Hi, I’m Masha LePort, founder and head of school of NOPA Montessori School.
I’m a mother of two, parenting coach, AMI certified Montessori guide, and lifelong learner. After years of teaching in the classroom, I’ve developed a passion for supporting parents along this spiritual journey of parenthood.
If you take nothing else away with you today, I hope you’ll take this:
The potential of young children is vastly underestimated. I've seen firsthand how the Montessori approach unlocks abilities, curiosity, expression, and a love of learning in children, to an often surprising extent.
I'm committed to unlocking this potential in as many children as possible. This is my life’s mission, and it’s why I founded NOPA Montessori.
I believe wholeheartedly in your child’s potential, and I believe authentic Montessori education is the key to unlocking it.
I will never forget my first time observing a Montessori classroom. The environment was peaceful and orderly. Some children were working independently with intense concentration, others collaboratively in small groups...I was stunned by what these young children were accomplishing.
This was the most profound a-ha! moment in my career:
As a parent and as a teacher in a Montessori classroom, I’ve seen parents awestruck by the incredible results in their children both at school and at home.
Along with believing in every child’s potential, I believe in their innate goodness. One of my guiding principles in life is that every human is essentially good.
In the context of Montessori, this means that a child’s behavior isn’t random and is never ill-intentioned. Beneath it, children are trying to meet a need. They’re asking for our help in their own way. Our focus is helping children identify and express their unmet need more effectively. This is a fundamental component of the Montessori approach of meeting every child where they are.
Finally, I want to emphasize the importance of community and belonging. As a parent, I’ve longed for community connection and heard the same from other parents. We need these bonds because parenting can be a bit isolating. We don’t have to do this alone. This is why it’s so important for me to co-create a strong school community with you.
I can’t wait to guide and support you and your family on this journey.
With Love,
Masha LePort
About NOPA Montessori
Details at a Glance.
Our Lead Teachers, as well as our Head of School, are Certified Montessori Educators
We are located north of the Panhandle park in San Francisco
Open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Full day program, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Extended day program, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Program available for children between 18 months - 6 years old, 5 days per week only
12 children in the Toddler classroom (18 months - 3 years old)
30 children in the Primary classroom (2.5 - 6 years old)
Snacks are provided
Lunch is not provided
Our Commitment to You
NOPA Montessori is committed to unlocking the potential in every student through an authentic Montessori education. Our staff is committed to your child’s success, safety, and development as an independent, joyous learner.
We’re committed to nurturing our community of parents, students, staff, and teachers. We are your dedicated partners on this journey of parenthood.
We believe in...
Empowering the individual, across all ages
Fostering a lifelong love of learning
Listening to and respecting an individual’s needs and meeting children where they are
Self-expression and creativity
Compassion and honoring yourself and others
Open, honest communication
Allowing space for humanity, balance, and personal growth
Being fully present with our students, parents, and community
Being thoughtful and self-aware and striving to be the best humans we can be
Providing an authentic, invaluable Montessori education
About Our Team
Toddler Lead Guide
Ms. Stephanie was born and raised in Los Angeles California and is a first generation Latina. At a young age, she knew the importance of attending college and so she moved to San Francisco in 2010 to further expand her education. After attending SFSU for 4.5 years, she received her Bachelor’s in Sociology from San Francisco State University. She worked in after school programs over the years and decided to pursue a teaching career. Shortly after gradutaing, she worked at a Montessori school and that was when her passion for teaching grew! After discovering Montessori’s educational approach, she got sponsored to take her training and received her 0-3 Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) diploma from Montessori Northwest. She has worked with toddlers since 2015 and has taught in both English and Spanish. Working as a lead guide for the past 6 years, she understands the importance of creating excitement through learning. Ms. Stephanie values community and so she enjoys fostering strong relationships with her students and their families. In her free time, she enjoys exploring art galleries, dancing to live music, hiking, and spending time with her loved ones.
Toddler Assistant Guide
Ms. Queenie Chin is a Bay Area native. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a Child & Adolescent Degree and a concentration in Early Childhood Education. She has previously worked with UCSF Medical Center/UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in a variety of clinical positions in administration, volunteering and programming. After her time at UCSF, she worked with the nonprofit Ronald McDonald House Charities, Bay Area, supporting families and their children in a high-stress environment. Her passion in life is to be of service and support young children's learning. In her free time she loves spending time with friends and family. She is also a big foodie and is always excited for the next hole-in-the-wall food spots in the Bay Area.
Toddler Assistant Guide
Çağla was born in Izmir, Turkey and left her country for the first time at age 14 to participate in the Comenius project, which aims to help young people and educational staff better understand the range of European cultures, languages and values. Involvement in this project provided opportunities for Çağla to travel around Europe to learn more about the world around her. She later spent time in Italy and Toronto, until finally relocating to the United States to pursue her dreams. Çağla has recently moved to San Francisco with her partner and two beautiful dogs from Chicago, Illinois. In Chicago, Çağla was working at Evanston Montessori Children's House. There she worked in collaboration with a co-guide, leading young learners between the ages of 2.5 to 6 years old. She supported children with language development, practical life materials, and art. She's a people person who loves children and families. She finds joy in Montessori and spending time with children. Witnessing the children's learning and growing process is deeply meaningful to her. In her spare time, she is settling into her new life in San Francisco.
Toddler Afternoon Assistant Guide
Ms. Amanda grew up in a rural area of Southern California and she is so excited to have just moved to San Francisco from Sacramento! Ms. Amanda has a BA in Human Development with a concentration in Children's Services from CSU San Marcos, and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from UC Davis. She also holds an AMS Elementary I diploma from the Montessori Training Center in Shingle Springs, CA. She has been working with children in both private and public settings since 2008. After several years teaching at the elementary level, Ms. Amanda then decided to get back to her roots, teaching preschool again. She enjoys her time in the toddler room and is amazed every day at the level of independence displayed by the children in that classroom. Ms. Amanda is deeply passionate about early childhood education and has witnessed the potential of the Montessori Method for unlocking the passions, curiosities, and abilities of children - at every age level. She is dedicated to meeting each and every child at their level and helping to foster within them a sense of independence, competence, life long curiosity and passion for learning. Ms. Amanda lives in San Francisco with her fiancé and their two cats. In her spare time she enjoys exploring the city, reading, cooking, hiking, and going to see live music.
Primary A Lead Guide
Ms. Sidney was born and raised in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Cape Town and then a brief stint working as an Assistant Fashion Buyer in Johannesburg, Sidney embarked on a travel adventure to Europe. It was while caring for two young children in London as a sole charge nanny, that she discovered Montessori education. Sidney was instantly hooked - that there existed a scientific, educational method which follows nature in all of its wisdom and has the power to liberate human potential thus transforming the world, was so exciting to her! This thrilling discovery both changed Sidney’s career trajectory and her plans to return to South Africa. After completing her Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Primary Teacher Training in London, Sidney moved to New York to work as a Montessori Primary (3-6) Teacher on Long Island. She later relocated to Oakland, California where she has settled for the past 26 years. During this time, Sidney has worked as a Montessori Teacher, leading a primary classroom for 19 years and then as a School Leader running an independent Montessori School. Sidney’s first, great love of working with young children and their families on a daily basis has drawn her back into the classroom and she is most excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the NOPA Montessori community. Outside of work, Sidney loves to travel, hike, run and spend time in nature, as well as with her precious family. She is also very inspired by big city living and is excited to be working in San Francisco.
Primary A Junior Guide
Mr. Marcus Lei graduated from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with an Actuarial Science degree. After working briefly in the corporate world, he decided that teaching was his real calling. Marcus received his AMI Primary diploma (ages 3-6) from the Montessori Institute of San Diego in 2018 and has been working in Montessori environment ever since. He has been working with children between the ages of 2 and 12 years old. First he was an ESL teacher for young children in China, and then became a Montessori preschool teacher, Marcus is also an experienced storyteller. He believes that stories are powerful tools that can introduce the whole world to young children. In addition to teaching, he translates and edits bilingual children’s books for a publishing company. He also enjoys creating his own children’s stories that directly speak to children about their home and school life. In his free time, he enjoys reading and cooking with his wife and family.
Primary A Assistant Guide
Ms. Jessica. Bio coming soon!
Primary A Assistant Guide
Ms. Jordan Davis was born in California but spent most of her childhood in Colorado. Jordan graduated from Stanford with a degree in Psychology and spent a year as a behavior analyst working with children with autism. By spending time in classrooms supporting her students, Jordan learned that she loved the joy and collaborative learning that took place in the classroom. She shifted careers, and spent 18 months as a preschool teacher before going back to school for her teaching credential and Masters in Education. Jordan taught in SFUSD for 5 years as a kindergarten teacher, and has decided to move back into the preschool classroom-her first love. Jordan loves the enthusiasm and adventure of the early years of childhood! In her free time, Jordan loves exploring restaurants around San Francisco, traveling, and seeking out the beauty of nature!
Primary B Lead Guide
Mrs. Rainbow (also known as Mrs. Ming Saetern), was born and raised in Shanghai, China. Before she determined to devote herself to education, she was a dedicated video producer with a love for great stories that could connect people on an emotional level. Her strong desire to help others learn, however, and witness personal growth has led her to make a purposeful career shift to education. She recognizes the value of early education from events in her own life and started to study early childhood development on her own, when she first encountered Montessori Education. The more she delves into Montessori philosophy and its principles, the stronger she believes in the power of its approach. She holds an Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Assistants to Infancy (age 0–3) Diploma from The Montessori Institute in Denver and has worked in both a bilingual and English Montessori schools. She is now fully committed to taking her knowledge and experiences to bring her inspiration in working at NOPA Montessori to another level. She is always looking for ways to help children develop their creativity, sense of initiative, independence, inner discipline, and self-confidence to their fullest potential.
Primary B Assistant Guide
Ms. Carolina. Bio coming soon!
Primary B Assistant Guide
Ms. Ananda was born and raised in Brazil. She has been living in San Francisco for 5 years and she is loving it. Ananda believes that education is the essential foundation of a healthy and safe community. She is always oriented towards things that bring joy into her life and she has found that joy in early child education and her daily interaction with children. After moving to the United States, she decided to pursue an AS-T degree in psychology at City College of San Francisco. This degree has confirmed her life purpose, which is to work with children and support them in reaching their full potential. To recharge, Ananda enjoys traveling, spending time with loved ones and simply going for outdoor walks. She feels grateful to be part of the NOPA Montessori community!
Floater Support Teacher
Ms. Maria was born and raised in San Francisco, California. She is fluent in English and Spanish. She knew at a young age that she wanted to work with children. She attended Skyline College, where she studied Early Childhood Education. After learning about Maria Montessori in college, she was intrigued by her philosophy and was eager to learn more. She admires the structured Montessori environment and the way that it guides children to be independent and responsible. After graduating, Maria worked at another Montessori preschool for seven years as an assistant teacher. In her free time she enjoys listening to music, going to concerts, going to the beach, and spending time with loved ones.
Floater Support Teacher
Ms. Olivia. Bio coming soon!
Outdoor Excursion Park Support
Ms. Wendy Herzenberg grew up in Fremont, California. She moved to the Oakland/San Francisco area in the early 90’s and started her Montessori training in the mid 90’s. She worked as the Lead Primary Guide for Oakland Montessori for about 10 years and then had twin daughters in 2007. After a few months at home, she slowly started going back to work and took over the toddler class at Oakland Montessori. She worked in that classroom for another 10 years, until she finally left in 2019 to once and for all finish her Bachelor’s degree. She is attending San Francisco State now, living with her husband, daughters and three dogs near Ocean Beach. She very much believes in the Montessori method and loves being in a Montessori environment.
“I watched them, seeking to understand the secret of these souls, of whose greatness I had been so ignorant! As I stood in meditation among the eager children, the discovery that it was knowledge they loved...filled me with wonder and made me think of the greatness of the human soul!”
Administrative Assistant
Ms. Divya relocated to San Francisco in 2019 and has loved this vibrant city. She was brought up in India and she carries her Indian culture and values close to her heart. She has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology. She is passionate about nurturing young minds, and finds immense joy in working with children. She has 8 years of educational experience and has traversed many diverse roles: she was a speech and drama teacher, behavior technician, preschool teacher and an administrative assistant at a Montessori School in SF. Outside of work, she loves to explore the great outdoors on hikes, going to concerts, or indulging in the occasional Netflix binge (she’s a true crime lover). Much like a child at heart, she finds joy in activities like bowling, arcades, and amusement parks!
