Our Team

Isabel Shoukas' lifelong love for food began in her family's Greenwich Village home, where her father's luncheonette influenced their evening meals. After marriage, she continued cooking for her growing family while juggling evening college courses and baking Greek specialties for a local caterer. Her journey into teaching children started with volunteering at her kids' school, leading her to shift her academic focus to education and earn a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education, a Masters Degree in Learning Disabilities, and a Masters Degree in Administration and Supervision. She spent a decade teaching and consulting on learning disabilities before becoming a Principal and Director for 20 years. Upon retiring in 2016, she moved to East Hampton, but her passion for cooking led her back to the kitchen at the Greek Orthodox Church in Southampton. Joining the Luv Michael team allowed her to merge her two passions—teaching and cooking—fulfilling a long-held desire.

Isabel teaches Global Cuisine Discovered

Loretta Mariella received her Associates Degree in Early Education  at SUNY Cobleskill then completed her BA in Elementary Education at SUNY Oneonta. She attended Adelphi University for her Masters of Art in Reading.
She has extensive teaching experience in private catholic education as well as public education. Teaching is joyful to Loretta, something she shares with her 4 children and 2 grandsons. 

Loretta teaches Language Arts

Dianne Dassa draws from an extensive lifetime experience as a dancer, actress, singer, teacher, yoga practitioner and massage therapist. From early childhood her passion to express her inner spiritual self thru dance was revealed. Her mantra “ Your Body is your Instrument for Life...Dance is Spirit..Life Is Breath” is  the essence in all her work and informs all aspects of her teachings. This passion unfolded into an ability to inspire others helping them to explore, identify, develop and unleash their artistic expression thru their given media. Her choreography encompasses and touches the spiritual essence from within each individual and/or utilizes poems, stories, dreams, visions, to express with music, or silence, and often using natural environment of nature. She utilizes the individual styles of artists to “unveil” their “ spark of light” and promote their unique ability to strive beyond their limitations.

Dianne teaches Art of Expression: Movement Therapy + Other Adventures

David Cooke has a foundation in classical liberal arts education and graduated from Liberty University Online in 2017 with a degree in history. His fervor for imparting knowledge and enthusiasm extends to his role as an educator, where he endeavors to share his passion and expertise with students.

Among his preferred subjects for exploration and instruction are history, board games, mythology, religions, and the realms of science fiction and fantasy literature. In addition, David's interests include outdoor pursuits such as hiking, wildlife observation, travel, and boating. His commitment to fostering a comprehensive educational experience is evidenced by his dedication to cultivating a diverse range of interests and activities within and beyond the academic sphere.

David teaches Game  Night Essentials

  Mngxati has been praised for his “rich, fluid and fast developing bass-baritone voice” by The San Diego Union Tribune. Recently he has been featured as a Bass soloist with the Eastern Illinois University Choir and Orchestra for their performance of Handel’s Messiah, as a soloist in Margaret Bond’s The Ballad of the Brown King in the Chimes of Christmas Concert with the Indiana University’s Singing Hoosiers. He has enjoyed performances with the Kwa Zulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra while an undergraduate student at the University of Kwa Zulu-Natal. 

He has performed operatic roles with The Dallas Opera, Fort-Worth Opera, Opera NEO, Tri-Cities Opera and Utah Music Festival Opera and Musical Theater. His awards include First Place in the 7th Festival of Italian Opera Competition, Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in the Houston District, Nathan Ward Memorial Award at Opera NEO’s Inaugural Voice Competition and the Incentive Award in Michael Ballam Voice Competition at Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theater. He currently in the third year of his Doctorate in Voice Performance at Indiana University studying with Bass Peter Volpe. 

Lange teaches Vocal Performance

Diane Chudley, the Educational Director of Indigo Life, brings over 20 years of experience working with children and adults of all abilities in both classroom and community settings. She holds a BA in English and teacher certification from the University of Wisconsin, a Master’s degree from Purdue University, and pursued further studies in Special Education at Hunter College. Passionate about fostering a vibrant community of lifelong learners, Diane lives on Long Island with her husband, their two college-age children, and their new puppy.

Maria Fumai Dietrich is a multi-passionate, multi-discipline creative who finds joy in service to others, imaginative experimentation, and growing as an individual, artist, educator, and leader. Ria holds a BA in vocal performance and painting, as well as advanced degrees in arts and nonprofit leadership. She is a trained actor with a focus on the Meisner Technique. Ria cares deeply about peacebuilding, which surfaces in her personal work as an artist, muralist, and performer, as well as her workshop instruction. She resides on the East End of Long Island with her spouse George and their four super awesome kiddos.

Heather Boogertman is currently the Pastry Chef at Southampton Bath & Tennis Club. She completed her Associate’s degree in Baking & Pastry, Bachelor’s degree in Food Service Entrepreneurship and her MBA in Hospitality at Johnson & Wales University. Heather is also a career training baking and culinary instructor at Eastern Suffolk BOCES for Adult Education. Teaching and training others to succeed at self-sufficiency has been an enthusiastic endeavor throughout Heather’s career as a chef, as she helps others navigate their abilities and potential within a kitchen landscape.

Heather Haux holds a BA in Public Relations and Linguistics, along with a Master’s degree in Education from New Paltz College, and a Masters from CW Post, LIU in educational technology. With over 30 years of experience as a high school educator and teacher trainer, Heather has worked extensively with diverse populations. Her goal has always been to instill confidence, resilience and the courage to display individuality in her students. Beyond the classroom, Heather enjoys DIY projects like building and gardening, bringing creativity and hands-on skills to both professional and personal endeavors.

Kim Cause has over 20 years of experience in education, working as a nanny for five children and as a one-on-one teaching assistant in classrooms from pre-K to 12th grade. She has also spent five years teaching art and crafts with the Luv Michael program and holds a New York State TA certification with CPI training. Passionate about creativity and lifelong learning, Kim enjoys gardening, sewing, crafting, reading, traveling, and spending time at the beach.