RISING SUN MONTESSORI SCHOOL - Key Persons
Cameron Lagala received his Bachelor's degree in Finance from California State University Sacramento. During college he worked full time at Wells Fargo Bank, and upon completion of his schooling became a Financial Advisor. He currently runs a practice with New York Life, advising families on their personal finances.
Cameron comes from a family of educators; his father was a professor within the Los Rios Community Colleges and his mother was a preschool teacher. Cameron feels that education is underserved and will benefit from members of the community reaching out to provide support.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant / Human Resources
For twenty-five years, Greg Fuson has designed conferences infused with art, music, drama, emotion and entertainment. Because, to paraphrase Maya Angelou, within a short time people won't remember specifically what you told them-but years later they'll recall with perfect clarity how you made them feel.
Greg is the creator and curator of Matter, an annual gathering of people doing work that's human-centered, community-driven and purposeful.
From 2006 to 2016, he designed and led The Vine, a network of creatives exploring the nature and future of community. He also previously served as VP of content development for the Pacific Coast Builders Conference (PCBC), where he directed the programming for one of the largest and fastest-growing events in North America.
In 2016, Builder Magazine named him one of 100 innovators who are shaping the future of housing. (The first and likely only time he'll share a platform with Elon Musk.)
Greg is a curious observer of the small but significant things that move people deeply. He lives in Folsom, California, with his wife, Joy, and their two creative, inquisitive, Rising Sun-educated children, Anna and Josh.
Ms. Jenn grew up in Massachusetts where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Shortly after graduating, she moved to San Diego, CA, where she met her husband. After a couple years, they moved north to his home town in the bay area. Two dogs, 2 kids and 8 years later, they relocated to El Dorado Hills with their twin daughters, Samantha and Casey. They love spending time with family and friends, traveling, and getting out to enjoy all our beautiful area has to offer.
Ms. Jenn has enjoyed teaching K-5th grade in elementary schools for eight years; as a substitute teacher, reading and math tutor, and Montessori Teacher Assistant. After two rewarding years as an Assistant Teacher here at RSMS, she made the switch to Administrative Assistant supporting not only students, but our entire RSMS community.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- President of DVB Architecture
Josh Divelbiss is the President of DVB Architecture, a firm specializing in design-build projects across a range of sectors. Throughout his career, Josh has contributed to the design and construction of K-12 schools in California, gaining valuable insight into educational facility design considerations that impact today's learning environments.
As a licensed architect, LEED Accredited Professional and Green Globes Professional, Josh has developed proficiency in every aspect of the design and construction process for complex and sustainable projects that possess both high aesthetic value and design quality.
In addition to his professional career, Josh is actively involved within the community serving on the Sacramento County Design Review Advisory Committee, Cameron Park Design Review Committee, and the Daybreak Camp Master Planning Committee.
2021-22 will mark Mr. Karl's 27th year in the field of education. During this time, he has enjoyed working in diverse school settings, both large and small, private and public.
Mr. Karl began his career at the high school level as an educator both in the classroom and on the football field. He coached football and completed his student teaching at Mountain View High School, while earning his California State Clear Credential from San Jose State University. From there, he enjoyed teaching and coaching at the high school level at Valencia and Simi Valley High Schools in southern California.
2005 brought a move to El Dorado Hills and a new career in private education, continuing as a classroom teacher and Head Football Coach. From 2008-2014 Karl worked in high school and middle school administration with a 13 month break in those years during which he relocated to Melbourne, Australia with his family. While in Australia, Mr. Karl earned his MBA from the University of LaTrobe.
Mr. Karl sees this upcoming school year as a unique opportunity to provide leadership as Rising Sun Montessori School continues to grow significantly. He and his family look forward to watching our school community grow and flourish in the years ahead.
In his spare time, he enjoys riding just about anything with handlebars, cooking, cross-training and spending time with friends and family.
Ken Wenham is the proud parent of two Rising Sun Montessori School students. He has prior experience with board governance and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Roebbelen Contracting, Inc.
Education has always played a vital role in Margarita's life. She lives by the maxim "learning never stops." After completing her Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Oregon, she completed the fifth year requirements for a teaching credential while simultaneously completing a major in Spanish. She holds Masters degrees in Reading and Bilingual Education as well as Spanish Literature. In 1984 she completed a doctoral program at Stanford University with a specialization in Hispanic Languages and Literatures, but not before leaving with one more Master of Arts degree in Chicano Literature/Latin American Literature.
Margarita has experience teaching at the university level as an Assistant Professor at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In the Modern Languages Department she taught classes for Spanish major and minor, and developed other classes as needed; she advised undergraduate students, supervised student teachers, was thesis advisor for graduate students, and participated in the Heritage Program, a sequence of core seminars taken by all incoming freshmen. As the Bilingual Resource Teacher at Sherwood School with the Salinas City Elementary School District, Margarita was assigned to second and third grade bilingual classrooms; co-facilitated the "Success for All" reading program; was an ELD facilitator, providing additional in-service training for faculty as they implemented the English Language Development program; and tested and placed incoming students by administering annual CELDT testing.
Margarita is very passionate about Montessori education, having served on the San Bernardino Montessori School Board, where her two youngest children attended.
Job Titles:
- Director of Special Education
Ms. Mariel was born in Sonora California. She grew up loving Northern California and all its wondrous beauty. As she grew, she spent countless hours playing soccer and skiing. Ms. Mariel has wanted to be a teacher since she was nine years old. When she began my educational journey, it was her intent to become a nurse. Becoming a nurse was the popular route when she was in high school, but shortly after she started college, she learned quickly that nursing life was not for her. She changed her major to education.
While in school she began working as a TA for a local charter school in Sonora California. She fell in love with the environment and knew that becoming an educator was the correct path for her.
Later, she embarked on a wonderful journey that led her to Alaska. She lived in Alaska for a time continuing her education. Then, she had another opportunity to live in Hawaii. In Hawaii she lived on a military base. She was hired to be a Paraeducator at an elementary school on base. Ms. Mariel was assigned to work with a little boy in kindergarten who was living a life with Autism. In Hawaii, she experienced Special Education for the first time and graduated with an associate degree in Elementary Education. Her heart was full and had found it's calling.
Ms. Mariel worked in Hawaii for three years. Eventually, she moved to Washington state where she began another journey working in a fully self-contained classroom as a Paraeducator with six students living life on the spectrum.
She graduated from Western Governors University with a bachelor's degree in special education, then she returned to Sonora California where she was a Specialized Academic Instructor at a local Charter School.
In 2020, she met her partner and moved to Sacramento County. She is happy to call this area her home. This will be Ms. Mariel's third year with Rising Sun Montessori. The Montessori way changed her life and my entire outlook on education. She is now committed to weaving the Montessori way with Special Education and the state of California.
She will be starting her 10th year working in Special Education and her first year as Rising Sun Montessori's Director of Special Education. In January 2024, she will begin her master's degree in educational psychology. She is dedicated to creating individualized environments for all of our students. She looks forward to working with her team and becoming the "portable classroom" for Rising Sun Montessori in order to be a pillar for all students to rely on as they continue their educational journey.
This will be Mr. Nick's 2nd year at Rising Sun Montessori as our office administrator and food service director. He was originally from San Jose, CA and moved to this area back in 1990. After high school he joined the ARMY and was stationed in Germany. He has worked as a retail manager for multiple companies in multiple states. He had moved to Florida to be with his now
Job Titles:
- Lead Teacher K - 1 Immersion
Job Titles:
- Specialized Academic Instructor
Ms. Susan Vickers resides in Sacramento, CA where she has been an educator for 30 years. She is a licensed Insurance Agent and Minister. She authored a book and is working on a second project.
Ms. Vickers has taught in both the private and public sector. She has been a substitute teacher in addition to having taught Pre School, 2nd, 4th and 5th grades. Susan earned her B.S. at Oregon State University in Exercise Sciences, her Teaching Credential at California State University Sacramento as well as an A.A. in Ministerial Studies.
This past year she served as a National Bible Study Leader with Beyond Ministry Walls. She loves to shop for antiques, watch sports and movies and enjoys taking time to pamper herself.
Ms. Vickers is grateful for the honor of working with the students and families of Rising Sun Montessori. She looks forward to the partnership and having a successful year.
Job Titles:
- Front Office & Food Service Program Director
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Coordinator
- Founding Member
- Member of the Board
Job Titles:
- Assistant Teacher / Science Expert
Ms. Stacey earned a bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. After a career in the wine industry, she moved to El Dorado Hills with her husband and raised her 2 boys. As the boys were growing up, she was involved with their school and various sports teams. She was a "professor" for Mad Science and a children's Director for Lakehills Church. When Rising Sun Montessori opened in 2014, she was in charge of the extended day program and eventually started subbing in the classroom. When the opportunity for a Teaching assistant job was offered, she jumped at the chance to be part of this wonderful school. Ms. Stacey leads the middle school science program at RSMS.
She enjoys gardening, home improvement projects, and spending time with her family.
Sumita earned a Master of Science degree in Mathematics from India. She has completed early childhood Montessori education from the Bay Area. Sumita has been working with Rising Sun Montessori school since August 2018. She loves working in the positive and enthusiastic environment of RSMS. Sumita has over 5 years of experience in teaching.
Sumita fell in love with the Montessori style of teaching when her son started his preschool education over 10 years ago. She is a very passionate early childhood teacher and loves to work with children and see them grow.
Sumita has been married for over 15 years and has 2 cheerful kids. She enjoys music, dancing, reading, cooking and spending time with family.
Ms. Supreet was born and raised in Canada. Upon earning her Honors Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto and teaching credential at Niagara University, she travelled around the world and taught English in Thailand for a semester before returning to Toronto to work in Special Education.
Along this journey, she met her (now) husband at a wedding in California and made the move to the Bay Area in 2019. There she worked at a charter Montessori school in lower elementary for 2 years. She has her California Teaching credential for multiple subjects and Montessori Lower Elementary I (6-9) credential. After tying the knot in July 2021, she and her husband purchased a home in Folsom and made the move with their goldendoodle, Dex.
In Ms. Supreet's spare time she loves to travel! She has been to 23 countries and the first item on her bucket list is to make it to 30 countries before her 30th birthday. In the meantime, she is looking forward to a great year in the Rising Sun community.