about us

Jenni Nino received her B.A. in Communications from University of California, Davis. She went on to earn her Multiple Subjects Teaching credential as well as her Master’s in Education, from Teachers College of San Joaquin. Jenni then discovered her passion for teaching young children during her four years of teaching kindergarten for Stockton Unified School District. As the Director of Education and a cofounder of Lodi Montessori, she strives to ensure that each child reaches his/her own potential and to provide a caring atmosphere in which your child can learn in. Jenni has a Montessori certification under her belt, making her expertise in education for young children well-rounded. When away from work, Jenni enjoys exercising, spending time with family and friends, and supporting her children’s sports and activities.

Jolie Zins received her Bachelor’s Degree from University of California, Davis and went on to explore a career in teaching. She began substitute teaching in the surrounding school districts and quickly found her niche in the education field. After developing a connection to both the older and younger children, Jolie decided to obtain her Multiple Subjects and Physical Education credentials. As one of the founders of Lodi Montessori, Jolie has been fortunate to do something she loves over the years, while also getting to be with her own young children, as they began their preschool education. As the Operations Director, Jolie plays an integral part in the day-to-day operation at Lodi Montessori, ensuring they are committed to going above and beyond State Licensing standards. Her moto has always been, If it’s not good enough for my own kids, then it’s not good enough for my students! Jolie enjoys being outdoors, exercising, gardening, and spending time with her husband and three children. 

Vy Ergonis professional career has spanned 20 plus years in the Human Resources and Business Management/Administration field. Vy brings an extensive administrative and office management skill set, along with significant customer service experience and interaction with increasing levels of responsibility and proven capabilities. Through her experience at major corporations such as Hewlett Packard and Adecco Group North America, Vy has developed the knowledge and skills in Business Management/Administration and Human Resources that will ensure a positive experience for both our students and their families. Since cofounding Lodi Montessori, Vy has earned a degree in Early Childhood Education and holds a Montessori certification for early childhood, ages 3 to 6. She enjoys hiking, gardening, and traveling with her husband and two young children.

Haley Govan has received her Certificate of Achievement in Early Childhood Education. In her free time, Haley enjoys being with her family, going out to dinner, watching movies, shopping, and binge-watching her favorite reality TV shows.

Alicia Dace first gained an interest in the education field while serving as a teacher’s aide and tutor in high school. She has earned multiple Associate’s Degrees in Humanities, Social Sciences and Liberal Arts & Science, and her Associate’s Teacher certificate from San Joaquin Delta College. She has over thirteen years of experience working in the Montessori setting with both toddlers and preschoolers. Alicia completed her Montessori Certification through North American Montessori Center. When away from work, Alicia enjoys spending her time with family, traveling and reading.

Kirby Bianchi has always loved working with children and raised three of her very own. She started in the education field as a paraeducator for children with special needs in 2008. In 2013, Kirby opened her own in-home daycare. After ten years of maintaining a successful business, she decided to close one chapter to pursue her passion of becoming a preschool teacher. Kirby did what she had set out to do by completing her early childhood education courses and landed a position as a Head Teacher for a 2-year-old classroom. Since joining Lodi Montessori as a valuable member, Kirby quickly developed an appreciation for the Montessori philosophy. She hopes to return to school once again to obtain a Montessori teaching certificate. Kirby enjoys spending time with her family and watching her daughters play volleyball and softball. She also likes going on camping trips and has an immense love for animals.

Carolynn Rafferty has been working with preschool and elementary school children for over 26 years. She had earned her Early Childhood Education credentials from James Watt College in Greenock, Scotland. After moving to California in 1998, she attended San Joaquin Delta College to continue her education in ECE. Carolynn started working as an Assistant Montessori preschool teacher in 2004, in the bay area. She later obtained her American Montessori Society Teacher Credential in 2014. Her goals for the children she works with are to help them build confidence and independence. Carolynn enjoys spending time with her family whenever she can. Watching soccer is also a leisure activity she enjoys. Her love for soccer does not just stop there. She also coaches for TOPSoccer, an organization that provides a supportive and inclusive atmosphere for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities.

Taylor John has had a passion for working with young children for as long as she can remember. Taylor gained most of her childcare experiences through babysitting in high school, which lead her to a permanent nannying and tutoring position. Her experience as a nanny catapulted her interest in a professional childcare career. In May 2024, Taylor obtained her Associates of Arts from Modesto Junior College in Social & Behavioral Sciences. She is currently pursuing an Associates of Science in Child Development, before conquering her bachelor’s degree. In her free time, Taylor enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends the most. She appreciates the ability for self-expression and doing so creatively. When time permits, Taylor loves watching a good live performance and keeping up with the latest media. With her admiration for the arts and media, Taylor hopes to one day become an educator and advocate for children in the field of theatre or cinema.

Rosa Nguyen has been a valuable part of Lodi Montessori for over seven years now. She first acquired an interest in childhood education after taking a child development course at San Joaquin Delta College. She received her Associate’s degrees from San Joaquin Delta College and continued to pursue her new interest in childhood education by earning a B.A. in Child Development and minor in Counseling from Sacramento State. At Sacramento State, she was able to volunteer at the child center where she worked in a Montessori based classroom. Rosa appreciates and respects Montessori education which values open-ended time and creating a child centered environment. She also believes that children are capable of great learning when given the freedom and time. Rosa hopes to continue to help young learners grow as she explores her own growth in working with children. Outside from work, she enjoys spending time with her family, dogs and friends. She loves dogs, dancing, traveling, and venturing out for good tasting food.

Brianna Tovar first gained a great deal of childcare experience while babysitting through her high school years. She has been working professionally with young children since 2018, while teaching at an in-home daycare. Brianna began her college journey at San Joaquin Delta College where she graduated with an Associate’s of Arts degree in Child Development. She is now looking forward to continuing her education at Sacramento State this Fall. While working at Lodi Montessori, Brianna quickly developed a love for the Montessori method and dedicated her time to completing the “Early Childhood” certification program at North American Montessori Center. While she has dreams of opening her own facility one day, for now, Brianna enjoys spending her spare time with friends and family, as well as taking trips to Disneyland.

Tess Hinton has over 17 years of experience working in the early childhood education field. During her early years, she attended the APPLE program at Lodi High, worked in multiple childcare centers, as well as a kindergarten classroom. After graduating she moved to Alaska to attend UAA, where she received her Alaska Early Childhood Administrator credential.

It was here where she gained ten years of Montessori experience, beginning as an assistant in the toddler program. Over the years, Tess gained a well rounded knowledge base with her role as an administrator. In her free time she loves to be outdoors, whether it’s fishing, biking with the family or hanging at the beach.