Leadership & Faculty Oneness-Family School (OFS)

Email

andrew@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Andrew Kutt is Founder, Chief Advancement Officer, and Chair of the Board of Oneness-Family School, the Montessori-based, international peace academy founded in 1988 in Bethesda, MD. He serves on the board of the International Montessori Council and is a founding member of the Montessori Peace Academy, which advises schools with a peace-centered curriculum.

Academics, self-discovery, and world service are integral parts of the curriculum Andrew developed at Oneness-Family School, a curriculum that is sought after and has been adopted in schools around the world. The program is recognized for its success in preparing students with the leadership skills necessary to understand and meet the challenges of the 21st-century, global society. 

Andrew has spent the past 30 years in Montessori education, guided by Maria Montessori’s adage “to follow the child” in his work as teacher, administrator, trainer, and educational consultant. In addition to academics, his curriculum materials address positive discipline, conflict resolution, diversity, happiness, and other extensions to the Montessori classroom.

Originally from Massachusetts, Andrew earned his B.A. from Assumption College and pursued 4 years of graduate studies in languages, literature, and philosophy at the University of Tubingen and the University of North Carolina before earning his Montessori teacher certification at the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies in Maryland. He began his teaching career under the direction of the renowned Montessori educator Tim Seldin, who inspired him to found Oneness-Family School and continues to be a mentor. 

A poet, songwriter, and musician, Andrew’s latest children’s CD is entitled Earth Songs and the piece “Montessori Child” is dedicated to Maria Montessori’s mission. Andrew writes regularly about education, cultural trends, and human development.  

Email

karen@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Karen started her career as a therapist with a psychotherapy practice in Washington, DC, and Bethesda, Maryland, supporting adults, children, and parents. Her interest grew as she saw the link between early intervention and the growth and development of children.  

Karen stepped into education as a school counseling consultant. Her experience taught her that through the empowerment of students and teachers, a Montessori education tapped into educating the whole child, positively contributing to a child’s academic, social, and emotional well-being.

Karen has a master’s degree in social work and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Maryland. After graduating, she specialized in individual, group, and play therapy. Her experience working with parents and children led her to Oneness-Family School, where she worked as a school counselor from 1988 – 2004. 

As a school counselor, she developed self-discovery groups and led elective courses catered toward adolescents, exploring female empowerment, positive relationships, and self-confidence. From 2004-2007 she served as the Director of Student Affairs and has been the Head of the Lower School for the past 15 years. In 2023, Karen transitioned to Head of School, overseeing both the Lower and High School campuses.

Karen grew up in Florham Park, New Jersey, and moved to Maryland to attend college. She has two adult children, Gabrielle and Elliot, both OFS alumni. In her free time, Karen enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing golf, and finding true relaxation by the ocean.

Email

bodil@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Born in Göteborg, Sweden, Bodil is a Master Montessori teacher for newborns through age 12, and a PCI Certified Parent Coach®. She holds a B.A. in Education and Economics and a Master of Arts in Montessori Leadership. 

Bodil is also a Sensei black belt in Jiu-Jitsu with a focus on women and youth self-defense. It was during her accounting years that these students inspired her to change to Montessori education in 1987. She is still regularly inspired by students’ bright smiles when they figure out something new or overcome something that had at first been difficult.

Bodil’s resilience and can-do spirit were honed during the wilderness survival classes of her Swedish youth, which included digging herself into a snow ditch to sleep at night and surviving by day on what nature had to offer.

Email

ariel@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Ariel holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Amherst College and a master’s in the psychology of mental health from the University of Edinburgh. An alum of Oneness-Family School, graduating in 2008, she is thrilled to be part of the Oneness-Family School mission and community.

Ariel is an avid cook and loves to throw elaborate dinner parties with friends and family. She spends her summers in Denmark visiting her siblings (also OFS alums), where you can find her reading a good book on the beach.

Email

andrew.faulstich@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Andrew believes in the potential for education to be transformative and empowering for all students. He developed and led international and U.S. education programs and taught students from 10 different countries. He also experienced the full breadth of public and private educational institutions, working with early childhood through undergraduate, graduate, and adult learners. All of his work is geared toward providing empowering, culturally sustaining, learner-centered, anti-bias, antiracist, and equitable education to students around the world.

Andrew attended a Montessori school himself through Upper Elementary, which is why he returned to the method as a teacher. He opened two Montessori adolescent programs as a founding lead teacher at the middle and high school level. In those roles, Andrew most enjoyed building deep relationships with students, creating a holistic humanities curriculum, and collaborating with adolescent practitioners across the country.

In addition to his work at Oneness, Andrew is the Co-Host of the Breaking the Paradigm podcast and an Affiliate Instructor of Montessori Teacher Education at the graduate level at Loyola University. He holds a Masters in International Educational Development from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, a Bachelors in Anthropology from the University of Rochester, an AMI Adolescent Diploma, a micro-certification from Embracing Equity, and a certificate from the Phillips Exeter Humanities Institute. 

Email

finance@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Chelle joined the Oneness-Family School team in 2018 after working in accounting with the Wonders Early Learning and Extended Day Center and prior to that with Adventure Theatre-MTC. She believes that teaching is one of the most noble professions; however those who can’t teach, bill!

Hobbies
– Face Painting, Anime, SciFi/Fantasy
– Everything Dragon, Butterfly, and Glitter Fanatic!

Personal
– Indigenous Chamorro/Guamanian
– Husband, Three Boys, and One Dog  

Professional
– Marquette University Graduate
– Former Gannett Newspaper Reporter
– Former Accountant for Several Non-Profit Organizations

Email

hans@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Hans has always had a passion for creating moments of laughter and positivity. So being able to provide the next generation with a bit of laughter and joy in their lives is a big accomplishment in his eyes. With a degree in communications from Towson University, Hans has extensive experience creating community connections to help build a strong foundation for the school. 

In his free time, Hans enjoys playing games, spending time with family and friends, and discovering new music to add to his never-ending playlist.

Email

irene@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Irene has always wanted to expand her knowledge of the world around her. She had heard time and time again that children are the world’s greatest teachers and as she was thinking of taking the next step in a new direction of life, she found herself drawn to education. A graduate of Penn State University, Irene has had extensive years in the hospitality industry and has is now utilizing those skills here at Oneness Family School.

In her free time, you can find Irene rocking out to the latest K-Pop song, hanging out with her dog, Winston, or spending enjoying quality time with her family and friends. 

Email

admissions@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Throughout her career, Jessica has focused on bringing people together to foster inclusive communities. Her experience spans education, healthcare, nonprofit organizations, and public service, including collaborating with Tribal Nations and international partners. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

As a parent, Jessica understands how meaningful the school search process can be for families. Her daughter attended a Montessori school, giving Jessica an appreciation for Montessori education’s emphasis on fostering independence, curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. She looks forward to welcoming prospective families to Oneness-Family School. Originally from Connecticut, Jessica enjoys dancing with a local moms’ dance troupe, exploring nature, learning about other cultures and perspectives, and spending time with her daughter.

Email

luis@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Luis left a life in Restaurant Management to join the Oneness-Family School in 2012. Since then, he has helped ensure that a variety of the school’s needs have been met, including (but not limited to) Facilities Management, Bus Driving, and Aftercare Supervision. Luis has also taken over leadership of the Earth Keepers Summer program and leads environmental education hiking excursions during the school year. 

Luis is also an alumnus of Oneness, having attended as a student from Pre-K through the 6th grade (way back in the ’90s). He has three children, “Junior”, Arianna, and Safiyyah, two of whom attended Oneness-Family School as the first second-generation students. 

His interests include spending time in and learning about the natural world, writing, music, poetry, politics, and cooking.

Email

noemi@onenessfamily.org

Biography

A native of Washington, DC, Noemi studies Finance and Marketing at Towson University. She is thrilled to be a part of the Oneness Family School’s community and its mission as the high school administrative assistant. 

All her life she has been involved in sports – in addition to playing club basketball and being on the D1 rowing team in college, she plays soccer for local teams in the area and played professional soccer for the Dominican Republic during their initiation year in 2021-2022. Noemi was also 2nd seed in tennis in Washington, DC, during her high school years, and she currently plays American football for the DC Divas, an all-women’s football team! 

Noemi co-founded a non-profit organization called “La Union DC,” a youth-led, youth-driven art collaborative organization that mentors minority youth ages 13-24 with a passion for the arts, education, and entrepreneurship. She is also a founding member of the Dominican Association, another non-profit organization that connects Afro-Latino businesses and professionals within our community through networking. They assist OLA (Organization of Latino Actuaries) and other organizations along with the Mayor for the annual “Fiesta DC” celebration in downtown DC and various festivals and events throughout the community.

During her free time, she spends time with family and friends, attending concerts and sports gatherings. She also enjoys traveling and expressing her creativity through music and dance.

Email

jashai@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Jashai has been an educator at Oneness for four years and has been involved in the Montessori teaching environment since 2011. She holds an Early Childhood AMS Montessori degree.

From a young age, she has been passionate about working with children, and finds immense fulfillment in witnessing her students’ progress and development throughout the year. She believes that these formative years are crucial in shaping a child’s future and was drawn to the Montessori philosophy due to Maria Montessori’s belief in the child’s greater capabilities. One of her favorite Montessori quotes is, “Never do for a child what he can do for himself,” which reflects the importance of fostering independence and self-reliance.

Jashai Rowe resides in Rockville with her husband, Kofi, a correction officer, their 11-year-old daughter, Jade, who recently started 6th grade, and their energetic Cavapoo, Jet. Beyond teaching, she enjoys crafting stories, singing loudly and proudly, preparing tasty meals, engaging in family game nights, and traveling to Ghana to visit relatives.

Email

clara@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Clara joined the Oneness-Family School in 2022 after previously working at a preschool for eight years with students ages two to three. She holds a Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Teacher Credential. She finds working with toddlers inspiring, knowing that she is a part of their first school experience. Clara feels that it is a gift to help the youngest students explore the world around them. It brings her joy to watch the students grow throughout the school year. 

Clara lives in Gaithersburg, Maryland, with her husband, Jose, and their fur baby Remi. During her free time, she likes to spend time with her family and enjoys expressing her creativity through photography and crafting. 

Email

marlyn@onenessfamily.org

Biography

A certified Maryland State Department of Education and Montessori Teacher, Marlyn finds it exciting to be part of the beginning of a child’s educational journey. She finds meaning in both teaching and learning from the youngest students at Oneness-Family School.

Marlyn is currently getting a degree in Early Childhood Education. She lives in Prince George’s County with her parents, siblings, and puppy Rambo. During her free hours Marlyn loves spending time with family and friends, and traveling whenever she can.

Email

carina@onenessfamily.org

Biography

As a child from Rio Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina, Carina knew she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and work with children. She began her career at Oneness-Family School in 2002 as a Montessori Assistant & Aftercare Teacher, where she learned the importance of preparing children socially, emotionally, and academically for higher education. Carina earned her MSDE teaching certificate in 2003 and her Early Childhood AMS Montessori certificate in 2011.

Carina believes parents and teachers should work together as allies to ensure children reach their full potential. She embraces the need to create an environment filled with age-appropriate materials and hands-on activities. She encourages children to explore, build social skills, and develop motor skills through Montessori lessons that are fun and positive.

Carina loves hiking in the mountains with her husband and their dogs Honey and Bruno in her spare time. Her favorite hobbies are biking and Pilates. Carina has practiced martial arts (Karate-Do) for many years and earned a black belt in 1998. She also devotes time to bringing awareness and funding to animal shelters or worldwide organizations that provide care for animals in need.

Email

matthew@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Matthew began his career as a Montessori teacher over 25 years ago after taking part-time summer work at a Montessori school operated by family friends. This experience confirmed something that Matthew already knew, which was how much he enjoyed connecting and interacting with children. Wanting to deepen this experience and pursue a meaningful career led him to begin Montessori teacher training that same year.

The experience of learning while teaching is continually rewarding for Matthew. His love of pursuing and sharing knowledge about many topics carries over to the students, helping them feel proud of what they know while recognizing that adults are still learning, too. He approaches teaching with the hope that he will instill curiosity and confidence to explore in his students so that they will enjoy connecting with their world.

Matthew’s university studies in French later facilitated picking up Spanish, which he now speaks fluently with his Peruvian wife and her family, along with other friends and neighbors.

Matthew appreciates what he calls the “team-oriented approach and atmosphere of unity” at Oneness-Family School, working with and supporting colleagues while enjoying the same from them. 

Fun fact: Years ago, he singlehandedly dug and set up a 750-gallon garden fishpond so his father could relax outdoors, watching beautiful carp splash and swim.

Email

lisa@onenessfamily.org

Biography

After more than 15 years of teaching and raising children, Lisa uses her sense of humor to explain concepts in a simple way, attuned to the student’s ability level.

A certified Maryland State Department of Education and Montessori teacher, Lisa has a BA in Performing Arts and a Masters in Dance/Movement Therapy with a minor in Counseling Psychology.She believes it is important for students to develop the ability to confidently think through problems and track their thinking process as they move toward a solution.

Yet for Lisa, the greatest lesson a teacher can bring to students is to help deepen their ability to love and cherish themselves. A key part at OFS is the emotional literacy program that teaches students to become aware of their feelings and those of their classmates. This then makes it possible to help them navigate through situations of conflict using healthy communication methods—and in turn fosters a lifelong skill set.

In her spare time, Lisa likes to dance and write poetry.

Email

melissa@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Melissa came to the teaching field and Oneness-Family School in 2014 after a long career working for the Washington Post. Her areas of expertise and experience encompass special education and recreational coordination, as well as childcare. She holds an MSDE teacher certificate and an Early Childhood AMS Montessori degree.

Melissa is a lifelong learner and devoted to teaching young children minds. When a child has a question, she takes the time to converse, explore, and experiment with an idea so that they develop an interest in knowledge in the subject. She aims to connect with each child and make them feel seen and heard.

Melissa enjoys art, playing with her cat Java, and teaching her bird Flare tricks. She loves nature and the feeling of being connected to something greater than herself and traveling to find beauty in the things she hasn’t seen or experienced before. 

Email

kekemba@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Kekem’ba Ywassa was born and raised in Lomé, Togo, in West Africa, where she grew up immersed in a rich and diverse cultural environment. This experience continues to shape her passion for connecting with people from all walks of life. She moved to France to further her education, earning a bachelor’s degree there.

Kekem’ba’s career has taken her across three continents. She began working for companies in France and completed professional training in Germany before returning to Togo, where she worked at a local import company. She then spent many years as an executive at an international company. She later immigrated once again, building a career in retail and working at an embassy before discovering her true passion: education.

Kekem’ba holds a teaching certificate from the University of Cambridge (earned through Coursera) and a Child Growth and Development Certificate (45 credits) from Montgomery College. She currently serves as the Children’s Peace Garden Assistant and Aftercare Teacher, bringing her lifelong love of language, culture, and connection to her work with students.

Outside of school, Kekem’ba enjoys dancing, playing the piano, and traveling. One of her favorite pastimes is discovering new restaurants!

Email

shelby@onenessfamily.org

Biography

After graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University, Shelby Alston joined the Oneness-Family School in 2014. She has a B.A. in English and Sociology. While attending college, Shelby was a member of several prominent campus clubs, including The Student Union on Black Awareness, Sisters United, and The Presidents club. She received many awards while at school, most notably a Golden Bishop award for her work in the community and as a tutor at a school in Columbus, Ohio. She loves to teach science and math and explore the fascinating concepts within each subject with her students.

Shelby enjoys reading, especially science fiction and fantasy in her free time. She also likes to spend time with her nieces, going on walks, having brunch with family and friends, and
Skype with her long-distance friends.

Email

kelly@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Kelly Bristow is an accomplished educator with a passion for inspiring young minds. She holds a degree in Art History from American University and has taught in various settings throughout her career. Her journey as an educator began when she taught English in South Korea, where she honed her skills in communication and cultural sensitivity.

After returning to the United States, Kelly worked at the National Zoo, leading tours and sharing her love for animals with visitors of all ages. She then transitioned to a role as a substitute and aftercare teacher at Oneness-Family School, where she gained valuable experience working with children of all ages and abilities, before becoming a teacher in the Lower Elementary class in 2020.

Kelly’s teaching philosophy centers on empowering children to ask questions, seek answers, and become advocates for themselves and their communities. She believes that education is more than just acquiring knowledge; it’s about fostering empathy, justice, and connection.

When she’s not in the classroom, Kelly can be found indulging in her love of reading, writing, drawing, crafting, and playing music. She has a particular fascination with animal behavior, fashion history, and art, and enjoys sharing her knowledge with her students whenever possible.

Email

sara@onenessfamily.org

Email

andrea@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Andrea Dillon is pleased to join Oneness Family School after many years as an Upper Elementary teacher in Boston, where she taught Math and Geometry, Language Arts, Cultural Studies, and a class on farming. Andrea holds a Master of Fine Arts from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University and a Bachelor of Science in Childhood Studies from Plymouth State University. In 2017, she began her Montessori Elementary II training through METTC. She utilizes strategies from Collaborative Problem Solving in her practice. 

Andrea enjoys too many hobbies to keep track of or participate in at once, such as ice skating, oil painting, kayaking, hiking, woodworking, baseball, reading non-fiction, going to the beach, and especially dancing. But these days, her main creative outlet has been gardening. For five years, she had a Victory Garden in Fenway, where she spent her summers gardening alongside the roar of the Red Sox games. She has been learning about the flora here this year and is looking forward to writing this chapter and supporting students as they make their way in the world. 

Email

emiko@onenessfamily.org

Biography

After four years in Chicago, where she taught at the Near North Montessori School and the Guidepost Montessori School, Emiko is excited to return to her hometown of Bethesda, Maryland, and join the Oneness-Family School team. She has a degree in Political Science from Tulane University in New Orleans and is currently completing her Master’s in Teaching at American University.

In Emiko’s free time, she can be found on the tennis court, running on the Crescent Trail, or enjoying a hot yoga class. She also loves to read, meditate, and attempt the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle. Emiko looks forward to sharing her passion for movement and mindfulness with the Academy class.

Email

hannah@onenessfamily.org

Biography

A Howard Hughes fellow who was awarded the Merck Fellowship while at Earlham College while earning her B.A.in biology, Hannah joined the Oneness-Family School team in 2009. She has a Montessori Secondary I-II credential.

Prior to joining the faculty, Hannah worked at the Thornton Friends School in Silver Spring, MD, where she served as Dean of Students in the Middle School, and as a science teacher for middle school and high school students. There she developed a 3-year integrated science curriculum for Middle School with an environmental focus. In addition to courses in the earth, biological, and physical sciences, Hannah taught courses in photography, nature writing, writing, literature, and physical education. 

Hannah lives in Mt. Rainier, MD with her husband, Ben, her two children, Wells and Paley, who both attend Oneness, and their cats, Charlie and Bandit. In her free time, Hannah enjoys spending time with family, going to the beach, and cooking. 

Email

pearl@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Pearl applies her scientifically trained mind and poetry-writing heart to provide versatile teaching and mentoring to Middle School students.

The mother of five nearly grown boys, she enjoys teaching difficult concepts and seeing “the light come on” when students break through to higher understanding. She welcomes their daily interactions and the challenges young teens pose to her adult perspectives on life.

Known to employ, by turns, power and tenderness, and pressure and patience in the work to inspire and instruct, Pearl is often amazed when witnessing the journey that her students make from immaturity to maturity, in academics and as people.

Pearl holds a BA in Chemistry and has earned a Montessori Secondary I-II credential. 

Email

andrew.faulstich@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Andrew believes in the potential for education to be transformative and empowering for all students. He developed and led international and U.S. education programs and taught students from 10 different countries. He also experienced the full breadth of public and private educational institutions, working with early childhood through undergraduate, graduate, and adult learners. All of his work is geared toward providing empowering, culturally sustaining, learner-centered, anti-bias, antiracist, and equitable education to students around the world.

Andrew attended a Montessori school himself through Upper Elementary, which is why he returned to the method as a teacher. He opened two Montessori adolescent programs as a founding lead teacher at the middle and high school level. In those roles, Andrew most enjoyed building deep relationships with students, creating a holistic humanities curriculum, and collaborating with adolescent practitioners across the country.

In addition to his work at Oneness, Andrew is the Co-Host of the Breaking the Paradigm podcast and an Affiliate Instructor of Montessori Teacher Education at the graduate level at Loyola University. He holds a Masters in International Educational Development from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, a Bachelors in Anthropology from the University of Rochester, an AMI Adolescent Diploma, a micro-certification from Embracing Equity, and a certificate from the Phillips Exeter Humanities Institute. 

Email

jarrett@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Jarrett Arnold became a science educator in his thirties after earning his Bachelors in Biology and Masters in Education from the University of Oregon in 2008 and 2009, respectively. He has taught biology, chemistry, physics, art, and theater set design at the University of Oregon, Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon, and The Field School and American University in Washington, DC. Prior to his career in education, he received his first degree in drawing and painting from the University of Georgia in 1997.

Originally from Georgia, Jarrett walked the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine in 1998 and completed two cross-continental bicycle tours. He remains an avid naturalist, hiker, and biker. He is happily married to Jaylene Arnold, a graphic designer, musician, and illustrator, and they have two adult children, Bodhi and Shashi. Jarrett continues to create art and exhibits his work frequently in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC.

Email

jilly@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Jilly Sher grew up with three sisters in New Jersey. She graduated magna cum laude as a member of Phi Beta Kappa from Bowdoin College with a major in Francophone Studies and a minor in English Education. In 2025, she completed Bowdoin’s intensive teacher-training program as a postgraduate to earn a teaching certificate in secondary English. In 2023-2024, she taught English-speaking classes to college students in France. Professionally and personally, Jilly is drawn to self-expression in all its forms, including language, art, music, and literature. As a Humanities Teacher, she wants to help students find and hone their voices by building in opportunities for them to hear and share stories, especially those that are traditionally marginalized or silenced.

As an undergraduate, Jilly worked at Upward Bound to provide underserved high schoolers with the tools to become first-generation college students. Also at Bowdoin, she worked as a teaching assistant and completed a French independent study on post-colonial discourse and curriculum. Her love of mentorship extends back even further: in high school, she worked for the Girls’ Leadership Institute to help middle-schoolers develop leadership skills and build service-action plans. As a long-term Girl Scout, Jilly earned her Silver and Gold Awards, which focused on sharing the healing benefits of art and nature. 

Jilly is passionate about empowering those in her care through shared respect, wonder, and a heaping cup of joy. She is excited to join the Oneness-Family community this year!

Email

brenda@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Brenda was first introduced to Oneness-Family School in the fall of 2024, when she and her husband, Nader, enrolled their young son in the OFS Little Stars.  Now, she is embarking on a new journey in teaching following a 15-year career in veterinary pharmaceuticals and biologics research and development.  Working for two top-5 Animal Health companies, she served as project manager and leader for global discovery, research, and product development teams, including the team that developed Nexgard® for dogs.  From 2016-2017, she had the unique opportunity to live and work in Paris, France, creating collaborative projects between animal and human health at Sanofi.   

In early 2025, Brenda stepped away from the corporate world to devote more time to her family.  On a whim, she responded to an email on their neighborhood listserv seeking a part-time tutor for an OFS middle school student.  Through first-hand experience of the students and teachers in an OFS classroom, she discovered a new love for teaching.  She later stepped in to serve a few weeks as a substitute Algebra I teacher at the high school, which proved to be a highly daunting yet rewarding experience (Fun fact: Brenda’s mother and grandmother were both teachers; could it be genetic?).  Brenda is excited to bring her experience in a STEM field to the classroom as well as learn from her students and fellow teachers.

Brenda holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology from Emory University and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a minor in piano performance from Davidson College.   She has held a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification since 2009.  In her free time, Brenda enjoys spending time with her family, exploring different restaurants and area sights, crafting (crochet is a favorite right now), music, and traveling.  

Email

fiorenza@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Fiorenza joined the Oneness-Family School World Language Team in 2019. Born in Bergamo, Italy, she moved to the DC area in 2009 where she discovered her passion for teaching the Italian language to students. From 2012 to 2014, Fiorenza carried out the “Nati Per Leggere DC” project, reading in Italian to children in the public libraries of DC and Northern Virginia. 

Fiorenza also works as a teacher at the Casa Italiana Language School DC and the Italian Cultural Society of Maryland. She is an active member of the Italian non-profit organization Italians in DC. When not teaching Italian, she enjoys reading, classic and modern ballet, opera, musicals, and visiting museums with her family.

Email

raya@onenessfamily.org

Biography

After graduating with a degree in Art from the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, Raya moved to Paris, France, where she lived and earned a degree in Art and French Literature from the Université de La Sorbonne. 

Raya taught Art and French, first in the United Kingdom for ten years and then in the United States. She is passionate about her students and uses an innovative teaching approach to keep them engaged.

When she is not teaching, Raya is a professional artist and is the author and illustrator of the children’s book, “Joey the Leopard/ Have You Seen My Spots?” Her hobbies include painting, cooking, swimming, and Martial Arts. She is a fifth-degree Black Belt Master in Tae Kwon Do and practices regularly. 

Her mission in life: Be happy and make a difference in people’s lives!

Email

brian@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Brian was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, and loved that he could explore from the oceans to the mountains. He worked as a veterinarian assistant, helped manage a Bed & Breakfast, guided whitewater rafting trips, and worked on a team building and remodeling houses. Eventually he headed off to the University of Washington, where he received a Bachelor degree in Fine Arts with an emphasis in painting.

He moved to Bethesda in 2003 with his wife and son, the latter of whom joined the Moon Room class at Oneness-Family School. Brian saw his son grow exponentially in the warm Oneness environment, and has stayed involved with the school intermittently over the years.

He has worked with the high school students as an art instructor since its inception. With the youngest students, he focuses on exploring materials and colors; as the students age and become more confident in their abilities, he starts focusing them on a more structured academic approach to art and color theory.

In his free time, weather permitting, you can usually find him leading rafting trips or swiftwater rescue training on the Potomac River, just below Great Falls. 

Email

guido@onenessfamily.org

Biography

John Guido Vitullo is a musician and music teacher living in Northern Virginia, originally from Youngstown, Ohio. After graduating with a music performance degree from Youngstown State University, he moved to DC where he teaches private percussion lessons, rock band classes, and general music classes.

Guido performs on a drumset with two local groups: Twisted Flags, a classic and modern rock cover band, as well as The i-Talians, an Italian pop band. He also has worked and performed in musical theater pit orchestras in venues like the Keegan Theater, Little Theatre in Alexandria, and Arena Stage. Guido believes that music education is about more than cultivating good musicians. It’s about connecting students to a history of music making and allowing them to find their own artistic voice. 

In his free time, he enjoys video and tabletop gaming, cooking, and gardening. 

Email

alex.fisher@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Alex Fisher is excited to return to Oneness full-time as a floating teacher, having previously served as an Earth Keepers counselor. He attended Oneness until third grade before pursuing a degree in Psychology at Oberlin College, where he graduated in 2024. Alex has gained valuable experience working with various childcare and educational organizations, including City Year DC, Hand-in-Hand Parenting, and Minds Matter.

His ultimate goal is to become a child psychologist, and he will also be collaborating with Estefani, Director of Student Affairs.

Email

fiorenza@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Fiorenza joined the Oneness-Family School World Language Team in 2019. Born in Bergamo, Italy, she moved to the DC area in 2009 where she discovered her passion for teaching the Italian language to students. From 2012 to 2014, Fiorenza carried out the “Nati Per Leggere DC” project, reading in Italian to children in the public libraries of DC and Northern Virginia. 

Fiorenza also works as a teacher at the Casa Italiana Language School DC and the Italian Cultural Society of Maryland. She is an active member of the Italian non-profit organization Italians in DC. When not teaching Italian, she enjoys reading, classic and modern ballet, opera, musicals, and visiting museums with her family.

Email

jackie@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Jackie was born in Chile, where she pursued her bachelor’s degree in education. Twenty-two years ago she moved to Maryland and since then has been dedicated to teaching children and adolescents Spanish as a world language.

Jackie teaches with real passion, focusing on building a true connection with the student as a conduit to facilitate the learning process. She identifies the students’ skills and their needs to plan the best path towards target language goals, giving special attention to the engagement and motivation of each student. Overall, Jackie loves to teach through culture and life’s experiences.

Since 2001, Jackie has worked at Oneness-Family School as the World Language Coordinator and as a Spanish teacher. She teaches students from 3-years-old to 8th grade, an experience that has given her a vast understanding of children’s developmental stages. Jackie feels incredibly pleased when she introduces the Spanish language to the younger students through songs, games, role-playing, and craft activities and sees how fast students can learn. She feels equally rewarded when her middle school students learn grammar and conjugations, write paragraphs, and work on oral presentations. Jackie’s passion is embraced in each of her classes, no matter the age or the grade. 

As a tutor, Jackie has helped many students to overcome the challenges of learning a foreign language. She gives strong attention to the needs of her students and works with them toward their success, promoting their confidence and enhancing their knowledge. Her goal is that her students not only learn Spanish but enjoy the learning process.

Email

jayleen@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Jayleen joins Oneness-Family High School as a Spanish teacher with a passion for creating meaningful connections between language, culture, and everyday life. A native of the Dominican Republic, she brings her Spanish-speaking background and love of language and cultural exploration into the classroom. She has experience teaching Spanish to students across a wide range of ages and proficiency levels and enjoys adapting her instruction to meet each student’s individual strengths and learning needs.

Jayleen is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, where she earned bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Arabic Studies. Her academic background has allowed her to explore the intersection of language, culture, and global affairs. During her studies, she participated in an immersive study abroad program in Jordan, where she further developed her Arabic language skills and conducted field research. Her experiences studying multiple languages have also shaped the way she approaches language learning as an educator and help her connect with students who are learning Spanish at different levels.

Beyond the classroom, Jayleen loves dancing, traveling, fitness, and learning about cultures around the world. Her travels throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East have strengthened her appreciation for the many ways language connects people and communities. She believes learning Spanish should extend beyond vocabulary and grammar and give students opportunities to experience the cultures, traditions, music, and perspectives of the Spanish-speaking world. She looks forward to bringing that approach to the Oneness-Family community and helping students build confidence in their Spanish while developing a genuine appreciation for the cultures behind the language.

Email

victorine@onenessfamily.org

Biography

After a twenty-year career in accounting and management in France, Victorine decided to return to school and follow her interest in the field of education. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Education Sciences and a Master’s degree in International Cooperation in Education and Training from the University of the Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris. Victorine has enjoyed working in French, international, and private schools throughout the DC area.

Email

raya@onenessfamily.org

Biography

After graduating with a degree in Art from the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, Raya moved to Paris, France, where she lived and earned a degree in Art and French Literature from the Université de La Sorbonne. 

Raya taught Art and French, first in the United Kingdom for ten years and then in the United States. She is passionate about her students and uses an innovative teaching approach to keep them engaged.

When she is not teaching, Raya is a professional artist and is the author and illustrator of the children’s book, “Joey the Leopard/ Have You Seen My Spots?” Her hobbies include painting, cooking, swimming, and Martial Arts. She is a fifth-degree Black Belt Master in Tae Kwon Do and practices regularly. 

Her mission in life: Be happy and make a difference in people’s lives!

Email

brian@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Brian was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, and loved that he could explore from the oceans to the mountains. He worked as a veterinarian assistant, helped manage a Bed & Breakfast, guided whitewater rafting trips, and worked on a team building and remodeling houses. Eventually he headed off to the University of Washington, where he received a Bachelor degree in Fine Arts with an emphasis in painting.

He moved to Bethesda in 2003 with his wife and son, the latter of whom joined the Moon Room class at Oneness-Family School. Brian saw his son grow exponentially in the warm Oneness environment, and has stayed involved with the school intermittently over the years.

He has worked with the high school students as an art instructor since its inception. With the youngest students, he focuses on exploring materials and colors; as the students age and become more confident in their abilities, he starts focusing them on a more structured academic approach to art and color theory.

In his free time, weather permitting, you can usually find him leading rafting trips or swiftwater rescue training on the Potomac River, just below Great Falls. 

Email

guido@onenessfamily.org

Biography

John Guido Vitullo is a musician and music teacher living in Northern Virginia, originally from Youngstown, Ohio. After graduating with a music performance degree from Youngstown State University, he moved to DC where he teaches private percussion lessons, rock band classes, and general music classes.

Guido performs on a drumset with two local groups: Twisted Flags, a classic and modern rock cover band, as well as The i-Talians, an Italian pop band. He also has worked and performed in musical theater pit orchestras in venues like the Keegan Theater, Little Theatre in Alexandria, and Arena Stage. Guido believes that music education is about more than cultivating good musicians. It’s about connecting students to a history of music making and allowing them to find their own artistic voice. 

In his free time, he enjoys video and tabletop gaming, cooking, and gardening. 

Email

noemi@onenessfamily.org

Biography

A native of Washington, DC, Noemi studies Finance and Marketing at Towson University. She is thrilled to be a part of the Oneness Family School’s community and its mission as the high school administrative assistant. 

All her life she has been involved in sports – in addition to playing club basketball and being on the D1 rowing team in college, she plays soccer for local teams in the area and played professional soccer for the Dominican Republic during their initiation year in 2021-2022. Noemi was also 2nd seed in tennis in Washington, DC, during her high school years, and she currently plays American football for the DC Divas, an all-women’s football team! 

Noemi co-founded a non-profit organization called “La Union DC,” a youth-led, youth-driven art collaborative organization that mentors minority youth ages 13-24 with a passion for the arts, education, and entrepreneurship. She is also a founding member of the Dominican Association, another non-profit organization that connects Afro-Latino businesses and professionals within our community through networking. They assist OLA (Organization of Latino Actuaries) and other organizations along with the Mayor for the annual “Fiesta DC” celebration in downtown DC and various festivals and events throughout the community.

During her free time, she spends time with family and friends, attending concerts and sports gatherings. She also enjoys traveling and expressing her creativity through music and dance.

Email

kim.crosby@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Kim Katrin Crosby is an E-RYT 500 yoga educator, children’s movement teacher, and curriculum developer with more than 20 years of yoga practice and teaching experience. She began her formal yoga teacher training in 2005 and has completed a certificate in Early Childhood Education through Harvard University. Her work with children blends movement, mindfulness, creativity, and play, with an emphasis on helping each child develop confidence, body awareness, focus, and a positive relationship with movement.

Kim’s broader wellness experience includes serving as a Lululemon Ambassador, developing yoga teacher-training curriculum, and leading wellness and nutrition programming for young people. She has also shared her work on international platforms, including a presentation at the 2022 Olympic & Paralympic Games. She holds a B.A. from McGill University and brings a warm, playful, and student-centered approach to teaching, creating joyful movement experiences that support children’s physical, social, and emotional development. 

Email

alex.fisher@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Alex Fisher is excited to return to Oneness full-time as a floating teacher, having previously served as an Earth Keepers counselor. He attended Oneness until third grade before pursuing a degree in Psychology at Oberlin College, where he graduated in 2024. Alex has gained valuable experience working with various childcare and educational organizations, including City Year DC, Hand-in-Hand Parenting, and Minds Matter.

His ultimate goal is to become a child psychologist, and he will also be collaborating with Estefani, Director of Student Affairs.

Email

julissa@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Julissa Arevalo joins her sister, Marlyn, as the Little Stars aftercare program’s new assistant teacher. She has been surrounded by children her entire life, from spending time with her younger relatives to helping in family and community settings. She loves the joy, curiosity, and kindness that children bring to every interaction, and being around them inspires her to approach life with the same openness to explore and discover new things.

Julissa was drawn to Oneness-Family School after seeing the positive transformation in her sister’s life since joining the community, and she hopes this new role will spark similar personal growth for herself.

In her free time, she enjoys relaxing with her dog or spending time with friends.

Email

kekemba@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Kekem’ba Ywassa was born and raised in Lomé, Togo, in West Africa, where she grew up immersed in a rich and diverse cultural environment. This experience continues to shape her passion for connecting with people from all walks of life. She moved to France to further her education, earning a bachelor’s degree there.

Kekem’ba’s career has taken her across three continents. She began working for companies in France and completed professional training in Germany before returning to Togo, where she worked at a local import company. She then spent many years as an executive at an international company. She later immigrated once again, building a career in retail and working at an embassy before discovering her true passion: education.

Kekem’ba holds a teaching certificate from the University of Cambridge (earned through Coursera) and a Child Growth and Development Certificate (45 credits) from Montgomery College. She currently serves as the Children’s Peace Garden Assistant and Aftercare Teacher, bringing her lifelong love of language, culture, and connection to her work with students.

Outside of school, Kekem’ba enjoys dancing, playing the piano, and traveling. One of her favorite pastimes is discovering new restaurants!

Email

luis@onenessfamily.org

Biography

Luis left a life in Restaurant Management to join the Oneness-Family School in 2012. Since then, he has helped ensure that a variety of the school’s needs have been met, including (but not limited to) Facilities Management, Bus Driving, and Aftercare Supervision. Luis has also taken over leadership of the Earth Keepers Summer program and leads environmental education hiking excursions during the school year. 

Luis is also an alumnus of Oneness, having attended as a student from Pre-K through the 6th grade (way back in the ’90s). He has three children, “Junior”, Arianna, and Safiyyah, two of whom attended Oneness-Family School as the first second-generation students. 

His interests include spending time in and learning about the natural world, writing, music, poetry, politics, and cooking.