School Staff
Elementary Teachers
Jess Schellenberg
Alpha Teacher
Jess Schellenberg began working at MMA in 2023 on-call, while also working in the public school system. She quickly fell in love with MMA and the Montessori method and began teacher training. She graduated from UVic in 2019, and holds a double major in Political Science and Environmental Studies with a minor in Education. After graduation, she managed a youth focused national food security program and spent summers working at an urban farm. She is passionate about social and environmental justice and making the world a better place for young people.
Jaz Grewal
Beta Teacher
Jaz Grewal began her journey at MMA in 2018 as a Classroom Assistant in Lower Elementary. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Youth Care from the University of Victoria. After completing her university education, Jaz worked as a Youth Worker with Immigrant and Refugee children and youth. She started her Lower Elementary Montessori training during her time at MMA, and completed her training in August 2022. Jaz is passionate about mental health awareness, and has been facilitating the Zones program in Lower Elementary. In her spare time, Jaz enjoys watching hallmark movies, dancing, singing, and spending time with her loved ones.
Jodi Brown
Gamma Teacher
Jodi Brown began her Montessori career by embarking on her AMS certification in 2009, and immersed herself in the MMA community immediately upon arriving in Victoria in 2014. She is now the directress in Gamma. Miss Jodi holds a BA degree from Whitman College in Washington, and attained her teaching credentials from Western Washington University. Prior to MMA, her diverse experience included teaching English in the Japanese public school system and physical education to elementary students in Australia. Miss Jodi has a busy family life with three children, and enjoys running, reading and taking in all of Victoria’s wonderful natural surroundings.
Rachel Hartsook
Delta Teacher
Rachel Hartsook has been teaching at Maria Montessori Academy since January 2009. She first taught preschool/Kindergarten music and worked as a classroom assistant, while completing her Montessori Elementary credential. Miss Rachel has been the Delta teacher since 2011. Miss Rachel has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Sociology and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Victoria, and she completed her Masters in Education Leadership from Vancouver Island University in 2022. She loves teaching her students about the world, focusing on peace, diversity, and building relationships through community. In her spare time Miss Rachel enjoys reading novels, singing in a community choir, and exploring various beaches and parks with her family.
Sandra Haywood
Kappa Teacher
With twenty-five years teaching experience, Miss Sandra has taught at preschool and lower elementary levels, but has happily settled in Upper Elementary. She has a graduate degree in Library and Information Studies, with an emphasis on award-winning young adult literature. So it comes as no surprise that Miss Sandra loves the way story is woven throughout the Montessori curriculum. When not teaching, she enjoys reading, hiking and cycling.
Rhianna Wickson
Lambda Teacher
Rhianna Wickson began working at MMA in 2023, but she actually began her journey at MMA as a student! She is now a teacher in Upper Elementary. Rhianna holds an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of Ottawa where she took a broad range of courses including psychology, sciences, computer science, music, and history. During university, Rhianna worked as a learning & technology mentor where she taught students organizational skills and about adaptive technologies. Following university, Rhianna moved to California where she completed her Elementary I-II certificate through Montessori Teachers Education Center (Bay Area). After working as a teacher in Berkeley, Rhianna moved back to her hometown, Victoria, and continued her teaching journey at two other Montessori schools before excitedly landing at MMA. In her free time Rhianna enjoys travelling locally and abroad, diving deep into history (20th century, Disney, world wars, culture), playing badminton & basketball, baking, and spending time with her loved ones & many animals.