Our Team — Sequoia Montessori School at Palo Alto

Maria Sorokina

Lead Guide

I was born and raised in Russia. I came to the United States in 2006 as a biophysics graduate student at the University of Illinois in Urbana, IL and then continued my studies in Biophysics at Stanford. I graduated from Stanford University with the Master's Degree in Chemistry.

We are raising three children. When I first found a Montessori School for my oldest child, I was immediately drawn to its learning environment and the respectful and caring attitude of the teachers.

I began to learn more about the Montessori philosophy and quickly realized that it was something that I wanted to be a part of. In order to share my enthusiasm for Montessori education with others, I organized courses for parents in the Stanford Community to discuss how the Montessori method could support their children's needs and prepare them for the future.

In 2019, I graduated with the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) diploma, which is recognized around the world as a mark of excellence in Montessori education and prepared me to work with children between the ages of three and six. I then joined the Guidepost Montessori School at Palo Alto as a toddler guide, where I also led parent education series.

After the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, I decided to homeschool my own children and founded the Sequoia Montessori school. In May 2023, I finished my MACTE training to become a certified 6-12 elementary guide and now I am guiding a mixed-age class of 14 children. Our home-based school is a unique space where homeschooling is combined with a private school structure, allowing for flexibility and freedom for the children to make their own discoveries.

Vilena Tsurankova

Teacher Assistant

Hello, my name is Vilena. I come from the beautiful country of Belarus, and ever since childhood I have been passionate about foreign languages. This interest led me to Minsk State Linguistic University, where I earned a bachelor's degree in Translation and Interpreting with a focus on Mandarin Chinese, followed by a master's degree in Linguistics.

After completing my studies, I realized that my true calling was education rather than interpreting. I stayed at my Alma Mater as a professor of Chinese language and culture, a role I deeply enjoyed and hoped to grow in. However, everything changed after the birth of my daughter. When she turned one, I discovered the Montessori Method — and instantly fell in love with it.

Soon after, I completed my AMI Assistant (0–3) certification, which allowed me to deepen my understanding of Montessori principles. I dreamed of becoming a Montessori educator, and this dream came true in 2024. By then my family had moved to Warsaw, Poland, where I joined a home-based Montessori preschool as a teacher. Working in an authentic Montessori environment strengthened my passion for the Method and gave me invaluable hands-on experience.

I truly enjoy working with children. Watching them grow, explore, and develop a genuine love of learning within the Montessori environment is one of my greatest joys.

In my free time, I continue to pursue my love for languages. I currently speak five languages at various levels, and my next goal is to master Korean.

Yana Filina

Teacher Assistant

My name is Yana, and I was born in the beautiful city of Odesa, Ukraine. Alongside attending public school, I spent 8 years at music school, which provided me with many cherished memories. I graduated from Odesa National University with a master's degree in English and Spanish literature. I completed a teaching practicum at a public high school where I taught foreign literature to 10th and 11th graders.

For 7 years, I worked as an HR professional in a maritime agency. In 2017, my husband, our two children, and I moved to the United States for what we thought would be one year, but it has now been eight years. When my son was 2 years old, he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Since then, I have dedicated much of my time to helping him adjust to our world, as well as researching and studying autism. Through this journey, I have met many wonderful people and helped build a supportive community for our families.

I have received extensive parent training in ABA therapy, as well as occupational and speech therapies. Raising two children with very different needs has given me a unique perspective on understanding diverse worlds. I believe that the Montessori approach caters to children of various personalities and needs, and I am excited about the opportunity to be a part of it.

Leia Zhang

Teacher Assistant

My name is Leia, I grew up in China and furthered my education in the United States, where I received a Master's degree from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I also earned an AMI Primary Montessori Diploma from Montessori Northwest in Milpitas. For almost three years, I have worked at the San Jose Montessori School, where I have seen firsthand how Montessori education fosters independence, discipline, and courtesy among children. I firmly believe that a genuine Montessori approach can profoundly benefit individuals throughout their lives.

I am a mother of a four-year-old daughter and deeply enjoy playing and learning alongside children. I am convinced that a robust early childhood education is one of the most valuable gifts we can provide. I adhere to the philosophy that "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." Guided by this belief, I strive to ignite curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning in every child.

In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, swimming, and dancing. These activities refresh me, allowing me to bring renewed energy and enthusiasm to my educational endeavors.