Meet Our Teachers
Our excellent staff is the heart of what makes Eyas the most exceptional Montessori school in Bellevue.
Chiti Kompella, Lead Teacher, Co-Director
Chiti attended a Montessori school in her early childhood and went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Business in India. She moved to the United States in 1997 with her husband, Srinivas, and their one-year-old daughter, Priyanka. Srinivas and Chiti had two more children in Bellevue, WA.
When her children enrolled in Montessori schools in Bellevue, she decided to assist in the classroom. Chiti found her passion and took the Early Childhood Montessori certification in 2005 from MEIPN, Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest, which is accredited by the American Montessori Society. She has been teaching ever since, has mentored several student teachers, and has traveled to China to train Montessori teachers. In addition to her work with the children, Chiti also teaches Positive Discipline parenting classes at Eyas.
Chiti lives in Bellevue with her husband and their third child, who is finishing high school. Their other two children are adults pursuing careers in Los Angeles and SFO. When she is not at school, Chiti can be found dancing, hiking, cooking, traveling, spending time with her family, or teaching yoga and meditation. She incorporates yoga in her classroom.
Chiti is always happy to speak with anyone about the benefits of Montessori Education and what makes Eyas Global Montessori a unique and successful educational experience.
Marilou Carlson, Lead Teacher
Marilou was born and raised until age six in Ethiopia, where her parents worked in public health. Growing up, Marilou Carlson always loved learning and school and got interested in Montessori when her aunt, a Montessori teacher trainer, lent her a book by Maria Montessori. Montessori’s respect for children and scientific approach to education resonated with Marilou. She took her Montessori training for 3-6 year olds at Bellevue Montessori School and has been working as a Montessori preschool guide ever since. She’s worked in various Montessori schools, from small to large, East side to Seattle, and full care to school day schools.
Marilou continued her education at North Seattle College in 2014, earning a BA in Early Childhood Education. She loves the Positive Discipline method for understanding children’s behavior and meeting their needs. She enjoys the possibilities for building community in a small school such as Eyas, as well as the global representation here. Marilou lives in Seattle now, where she enjoys walking in nature, doing yoga and Pilates, spending time with family, and cooking delicious, healthy food.
Maggie Pan, Piano Specialist, Chinese Teacher
Maggie was born in Shanghai, China. In 2016, she moved to the United States. She has Elementary Teacher Certification and taught 6th grade in Utah for 2 years before moving to Bellevue, Washington.
After settling in the Pacific Northwest, she became interested in Montessori pedagogy and completed her Early Childhood Montessori Teaching Credential through the Montessori Education Institution of the Pacific Northwest (MEIPN) in 2020. She began as an intern at Eyas, learning from her peers before officially joining the school faculty. In 2023, she completed her Master of Arts in Education. At Eyas, she teaches piano and Chinese language. When not teaching, she likes to spend time with her daughter, sew, cook, hike, and play drama.
Valli Arunagiri, Assistant Teacher
Valli is originally from South India, with a foundation in computer science engineering. After relocating to the United States in 2010, Valli's life took a transformative turn as her focus shifted toward nurturing her 15-year-old daughter. Inspired by her daughter's journey towards independence, Valli pursued her passion for dance by founding the Chennai Beats Dance School in 2017, where she teaches Bollywood and Indian cinema folk dance styles.
With a vision to expand and enhance her dance academy, Valli is dedicated to creating a vibrant community that celebrates Indian culture through dance. In 2021, she joined Eyas, embracing the opportunity to teach dance part-time and educate children full-time. This role enables her to combine her love for teaching with her commitment to fostering creativity and joy in young learners.
Valli's life is centered around her daughter and her students, making teaching an integral and fulfilling part of her journey. She continuously strives to inspire and empower the next generation through her dance academy and work at Eyas.
Taylor Diamond, Teacher
Taylor’s early education in a Montessori school sparked a lifelong passion for helping others and fostering growth in young learners. Throughout high school and beyond, she remained inspired by the idea of enriching the minds of the next generation. Since 2022, she has been actively involved in the Montessori environment, and in 2024, she joined Eyas, where she continues to thrive. She earned her Lead Teacher Certification in August 2024 and is committed to expanding her knowledge and skills in the years ahead.
Outside the classroom, Taylor enjoys photography, dancing, camping, and hiking through nature with her partner, Gavin. She is also deeply involved in hydroplane racing, a sport that has been part of her family’s legacy since 1972, when they founded Diamond Racing. She volunteers as a referee and competes through organizations such as the Seattle Outboard Association and the American Power Boat Association.
Since beginning her racing career in 2012, Taylor has achieved several notable accomplishments, including:
- 300 Super Stock Hydro World Record Holder
- 2023 North American Champion
- 2025 1100 Pro Runabout Regional High Point Winner
Taylor is excited to continue growing with Eyas and looks forward to what the future holds—not only for herself, but for her students and colleagues as well.
Carmen Zarabia, Assistant Teacher, Spanish Teacher, Cook
Carmen teaches Spanish at Eyas and prepares hot lunches from fresh ingredients for our lunch program. She has spent over 30 years working in early childhood Montessori programs. Through the MEIPN program, she has audited the Montessori teacher's training in Practical Life, Sensorial, and Philosophy areas. Carmen received her Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood in 2007. Her expertise is in observing children and meeting their social, emotional, and academic needs by matching their skills with activities that benefit them.
When not at school, she likes to spend time with her husband, their three children, daughters-in-law, and pets. She is originally from California but has been calling Washington her home for 30 years. Carmen enjoys cooking, baking, gardening, and entertaining family and friends.
Ana Vignolo, Assistant Teacher, Closer
Ana is originally from El Salvador, Central America, where she grew up. She met her husband early on, and they raised four successful children together. After dedicating her time to raising them, she completed a Marketing and Business Administration professional degree. This education helped her to contribute to their family’s international insurance business. However, due to political changes in their country, they were forced to leave and eventually settle in Florida. There, she volunteered at a local Catholic school, reconnecting with her passion for working with children.
Recently, Ana moved to Washington State, where she earned her certification to continue working in the Montessori Classroom. She believes this unique approach fosters the holistic development of students and allows them to reach their full potential. Ana truly enjoys the supportive community at Eyas, where both the work environment and the relationships she builds make every day a pleasure
Suma Vutukuru, Teacher
Suma Vutukuru grew up in India and did her undergraduate degree in commerce. She moved with her husband to the United States and lives in the Bellevue area, raising their two children.
She is passionate about early childhood education and joined Eyas Global Montessori in 2023. After joining, she took the Montessori Assistant training at MEIPN (Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest). Since then, she has been an integral part of the Eyas community, assisting in the Blue classroom.
When not at Eyas, Suma enjoys cooking, traveling, exercising, and spending time with her family. She strives to enrich herself, her loved ones, and her students.
Viji Ramanathan, Teacher
Viji Ramanathan is a seasoned professional with a Master’s degree and a diverse career spanning technology, health insurance, state government, and the broader insurance industry. Since 2008, she has been a resident of Bellevue, where she lives with her family. Over the past 16 years, this community has truly become their home, allowing her to build meaningful and lasting connections.
Her multifaceted background combines strong analytical skills from her work in technology, deep healthcare knowledge from her experience in health insurance, an understanding of public policy through her time in state government, and a client-focused approach developed in her role as an Insurance Producer.
Viji is deeply passionate about children and their growth and development. She is especially excited about the opportunity to bring her diverse professional experience to the Eyas Global Montessori school environment. She looks forward to both learning from and contributing to the nurturing of the next generation through the unique Montessori educational philosophy.
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