Meet Our Staff
Cindy Acker
Head of School
Cindy is the founder of The Child Unique and The Montessori Elementary School of Alameda (MESA), and has served as principal for over 30 years. She has several degrees in education, human development, spirituality, cultural studies and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from UC Berkeley. Cindy has also been involved in public policy, representing Montessori schools in California. She is a published author and a national keynote speaker. Apart from her passion for education, Cindy is a singer and choir director in Novato and a mother of three adult children. Cindy speaks Dutch and Spanish.
Justin Rivers
Director of Student Success
Justin recently moved from Queens, NY to Alameda. He has twelve years of experience managing teams while applying logistics and data analysis to boost the allocation processes of several well known fashion brands. He looks forward to applying his focus to be of service to The Child Unique Montessori School and surrounding community. He has many passions including, but not limited to, spirituality, music, literature, skateboarding, data science, physics, seeking truth, and helping people. Proudly on the Autism Spectrum and working everyday to highlight the beauty of neurodiversity.
Raina Ford
Lower Elementary Teacher
Raina Ford was born and raised in Oakland, California, and she has always known she wanted to work with children. She began assisting in a classroom setting in high school as a tutor and spent some time as a summer camp counselor as well as an after school program leader. Raina went on to pursue a Bachelor's of Science degree in Psychology and shortly after, she realized education was her career path. Not long after joining TCU, Raina began and completed her Lower Elementary training. She became a certified a Montessori teacher with us! Raina loves sunflowers, watching movies, cartoons, reading, and being silly with her students! Her passions include teaching the cosmic studies, history, and language
Tina Li
Lower Elementary Assistant Teacher
(Bio coming soon)
Dr. Ola Elserwi
Upper Elementary Teacher
Merhaba, my name is Ola El-Serwi. I’m an Egyptian adventurer who likes to discover and learn as I go.
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I was born and raised in Mansoura, Egypt and I had a rich and warm childhood as my parents were investing in me and my siblings.
In 2002, I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Mansoura University, Egypt.
Hannah Miller
Upper Elementary Co-Lead Teacher
(Bio coming soon)
Rikki Smeltzer
Art Teacher
Rikki Smeltzer has lived in Oakland for 8+ years teaching several art medias to a diverse range of students. In 2011, Rikki received a BFA in Studio Arts: Metalsmithing and Jewelry design. Working with youth mentees in the industrial arts inspired Rikki to engage with younger makers to offer guidance in the process of creating art. The values and teaching styles of Montisoree perfectly align with Rikki's approach to art education. At home gardening, cooking, custom designing home improvements and spending time with loved ones makes Rikki the happiest.
Steve Slater
Music Teacher
Steve Slater has been playing drums for nearly twenty-five years. Steve attended Santa Barbara City College and San Jose University. He is a percussion instructor at Allegro Music and has his own studio in Fremont called School of Drums. Steve leads the drum line at Mission San Jose High School for over ten years. He also plays drums in three San Francisco Bay Area rock bands and his own jazz ensemble, Park St. Trio, based out of Alameda. He is the primary songwriter and has released two albums of original music.