Our Staff

Kate loves observing children as they discover, grow, and learn in their own unique ways. Kate was a student at our school from age three through to completing her International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, and has been working here since 2010 between the Pre-Primary and Primary classes, as well as a brief stint in IB English. She took a break a few years ago to teach in Mumbai (India) and to have her twin girls, who are now students at our school. In addition to her teaching qualifications, she has a degree in Communications and English, so Kate is passionate about clear communication. She highly values honesty and kindness, and seeks to embed those principles in all her work. When she is not teaching Kate loves reading, hiking, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Michael is from a little country village called Glenmornan in County Tyrone (Northern Ireland). You can say that teaching is in his blood as his mum was also a teacher. His favourite word is ‘borborygmus’ and, don’t worry, we had to look that one up too! What he likes most about being a teacher is the ‘aha’ moment on a student’s face when they figure out something that a moment ago seemed completely alien to them - those are the moments he seeks constantly. When he is not at work, Michael likes to play casual netball, cycle, dabble in CrossFit, and occasional Strongman training, in addition, he also plays the guitar.

Katharina started teaching at our school in 2010 as the German Teacher in the Lower Secondary Class and in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. She is now the Coordinator of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, but also teaches German and English. When we asked her about her favourite quote, Katharina chose Gandhi's words: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Originally from Berlin (Germany), Katharina also lived in England before moving to Perth and making Australia her home. Katharina is passionate about languages, loves travelling, reading, playing the piano, gardening, and crafting - and she also has a Labrador puppy, who keeps her very busy on the weekend.

Queenie is our Business Manager and, if you’re not sure what that is, well, it means that she looks after just about every aspect of our school – so she is a busy person! She is originally from Goa (India) and, in addition to English, speaks Hindi, Konkani, Marathi. Her favourite saying is: "there is a light at the end of the tunnel," which, let’s face it, is one that we’ve all used, especially in difficult situations. In her spare time, Queenie looks after her beautiful garden – and we love that she brings us fruits and flowers from it from time to time!

Ciara loves seeing the joy that the Montessori method brings to children and, in her classroom, she is always amazed when she witnesses the wonder on a child’s face as they complete a task for the first time. Her favourite Montessori quote is: “The education of a small child, therefore, does not aim at preparing [them] for school, but for life.” Ciara is originally from County Cork (Ireland) and, in addition to English, also speaks Gaeilge. Ciara loves to go snorkelling and swimming at Western Australia's amazing beaches; and during the school holidays, she loves travelling to new countries and experiencing new cultures.

Ria is from Carrickmacross, a small town in Co Monaghan (Ireland), which is also the birthplace of Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh. As a teacher, she feels lucky to be able to observe children who have been working on a challenging task over time, she loves seeing the look on their face when they finally get it - the ‘ah ha’ moment. Her favourite quote is: “One test of the correctness of educational procedure is the happiness of the child” – Dr Maria Montessori. She enjoys long-distance running and, loves the water, as she is a keen surfboat rower, competes with surfboats for her local surf club, and rows riverboats. When she is not on the water, she loves spending time with her family and their loveable labradoodle, Arthur.

Jessica shared with us that working at our school provides her with great fulfilment and she takes great pride in being a teacher. The greatest joy she gets from her work is watching her pupils develop as individuals, staying connected with them as they advance through the school, and watching them become confident and curious humans. Jessica is from Cork (Ireland) and, in addition to English, she speaks Gaeilge. She loves dogs and is the proud fur mum of Kobi, the Bulldog. When she’s not at work Jessica enjoys going to the gym, walking the coast, and going on adventures with her family.

Bernice is from South Africa and came to Perth in 2004. She has many years of experience in educating children in a Montessori environment and joined our School in 2007. Bernice believes all children can learn and sees them as capable and competent, learning through active hands-on engagement and making choices about their learning, while constructing their knowledge through collaboration with their peers, the community, and the learning environment. Her favourite Montessori quote is: “Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence and of the greater possibilities of their future… Let us treat them with all the kindness which we would wish to help to develop in them.” When she is not teaching, Bernice loves looking after her grandchildren, working in her garden, and spending time with her family and friends.

Georgia is originally from Perth but can speak a few words in Indonesian. She has worked in day care for a few years, and she found out about the Montessori method (and our school) when she started to work at our before and after school care provider. Georgia’s favourite word is ‘freedom,’ and she does believe in treating others the way you want to be treated. She loves watching the children develop and grow into unique individuals Outside of work, she enjoys going on walks, cooking, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.

Kendra loves talking with students and is always in awe of their curious minds. Her favourite quote is: “Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back, and reasons to stay." – Dalai Lama. Kendra is originally from South Africa, but she has also lived in the United States, has been an au pair in France, and taught in South Korea. She first fell in love with the Montessori method while working at a Montessori school in the United States. When she’s not at work, you’ll find Kendra at her gym working on her pullups and handstand walks, or at gymnastics working on backflips, or playing tennis, or doing yoga - but most of the time, she’s playing with her kids at the park. After travelling the globe, Kendra recently settled in Australia and she and her son start at our school on the same day!

Jo is a dedicated and passionate Montessori educator whose favourite aspect of her work is listening to each child and genuinely understanding the world from their perspective. Having immersed herself in the Montessori philosophy, Jo considers it a true privilege to work in a pure Montessori environment, which holds direct links to the pioneering educator, Dr Maria Montessori herself. One quote that resonates deeply with Jo is, "Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says 'I will try again tomorrow'" by Mary Anne Radmacher. Leaving her home in Reading (England) for a new chapter in Perth, she opted for an extraordinary travel experience. Rather than taking a direct flight, Jo embarked on an incredible train journey, traversing through picturesque landscapes and diverse cultures. Her train expedition spanned across England, France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Mongolia, China, and Vietnam, culminating in Southeast Asia, where she took flights to Thailand and Singapore, and ultimately arrived in Perth. This incredible adventure speaks volumes about Jo's curiosity and openness to embracing novel experiences, which she brings into her classroom to enrich the children's learning journey.

Audré loves to see her students’ eyes light up when they grasp new concepts or experience new things. She is originally from South Africa and also lived in Canada prior to moving to Australia. She has worked in various industries, from a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa to running her own before and after school care in Canada. There, a friend introduced her to the Montessori method and she has worked in education ever since. Audré started working at our school in 2011 and her favourite Maria Montessori quote is: “The essence of independence is to be able to do something for one's self.” When she is not at work, Audré likes to do oil painting and explore the countryside.

Eavan enjoys skydiving, open water diving, and bungy jumping – she even holds the record for the highest bungee jump in New Zealand! She is originally from Ireland but has travelled extensively through South East Asia and New Zealand. Eavan has worked in childcare; with children and adults with severe to profound autism and learning difficulties; as a kindy teacher; and she’s been an Education Assistant at our school for a few years. Eavan feels the best part of her work is seeing the children develop and grow, not only academically, but also emotionally, socially, and spiritually.

Salwa is the longest-serving teacher at our school, having been a teacher here since 1999. She feels inspired when she gives a lesson to a student and gets to see the joy in their eyes when they understand it. Her favourite quote is: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou. She is originally from Alexandria, Egypt and, in addition to English, Salwa speaks Arabic. Salwa loves fashion and enjoys sewing. We also know that she is an amazing cook and we always enjoy her food at our school gatherings!

Vicky fell in love with the Montessori philosophy years ago when she lived in Madras (India), and she has been working at our school since 2016. Vicky loves working with students, especially loves seeing their curiosity leading to great things. She is from Venezuela and, therefore, speaks Spanish - and we just love her accent! Her favourite quote is: “Be the change you want to see.” – Mahatma Gandhi. In her spare time, Vicky keeps busy traveling, bushwalking, reading books and discussing them at book club, listening to music and podcast, and she also has an interest in astronomy and scrapbooking.

The best advice Ian was ever given was: "take a look at Montessori, you will love it" - and we could not agree more with this statement! Once he looked at the Montessori method, he knew he wanted to become a Montessori teacher and now, an experienced Montessori teacher, his favourite Maria Montessori quote is: “The greatest sign of success for a teacher... is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist”.” His favourite word is ‘peace,’ which we think speaks to his calm character. In his spare time, Ian likes to run, cycle, read, and watch sports.

Ashlea discovered Montessori education when researching schools for her son many years ago and she fell in love with the approach. She loves it when a child has the ‘ah ah’ moment, when they finally achieve something for themselves or realise how to do it. She is originally from Perth and loves dogs, especially her beagle. Ashlea has a passion for geology, crafts, reading, cooking, and fishing.

Julie loves observing her students’ joy when they work hard at something and are so proud of themselves afterward, she says: “when they are struggling with a concept and suddenly it all clicks, that is priceless.” The best advice that Julie has ever received is: "everyone has something to teach you, be open-minded." She has a long-standing relationship with our school as, in addition to being a staff, both of her children have been students here. Julie's favourite saying is: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou. When she’s at home, she loves to paint, run, read, and sometimes knit.

Janice is originally from Sri Lanka and has lived in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, before making Perth her home in 2010. She thinks Perth is the best place to live, and we could not agree more! The best advice she was given was: “Speak less, listen, and observe more” – and we think it fits in our Montessori environment perfectly. Her Montessori journey commenced in childhood at a Montessori pre-school, igniting a lifelong passion for the method. Now, with over twenty-five years dedicated to fostering holistic child development through Montessori education, Janice embodies unwavering commitment. Her favourite word is “tranquil,” which speaks to Janice’s calm nature. In addition to English, she speaks Tamil and Sinhalese as well as Indonesian and Malay. When she’s not working, Janice loves to travel, bake, swim, cycle, and walk around Lake Goollelal.

Zoe has a long history with us as she spent most of her academic journey at our school. She has also worked here for many years across all age groups and strongly believes that educators have the power to make such a positive impact on children’s lives. Zoe has always enjoyed working with children and she loves helping a child to understand a concept and hearing them say “I can do it.” Her favourite quote is: “Establishing lasting peace is the work of education, all politics do is keep us out of war.” – Dr Maria Montessori, which is also one of our favourites. Both of her children are students at our school and we feel privileged to have a second-generation addition to our Montessori family.

Debra is very passionate about the Montessori education method. Having sent her three sons to a Montessori school, she decided to become a Montessori teacher over 30 years ago. She is originally from the small town of Hartlepool in England and the best advice she’s ever been given is: "it’s nice to be nice." Debra’s favourite word is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious – so we think she may be a Mary Poppins’ fan! At home, Debra likes reading, spending time with her grandchildren (children as well!), going on rides on the three-wheel motorbike, watching drag racing, as well as going to the ballet and the opera.

Jacob, originally from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, stumbled upon the world of Montessori when he lived with flatmates who were all passionate Montessori teachers. As they shared their daily experiences and discussed the teachings of Dr Maria Montessori, Jacob found himself drawn to the profound respect they held for her educational and philosophical approach. This newfound fascination led him on a Montessori journey that eventually led him to our school. Besides his passion for education, Jacob has a special affinity for the Portuguese word "saudade," which conveys a sense of longing, melancholy, or nostalgia, particularly in songs and poetry. When not at school, he finds joy in immersing himself in various hobbies, such as listening to music, writing, tending to his garden, and playing basketball.

Michelle’s Montessori journey began in Namibia many years ago when she decided to send her children to the local Montessori school. She loved the philosophy so much that she soon after completed her training to become a Montessori teacher and then taught for many years in Namibia. The most inspiring part of her job is seeing the children learn and grow, and enjoy their school life, especially over the course of the three years she spends with each child. Michelle loves travelling the world and has lived in Namibia, England, and Australia. Her favourite animals are horses and she also loves aardwolves (don’t worry, we had to Google that one as well!).

Leigh is originally from Moora, a town about 180km north of Perth, but she has spent most of her life in Perth. The best advice she’s ever been given was: “If you don’t like the path you are on, pave another.” The most inspiring part of her job is the joy of working and learning with children and getting to know who they are as individuals as she believes teaching is one of the privileged professions that can claim it has a direct impact on creating a better society. When she is not teaching, Leigh enjoys kayaking and reading, and is a hobby apiarist.

Francesca is originally from Sirmione (Italy) so, in addition to English, she speaks Italian – as well as little bit of French, German and Spanish. The best advice she’s ever received was: Behave with others the way you would like them to behave with you.” Before making a change to education as her career, she was a midwife, so you could say she’s always been passionate about children! Her favourite word is ‘serendipity,’ which perfectly describes the unexpected and wonderful moments she encounters in her daily life. When she’s not working, Francesca loves cooking, spending time at the beach, walking her dog, watching movies, and spending time with her family.

Winnie is originally from Guangxi (China), known as ‘The Land of Mangoes’ – yum! In addition to English, she speaks Mandarin and Cantonese. The best advice she ever received was “Treat others the way you want to be treated” and her favourite Montessori quote is” Discipline must come through liberty.” Winnie is a dog lover, especially Golden Retrievers and, when she’s not working, she’s busy reading, baking, hiking, and going to the gym.

Gia is originally from Mumbai (India) and has called Australia home for over 15 years. In addition to English, she speaks Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit, and knows basic Sign Language. Her favourite word in English is ‘serenity,’ which we think speaks to her calm nature. Her Montessori journey began when her son started in a Montessori Playgroup in 2017. She gravitated towards the Montessori pedagogy of respecting the children for who they are and nurturing their independence. She loved the method so much that she decided to become a qualified Education Assistant and is now pursuing the Graduate Diploma in Montessori. Her favourite quote is "The best way to predict your future is to create it." - Peter Drucker. When she's not working or studying, she reads books, walks in nature, and volunteers.

Megan is from Perth and grew up with Montessori education: she was a student at our school and her mother was a teacher and co-principal here (and also a student herself). Megan believes that inspiration is the most inspiring part of teaching: seeing a fire light itself in someone’s mind – whether it be a curiosity to learn more or the satisfaction of making connections. As an English Teacher, it was difficult for Megan to tell us her favourite word, but she’s very fond of 'mellifluous' because it sounds beautifully smooth and musical, and it’s both onomatopoeic and synaesthetic too. Between family and work commitments, Megan doesn’t have a lot of time for hobbies, but she enjoys reading, indoor rock climbing, and roller-skating. She says she’s not good at roller-skating and she thinks that’s a good thing, as she firmly believes that we should always have something we’re still trying to learn – and we couldn’t agree more.

Emma, originally from Dublin (Ireland), loves swimming, hiking, and delving into intricate DIY projects. Her favourite saying is: “Fair does not always mean equal” – a testament to her principled nature and analytical mind! When asked to share the most inspirational part of her job, Emma said: “Learning new ways to think and solve problems from students.”

Natalie was born in Victoria, grew up in Sydney, and has lived in Perth since 1979. She has been teaching Mathematics for more than 30 years, with most of this time spent teaching Year 10 to Year 12 students. Natalie aims for her students to enjoy Mathematics, and to be fascinated by it. She loves seeing the happy face of a student who achieved much better than they expected or solved an impossible problem, which is no longer impossible for them. She loves dogs and gets much joy from her daughter’s dog Cooper and her son’s dog Nacho. When she’s not solving equations, she enjoys reading (not Mathematics books!), looking after plants in both indoor and outdoor gardens, doing Pilates, and solving puzzles, like Sudoku.

Fiona is from Perth, born to English and Scottish parents, and was a student at our school from the age of three until she completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. She always liked working with children - she worked as a nanny as well as a swimming instructor before becoming a teacher. The most inspiring part of her job is helping children to build confidence in themselves. During her spare time, Fiona likes to take photos as well as do a bit of sewing.

Diana has been a teacher in England, Germany, and Australia and is originally from Colombia, so she also speaks Spanish. She tells us that the most inspiring part of her work is seeing students' faces light up when they carry out experiments. Her favourite poem is 'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost. When she’s not teaching our students about biology, chemistry, and science, Diana loves cooking and hiking.

Jaromir’s favourite quote is: “Invest some time to get to know yourself,” by his favourite author, Yuval N. Harari. He is originally from the Czech Republic, a small town on the border with Austria, so Czech is his native language. Having lived in Australia for some time, he feels he has found a great new home in Western Australia – a place of stunning nature and an extraordinary mixing pot of people from many cultures and walks of life. As a Geography Teacher, you might not be surprised to know that his favourite hobby is, and always has been GEOGRAPHY! He also enjoys history and has plenty of other non-academic hobbies, such as chess, footy (go Freo!), cricket (go Scorchers!), gardening, and bushwalking - just to name a few.

Ashley has a genuine love for books, as reflected in her favourite quote: "A room without books is like a body without a soul." – Cicero. Originally from New Jersey (United States), her teaching journey has taken her to Jerusalem and Australia. Joining our International Baccalaureate teaching staff, Ashley brings valuable experience from her consistent involvement in International Baccalaureate schools. In her free time, Ashley enjoys simple pleasures like travel, cooking, and, of course, reading. Her down-to-earth interests align with her warm and approachable nature, making her a great fit for our educational community.

Passionate about student-centred learning and Montessori education, Liz is our new Creative Expression and Visual Arts Teacher. Originally from Brisbane, she has a diverse cultural background – her father is first generation Hungarian-Romanian, and her mother is third generation English-Australian. At the age of five, Liz and her family embarked on a memorable journey to Perth in an old Kombi campervan, crossing the Nullarbor Plain. Camping under the stars and encountering Emus, Dingos, and Wedge-tailed Eagles remain some of her cherished childhood memories.

Liz dabbles in German, Hungarian, and French, showcasing her linguistic curiosity. Her favourite quote, "Do or do not. There is no try," from Yoda in Star Wars: Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back, reflects her determined approach to life.

In her spare time, Liz creates artwork with a focus on saving Perth’s endangered Black Cockatoos, a cause dear to her heart. She also enjoys sewing, costume-making, mending, and altering clothes, expressing her love for fashion. Liz's interests extend to gardening, birdwatching, house/pet sitting, and embarking on bush adventures in her campervan. Her diverse talents and passion for education make Liz a valuable addition to our team.

Anja comes from a town in Germany called Bad Kissingen, which is named as such for being a ‘spa’ town, one where people go to relax, which we hope makes it a stress-free town! In addition to English, Anja speaks German and dabbles in French, Italian, and Spanish. She believes the most inspiring part of being a teacher is observing enthusiasm and growth in the children she teaches. She teaches German, English as a second language, visual arts, and music, and has worked at the primary and secondary levels. When she is not teaching, Anja loves painting and drawing, listening to music and dancing, playing the flute and the guitar, doing yoga, and going on long walks. The best advice she’s ever been given was: "everything will be ok in the end; if it’s not ok it’s not the end" – and we think it’s a good one to follow.

Arianna is from Italy, hence her beautiful accent! Her favourite words in the English language are onomatopoeic words – wow! Her favourite Montessori quote is: “It is not enough for the teacher to love the child. [They] must first love and understand the universe. [They] must prepare [themselves], and truly work at it.” Arianna told us that the best part of her job is witnessing respectful kind and meaningful interaction between children and adults. When she’s not at work, Arianna loves to do yoga, running, and walking in nature.

Katie loves sports; of course, as she is our Lower Secondary Physical Expression Teacher. She currently plays cricket and badminton and boasts a rich history of competing in various sports, including basketball, netball, indoor volleyball, beach volleyball, hockey, rounders, soccer, rugby, and Judo. When she first visited our school, she was blown away by it (we think it’s special too!). She loves seeing her pupils make progress – not just physical progress, progress in any form: personal, social, cultural. Guided by the philosophy of “You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf” - Jon Kabat-Zinn, Katie brings a positive and encouraging perspective to her teaching. When she’s not at work or playing sports, she loves being in the outdoors and exploring new places. She loves it when her passion for exploring merges with being active, so she typically spends a lot of time hiking, cycling, snorkelling.

Alison discovered the Montessori philosophy when she started working at our school many years ago – and now, she is our Office Manager, which means she keeps the day-to-day operations of our school running smoothly. She comes from South Africa and lived in New Zealand for a number of years before making Australia home. The best advice she’s ever received is: "measure twice, cut once," because it applies to all areas of life. At home, Alison loves being creative and riding her motorbike through the countryside.

As our Bookkeeper, Rachelle is the person that makes sure our day-to-day finances are in order. She is originally from South Africa, so she also speaks Afrikaans. The best advice she ever received was: “don’t strive for perfection, strive for results,” which we think is one we should all put on our fridge! Rachelle uses both sides of her brain as, in addition to being good with numbers, she is also a glass artist who designs and creates artwork by fusing and slumping art glass. She also makes platters, bowls, art pieces, and jewellery, both on a commission basis and to supply to galleries. On top of that, she also teaches glass art to young and old people.

Maria is from New Zealand and came to Perth in 2009. She was a Primary Teacher in New Zealand and joined our school in 2017 as a Pre-Primary Teacher. She enjoyed her experiences teaching here over the past seven years before heading into further studies at university.

She feels fortunate to have been welcomed back to our peaceful and growing school, as the Wellbeing Coordinator, and she looks forward to ensuring that the foundation of the wellbeing programme has the Montessori method at its core. One of her favourite Montessori quotes that resonates with her is, “The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind”.

Maria enjoys spending time with her family, being in the sunshine at any one of Perth’s beautiful beaches, and is always on the lookout for a good coffee spot!

Originally from Quebec City (Canada), she now considers Western Australia her home, having spent over 15 years here. With a decade-long career in communication and marketing, Julie joined our school to spearhead our rebranding and marketing initiatives, which have been instrumental in enhancing our outreach. Now, in addition to managing the School's marketing and communication efforts, she also looks after our policies, manages the Principal's schedule, and is our dedicated Health and Safety Representative. Her favourite quote by William Howard Taft, "Don't write so that you can be understood, write so that you can't be misunderstood," reflects her marketing acumen and commitment to clear communication. Julie's connection to our school began in 2016 when her daughter enrolled as a pre-primary student. Subsequently, she served three years on our School Board, exemplifying her passion for our educational community. Beyond her professional commitments, Julie finds joy in various activities, such as painting, crafting, gardening, and looking after her bees.

Felicity is from Perth and the most inspiring part of her job is seeing all the happy faces on the children as they work and play together. She is currently learning Italian, which we think is awesome seeing our favourite scientist (Dr Maria Montessori) was from Italy! Felicity‘s favourite quote is: “The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts” – Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. In her spare time, she loves going to the beach, listening to live music, riding her bike, reading, and spending time with her children.

Kevin comes to us with decades of experience in the building industry. He is originally from Darlington (England) and his hobbies include spending quality time with his family and following classic cars. The most inspiring part of his job is making old things look like new and his passion is landscape gardening. His favourite saying is: “Treat others as you would have them treat you.” He loves meeting people in our community so, if you see him around the School, say ‘hi’!