OUR STAFF

GAIL LONGO, FOUNDER, DIRECTOR AND HEAD TEACHER
"Cinquegraneli grew from a desire to offer my own children a Montessori Italian language experience and invite more children to join us in learning. Cinquegranelli is a place where children learn to accept, understand, and appreciate the beauty and music of human language in everyday life on this planet."
Gail founded Cinquegranelli Montessori in 1989 and the Maria Montessori Language & Cultural Center (MMLCC) a decade later. A graduate of Seattle University, Gail is a Washington state certified teacher in elementary and secondary education and she completed her Montessori certification at Montessori Teacher Preparation of Washington. Gail has taught young children in public and parochial schools near and far, from co-op preschools affiliated with North Seattle Community college to children in Brindisi, Italy.
In May 2003, Gail joined with Eileen Knobbs and Sara Orton of Ballard High School in designing a Montessori lab school as a joint initiative with Seattle Public Schools. In 2010, Cinquegranelli Montessori moved from Ballard High School to a cozy home environment where it has thrived ever since. Gail remains a longtime advocate for bringing Montessori teaching and philosophy to Seattle Public Schools.
"Cinquegraneli grew from a desire to offer my own children a Montessori Italian language experience and invite more children to join us in learning. Cinquegranelli is a place where children learn to accept, understand, and appreciate the beauty and music of human language in everyday life on this planet."
Gail founded Cinquegranelli Montessori in 1989 and the Maria Montessori Language & Cultural Center (MMLCC) a decade later. A graduate of Seattle University, Gail is a Washington state certified teacher in elementary and secondary education and she completed her Montessori certification at Montessori Teacher Preparation of Washington. Gail has taught young children in public and parochial schools near and far, from co-op preschools affiliated with North Seattle Community college to children in Brindisi, Italy.
In May 2003, Gail joined with Eileen Knobbs and Sara Orton of Ballard High School in designing a Montessori lab school as a joint initiative with Seattle Public Schools. In 2010, Cinquegranelli Montessori moved from Ballard High School to a cozy home environment where it has thrived ever since. Gail remains a longtime advocate for bringing Montessori teaching and philosophy to Seattle Public Schools.

JOSEPH WEISNEWSKI, MUSIC TEACHER
Joseph is Montessori certified, a composer, and a music specialist. Joseph provides weekly music enrichment. His curriculum this year is focused on musical instruments. Joseph uses his experience as a Montessori teacher to create rich, multi-dimensional lessons that engage our children on many levels.
Joseph is Montessori certified, a composer, and a music specialist. Joseph provides weekly music enrichment. His curriculum this year is focused on musical instruments. Joseph uses his experience as a Montessori teacher to create rich, multi-dimensional lessons that engage our children on many levels.
YEON-HEE YIM, ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

Yeon-Hee is a dependable, creative, and inspiring individual who identifies as a teacher, composer, and linguist. She holds a bachelors degree in Scandinavian Area Studies, with minors in Linguistics, and Swedish from the University of Washington. She has extensive experience with administrative work and organization. In 2009, she studied abroad at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and during that time, she took a solo 10-day-long trip through Italy where she visited the cities of Rome, Florence, Pisa, Milan, and Venice. She speaks English, Korean, and Swedish and has some experience with Spanish, Serbo-Croatian, French, and Italian. She also has over 13 years of teaching experience and has worked with students ranging from 1st grade through adult.
She teaches private music lessons and master classes through her music studio Sonaesthetics Studios where she also composes music for short videos, films, video games, conscious dance sets, and other projects. She has a great interest in community-building, world languages. Her personal values are: Honor, Humility, Patience, Prudence, Kindness, Integrity, and Trust. We are excited to have such a well rounded individual assisting with administration here at Cinquegranelli!
She teaches private music lessons and master classes through her music studio Sonaesthetics Studios where she also composes music for short videos, films, video games, conscious dance sets, and other projects. She has a great interest in community-building, world languages. Her personal values are: Honor, Humility, Patience, Prudence, Kindness, Integrity, and Trust. We are excited to have such a well rounded individual assisting with administration here at Cinquegranelli!
JADE DENNY- TEACHING ASSISTANT

Originally from Michigan, Jade moved to Seattle in 2014. She is currently a student at Seattle Pacific University studying Human Development and Family Studies. She served in the United States Air Force for 8 years. She loves to explore new food and restaurants, spend time with her niece, and enjoys anything fitness and nutrition related.