Shauna is a born and raised Southsider, with a decade of experience in education. Shauna graduated with her M.Ed. in Elementary Education before working for many years as a classroom teacher. Additionally, she has worked as content lead and instructional specialist and enjoys the important work of supporting educators. Shauna spent time in Nairobi, Kenya as a program developer and curriculum lead for a small non-profit.

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She values the child-centered approach that Montessori offers, and enrolls both of her beautiful children in Montessori programs. Her passion for high-quality early childhood experiences drives her work at Little Sparks. She and her family live around the corner from Little Sparks. They enjoy exploring Longfellow, gardening, and tending to their chickens.

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Originally from Hungary, Evi has decades of experience working with children. Evi studied Elementary Education at Augsburg College but always felt more inspired by teaching younger children in their own pace. Evi completed her AMI Montessori training at the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota in 2019 and since then worked at Mayflower/ Creekside Montessori School both as an Assistant and Lead Teacher. She is passionate about encouraging children’s natural curiosity and love for learning. Her approach focuses on creating a supportive atmosphere where each child can thrive at their own pace. Evi believes in the importance of hands-on learning, individualized attention, and fostering independence.

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Besides teaching, she enjoys yoga and meditation, biking and hiking with her daughter, husband and our yellow Labrador.

Rafael is a dedicated educator from Venezuela with over 14 years of experience nurturing young minds across all levels—from early childhood to university settings. His journey in education has been driven by a deep commitment to fostering environments where every child is respected, empowered, and inspired to learn at their own pace. Rafael has worked as a lead preschool teacher and program director for Spanish immersion schools in Minneapolis.

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Holding a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education of Art and being fluent in both English and Spanish, Rafael brings a diverse skill set to every learning environment. At Little Sparks, he is devoted to creating a warm, inclusive, and dynamic Montessori setting. Here, every child is encouraged to explore, discover, and grow in a nurturing space that honors their individuality and supports their natural curiosity.

COMING SOON!