Our Staff

Diamante Montessori’s Mission is to attract and retain the area’s best Montessori instructors thus providing our students with the best possible education using the Montessori method. Our staff is a group of highly dedicated and extremely experienced instructors. All of our directresses are certified in the Montessori method of education and have at least several years experience teaching Montessori.

Our directresses’ skill set is ideal for progressing in your child’s preschool education. They strive to create an environment for preschool children that enhances the development of the person that they become. They recognize each child’s uniqueness and interests as well as their own pattern of development and provide a rich stimulating environment that enhances every step of the child’s development.

Zille Huma

Mrs. Zille Huma is the Head of School as well as the Lead Teacher for our Kindergarten Enrichment Class here at Diamante Montessori. Mrs. Huma has 21 years of educational experience to her credit and holds a Master’s degree in
Educational Leadership from NIU and another Masters in Computer Information Security from Elmhurst College.

Mrs Zille made the transition from traditional education to Montessori 17 years ago and hasn’t looked back. She has successfully obtained three Montessori certifications in 0-3, 3-6, and 6-9 from the American Montessori Society. She is currently completing her Elementary II (9-12) certification. Mrs. Huma is most excited about getting to know our families and students and bringing new ideas and programs to our school. She is very enthusiastic about becoming a vital part of our Glen Ellyn and school community.

Diana Zamudio

Diana is the Directress for the Preprimary morning and afternoon classes.  She has taught in New York, London, Ireland, Puerto Rico and Illinois for the past 11 years. She studied International Business at Manhattanville College in NY but ultimately found her passion for education when she was completing her Montessori Training with CMTE/NY. She also has an MA in Special Educational Needs from University of East London in England. Diana was born and raised in Puerto Rico and enjoys teaching the children Spanish throughout the school year. Diana strives to make her classroom an inviting and loving place where children feel comfortable learning and being their best self.

Diana moved to Illinois in the summer of 2021 with her husband Darren and 4 year old daughter Elodie, who attends Diamante Montessori School. They live in Winfield and enjoy spending time together, exploring the area or finding their favorite spot to eat. They are expecting another girl in September who will be a future Diamante student.

Tajah Rowland

Tajah Rowland works with our toddler and enrichment classes at Diamante.  She is entering her 6th year of teaching the Montessori method and enjoys sharing her workday assisting the toddlers with baking healthy snacks and creating heartfelt crafts.  In the afternoons, she joins in playing a fun games like mister fox and sight word roll with the kindergarten enrichment class.

Tajah studied with NAMC to complete her 3-6 primary Montessori credentials and has spent the last 3 years working as a Toddler room co-teacher. Tajah lives in Elmhurst with her husband, son, and pet guinea pig. During her free time, she enjoys music, baking, and riding her bike through the park.

Joan Curtis

Joan Curtis has been teaching music for over 25 years and her passion for very young children moved her focus to Kindermusik early childhood music and movement program.   Her deep interest in Montessori education sparked another passion in her to work alongside Diamante Montessori Lead Teachers as assistant in the preprimary classroom where she has been for many years.

Joan is classically trained pianist and her love for music is by offering several levels of the Kindermusik curriculum. From our young two-year olds to elementary students, children clap, dance and sing to the many rhythms of music. We are blessed to have Joan at Diamante.

Bridget Pope

Ms. Bridget is the co-teacher for the pre-primary classes at Diamante.  She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education at DePaul University. While she was completing her student teaching internship, Ms. Bridget found the Montessori educational philosophy and her life was changed forever. She found that the respect given to children, freedom, and independence in Montessori closely aligned with her ideas and beliefs on how children develop and learn. Ms. Bridget trained and received her credential at the Primary 3-6 level with the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) at the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis. She enjoys hands-on activities such as gardening, crafts, and cooking, and tries to incorporate them in her classroom.

Outside of Montessori, Ms. Bridget is passionate about arts education and is on the board of the 5013c, Cricket Theatre Company. Cricket aims to create accessible performing arts opportunities for children in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. She is grateful for the opportunity to help in protecting and guiding the children in their learning journey, as well as being a part of an educational practice that looks at the future where children can grow into respectful, resilient and responsible individuals.

Alice Lewaniak

Alice Lewaniak is a Board Member and founding member of Diamante Montessori School.  Alice grew the preschool into one of the best Montessori educational preschools in the area through hard work, honesty, and most of all her deep passion for Montessori and love of every child that came through our door.