Namrata Vineet Bhalla

Head of School

“I believe in each child’s unique potential.”

Namrata Bhalla brings over a decade of experience in the field of education to her role as the Head of School at Washington Park. Before assuming her current role, Namrata served in both teaching and leadership roles at Stratford.

Namrata believes in each child’s ability to succeed, but knows that children learn in a variety of ways. Stratford’s curriculum provides an excellent framework of learning opportunities to all students that allows educators to help students tap into their unique potential to learn, perform, and accomplish their educational goals. She knows that the teachers in students’ lives play a vital role in development by creating a nurturing and enriching environment to help each child shine.

More than anything, Namrata appreciates Stratford’s focus on the overall development of each student and the family partnerships that are core to a Stratford School education.

Sujata Makaram

Director of Lower School Education

Mrs. Sujata Makaram is a seasoned educator with over 20 years of teaching experience. She has been a dedicated member of the Stratford family for 19 years, during which she has taken on several leadership roles. These include serving as the Middle School Curriculum Lead for the Math Department, Instructional Mentor for Grade 5 teachers, and teaching fifth-grade Math, Science, and History at Stratford’s De Anza Park campus.

Mrs. Makaram is deeply committed to her students’ academic success. She believes that fostering a child’s physical, emotional, and social well-being is essential to creating a nurturing and effective learning environment. She continues to find inspiration in the meaningful impact she has made in the lives of her students throughout her career.

Sandeepa Karwa

Director of Early Childhood Education

Sandeepa’s journey at Stratford began as a teacher at Washington Park. Since then, she has gained extensive experience teaching, mentoring, and leading in our preschool, pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten classrooms. She has also contributed significantly as a member of the Preschool Curriculum Design Team for our Online Academy, designed the Online Summer Program during the COVID-19 period, and served as a Resource Teacher and Campus Mentor for Preschool. Additionally, Sandeepa worked as the Assistant Director at our Sunnyvale De Anza Park campus for two years.

Throughout her career, Sandeepa has always focused on delivering meaningful learning experiences. She is deeply dedicated to fostering a supportive environment where every child feels valued, heard, and empowered. Her goal is to build strong connections with both students and their families while creating a vibrant and inclusive community within our Early Childhood Education program.

Elsie Gui

Director of Admissions

With over 15 years of experience in the education field, Elsie has held leadership roles in school admissions, customer service, marketing, and enrollment management. She has worked in environments prioritizing high-quality education, strategic growth, and strong family engagement.

As Director of Admissions, Elsie is dedicated to helping families navigate the admissions process with clarity and confidence. She collaborates with families to ensure they receive the information and support they need to make informed decisions about their children’s educational journey. Elsie is excited to contribute to Stratford’s mission of fostering a supportive and dynamic learning environment for all students.

Maripaz Corona Villagomez

Extended Day Supervisor

Maripaz has been a dedicated member of the Stratford community for seven years. As the Extended Day Supervisor, she leads her team of Extended Day teachers in implementing a positive guidance approach, ensuring that every student develops essential skills for success. She strongly values Social-Emotional Learning as a crucial component of student growth.

Maripaz believes that self-awareness, sound decision-making, and a willingness to grow are key strengths children develop through learning from mistakes. She emphasizes these concepts in her interactions with students, fostering a supportive environment for their development. Committed to a growth mindset, Maripaz strives to guide both her students and team in embracing continuous learning and self-improvement.

Cuiting Li

Office Administrator

Cuiting has been an office administrator at Stratford School Washington Park for four school years. Before Stratford School, Cuiting was an Executive Assistant/Marketing with a real estate company selling Manufactured Mobile Homes. Before that she worked with children with Autism and provided 1:1 ABA therapy at home and in school settings.

Cuiting has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from San Jose State University. With her diverse experience in different industries, Cuiting is here to help every child and family with their needs.

Shay Lewis

Office Administrator

Shay has been an Office Administrator with Washington Park for three school years. Prior to joining Stratford, she attended the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, where she earned her BAs in Psychology and in Philosophy. She also minored in English and Creative Writing. Prior to working at Stratford, she spent two years working as an office manager. She also spent two years working as a marketing writer, publishing articles in the local newspaper and online. 

Shay believes that cultivating a child’s confidence is the key to their long term success. While working in the front office, she seeks to create a safe, caring environment for students to express their emotions. Her goal is to help each child have the resources so that they can shine as the brightest version of themselves.