Our School Team

Jessica was born and raised in North London and gained her degree in English Literature with Theatre Studies at the University of Leeds, graduating in 2021. Knowing she wanted to work in education, Jessica joined a Montessori School that September as Assistant to Head and after one year, fell in love with the method and embarked upon the 3-6 Diploma (2-year evening course) at the Maria Montessori Institute in London alongside her full-time role at the school. Jessica graduated in June 2024 and became Lead Teacher of the Children’s House at the school, until she decided to expand her understanding of the child by moving into the Lower Elementary at the Maria Montessori School. Jessica brings with her into the Lower Elementary a deep understanding of the child in the first plane and works closely with children as they transition from the Children’s House, delivering remedial and transitional work. Jessica also spent many years of her life as a dancer and enjoys sharing her passion for theatre, singing and performance with the children.

Dhira was born and raised in Calcutta, India. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Animation and Filmmaking, she spent over eight years working in the Indian film and TV industry (Bollywood) as an assistant director. Working with children on film sets became one of her favourite parts of the job—she loved their energy and authentic expression. Her lifelong love for painting led her to new avenues, and in 2020, she decided to pursue a Master's in Fine Arts and Humanities at the University of Dundee. A chance invitation to the AMI AGM in Delft led Dhira to the beautiful world of Montessori. After completing her AMI 3 to 6 Diploma Course at the Maria Montessori Institute, London in 2025, she's thrilled to begin this journey of discovery alongside the children at the Maria Montessori School. With her diverse heritage and multilingual background, she's excited to share the stories, poems, and songs that have shaped her life.

Marica, originally from Italy, has been deeply rooted in education for the last fifteen years. Her journey began as a teacher in both Primary and Secondary schools in Italy before she ventured to London. Marica has spent the last nine years specialising in Early Years education in the London area. She joins the Maria Montessori School with experience teaching in the classroom, working with children with special educational needs, and fostering partnerships with parents in a school administrator role. Marica has a BA in Arts and Modern Literature and a Level 3 qualification in Childcare and Education, and she is a committed learner who enjoys furthering her understanding of child development through ongoing research and reading.

Leslie has been working at the Maria Montessori School since 2017, previously as Lead Teacher of the Hampstead Lower Elementary and now assisting the Bayswater Elementary class. Leslie obtained her 6 – 12 AMI Diploma at the Montessori Institute of San Diego. Prior to moving to London she was a 6 -9 Lead for fourteen years at an AMI school in the US. Leslie grew up in the middle portion of the US and obtained degrees in geology from Duke University, environmental studies from the University of Montana, and education from Loyola University Maryland. Before she discovered Montessori she taught physical and earth sciences in prep schools and two-year colleges across the US. She spent summers working as a horseback wilderness guide and a National Park ranger. She dabbles in a variety of fine art and musical endeavours and enjoys travel, sailing and hiking.

Michael Gately joined us in September 2025 and is currently studying the AMI 12-18 Diploma at the Maria Montessori Institute. He is an experienced educator from New York City who previously taught at Brooklyn Heights Montessori School since 2014. In his role as a teacher, advisor, and coach, Michael has led the Upper Elementary programme (9-12 year olds) in all subject areas, and worked as a mathematics and science teacher in the Middle School programme (12-14 year olds). In addition to the core subjects, Michael led cooking with the students and coached the middle school basketball and volleyball teams. Outside of school hours, Michael works as a tutor for secondary students, helping to build their confidence and competence with standardized tests, such as the SATs.

Michael received a bachelor's degree in economics from Columbia College, a master's degree in mathematics education from Columbia University, and the Elementary I-II credentials from the American Montessori Society. He is a lifelong learner and committed to ongoing professional development, regularly attending workshops like the Hochman Method for Teaching Writing, Singapore mathematics training, and Positive Discipline training to name a few.

Karen was born in Northumberland, UK but spent a big chunk of her upbringing in Canada. She holds a BA in English Literature, the AMI 3-6 Diploma from the Maria Montessori Institute and a Bachelors of Education Degree BEd (Hons) in Primary Education. She has over 20 years’ of experience of working in a Montessori 3-6 class.

Karen has completed all required and voluntary courses on Safeguarding and has specialised in this area of education for the past 8 years.

Pablo was born in Valencia, Spain. Previously studying and working as an Architecture Technician, Pablo was introduced to the Montessori Method through a friend. Their conversations inspired Pablo to complete the AMI 3 to 6 Diploma Course at the Maria Montessori Institute and apply for a position as an Elementary Assistant at the Maria Montessori School. Pablo has supported the Elementary programme for over five years, with experience working in both the Hampstead and Bayswater Elementary classes. He completed the AMI 6 to 12 Diploma Course in 2021 and became Lead Teacher in September 2022. He is excited to bring together his classroom experience and Montessori training in providing a rich experience in Spanish language and culture for the children. Pablo is also a talented artist, preparing gorgeous materials for the Elementary environment.

Rhianna joined the Maria Montessori School in September 2023, following her completion of the AMI 3-6 Diploma in London. She is now Lead Teacher of the Hampstead Children’s House Garden Class and is furthering her knowledge through a specialised course in Montessori and Learning Differences. This ongoing study aims to deepen her understanding of how Montessori materials can be made accessible and inclusive for all learners.

Before embarking on her journey in Montessori education, Rhianna obtained a Master’s degree in Modern Languages from the University of Edinburgh. She then relocated to Paris, where she worked as a freelance translator and embraced a dual role as a bookseller. This position afforded her the opportunity to satisfy her passion for literature while actively participating in book launches and author events.

Rhianna is deeply committed to Montessori’s child-centred philosophy and advocates for an educational approach that fosters holistic and intuitive child development. In her teaching role, she takes great pleasure in sharing her personal interests—gardening, sewing, cooking, and reading—with the children, enriching their classroom experience in meaningful and creative ways.

Benedict Kestner M.Ed. is an experienced Head of School and education leader with over 30 years’ experience across the UK, Europe and the United States. He has a sustained commitment to child-centred education, grounded in respect for the individual child, developmental readiness, intrinsic motivation and carefully prepared learning environments where children feel valued and empowered.

Ben’s background spans democratic, enquiry-based and IB aligned schools, and his own values are closely aligned with Montessori principles. In addition to experiences in state and mainstream schools, he has built and led schools in Montana, USA (Glacier Lake School) and in Ibiza, Spain (The Learning Project) that included children across the ages 4-18. The school in Ibiza also incorporated a Montessori Children’s House. He is especially committed to building strong school communities in which children, parents and staff feel known, listened to and part of a shared educational purpose.

Additionally, Ben has significant experience as a writer and commentator on child-centred education and leadership, was the co-organiser of TEDx Kids, a moderator on the European Commission panel ‘Rethinking Learning’ and a CIS (Council of International Schools) accreditor. His blog and Substack contains his thoughts about what happens when young people are given time, space and trust in environments where wellbeing is considered an important element. Ben believes Montessori education has a vital role to play in preparing young people for an uncertain future, not only academically, but through independence, adaptability, creativity, empathy and purposeful work.

Ben’s own educational background is in Music and Maths, originally training at the London College of Music, he holds a PGCE (secondary) from the University of East Anglia and an M.Ed in International Educational Administration from Endicott College, USA.

Ben is also currently undertaking the AMI Montessori 12 -18 Diploma at the Maria Montessori Institute.

Estefania graduated as an Early Year Teacher in 2010 and holds a Masters diploma in Social Education. Originally from Spain, Estefania moved to London in 2016, and since her arrival, Estefania has gained experience working with children in a variety of different capacities, including as a classroom assistant and a classroom teacher. Assisting and supporting children in their development has always been a passion for Estefania. Through her work in a Montessori school in Windsor several years ago, Estefania discovered the Montessori approach to education, completed her AMI 3 to 6 Diploma at the Maria Montessori Institute in 2022 and joined the Maria Montessori School in September that year.

Rebecca Livsey joined the Maria Montessori School Hampstead Garden Class in 2021 and is now Lead Teacher of the Hampstead Children's House Coach House. She was born in Bath into a large family, and, due to becoming an auntie at a young age, has always been surrounded by children. Rebecca is a skilled childcare professional with over ten years’ experience supporting, nurturing, and educating children. From nannying in Australia to teaching English in Thailand, Rebecca has worked in a variety of settings and loves the challenges and joy that comes with working with children every day. Rebecca's interest and commitment to supporting young children’s development led her to complete her AMI 3 to 6 Diploma Course at the Maria Montessori Institute and her study in Montessori pedagogy at the University of London. She loves the time she spends with the children and is also a trained singer who enjoys singing and sharing songs with the children.

Giorgia has been working at the Maria Montessori School since September 2023, first as Classroom Assistant for the Hampstead Upper Elementary Class, later as Classroom Assistant for the Hampstead Griffin Class and now moving into the role of Spanish Teacher for all Hampstead Elementary classes. Giorgia was born in London and later re-located to Rome with her family. Giorgia has a Degree in French and Hispanic Studies and prior to Joining us, has worked with children in a variety of capacities, across ages and cultures, as a tutor and a Teaching Assistant, as well as supporting children with special educational needs. Giorgia is extremely interested in Montessori pedagogy and how Montessori serves the Elementary aged child. Giorgia is passionate about languages and cultures, and she speaks English, French, Italian, and Spanish. She loves to sing, and she is especially interested in the link between dance and singing and how these can be applied in education.

Cristina joined the Bayswater Children's House in September 2022 upon completing her AMI 3 to 6 Diploma at the Maria Montessori Institute in June that year. Cristina was born and raised in Rome, Italy, where she took the 0 to 3 Montessori Diploma Course at the Opera Nazionale Montessori. With nearly ten years’ experience in education, Cristina has worked with children from infancy to six years old in a variety of capacities across the globe, including Italy, Buenos Aires, The United States, and more recently in London.

Paula Pérez-Martín was born and raised in Galicia, Northern Spain. As a young adult, Paula volunteered in her mother’s school, an experience which inspired her to complete her Bachelor's Degree in Early Years Education and later complete her Master’s Degree in Education. Paula has extensive experience in mainstream and international schools in Spain, Belgium, and the UK, where she worked in Oxford as well as London for the past eight years. Her Montessori journey began in Brussels, where she had the opportunity to assist in a French-Dutch Montessori school. Inspired to learn more about the method, Paula completed the 3 to 6 AMI Diploma Course at the Maria Montessori Institute. Paula’s experience has shaped her strong belief in the important role teachers play in helping to build the child's character, as well as develop independence, self-esteem, a passion for learning, and a love for others and the world. Paula fluently speaks Galician, Spanish, English, and French.

Charlotte grew up in North London and was herself a Montessori child throughout her Children’s House and Elementary years. She attended Rainbow Montessori Children’s House in Highgate before continuing her education at their Elementary school in West Hampstead. After graduating from university with a degree in Art History and English Literature, Charlotte spent a year travelling Australia, where she worked with Aboriginal families through a Sydney-based charity. This experience sparked her deep interest in child development.
Charlotte initially worked in Arts Education before enrolling in and completing the AMI 3-6 Diploma Course at the Maria Montessori Institute in London. Following this, she taught as Lead in a Children’s House in Central London. Knowing that her long-term passion was to work in Elementary education, Charlotte went on to complete the AMI 6-12 Diploma Course in Bergamo, Italy. Charlotte worked alongside the former Lead of Lower Elementary, developing extensive knowledge and practical experience in leading a 6-9 environment. Following this experience, Charlotte is thrilled to be taking on the role of Lead Teacher for Lower Elementary from April 2026. She is delighted to continue supporting the children and community in this position.

Kalamun was born and raised in London. After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree with honours in Product Design, Kalamun designed for companies both in the UK and abroad in Hong Kong. She was involved in several child-led community projects and was an accomplished visual artist prior to finding her passion and purpose in Montessori education. Kalamun completed her AMI 3-6 Diploma course at the Maria Montessori Institute in London in June 2022 and joined the Maria Montessori School in September that year. Kalamun has also previously worked in a supportive role for various Children’s Houses in the area. She loves creating materials to aid and ease the children’s understanding of new concepts, and her fun and friendly disposition allows her to engage and build connections with young children easily. Kalamun is inspired by nature, people, and learning itself. She loves travelling, exploring different cultures, languages, and cuisines, and bringing a little of that experience back to the children.

Malu Garcia Pardo was raised in Valencia, Spain, where she graduated from the University of Valencia with a degree in Law. She worked as a consultant in international trade before moving into education. Malu first discovered Montessori as a parent looking for an education system for her son. After earning a teacher diploma in Early Childhood education and the AMI 3-6 Assistant’s Course certificate, she worked as an Infant Community Assistant in a Montessori school in Tokyo.

Malu has taught Spanish to children and adolescents in various capacities and countries, and previously worked as a Spanish Teacher for children and teenagers at the Instituto Cervantes in London. Malu obtained her AMI Orientation to Adolescent Studies Certificate in 2020, and she is very excited to join the MMI team, combining her two passions: Montessori education and teaching Spanish.

Shallal Qureshi is trained as an AMI 3-6 Montessori guide. She also holds a BA from Kings College London and a PGCE in Primary Education. After working in the classroom for several years, she is now enjoying her role as the Children's House Coordinator & Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCO) across all the Maria Montessori Institute’s Children’s Houses. Shallal spends her days supporting children, teachers, parents and families, with a philosophy of inclusion at the centre of her work. She serves as a board member of the Montessori Society AMI UK and enjoys writing on a range of education topics, with a particular interest in the development of self-discipline at a young age.

Edgar Romero Rahal was born and raised just outside Barcelona and became interested in science and technology at a very young age. At 17 years of age, he moved to the UK so he could study Aerospace Engineering in an English-speaking country. He obtained his Master of Engineering (Meng) from the University of Surrey in 2019 and later enrolled in an Engineering PhD programme at the University of Bath which he will complete in August 2025.

In parallel to his research, Edgar devoted hundreds of hours to teaching undergraduate labs, by which he experienced his years-long interest in education turn into a passion. Upon learning about Montessori education for adolescents, he completed the 12-18 AMI Orientation Course and decided to become a Montessori Teacher.
Being a strong believer in personal development, he is eager to pursue his AMI Adolescent Diploma.

Edgar is excited to share his STEM background with the students, but he is also a huge proponent of developing transferable skills and learning in a multi-disciplinary manner. His goal is to bring his sense of curiosity and creativity to the classroom and help students reach their maximum academic and personal potential.

Edgar plays several instruments and loves writing and recording songs. He also loves travelling and learning history from as close to the source as possible, and he is always up for a game of football or basketball.

Andrea has been leading the Notting Hill team for the past 3 years. She obtained a degree in Pre-School Teaching in 2017 and prior to completing the AMI 3 to 6 Diploma Course at the Maria Montessori Institute, Andrea gained experience working as a teacher in a nursery school and as a teacher in a school for children with special needs. On the weekends, Andrea leads a class for bilingual and multilingual children where they discover the beauty of the language and the culture of the Czech Republic.

Yafeng Tang was born and raised in China, before relocating to London with her family. She has a Masters Degree in International Education and a Post-graduate Diploma in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language. Yafeng completed the AMI 3 to 6 Diploma Course and AMI 0 to 3 Diploma Course at the Maria Montessori Institute in London. Following her training, Yafeng led an Infant Community at a local Montessori School for two years. Yafeng has worked with children in a variety of capacities in China and England as a tutor or a Teaching Assistant. Yafeng is currently also working on her AMI 6 to 12 Diploma. She loves to cook and learn about different languages. She is enthusiastic about arts and crafts, music, and drama, and she is eager to share cross culture knowledge with the children.

Paola joined the Maria Montessori Institute as the Elementary and Adolescent Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo), bringing over twenty years of experience supporting children, families, and educators through personalised approaches, tailored to a wide range of learning differences. A passionate advocate for inclusive education, Paola’s academic and professional journey has been deeply influenced by the principles of Maria Montessori. Her research has focused on demonstrating that Montessori pedagogy is inherently inclusive and uniquely suited to children—and adults—with emerging needs and disabilities. She holds Level 3 qualifications in Maternity Nursing and Childcare and Education, Level 5 qualifications in Early Years Lead Practice and Leadership and Management for Youth and Adult Care Services, a BSc (Hons) in Social Science and Anthropology, and a Master Level Diploma in Special Educational Needs. In addition, Paola has completed professional development in Montessori Pedagogy and SEN, Speech and Language Development, Sensory Processing, and holds a Level 4 Makaton qualification—a communication system designed for individuals who are non-verbal. Outside of her professional commitments, Paola serves on the board of NEURO-GEMS, a think tank that champions neurodiversity by advancing inclusive scientific research, advocating for equitable rights, fostering education, and promoting systemic and societal change.

Bella was raised in Bath and went on to study Drama at Bristol University before training as a theatre director at Birkbeck University in London. She first worked with children when she directed James and the Giant Peach in Kalimpong, India with a group of 50 Primary aged children. Bella went on to lead a series of educational workshops to local children at the Glasgow Citizens Theatre and Intermission Youth Charity in Knightsbridge which helped her realise her interest in working in education. Most recently, Bella designed the children’s events program at The Arts Club in Mayfair which emphasised ‘connection through creativity and enrichment.' Bella is delighted to be given the chance to apply these skills in an educational setting, where she can help foster the growth of young minds.

Bella plans to enrol in the AMI 6-12 Diploma course at the Maria Montessori Institute and expressed a keen interest in working in the classroom with the children whilst participating in the 6 to 12 training.

Emma assists prospective and new parents through the admissions process and is on hand to answer any questions that prospective parents might have about our school.

Charlie joined the Maria Montessori School in 2018 where he first worked as Classroom Assistant at Bayswater Elementary and, upon obtaining his AMI 6 to 12 Diploma from the Maria Montessori Institute, joined the Hampstead Upper Elementary class as Lead Teacher. Charlie was born and raised in London and also has a Degree in Sociology. Charlie is an avid sportsman playing a wide range of sports and activities including golf, football, yoga, fencing, and fishing. A fountain of general knowledge, Charlie enjoys participating in various types of quizzes and enjoys bringing this into the classroom for the children.