Our Staff

Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Fang-Weeden has been part of the LANK community for many years, first as a LANK parent and subsequently as an active volunteer, committee chair and member of the Board of Trustees before joining the teaching staff. Her long standing involvement with the school gives her a deep understanding of LANK’s culture, educational philosophy and close-knit community.

She has taught in a range of educational settings over the past decade. Her professional background also includes law: Ms. Fang-Weeden was a barrister and holds a Master’s Degree in Jurisprudence from the University of Oxford, England.

In the Kindergarten classroom, Ms. Fang-Weeden combines LANK’s tradition of joyful, play-based learning with purposeful instruction and close attention to each child’s development. She places particular value on building strong foundations in early literacy and language, independence, problem-solving, classroom responsibility and confidence. She encourages children to ask questions, think carefully, persevere when something is difficult and increasingly take ownership of their learning.

Her aim is to create a warm, intellectually engaging classroom in which children are known well as individuals, challenged appropriately and given the skills and confidence they need for the transition to elementary school.

Outside the classroom, Ms. Fang-Weeden’s interests include literature, art and sport.

Floater

Dana is thrilled to be returning to LANK as a five-day floater, spending time with children and assisting teachers throughout the school. Previously, she taught Junior Preschool and the 3-Day program for 13 years. During her years in the classroom, she loved creating a warm and encouraging environment where children can learn through hands-on experiences, active exploration, and nature. Dana holds both an undergraduate and a master’s degree in Psychology.

LANK has always held a special place in her heart because her youngest of three children, attended LANK and is now a college student. Outside of school, Dana enjoys gardening, reading, traveling, and
spending time with her family and her two dogs.

Junior Preschool Bridge Assistant Teacher

Claudia is delighted to be joining the LANK team this year. She brings a genuine love for children and the arts. She believes young children learn best through play, creativity, exploration and a lot of encouragement.
Claudia’s goal is to create a safe environment where every child feels heard, supported and celebrated. She is excited to be a part of the children’s personal accomplishments, new friendships and all the endearing everyday moments throughout the school year. Claudia has a background in print and design. She is passionate about art and considers herself a lifelong learner. Outside of the classroom, she loves making art with her daughter, crafting and finding great places for photography. Families can expect Claudia to bring warmth, creativity and enthusiasm to the classroom this year.

Junior Preschool Teacher

Michelle loves being a teacher in the Junior Preschool program! She first became a part of the LANK community as a parent and then as a substitute teacher. Michelle has always enjoyed teaching, having served in various teaching capacities during her university and professional careers where she taught anything from Economics 101 to university students to data analytics to government officials. But, she's found that teaching and playing with little ones gives her a lot more joy. She loves to see the wonder and delight as they discover the world around them. Michelle earned her Bachelors in Business Administration and Masters in Accounting from the University of Michigan. In her free time, Michelle enjoys baking, gardening, doing zumba dance classes, and spending time outdoors with her husband and two children.

Pre-K Teacher

Wendy Banga teaches the Pre-K Program at LANK. She has two children who both attended LANK. They had such a great experience, she decided to teach at LANK! She has been teaching at this school for over 11 years. Mrs. Banga has a passion to make a difference in the lives of young children. At LANK, we know that play is a child’s most important work. She works to create and maintain an environment where all children can have fun and also grow and thrive. Seeing the kids laugh, learn and play while exploring the world around them is what is most important to Mrs. Banga. When not teaching, she loves to cook, shop and try new restaurants. She also has two cats named Meika and Maui.

Pre-K Teacher

Kieran is excited to join LANK as a Pre-K teacher this year! He is currently enrolled at Northern Virginia Community College pursuing a degree in education. He has been involved in childcare his whole life growing up in a home daycare run by his mom where he spent 15 years helping to take care of children ages 1-8 years old. After spending the past year at LANK as a floater and falling back in love with early childhood development he is excited to be back and in a more involved role!
He looks forward to creating an environment where your children feel comfortable, confident, and cared for. While engaging their unique creativity and abilities through craft, play, and exploration. Outside of school Kieran enjoys spending time with his dog and writing short stories.

Preschool Teacher

Mrs. Whyte is a parent of two kids who attended LANK. She is educated as an anthropologist and is a certified teacher in Virginia, having instructed at both public and private schools in Northern Virginia and in the Hampton Roads area. Outside of teaching, she is a seasoned parent, currently raising a teen and pre-teen and managing a very busy family schedule of extracurricular activities including music lessons, bike team, and endless swim club. Beyond family focus, Keith’s interests include travel, spending time outdoors, exercise and fitness, reading, music, and playing board games.

Explore & More Teacher

Liz has a BA degree in Educational Studies and an M.Ed. degree in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction. After graduate school. she completed a postgraduate fellowship at the Institute for Educational Policy. She also has a VA Post-graduate Professional PK-6 teaching license.
She began her career as an educational researcher and writer. During this time, she published several books and articles on effective teaching and literacy development. After several years, however, she realized that her passion lies in the classroom. This is her 16th year as an early childhood teacher. She has taught at the preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten levels.
As a teacher, her goal is to create a learning environment that is fun and exciting. Child-centered, experiential learning, and play are integral to her educational philosophy. There is nothing more inspiring to her than watching a child master a new skill or conquer a challenge. She loves their excitement for learning and curiosity about the world around them!
Outside of the classroom, she enjoys running, yoga, and spending time with my family in the Outer Banks, NC. She has two children; a daughter who is a freshman in high school and a son in 3rd grade. She also has a small puppy named Ollie.

Junior Preschool Assistant Teacher

Carolyn Frames has been teaching at LANK since 2000, as a Junior Preschool teacher. She is a mother to three grown children and understands that early education provides a foundation for a lifetime of learning. Her greatest joy is to see a child’s smile as they encounter new experiences and discover a love of learning. As their first teacher, Carolyn strives to create a loving environment where children can learn, experience new challenges, and develop their emotional and social skills. She thinks it is important that a child feels safe and cared for, and she feels incredibly lucky to share this important time in their lives.

Outside of work, Carolyn loves spending time with her three sons and husband. She enjoys watching movies, visiting the local farmer’s market, and hiking the many trails of this area.

Junior Preschool Bridge Teacher

Mrs. Ashley DeAntonio holds a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State University, specializing in children and youth. Following her graduation, she dedicated five years to the School-Age Child Care (SACC) program and subsequently spent two years teaching in a kindergarten classroom, both within the Fairfax County Public Schools system.

Ashley has been a proud resident of Reston for over 15 years, sharing her home with her husband, their three boys, and a beloved cat. Her deep connection to the community is highlighted by the fact that all three of her children attended LANK.

In her free time, Ashley enjoys immersing herself in music, capturing moments through photography, and exploring the beauty of nature. She has a passion for the outdoors and loves spending time outside with her family.

With a rich background in child development and a personal commitment to the community, Mrs. DeAntonio brings warmth, experience, and enthusiasm to her role as a the Junior Preschool Bridge teacher.

Kindergarten & French Teacher

Mrs. Atkins is thrilled to be returning for her second year teaching Kindergarten, and fourth year overall at LANK! As a former LANK parent whose two boys are now in elementary school, she quickly realized during her time substituting that being in the classroom is her favorite place to be. She is excited to continue sharing her love for math and science through hands-on projects and discovery with her kindergarteners.

She also loves bringing her childhood passion for French language and culture to life for all the students through playful games, stories, and activities. It's such a joy to introduce a new language to all our friends!

Before arriving at LANK, she graduated from the University of Virginia with dual degrees in Art History and Chemistry, and earned a Master’s Degree in the History of Art from the Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London. After starting her career at the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Art right out of graduate school, she moved to Reston when her children were born. While her boys were at LANK, she loved being involved in the community as a room parent and a member of the Board of Trustees.

When not in the classroom, she loves spending time with her family, working on crochet projects, practicing her French, and making her way through an ever-growing TBR (to be read) list!

Pre-K Teacher

As a LANK alumna herself and a former and current LANK parent, Suzanne knows how special LANK is and is excited to join the team! Suzanne has over ten years of experience in early childhood education and holds a degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Literacy Leadership for Diverse Schools, as well as her Reading Specialist Certification. Before LANK, Suzanne taught 3rd grade, 1st grade, and was also a Reading Specialist and Literacy Coach, focusing most of her time supporting teachers and students in kindergarten-second grades.

Suzanne loves teaching in the early childhood classroom and loves working to build a community of curious learners. She is passionate about facilitating literacy learning through play and believes that the classroom should be full of joy!

When she’s not teaching, Suzanne loves spending time with her husband and two children. Her perfect day would include trying a new exercise class, finding the best coffee shop, and reading a good book on the beach!

Preschool Teacher

Mrs. Sanchez teaches Preschool at LANK. She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master’s Degree in Drawing and Painting from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. Her daughter graduated from LANK in 2022. When not in school, she enjoys travel, painting and spend time with her family. She loves the outdoors and is a summer fanatic who can be found by the pool or sunny beaches. She is also a professional cookie baker.

Preschool Teacher

Jill Stefanac has more than 25 years of experience teaching young children, from preschool through kindergarten. She holds a master's degree in Elementary Education and is passionate about creating a nurturing, engaging, and supportive learning environment where every child can grow and thrive.

Outside of the classroom, Jill enjoys spending time with her family, cheering on her two sons at their sporting events, and staying active through running and fitness. She believes that strong relationships, encouragement, and a love of learning help children build confidence and reach their full potential.
Jill is excited to join the LANK family and looks forward to making this a wonderful year of learning, growth and fun for each child.

Floater

We are delighted to welcome Kellie Hornstein to LANK as our Floater! Kellie has a wonderful connection to our school community, as her granddaughter attended LANK years ago. She brings many years of experience working with young children, including serving as a substitute teacher and as a summer camp teacher here at LANK.
Kellie loves spending time outdoors, especially gardening, and enjoys traveling and exploring new places. She is excited to be back at LANK, getting to know our children and families and supporting our teachers wherever she is needed. We are so happy to have Kellie as part of the LANK team!

Junior Preschool Assistant Teacher

She very much enjoys the opportunity to work with our youngest members and helping them get adjusted to their first preschool experience.

Lizette is looking forward to making our classroom be a home away from home in a safe and fun environment.
She is happy to help each individual child feel safe and content, in an environment where they can foster friendships and learn through playing.

When not working, Lizette enjoys spending time with her own children exploring activities in Northern VA, hiking in nature or other outdoor opportunities, and meeting up with friends in our Reston community.
She has a passion for dancing, loves listening to live music options, and is usually up for a road trip to anywhere.

She is looking forward to bringing that sense of wonder and enjoyment of life to the classroom. Her hope and goal is to help our little ones foster a joy of learning and awareness of how beautiful life is.

Junior Preschool Teacher

Mrs. Sarver teaches the Junior Preschool M,W,F class. Starting as a proud parent of two LANK graduates, substituting in all rooms and then landing in the JP area was a wonderful transition to becoming a staff member. She earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing from Marymount University that led to a 12 year career as an Emergency Room/Trauma Nurse. Working with infants and pediatrics was her favorite subset of patients due to their fun personalities, joy and wonder of the world.

Outside of the classroom Mrs.Sarver volunteers in her children’s school and the local community. She is an avid reader, a foodie and travels the world with her family to explore and learn about different cultures.

Music & Movement Teacher

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Pre-K Teacher

Ms. Ryan lives in Reston with her husband, their two daughters, two cats and dog. After spending over 20 years in nonprofit management, she decided it was time to follow her love of working with children into a new career in early childhood education. She feels incredibly fortunate to have found a place in the LANK family, where curiosity is a part of every day.

With a degree in Theatre Design from the University of Maryland, Ms. Ryan looks forward to weaving art, storytelling, and hands-on exploration into the classroom. She believes in “process over product” and in making learning meaningful through play, discovery, and the unique interests of each child.

When she’s not at school, you can find Ms. Ryan in her garden, participating in local craft fairs, traveling with her family or walking the beautiful paths throughout Reston. She is excited to bring her creativity, enthusiasm, and love for learning to her students each day.

Preschool Teacher

Mrs. Punater has been a teacher at LANK for several years. She has a diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education from the University of Mumbai, and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Maryland. She currently teaches the 4 Day program at LANK and has also taught kindergarten and first grade before becoming a part of the LANK community..

Mrs. Punater is passionate about working with younger children in their formative years to inculcate within them a love of learning, independence, compassion and development of social skills as they get ready for kindergarten and beyond. She looks to connect with each student individually to understand their uniqueness, and she strives to help them grow in their natural area of interest such as dramatization, art, general knowledge, working with numbers, etc. It would not be a surprise to hear kids laughing along with her, playing games and enjoying their learning experience.

When not in school, Mrs. Punater enjoys travel, shopping and binge watching shows on Netflix. She is fluent in 4 languages, is a certified yoga instructor, loves outdoor sports and has taken up running passionately over the last year, recently completing a half marathon.