Our Team
The people your child will know.
We hire slowly and carefully. Our guides are experienced educators who build genuine relationships with the children and families in their group. Your child will know them from the very first week. Every one of our guides is a parent. Most have children who learn here alongside yours.
Founder
Jenny Markus - Founder
Jenny is a homeschooling parent, educator, and community builder with over a decade in K-12 education leadership. She founded Elements Workspace to build the genuinely responsive, community-rooted learning environment she needed for her own family - and couldn't find. Inspired by the work of Maria Montessori and John Holt, she designs environments where children are known, trusted, and given real room to grow.
Guides
The guides your child will know.
Lead Learning Guide (Moonstones)
Ms. Josie Reyes
Ms. Josie is a Montessori-licensed educator with over 35 years of experience guiding children ages 6-12. She holds a Bachelor's in Education from St. Joseph's College and an Associate's in Early Childhood Education from Kingsborough Community College, along with her North American Montessori Center teaching license. A mother of four, she brings warmth, creativity, and deep expertise — from dynamic lesson planning to creative writing, poetry, art, and community building.
Focus
Montessori practice, creative writing, art, community building
Lead Learning Guide (Starbirds)
Ms. Ellen Yagnich
Ms. Ellen is studying Early Childhood and Special Education with a Neuroscience minor at CUNY Brooklyn College. She has tutored literacy and phonics from Pre-K through third grade, assisted kindergarten classrooms, and led "Around the World" cultural lessons and hands-on baking at past summer camps. Trilingual in English, Ukrainian, and Russian, Ms. Ellen adapts thoughtfully to every learner she meets.
Focus
Literacy and phonics, cultural lessons, hands-on projects
Want to meet us in person?
Book a tour and see the space, meet the guides, ask your questions.