Meet our team
Teaching Staff
The Founding Director
Sanjivani Barpande
I am the Founding Director of Luminous Learning Minds, where I bring over 15 years of diverse experience in early childhood education. I hold a Master's degree in Computer Science, a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, Master's in Early Childhood Education. Throughout my career, I have worked with children across all developmental stages-from infants to school-age gaining a deep understanding of their unique learning needs and growth patterns. My passion lies in shaping young minds by fostering an educational environment that supports mental, emotional, and social development. I believe in creating classroom spaces that spark curiosity, encourage exploration, and nurture problem-solving skills. Through thoughtful lesson planning and inclusive classroom management, I strive to help children reach their full potential while learning to collaborate, express their ideas, and develop a lifelong love for learning.
Lead Teacher
Maria Daniela Landino
Maria Daniela Landino is a bilingual early childhood educator from Venezuela. Since 2021, she has worked with young children in early learning environments, supporting their growth and development in both Spanish and English. She earned her degree in Health and Safety in Venezuela and currently continuing her education at North Seattle College. She is passionate about helping children feel safe, build confidence, express their emotions, become more independent, and learn through play and everyday experiences.
Lead Teacher
Karon Stentz
Karon brings over 18 years of experience in childcare and a deep passion for helping children learn and grow. She loves seeing the joy on children’s faces when they discover something new. Karon holds a CDA and multiple certifications in early childhood education. In her free time, she enjoys crafting, painting, writing stories, and spending time with family.
Lead Teacher
Yasmine Idoughi
Yasmine holds a bachelor’s degree in Urbanism and a master’s degree in Architecture, and has led both toddler and preschool classrooms. Her background in design adds to the creativity she brings to teaching, from inviting children to build and explore to noticing the small details that help them feel at ease. Fluent in French, she also appreciates the different languages and cultures children bring to the classroom. Yasmine believes children need room to ask questions, experiment, make mistakes, and try again—even when learning gets messy. She feels proud to play a part in their growth. The moments that stay with her most are when a child spots her from across the room, calls her name, waves, or runs over for a hug. To her, that trust is priceless. As a mother, Yasmine treats each child with the warmth, patience, and respect she would want for her own son. Outside the classroom, she enjoys cooking, baking, DIY crafts, decorating, and organizing spaces.
Lead Teacher
Sharra Fermin Lavender
Sharra holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, a Master’s degree in Creative Writing, college coursework in Teaching and Curriculum, and has completed the Montessori Early Childhood Teacher Training Program. She brings over 20 years of teaching experience, including five years as a Montessori educator. Before moving to Washington from Puerto Rico in 2020, she taught middle and high school students, specializing in journalism, public speaking, and literature. She believes children develop strong minds when their academic, emotional, and social growth are nurtured together. Guided by the Montessoriphilosophy, Sharra is passionate about fostering curiosity, independence, and critical thinking. Through hands-on learning and thoughtful guidance, she encourages children to explore ideas, understand cause and effect, reflect on their experiences, develop problem-solving skills, and build meaningful friendships in a safe environment where every child feels valued, respected, and capable. Outside the classroom, Sharra enjoys pressing flowers to create handmade cards and bookmarks, journaling, music, dancing, diamond painting, and spending time at the beach. As a native Spanish speaker, she enjoys sharing her language and culture while creating a warm and welcoming classroom community for every child.
Assistant Teacher
Sandra Valera
Sandra has been passionate about working with children from a young age. During Running Start at EVCC, she completed early childhood education courses that built a strong foundation in child development. She brings a nurturing, hands-on approach, is proud to be local to the Sultan community, and enjoys seeing the excitement children feel when they learn something new.
Assistant Teacher
Melina Martinez
Melina graduated from Monroe high school. She have over five years of experience working in childcare, providing a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment for young children. Throughout her career she worked with children ranging from 2½ to 5 years old, supporting their developmental, social, and educational growth. She is passionate about helping children learn, explore, and build confidence.
Non-teaching Staff
No teaching staff found.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How experienced is your teaching staff?
Q2. Do teachers receive ongoing training?
Q3. How do teachers support emotional development?
Let’s Connect
Want to learn more about our teachers or programs? Reach out to us—we’d love to hear from you.
