where children feel curious, confident, and empowered to explore the world. Through bilingual education, hands-on learning, and a love for discovery, she supports each child in building the skills, mindset, and heart to thrive today and inspire tomorrow.
Nora Lacayo
DIRECTOR
San Francisco Bay Area, California
Nora believes that learning environment should promote exploration and discovery through independent investigation, and hands-on activities. Her goal is to stimulate the imagination and instill love of learning to the young minds by creating a welcoming educational environment where children feel part of a supportive community. Nora will promote treating others with respect and kindness hence building self-esteem in each child; creating a place where children feel safe and secure, aiding them to learn a grow.
Nora holds a Bachelor of Science in Business/ E-Business from University of Phoenix, San Jose, CA, a Master’s in Arts of Teaching/ Education from University of San Francisco, a Program Director Permit from California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, Sacramento, and has completed Early Childhood courses from De Anza College, Cupertino.
Outside of work, she enjoys hiking with her husband and son, loves playing a chess game and reading a good novel.
Vivien Qin
BILINGUAL LEAD TEACHER
VISUAL FINE ARTS ADVISOR
San Francisco Bay Area, California
Vivien’s journey as an educator began in Shanghai, where her love for creativity and communication first took shape through her studies in Visual Communication Design at Shanghai Normal University. In 2013, she followed her calling into early childhood education, where she discovered the joy of guiding young children to learn through curiosity and play. Her path soon took her to Italy, where she studied the world-renowned Reggio Emilia approach. Inspired by its respect for children’s voices and the power of inquiry-based learning, she returned to China and opened her own Reggio-inspired and Montessori kindergarten. For five years, she not only led the school but also trained and mentored teachers, shaping a community where children thrived in both creativity and independence.
In 2023, Vivien brought her experience and passion for bilingual, child-centered education to the United States. Now teaching in the Bay Area, she combines her deep knowledge of Montessori and Reggio Emilia practices with her own cross-cultural perspective. Parents appreciate her ability to nurture children’s natural curiosity while also preparing them to embrace the richness of bilingual learning and global citizenship.
When she is not in the classroom, Vivien is often on the tennis court, hiking trail, or swimming with her daughter. Together, they share a love for art and creativity — a passion she also brings into her teaching, where every child is encouraged to express themselves and discover the world in their own unique way.
Marianna Chan
BILINGUAL TEACHER - AFTERCARE
San Francisco Bay Area, California
Marianna has always been drawn to the world of young children, captivated by their energy, curiosity, and unique personalities. With teaching credentials from City College of San Francisco in General and Special Education, and a focus on Early Intervention, she brings a wealth of knowledge and compassion to every child she works with. Fluent in Chinese–Mandarin, Chinese–Cantonese, and English, Marianna believes in creating joyful dual-language experiences that nurture the whole child through fun, engaging activities and purposeful educational games.
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A master of Chinese calligraphy who has exhibited her work across the San Francisco Bay Area, Marianna brings creativity and cultural richness into every space she touches. Her passions in ballroom dancing, Chinese brush painting, and gourmet cooking — flow naturally into the learning environment. Since 2002, she has worked extensively in early childhood and extended care programs, supporting children from infancy to five years old. At our school, she channels this creativity into building our aftercare program, designing project-based activities that inspire curiosity, collaboration, and hands-on learning beyond the classroom day.
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Marianna’s dedication extends to families as well. As a Family Support Specialist, she provides bilingual guidance for families with children of all abilities, helping them navigate early education with understanding and care. Her compassion also reaches the wider community, volunteering at San Carlos Elm, an assisted senior living community, supporting residents with Alzheimer’s disease — a commitment that earned her recognition as Employee of the Month in 2008.​ Through her artistic talents, educational expertise, and thoughtful guidance, Marianna creates a nurturing, vibrant, and inclusive environment where children grow, explore, and thrive—building both confidence and joyful memories along the way.
Joanne Lo
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING ADVISOR
London, United Kingdom
Joanne has spent the past 20 years journeying across classrooms in Hong Kong, Toronto, New York, and now London, learning from children and families in a tapestry of cultures. As an ex-Montessori educator, she has seen firsthand how every child’s curiosity, confidence, and sense of belonging flourishes when their cultural identity is understood and celebrated. For Joanne, supporting children isn’t just about teaching — it’s about helping families navigate the joys and challenges of social-emotional growth in ways that honor their unique backgrounds.
As Director of JL Education Ltd. and Co-Founder of Our Mindful Connection Club, Joanne weaves mindfulness into social-emotional learning for children aged 3–12, blending Montessori principles with positive psychology and child-centered approaches. She brings this same insight to educators, guiding teachers and school leaders to engage in thoughtful self-reflection and culturally sensitive practices that empower both children and families. Beyond the classroom, Joanne is a speaker, author, and creative director, contributing to curriculum development through articles, podcasts, and workshops. Her professional expertise, combined with her lived experience as a mother, allows her to create learning environments that nurture resilience, joy, and connection. At our school, Joanne serves as a trusted advisor, helping us cultivate a community where children thrive, families feel understood, and cultural diversity is embraced as a source of strength and learning.
Deborah Son
SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVISOR
San Francisco Bay Area, California
Deborah has devoted her career to building safer, stronger communities where children and families can grow with confidence and joy. For over 15 years, she has served as a leader and advocate—guiding organizations, shaping policies, and creating partnerships that place the wellbeing of children and families at the center. She has led as the Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter, and now serves as the CEO of the Family Violence Appellate Project, where her work continues to touch the lives of countless families across the state.
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Her work spans trauma-informed care, family and children’s services, public health, and community advocacy. Whether training leaders across California, developing preventative strategies, or building bridges between health and legal systems, Deborah has always carried a clear vision: that every child deserves a safe, nurturing environment in which to thrive.
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At Neo Immersion Montessori School, Deborah brings her experience and heart to support our zero-tolerance to violence policy and to guide family preventative support initiatives. As both an accomplished leader and a loving mom, she understands the hopes and concerns parents carry and works alongside our school community to ensure children grow in a safe, supportive, and joyful environment.
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Families who meet Deborah are often inspired by her dedication and encouraged by her presence, knowing their children are learning and thriving in a space guided by care, equity, and kindness.
Robin Wilner
NUTRITION ADVISOR & TEACHER
New York City, New York
Robin brings a unique blend of passion, creativity, and holistic wellness to our school community. Based in New York and founder of Joyful Remedies, she has spent her career guiding individuals toward mindful living, conscious eating, and overall well-being. Her journey to wellness is deeply personal: after six years performing with the cast of Broadway’s WICKED, Robin pursued a Master of Science in Holistic Nutrition, determined to stay healthy and energized without extremes. Along the way, she discovered a severe gluten intolerance that transformed her relationship with food, teaching her to see herself as a whole being — mind, body, and spirit, rather than just a reflection in the mirror.
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Robin’s approach combines her love of creative movement, meditation, breathwork, and food as medicine to nurture the whole person. She draws from a rich background in the performing arts, coaching, mentorship, yoga, nutrition, and public speaking to help children, families, and educators cultivate mindfulness, balance, and vitality in their daily lives. Since 2014, she has been sharing her knowledge with compassion and care, inspiring those around her to embrace wellness as a joyful, empowering journey. As a valuable advisor for our virtual kids cooking and nutrition program, Robin brings her expertise to early health and wellness literacy, guiding our students to explore healthy foods, develop mindful eating habits, and build lifelong skills in nutrition and well-being. At our school, she helps create an engaging, supportive environment where children develop self-awareness, resilience, and joy — both in the classroom and at home.
Pascale Rochefeuille
HORTICULTURE AND OUTDOOR LEARNING ADVISOR
London, United Kingdom
When Pascale steps into a garden, she does not simply see a patch of land filled with soil and plants; rather, she envisions a living and breathing classroom where every seed carries the promise of patience, every sprout holds the spark of curiosity, and every flower becomes an invitation for children to embrace the wonder of life itself, and it is through this vision that she has shaped our school’s learning garden into a sanctuary of growth for both the mind and the heart.
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An award-winning educator and trained Forest School specialist, Pascale brings with her not only deep expertise in outdoor learning and environmental design but also the warmth of a bilingual educator who teaches and communicates fluently in both French and English, ensuring that our children experience the richness of language woven naturally into the rhythms of their daily encounters with nature, thereby allowing them to learn about the world through more than one cultural lens while tending to the soil beneath their hands. Her work here reflects the same spirit that has long guided her broader journey; she is the founder of Growing Space London, where she has transformed schools and communities into thriving woodland and edible gardens, and she also leads NatureBLS, which focuses on resilience and outdoor well-being programs, along with Sleep Baby Bliss, supporting families with the delicate early stages of child development and healthy routines.
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At our school, Pascale draws upon her Flow Approach — an award-winning framework that blends Montessori principles with Forest School pedagogy, Positive Psychology, Growth Mindset, and Mental Health First Aid — to create an environment where the garden itself becomes an extension of the classroom; here, children not only learn to nurture plants but also to nurture themselves, discovering resilience, empathy, and curiosity that extend far beyond the garden walls, and in doing so, they begin to see that caring for the earth and caring for one another are one and the same.
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Candice Choi
MUSIC ADVISOR
San Francisco Bay Area, California
Candice brings the joy and magic of music to life at our school, guiding our students through a rich world of melodies, rhythm, and musical exploration. With roots in East Coast musical training and a return to her hometown of San Francisco, Candice has spent over 20 years cultivating a love of music in young learners and inspiring them to experience music as both an art and a language. From performing Richard Danielpour’s Enchanted Garden to receiving accolades for her interpretation of Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2, Candice combines technical mastery with imagination, creativity, and heart in every lesson and program she leads.
As the founder and director of Musicians in the Making, she has celebrated over a decade of teaching students worldwide, helping them develop not only musical skills but also confidence, focus, and expressive joy. Her extensive experience, including faculty positions at Cal State East Bay, Westminster Conservatory, and other prestigious institutions, brings depth and professionalism to our school’s music and rhythmic movement program.
At our school, Candice thoughtfully partners with Ms. Vivien in designing lessons that integrate meaningful music literacy, creative expression, and rhythmic movement for young children. She believes that early music experiences can open doors to curiosity, cultural appreciation, and emotional intelligence, and she works with care and warmth to ensure every child feels confident, inspired, and connected through the universal language of music.