Willow Team Bios
Sara Sangco
Sara was born and raised in the Philippines, and traveled often growing up. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree from the Ateneo de Manila University, majoring in English Literature and Communications. She also holds two Minors in Philosophy and Creative Writing, and worked as a freelance writer and Elementary English teacher before moving to San Diego in 2005 to pursue her AMI Primary training. She was drawn to the method because of her experience in a Montessori High School, and fell in love with TRIS during her visit in 2006. She has worked here ever since. In 2008, she completed her M.Ed in Montessori Education from the Loyola University in Maryland. Since then, she and her husband have welcomed three children, all of whom attend TRIS. In her spare time, Sara enjoys cooking, sneaking vegetables into her children’s food, reading, traveling, and swimming.
Samia Guerdj
Samia, is the mother of two boys. She is from Algeria and studied as a lawyer at the University of Tizi Ouzou. Samia has 15 years of experience in the field of early childhood as director of a preschool in Algeria. She came to California with her family in 2018. She has training in child growth development from Saddleback College. She worked as a teacher at a French preschool in Oakland for 2 and a half years. She started working at Tris in August 2021 as a French teacher in the Willow Classroom. She speaks French, Arabic and Berber.
Rachida Itaalit
Rachida holds a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, She has dedicated more than 19 years of her career to the field of education. She began as a French language teacher for young children before moving into educational administration, where she specialized in student data management and exam organization. This diverse background allowed her to develop strong skills both in teaching and in administration. Passionate about working with children, she is committed to creating a nurturing, stimulating environment that respects each child’s individual pace of learning. Her fluency in French, Arabic, Berber, and intermediate English reflects her openness to multiculturalism and inclusion—core values of the Montessori philosophy.