Our Circle
Guiding, nurturing, and stewarding the journey together.
Tova Wilson--Founder and Guide
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Known to the community as “Mama Tova,” Tova Wilson serves as a guide within the circle at The School of Harvest, weaving together over fifteen years of holistic teaching and community-rooted work. She holds a Master of Science in Education from Dominican University, a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Language from Ithaca College, and a Montessori 12–18 diploma from the International Montessori Training Institute.
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Tova brings an approach that blends culture, land-based learning, and the joy of discovery. Her work reflects the belief that education is a living, breathing process — one that honors curiosity, connection, liberation of the mind, and the unique gifts each learner brings to the circle.
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Beyond guiding at The School of Harvest, she is a mother, a storyteller, and an advocate for Black joy. Whether hiking a trail or tending to the daily life of the school, Tova moves with a deep sense of care, nurturing spaces where hearts and minds grow together in community.
Cierra Littlejohn--Founding Guide
As one of the founding guides of The School of Harvest, Cierra helped lay the groundwork for our vision of an education rooted in respect, curiosity, and connection. With a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Loyola University, a Master of Science in Education, and certifications in Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education, she brought a wealth of knowledge to our earliest classrooms.
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Drawing from her work as a Behavior Coach at Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School, Cierra supported young people with care and attentiveness, and contributed to shaping the inclusive practices that remain central to our school.
Today, her role continues to reflect her passion for education, though her work at The School of Harvest has shifted in focus. Outside of school, she finds joy in travel and time spent with loved ones, experiences that continue to inform her perspective on learning and community.
Our Board
Ino Okoawo
Treasurer
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Ino Okoawo is the Director of Operations at Breakthrough Montessori PCS. She is also the founder and CEO of Education Compliance Associates, a consulting agency where she works to enhance business development initiatives and performance in academics, compliance, and operations. She has been directly involved with management, compliance, and strategic operations, with a focus on public education, for over fifteen years.
David Gaston
Board Member
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David Gaston is currently the Library Manager for the Lamond Riggs Lillian J.
Huff Library. He has worked for DC Public Library for 2 1⁄2 years. He is a seasoned higher education and workforce development professional with over two decades of experience working in admissions operations, financial aid counseling, student recruitment and retention, employment training, student housing, re-entry services, and community outreach in the public and non-profit sectors.
Rebecca Bonhomme
Board Member
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Rebecca Bonhomme's unwavering dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social
justice permeates both her personal and professional spheres. As a parent advocate, she actively engages in a myriad of DEI initiatives, notably serving as the DEI chair
of the parent association at a Montessori school in DC.With a rich background spanning over a decade across nonprofit, healthcare, and government sectors, Rebecca's commitment to community engagement is deeply ingrained.
Zanso Dalili-Ortique
Secretary
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Zanso Dalili-Ortique is a D.C Montessorian with over 15 years of teaching experience in the primary and Elementary levels. She is the co-founder of The Riverseed School, a teacher-led micro Montessori school that is the first school site of DC Wildflower. She was a founding faculty member of Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School, where she served as a Lead Elementary Guide.
Denise Brijbasi Edwards
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Denise Brijbasi Edwards, the Founding Principal of Sojourner Truth Public Charter School, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role. Armed with an AMI Montessori Administrator’s certificate from the Whole School Leadership Institute and an AMI Adolescent Montessori certificate from Train Montessori, Denise boasts two decades of experience as a teacher and leader in Washington D.C.'s public charter schools and D.C. Public Schools.
Ebonee Price
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Ebonee Price's passion for holistic children's education is rooted in her experience as a teacher in the DC Public School system. With a diverse professional background spanning collaborations with Muriel Bowser, impactful roles in the non-profit sector, and her current position as the Director of Donor Relations at Easterseals DC MD VA, Ebonee has honed her expertise in fundraising to create inclusive environments prioritizing children's well-being.
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