Sandra Rodrich is the events coordinator and an instructor at Red Panda Art Studio. She has been an instructor at Red Panda Art Studio since its foundation. She has several years of experience teaching and developing fun art projects for our little artists.

Sandra was born and raised in Lima-Peru. She studied interior design in Barcelona, where she learned about color theory and color mixing. She landed in the DC area with her husband Sam more than a decade ago. They now live in Silver Spring with her 3 daughters, who constantly inspire her to keep creating art.

Emily Pangilinan is the weekend operations manager and a studio assistant at Red Panda Art Studio. She brings over 15 years of experience in corporate administration, with a strong track record of delivering exceptional service in fast-paced environments. In addition, Emily is a nurturing and experienced childcare provider with 17 years of hands-on experience creating and managing safe, engaging spaces for children.

She is deeply committed to enhancing work–life balance and fostering supportive, well-structured environments for both children and adults. Emily lives in Bethesda and enjoys cooking in her free time.

Emma Sorkin is the communications manager at Red Panda Art Studio. Emma graduated from Bowdoin College with a degree in history and Hispanic studies. After graduation, Emma moved to Spain to teach English in elementary schools. She has several years of classroom teaching, art teaching, and mentoring experience and has been with Red Panda since 2019.

Emma is passionate about art and using creativity as a mode of self-expression both with kids and in her own work.

In her free time, Emma loves painting, collaging, running, swimming, and being outside.

Daisy Suralta is the studio manager at Red Panda Art Studio. Daisy’s academic background informs her approach to incorporating safety and skill-building metrics into all her endeavors.

Her experience using art to nourish emotional well-being, creativity, understanding, and growth includes work with groups and individuals, from toddlers to elderly people.

Before joining Red Panda she taught art for pre-schoolers at St Paul’s in D.C. Daisy, who is originally from the Philippines, cherishes a cross-cultural approach to art, crafts, and learning.

Mary Abbylene Agbuya is a Studio Assistant at Red Panda Art Studio. She previously worked as a Sales Consultant and Customer Relations Manager at Toyota Motor Philippines and has hands-on experience assisting children at the American School of Doha in Qatar.

Mary holds a BA in Mass Communication. She is a fun, caring, and playful individual who enjoys working with children and loves creating a positive environment where kids feel safe, happy, and excited to be themselves.

Elizabeth Harris is an instructor at Red Panda Art Studio. As a girl, having been told by an art teacher that what she’d painted was “wrong” Elizabeth thought she could never be an artist. But making things is what she loved to do, and she did indeed become a working artist as a grown-up. She loves helping children find their own way to do things and believes that there is no wrong way to do anything in art!

Elizabeth has studied and practiced art in New York City; Florence, Italy; Oxford, UK; Dessau, Germany; and Delhi, India. She currently lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Emma Lantry is a studio assistant at Red Panda Art Studio. Emma was born and raised in DC and Montgomery County. She enjoys a variety of different art mediums, such as ceramics, painting, and drawing. Her appreciation for art comes from years of art classes throughout the years. She started working as a studio assistant in 2024.

In Emma’s spare time, she enjoys reading, baking, watching films and tv shows, and hanging out with friends.

Chava’ Mack is a studio assistant at Red Panda Art Studio. Chava’ was born and raised In Washington, D.C. alongside her grandmother. After graduating from high school in 2022, Chava volunteered at a daycare and a summer camp in her community. She started working as an assistant at Red Panda in 2022.

Her joy in working with children stems from witnessing their growth, creativity, and happiness. She delights in fostering an environment where kids can have fun while flourishing and expressing their creativity.

In her spare time, she enjoys painting, drawing, cooking, and many more creative things. She also enjoys spending time with her loved ones. Chava’ loves seeing people grow and prosper and making sure everyone around her is smiling and having a great day.

Shilu Maharjan is a studio assistant at Red Panda Art Studio. Shilu was born and raised in Kensington, Maryland, and now currently lives in Sandy Spring, Maryland. She is a current undergraduate student at the University of Maryland College Park. During her free time she loves to spend time with her friends.

She was introduced to Red Panda through her two close friends Ella and Emma who she has know since Elementary School. She has always had a soft spot for children and couldn’t resist the opportunity to work with her friends. Her love for art stemmed from years of dance. Not only has she been doing Indian classical dance (Kuchipudi) for 15 years, but she has also explored other dance styles including her cultures traditional dances (Nepalese dance). She has always enjoyed expressing herself through different art forms and sharing that passion through teaching others.

Arlene Ng is a studio assistant at Red Panda Art Studio. She has over 30 years of teaching experience ranging from preschool to college. She graduated with a BA in English and went to Law School.

She started her teaching career as a middle school teacher in Saipan, CNMI. After 6 years, she became the academic head of STI College in the Philippines. Her first job as a teacher in the US was at TOTS Developmental School, where she taught reading. She also currently teaches at All Saints Preschool in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

She enjoys sharing her passion for art and helping students grow as artists and creative thinkers. Arlene believes it’s not about how well she can draw or paint but instead how she relates to children.

Ella Polido is a studio assistant at Red Panda Art Studio. Born and raised in Montgomery County, her love for art developed through years of musical and artistic exploration in school. She believes that art is a fun and meaningful outlet for creativity and self-expression.

In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, baking, and playing instruments. She is currently at the University of Maryland studying Psychology and Human Development.

Dwyne Pulido is a studio assistant at Red Panda Art Studio. Born in the Philippines and raised in Bethesda, Maryland, she has worked with children since age 12, beginning at Westmoreland Children’s Center, where her passion for teaching grew through witnessing children’s creativity and growth.

Dwyne joined Red Panda Art Studio in May 2025 and is a Registered Behavior Technician currently studying behavior science at Montgomery College. She values hands-on community involvement and strives to create supportive, creative spaces where children can learn, thrive, and express themselves confidently.

In her free time, Dwyne enjoys reading, sewing, baking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Courtney Rapanick is an instructor at Red Panda Art Studio. She is a DC-based artist, art educator, and art advocate living in Washington, DC, with 13 years of experience teaching preschool through 12th-grade students in DC Public Schools.

Courtney’s artistic specialties include painting, photography, and community-based projects. While teaching, she has also exhibited her own paintings in art shows around the country, with a focus on working with female-run galleries and events.

Dewi “Inge” Sari is a studio assistant at Red Panda Art Studio with years of hands-on experience working with children. Her daily work with young learners has shaped a thoughtful and engaging approach, allowing her to connect naturally with children while supporting their creativity and confidence.

With a background in early childhood development through specialized coursework, Inge brings both care and intention to her work. She is deeply passionate about art, photography, and drawing, and enjoys incorporating creativity into meaningful experiences for children.

Born in Jakarta, Indonesia, Inge currently lives in Rockville, Maryland. Outside of the studio, she enjoys going to the movies and attending art and music performances. Art has always been central to her life, and she loves sharing that passion through her work with children.

Michelle Silberberg is an instructor at Red Panda Studio. Michelle has worked as a freelance photographer since 2011 and as an art educator since 2020 after earning her Masters in Art Education. She has over eight years of experience working with children, and has taught art to kids ages three to eighteen in summer camps, after school programs, tutoring, and in Montgomery County Public Schools.

Michelle first began creating art at the age of two and has explored collage, drawing, painting, sculpture, and photography throughout her life-long journey of creative self expression. She believes art can be a means of self expression, exploration, and growth. It can also be an opportunity to relax. Michelle lives in Wheaton with her cat, SusieMew.

Julie Steenberge is an instructor at Red Panda Art Studio. Julie has a background in early childhood education and a passion for art! Julie’s teaching style focuses on encouragement, process over product, risk-taking, imagination, and creativity. She believes in the experience of art for children as a means of self-expression and loves to see the joy in childrens’ eyes when they are proud and amazed by what they have accomplished. Inspired by Mary Poppins and Mr. Rogers, Julie loves spending time with children and helping them find the spark of magic in all that they uniquely create. Julie enjoys the beach, traveling, the vibrance of Lilly Pulitzer patterns, the color periwinkle, the works of Van Gogh, and eating cotton candy.

Julie lives in Kensington, MD with her family, and adorable puppy.