Lana Burmenko – Preschool/Kindergarten (Co-Head Teacher)

Lana Burmenko loves children and is very passionate about teaching. When she found the Montessori way of learning, she felt as if she found her new purpose and was excited to pursue this career. Lana has been guiding children through Montessori way since 2013 and considers DVMS her second home. Her time spent at DVMS has inspired her to take Montessori training that gives her deeper understanding of the why and how of Montessori. Lana has a husband Neil and son Jonathan (20 years old).

Sophia Rowles – Preschool/Kindergarten (Co-Head Teacher)

Sophia has a deep love for guiding and empowering children, spanning the last 13 years. Her passion for child development began as a teacher and later as an Administrator in Bilingual and English Immersion Kindergartens in Beijing. In the United States, Sophia was captivated by Montessori education and soon earned her Montessori certificate. She has worked for the last five years as a Montessori Head teacher in both English and Mandarin immersion environments, joining DVMS at the beginning of 2022. When Sophia is not in the classroom, she loves hiking, exploring new food, and going to the beach with her husband Christopher and their 4-year-old son, Calvin.

Sridevi Samudrala – Preschool/Kindergarten (Assistant Teacher)

Sridevi has a deep love for working with children. Ever since she was a child herself, she has felt a strong connection to kids, which has led her to choose a profession that allows her to spend time with them and help make a positive impact on their lives. Originally from India, Sridevi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Science. After moving to the United States, Sridevi pursued her passion for Early Childhood Development and obtained a Certificate in Child Development.