Faculty

Faculty

Dedicated to authentic Montessori education, the administration and staff at Hollister Montessori  School are highly trained, talented, and love working with children. We  believe that great teachers are our best asset.

Faculty

Ginger Lobeck

Ginger Lobeck

Founder

Ginger Lobeck is the founder of Hollister Montessori School. She has a BA in French from Holy Names University and has received both the AMI Primary and Elementary Diplomas. She spent many years teaching and building this community. She is currently enjoying her retirement as her legacy continues to grow.

Debbie Parga

Debbie Parga

Head of School, Lead Primary Guide

Ms. Debbie joined Hollister Montessori School in 1999 as a teacher assistant. She had an immediate connection with the Montessori method and environment. In 2005, she graduated from the AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) Primary Program at MTTC of NC (Montessori Teachers Training Center of Northern California). She has been the Lead Primary Guide at HMS for the past 16 years. In 2020, Ms. Debbie also became the new owner and Head of School of HMS. As a mother of three beautiful children who have all attended HMS throughout the years, she has seen the program through the eyes of both a teacher and a parent. She is incredibly grateful for the strong sense of community the children and parents bring to HMS. In her free time, Ms. Debbie enjoys gardening, walking her two adorable dogs, and traveling with family. 

Dana Rianda

Brittany Allen

Administrative Assistant

Brittany Allen has been working in Montessori and Reggio Emilia inspired preschools since 2014. She has both primary and administrative training from Montessori Training Education Center in Sunnyvale, CA and Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA. Brittany has always had a passion for working with children and frequently took on nanny and babysitter roles before finding her way into Early Childhood Education. Brittany has one daughter who also attends Hollister Montessori School. She truly appreciates the hands-on educational materials and the calm environment the Montessori classroom offers and loves having the opportunity to share the Montessori Learning Method with her daughter at HMS. 

Dana Rianda

Dana Rianda

Lead Primary Assistant

Dana has been an assistant teacher at Hollister Montessori School for over 15 years. Over that time she has been part of the primary, elementary, and outdoor classroom. Before coming to HMS, she worked in childcare for 8 years with all ages of children. Dana has a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development and has attended AMI Conference teacher assistant refresher courses. Her oldest daughter was a student the first year of HMS and her other two children followed. Dana enjoys spending time with her family, along with attending sporting events to cheer on her favorite athletes, which include young family members through professionals.

Iris Ocampo

Iris Ocampo

Primary Assistant

Iris Ocampo studied at California State University, earning their BA in Child Development. For five years they worked at a group home, experiencing different stories from different types of situations. Now working at Hollister Montessori School, as their own experience, they are excited to see how much more they can learn from Montessori and the children. Iris is always willing to learn something new and do what they can to improve. Iris is interested in drawing/crafts, reading and spending time with their dog.

Daisy Hernandez

Daisy Hernandez

Primary Assistant

Daisy was born and raised in California. After Graduating High School she decided to move to Illinois where she became a Licensed massage therapist for 14 years. After 14 seasons of snow she decided to move back to sunny California. Daisy has always felt the interest in working with children. In 2020 Daisy received her associate degree from San Jose City College. As she attended San Jose City College she had 240 hours of hands on training in which she learned of the Montessori method.

Michele Barraza

Michele Barraza

Primary Assistant

Michele is a wife and a mother of two teenage boys. She discovered she loved to work with young children when she would volunteer in her children's classroom. She is currently taking her last early childhood units at Gavilan College. She has been a teacher assistant for 5 years. In her spare time, she enjoys boating with her family and traveling. 

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