To advance Montessori through innovative parent education and data storytelling.
6,000+
communications sent
+80%
parent engagement rate
10+
data reports published
Our Story
We’re just getting started
As a Montessori mother, I spent 18 months homeschooling my daughters during the pandemic, turning our home into a
small Montessori classroom. Those months were challenging, but they showed me how beautiful and powerful Montessori
learning can be. When my daughters returned to school, I was shocked by how little I knew about their day-to-day
learning—a feeling I soon learned many parents shared. And at the same time, Montessori schools were struggling to
help families truly understand the value of this approach.
That disconnect stayed with me. It inspired me to leave my job as a data analyst and create Montopia—a way to
bridge the classroom and home so every parent
can feel connected to their child’s growth.
As I continued this work and met more Montessori educators and leaders, I realized something deeper: the Montessori
movement needs better data to tell its story. With my background in analytics, we launched the Montessori Data Lens
program to bring meaningful, human-centered data storytelling to schools and organizations.
Our journey is just beginning. We’re here to strengthen the bond between schools and families and to help the
Montessori movement grow—through connection, clarity, and stories that inspire.
I homeschooled my two daughters during the pandemic and felt
a shocking disconnection when they returned to their Montessori classrooms—creating
Montopia became my mission as a mother determined to bridge the gap between classroom and home.
Isabella Cai
Founder & CEO, Y Montessori
Our Team
Meet our leadership team and advisor board
Isabella Cai
Founder & CEO
Isabella Cai is a passionate Montessori mother and business intelligence and data expert with over a decade of experience at Johnson & Johnson and Qualcomm. She never planned to become an entrepreneur until she discovered her purpose in building Montopia and Y Montessori. Isabella believes that discovering one’s calling makes anything possible and brings a natural sense of fulfillment to everyday life. Her superpowers are curiosity, decisive execution, and a genuine desire for human connection.
Katelyn Abille
Head of Sales & Revenue Intelligence
Katelyn Abille is a data scientist who applies analytics directly to revenue growth and sales execution. With a background in Data Science from UC San Diego, she combines data-driven strategy with strong communication skills to support hands-on sales efforts. At Y Montessori, Katelyn leads and supports the full sales cycle through customer outreach, actionable customer insights, optimized CRM workflows, and data-informed sales strategies. She is deeply passionate about driving social impact through her work.
Marguerite Church
Head of Data Analytics
A Montessori child through 6th grade and daughter of a Montessori teacher, Marguerite brings lifelong curiosity and a love of meaningful work. With a strong math background and a UCSD degree in data science, she blends analytical expertise with a passion for Montessori education. She leads our Montessori Data Lens program, using data to illuminate and advance the Montessori movement.
Bing Xue
Head of Product Experience
Bing Xue is a full-lifecycle product strategist with a strong background in design and user experience. He leads Montopia’s product design, user experience, and product management, and has driven innovation at companies including Ctrip, Infosys, and Shanda. With deep experience in project management and agile delivery, Bing has built products across e-commerce, digital content, and enterprise platforms. Outside of work, he enjoys running and watching movies.
Yuhu Yang
Technical Lead
Yuhu Yang is a full-stack developer with over 15 years of product experience and the technical force behind Montopia, building the platform since day one. As the first team member alongside Isabella, he helped bring Montopia from concept to reality. With an academic background in Naval Architecture, Yuhu later pivoted to software development and taught himself to code. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his two sons and playing billiards, badminton, and basketball.
Roger Bohn
Data Advisor
Roger Bohn, Professor Emeritus at UC San Diego, is an expert in data analysis and technology management. With decades of experience and a personal connection to Montessori through his wife—a longtime Montessori teacher—he blends analytical rigor with authentic Montessori insight. He helps us turn complex education data into meaningful, actionable insights.
Taylor Cavanah
Startup Advisor
Taylor Cavanah is an experienced entrepreneur and co-founder of PetDesk, a SaaS company that scaled to over 1 million users. He brings deep expertise in operations, sales, and growth strategy. Taylor advises Montopia on scaling, go-to-market strategy, and building strong growth systems.
Dena Stoneman
Montessori Advisor
Dena Stoneman has been a Montessori educator since 1993, teaching at the Primary, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary levels before moving into school administration. She holds Montessori credentials for ages 3–6, 6–9, and 9–12 and leads the San Diego Montessori Admin Council. Dena provides expert guidance in Montessori pedagogy and school operations.
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