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Aliza Cohen is an artist and
teacher. She received her BA from
University of California, Santa Cruz in
studio arts with an emphasis on
painting and drawing, and her MFA
from Boston University. She also has
a California teaching credential in art
from Mills College. Aliza has taught
at private schools in San Francisco
and Shanghai, China, and exhibited
her paintings throughout the
U.S. This is her third year at TRIS
and she is delighted to be a part of
the community.
Casey Nutt is the first Kids’
Carpentry student to become a
teacher. He has been doing carpentry
in many forms since 2000. He
attended the Northwest School of
Wooden Boatbuilding, where he
learned to design and build sailboats
of all different sizes. He helped start a
cooperative company called Trackers
Northwest, which teaches outdoor
education and survival skills to youth
and adults.
Daniella Urban started singing at the
age of two, and started playing the
violin at 5. She graduated from one of
Hungary’s most prestigious music
high schools. She was the member of
Béla Bartók Women’s Chorus, that
won several competitions all over
Europe. She's learned to play flute
and piano as well.
She's the founder and music director
of the Bay Area's one and only
Hungarian Chamber Chorus,
Corvinus, since 2014.
Diego Salinas was born in Mexico,
Michoacan. He moved to California at
the age of fifteen. Diego has a B.A. in
Political Economy from the University
of California, Berkeley. He also holds
an A.A. in Math and Science from San
Pablo Community College. Diego
worked as a mentor for primary,
elementary, and middle school
students. He became an Elementary
Montessori guide a year ago. This is
Diego’s fourth year at TRIS.
Emily Ahsoon attended the University
of Hawai’i at Manoa and double
majored in Political Science and
Women’s Studies with a special focus
on Indigenous Women's Feminism.
She attended AMI’s Elementary
Teacher Training Program at
Montessori Northwest in Portland,
Oregon and holds a Masters Degree in
Education from Loyola University,
Maryland. Emily has been practicing
an Indonesian martial art called
Poekoelan (Pu-ku-lan) for 20 years
and holds the rank of fourth degree
black belt. She has taught self-
defense classes to children and adults
for over 15 years throughout
California, Oregon, Washington and
Hawai'i. This is her fourth year at
TRIS.
Frederic Mooradally is from Paris,
France. He holds a B.A. in Law as well
as an MBA. For 10 years, Frederic
worked in Business in Europe and
Asia, where he was also a part-time
tutor and teacher. Frederic
volunteered in a orphanage for a few
years. He really enjoyed teaching
there. Frederic became a Montessori
Guide a year ago. This is Frederic’s
fourth year at TRIS.
Grisell Velazquez-Baez was born and
raised in Puerto Rico. She earned her
Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal
Performance at Puerto Rico
Conservatory of Music. Grisell has
been teaching vocal technique and
elementary music since 2004. At the
present she's working to complete her
Master’s Degree in Music Education
with emphasis on Kodály Method at
Holy Names University, Oakland.
Recently, she completed Level III of
the Orff method. Grisell has a young
son with whom she likes to spend
time.
Nathalie Colin, a graduate of
Sorbonne University in English
literature, comes from Paris, France
where she worked for seven years in a
bilingual school. She holds both
Primary and Elementary AMI Guide
certificates. She likes reading,
knitting, cross stitch
and singing.
Nathalie Hites returned to the Bay
Area eight years ago after living in
Belgium and Brazil for ten years. She
brought with her a background in
science, including a master’s in
Biology, five years of research toward
a doctorate, and a love of the arts.
Nathalie also enjoys any activity
which takes her into nature, and
spending time with her children.
Ramiro Ruiz was born in Colombia.
He received a B. A. in Philosophy and
Literature from the Universidad
Pontificia Bolivariana. He is also a
specialist in Educational Planning
and Personalized Education. He has
taught from elementary to university
levels. He has also worked as a school
superintendent and assistant
principal. Ramiro has completed his
Elementary Montessori Credentials
two years ago. This is Ramiro’s
seventh year at TRIS.
Robin Bernstein received her B.A.
degree in Studio Art with a minor in
Biology from Macalester College in
St. Paul, Minnesota. She did her
graduate work in drawing and
painting at the San Francisco Art
Institute and received an MFA. Her
work has been exhibited locally as
well as in San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Sacramento, Chicago, Minneapolis
and other major cities. She has
taught art to children and adults in a
variety of settings for over 19 years.
This is Robin’s eleventh year at TRIS.
Ruth Castañeda is a credentialed
Elementary School and Special
Education teacher from Mexico. She
was a Speech Therapist for the Deaf
and Hearing Impaired and an
Interpreter in Mexican Sign
Language. She has a Master’s degree
in Educational Research from the
Center for Pedagogical and Social
Investigations in Jalisco, Mexico. She
came to us with 23 years of
experience as a teacher in Mexico.
She has recently completed her
Montessori Elementary training at
the Center for Guided Montessori
Studies. This is Ruth’s fourteenth
year at TRIS.
Scott Long joins the TRIS family with
more than 25 years of professional
experience developing and
implementing physical education
programs for children of all ages and
abilities. Prior to joining TRIS, Scott
spent 9 years developing and
implementing a Montessori-based
physical education curriculum in
Washington, DC at Aidan Montessori
School. He took his previous 15 years
of teaching experience in the
Berkeley Unified School District and
enmeshed it with Montessori
pedagogy, creating a dynamic
outdoor environment and physical
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