All the teachers at Westside Montessori School are fully trained Montessori Directresses. They all have or are working towards certification in Early Childhood Education - a program which covers all aspects of pre-school education including child development, speech and language, health and nutrition, discipline and classroom management. Many staff members hold University degrees and teaching certificates. Our staffs are chosen on the basis of training, character, skills and experience. Our teachers for the most part have stayed for the three-year period, which provides the necessary consistency in a young child’s development.

Lee-Ann is the founder of Westside Montessori and currently teaches the 9am preschool class.

 Lee-Ann has completed a BA in Social Work from the Memorial University in Newfoundland, she has an AMI Montessori Teaching diploma and her Early Childhood Education certificate. Lee-Ann has also completed the Orton-Gillingham Training Certificate for therapeutic tutors and also the Fun Family Phonics program. Lee-Ann is a member in good standing of the BC Chamber of Commerce, the British Columbia Montessori Association and has a valid first aid certificate.

Sarah has worked at Westside Montessori School since 1992, has been the Schools full time Administrator since 1999 and Kindergarten Directress (except for 2 years) since it’s conception in 1993. Sarah holds her St. Nicholas Montessori teaching diploma, her Early Childhood education certificate, has a Youth Work diploma from Brunel University. Sarah has also completed her certificate in Leadership, Administration and Management for Early Childhood Administrators.

Sarah has her Orton-Gillingham Training certificate for therapeutic tutors, Fun Family phonics training certificate, and has a valid first aid training certificate. Sarah is a member in good standing of both the British Columbia Montessori Association and the Early Childhood Educators of BC.

Ms. Shauna graduated with a St Nicholas Montessori diploma in 1992. Since then Ms. Shauna has taught in several reputable Montessori schools in the lower Mainland, including les petit Montessori in North Vancouver, Richmond Montessori Children’s House and Community Montessori. She has her ECE certification, a current First aid certificate and has also undertaken the Fun Family Phonics training. Ms. Shauna has been with WMS since September 2009.

Ms. Jana is the full time Co- Directress in our Upstairs classes. She has ECE training from her native Slovakia and her BC ECE certification. Jana has also taken the AMI Assistant training course at the Montessori Training Centre of BC and the NAMC Montessori Teacher training course. Ms. Jana has a valid first aid certificate and also has completed her Fun Family Phonics training. Ms. Jana has been with WMS since September 2007.

Ms Bettina has been teaching over 13 years. She lived in China for ten of those years, and taught at International Schools in Shanghai and Beijing. She taught Preschool, Kindergarten and Grades 1 to 3. She taught Montessori Kindergarten in Coquitlam and joined Westside Montessori's team in September 2007. Bettina has both her Western Montessori Teachers College Foundation Montessori Certificate, ages: birth to 6 years and her Advanced Montessori Certificate, ages: 6 to 9 years. She has an Independent School Teacher Certificate from the Ministry of Education and an ECE certificate from Northern Lights college. Bettina also holds a valid first aid certificate

Ms. Annie has recently completed her AMI Assistant Directress training. She has had much experience in the classroom as she taught Pre- Kindergarten in Shanghai International School. She has a degree in History and a diploma in Human resources management. Ms. Annie is about to embark on her ECE training Certificate. She has also completed her Fun Family Phonics Training. Ms. Annie has been employed at WMS since September 2009, however she also volunteered in the 2008-2009 school year for May and June. French teacher : Ms. Marie-Pascale Queyranne