Our School Team

Barbara Brait was born and raised in Italy, where she obtained her 0 to 3 Diploma with Opera Nazionale Montessori. Barbara went on to work in a bilingual Montessori environment for two years where she was lucky enough to work alongside teachers from different parts of the world. Through this experience, Barbara was inspired to teach abroad. She moved to London in 2016, at which time she enrolled in, and later completed, the AMI 3 to 6 Diploma Course at Maria Montessori Institute. Barbara enjoys continuing to expand her practice and understanding of how to better serve children and their developmental needs.

Coco joined the Notting Hill Children's House in September 2023. She was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she originally trained in the performing arts. Coco has always been passionate about working with children, and whilst living in Buenos Aires, she founded a drama programme for children. Through this programme and the inspiration of her mother (who was a teacher), Coco developed a keen interest in working in education and began learning and reading about different educational approaches. Upon discovering Montessori education, Coco moved to London in 2016. She worked as a nanny for several families until she was able to commit to a full-time Montessori programme, and she obtained her AMI 3 to 6 Diploma from the Maria Montessori Institute in London in June 2023. It has been Coco’s lifelong dream to become a teacher and she loves her time with the children at Notting Hill.

Born in California and raised in New England, Michel migrated towards the middle of America, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She holds the 0 to 3 AMI Diploma from the Montessori Institute in Denver, Colorado, the 3 to 6 AMI Diploma from the Montessori Training Centre of Minnesota, the 6 to 12 AMI Diploma from Centro Internationale Studi Montessori in Bergamo, Italy, and she completed the AMI 12 to 18 workshop at the Maria Montessori Institute in London. With over 25 years’ experience in Montessori education, Michel has had the pleasure of teaching at the Toddler, Children’s House, and Elementary levels, as well as leading Montessori Parent Infant Classes. She is also currently in the process of completing the AMI Training of Trainers Programme to become a trainer for the Elementary level. Michel has worked in School Leadership for over 20 years, supporting and guiding teachers and working in partnership with the children and families. She is in her tenth year serving in the role of Head of School. In addition to deepening her passion and understanding of Montessori pedagogy and child development, Michel enjoys reading, yoga, live music, learning about food and nutrition, and spending time with her two children.

Sejal Chandarana obtained her AMI 3 to 6 Diploma at Maria Montessori Institute in 2004, following a full career in finance as a qualified Accountant and work in developing and implementing education software. A longstanding member of the Montessori community, Sejal was the pioneer teacher of the Children’s House and Parent Toddler Community in Bayswater. On completion of the AMI 6 to 12 Diploma Course at Maria Montessori Institute, Sejal assumed the Lead Teacher position of Bayswater Elementary. In 2020, she joined the Hampstead Lower Elementary team. Sejal is a passionate animal and environmental conservationist, a passion which she has carried with her since childhood. She is also actively involved in the greater community, volunteering with a London education charity by teaching Philosophy GCSE to adolescents.

Ratna completed the AMI 3 to 6 Diploma Course at the Maria Montessori Institute in 2020, after relocating to London from Singapore. She joined the Hampstead Children's House Coach House in September that year, first as Classroom Assistant and later as Lead Teacher. Ratna was born and raised in India and obtained a degree in commerce from Calcutta University. Following University, Ratna worked in a school for underprivileged children in India, an experience which inspired her to pursue a career in education. Ratna brings with her over twenty years’ experience working in early years education.

Cordelia was born and raised in Oxfordshire. She attained a Bachelor’s degree with honours in Business Management from Manchester Metropolitan University, and the AMI 3 to 6 Diploma from the Maria Montessori Institute in London. She has since undertaken the Observation course. Cordelia has a wide range of experience working with children from 2 years old through Elementary age, to include founding and managing a residential summer camp on her family’s farm in Oxfordshire. Most recently, Cordelia has worked in the Children’s House in Hampstead, supporting and assisting the Lead Teacher. She has led the Crouch End team since September 2023, building strong connections with the children and families, and is very excited to continue to grow in her Montessori practice and to serve children with sensitivity, empathy, compassion, and enthusiasm.

Beatrice has been the Lead Teacher of the Hampstead Children's House Garden Class since 2022, after completing her AMI 3 to 6 Diploma from the Maria Montessori Institute in 2021. She was born and raised in Italy where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. Her interest and passion for cultural studies and education led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Education and Globalisation from the University of Oulu, Finland. She has studied and worked with children in several different countries, including Italy, Bolivia, Finland, and England. Through her discovery and studies of Montessori education, Beatrice is committed to guiding, supporting, and facilitating the holistic development of the child’s innate potentials. Beatrice is passionate about travelling and learning different languages. She also plays the guitar and greatly enjoys playing music and exploring the outdoors.

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.

María Castro Gonzalez was born in the Canary Islands, Spain. Her desire to learn English and her interest in living abroad led María to move first to Ireland, and later to England. María has lived in London for eleven years, and throughout that time has worked with children from infancy through the Elementary years, to include completing and implementing a course on introducing Spanish as a second language. It was through these experiences that María discovered Montessori education. She went on to complete her 3 to 6 AMI Diploma Course at the Maria Montessori Institute and is enrolled in the AMI 6 to 12 Diploma Course which she began in May 2023. María is dedicated to supporting children in their growth and has a strong desire to engage children in lessons that lead to joyful learning.

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.

Julia joined us as Elementary Assistant in September 2023 and is now Lead Teacher. She has worked in education since 2007 and in Montessori schools since 2014. Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, Julia always had a strong interest in education and social justice. Julia obtained her Bachelor’s in Education in 2010 and a Master’s in Family Education in 2020. Having completed her American Montessori Society Elementary training in 2018, Julia has been the Lead Teacher of a 6 to 9 Montessori classroom in various parts of the world, including Canada, Costa Rica, Japan, and Austria. Julia is deeply inspired by the Montessori pedagogy and her work in the Elementary, and she is continuing with her studies as a participant in the AMI 6 to 12 Diploma Course at the Maria Montessori Institute which began in May 2023. She is excited to bring her Elementary experience and her passion for working with children and families to the MMI community.

Rhianna joined the Maria Montessori School in September 2023, following her completion of the AMI 3-6 Diploma in London. She is currently a teacher in 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.

Denisa Kundekova is currently acting as maternity cover Montessori Teacher at our Crouch End Children's House and has been working at the Maria Montessori School for several years. She graduated from the AMI 3 to 6 Diploma Course from the Maria Montessori Institute in June 2024 and has over 10 years’ experience working with children in nursery settings. Denisa also holds a Masters in Primary Education Pedagogy and the AMI Assistants Course for both 0-3 and 3-6 years. It has been Denisa’s dream to be a teacher since she was a little girl and she has enjoyed expanding her teaching experience through her work in the Children’s House environment. She values the opportunity to nurture this passion as part of the Maria Montessori School team.

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 and completed her AMI 3 to 6 Diploma at the Maria Montessori School in 2022. She joined the Maria Montessori School in September that year, first as maternity cover at Crouch End and later as Children's House Spanish Teacher across all our sites.

Rebecca Livsey joined the Maria Montessori School Hampstead Garden Class in 2021. 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.

Charlotte is English and French. She studied German and Chinese at Manchester University, and during her studies taught English as a foreign language in China. After graduating, Charlotte continued teaching in various countries across Asia, and it was through this experience that she decided to pursue a career in education. Charlotte completed the 3 to 6 AMI Diploma Course at the Maria Montessori Institute in London. Following the completion of the course, Charlotte led a 3 to 6 class at a local Montessori School, and after five years in the Children’s House environment, Charlotte is excited to learn more about Montessori and the elementary years.

Charlotte is passionate about learning languages and is currently studying both Spanish and Catalan.

Giorgia has been working at the Maria Montessori School since September 2023, first as Classroom Assistant for the Hampstead Upper Elementary Class and now joining the Lower Elementary Griffin Class. 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.

Guillem was born in Barcelona, Spain, where he completed his undergraduate studies as a graphic designer. He had two great passions, creative work and outdoor sports, and he combined these two passions by working as both a freelance designer and an outdoor sports instructor for adolescents. Through these experiences, Guillem realized that working with young adults was his true passion, and he decided to pursue a career in education.

Guillem discovered the Montessori approach to education in 2014 in Costa Rica where he had the opportunity to work as an art and sports specialist for elementary and secondary school students. In 2018, Guillem and his partner moved to Japan, where he helped develop the Adolescent Programme at the Montessori School of Tokyo with an experienced team of teachers. His work in Tokyo provided Guillem with the practical knowledge and experience of implementing the Montessori pedagogy at the Adolescent level.

Guillem has a Bachelor Degree in Graphic Design, a Masters Degree in Secondary Arts Education, the AMI Orientation to Adolescent Studies Certificate, and nine years’ experience working in Montessori education in all subject areas with adolescent students. He is excited to bring his experience and enthusiasm to the development of the Maria Montessori School’s Adolescent Programme.

David is a dedicated and passionate educator from Barcelona with a unique blend of multicultural backgrounds and teaching methods. With over ten years of experience in education and leisure, he has developed a teaching philosophy centred on children's needs and strengths. As a Summer Camp manager, he successfully directed and monitored various teams of fifteen group leaders, ensuring that over 200 children had unforgettable summer adventures. During the scholar year, David dedicates himself to ensuring that every child in his care reaches their full potential and becomes the best version of themselves. David's passion for creativity is contagious, as he is often found expressing himself through various forms of art, music, and cooking. He is enthusiastic, and he strives to share this joy and self-expression with the children, fostering a sense of creativity and open-mindedness.

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 Hampstead Coach House 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.

Clea joined the Maria Montessori School Bayswater Children's House in 2019. Clea is a Fine Art graduate from Leeds Arts University, with over five years’ experience working with young children. Prior to completing the 3 to 6 Diploma Course at MMI and working for the Maria Montessori School, Clea worked in education at Merchant Taylors Pre-Prep School and at Wetherby Pre-Prep. Clea values the strong foundation Montessori education provides the children and sees Montessori as a platform for the highest academic achievement and creativity later in life.

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.

Nihal has lunch with the Bayswater Children’s House children, supports the set up and tidying up process, and joins the Bayswater Children’s House and Elementary classes for playtime in the park.

Originally from Turkey, Nihal has lived in London for sixteen years. She has worked in childcare for over six years, looking after children ranging in age from two to fourteen years. Nihal loves spending time amidst nature, whether it’s a leisurely walk in the park or a hike through the countryside, and she feels time in the outdoors is essential to a child’s development. As a caregiver, Nihal’s passion lies in fostering a supportive and loving environment, allowing each child to explore their unique potential and flourish under the Montessori philosophy, and enjoys her time with the children in Bayswater and contributing to their growth, creativity, and happiness.

En Ci has been a Mandarin teacher for young children since relocating to London in 2017, and she obtained an AMI 3 to 6 diploma through the two-year evening course at the Maria Montessori Institute in 2022. Passionate about Montessori education and teaching Mandarin, En Ci is excited to share her experience with the children, offering both the language and cultural knowledge in the Notting Hill Children’s House. En Ci holds a BA Degree in Fine Arts, with a major in Animation of Communication Design. She worked as an independent art educator, leading various creative events and workshops in Taiwan.

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.