All of our classroom teachers are BC Certified teachers with Montessori certification. Our specialty subject teachers are all BC Certified teachers with background knowledge in Montessori philosophy. In our preschool/Kindergarten classrooms, our teachers all have their Early Childhood Education certification as well as teaching credentials through the provincial regulating bodies.
We boast low student to teacher ratios with each classroom having one classroom teacher and one Classroom Assistant.
Please see our full faculty list below.
Administration
Patrick Vincentine
Mr. Patrick Vincentine comes from a family of educators. Born and raised in Ontario he graduated from Concordia University and taught at the Montreal School for the Hearing impaired before travelling overseas. Mr. Patrick was principal of an English immersion school in Hualien, Taiwan for 5 years. Upon his return to Canada, Mr. Patrick settled in Victoria and soon found work as a teacher with Maria Montessori Academy. After completing Elementary, Middle and Secondary Montessori training he was part of a team which initiated the Senior school. When not guiding traffic in the parking lot, Mr. Patrick enjoys mountaineering, running and hockey.
Christine Tuttle
Christine Tuttle has been a member of the MMA family since 2007. Miss Christine graduated from the University of Victoria in 2006 and went on to pursue her true passion; education. After graduating from UBC with a B.Ed, Miss Christine came to MMA as a teacher in the Gamma classroom and immediately fell in love with the Montessori philosophy. Miss Christine went on to complete her Montessori certification and in 2015, she was hired as Vice Principal. Outside of school, Christine loves spending time with her family, sports, gardening, and reading books in the sun.
Office Admin
Chanel Emershy
Cory Waugh
Ginette Timmerman (on leave)
Ginette Timmerman has been with us since 2017. She comes to us with a various background of Office Administration & Chinese Medicine. When Miss Ginette is not in school, she can be found with her family and two kids, gardening, playing outdoors, running and doing yoga.
Deborah Arcuri
Deborah Arcuri has been a member of the MMA office team since 2007. Miss Deborah has a wealth of experience having previously been the Office Administrator at Greater Victoria Christian Academy and West-Mont School. When Miss Deborah is not at school she loves to spend time with family, especially her grandchildren. Her passions include line-dancing, scrapbooking, walking, and travelling with her husband, Ron.
Jennie Lewis
Jennie Lewis has worked at Maria Montessori Academy since 2011 as our Financial Comptroller. Miss Jennie loves working at the school and being responsible for the accounting operations of MMA. Miss Jennie has a CPA, CA designation as well as a Master’s in Public Administration. When she is not working, she is spending time with her family, gardening, or practicing yoga.
Preschool/Kindergarten Classroom Teachers
Lavender
Sara dePol
Sara dePol has worked at Maria Montessori Academy since 2006. Upon completion of her Montessori and Early Childhood Education with the Angela Martin Montessori Training center, Miss Sara has thoroughly enjoyed her time working with the Preschool/Kindergarten classes. She is passionate about watching young children discover their individual potential and providing them with the fundamental skills they will use throughout their lives. When Miss Sara is not at MMA, she can be found enjoying her time with her family.
Diane Stewart
Bluebell
Janelle Doucette
Janelle Doucette has been a preschool kindergarten teacher for more than 20 years at MMA. She has a BFA from Concordia University and a Diploma in Education from McGill University. After moving to Victoria in 1991 she studied at the Angela Martin training center and obtained her Montessori diploma. She loves working with children and their families, and being able to see how Montessori education can make such a difference in their lives. Janelle loves the community that MMA offers and enjoys teaching in such a positive and supportive environment. She is a mom of two children who both went to MMA and are now in University. When she is not working, Janelle loves cooking, playing with her family, and going for walks with her two dogs, Max and Zoe.
Joanna Mason
Sunflower
Kyung-Hee Kim
Kyung-Hee Kim has been part of Maria Montessori Academy since 1996. She started her teacher training at the Angela Martin Montessori Teacher Training Centre and completed both Early Childhood and Elementary level of training in 2001. Kyung-Hee also has an Early Childhood Education certificate as well as a BC Independent Teaching certificate. Inspiration from her own children who have attended Montessori schools in Korea, she found her passion as a Montessori teacher. Kyung-Hee finds joy in observing the developmental and growing process of her students during the Preschool and Kindergarten years. In addition to teaching, Kyung-Hee is often hiking with her two dogs at the Mt. Doug trails. She also enjoys training at the Pilates and Barre studios.
Kelly Eaton
Helane Ellis
Helane has been Montessori Teacher for 3-6 year-olds for 25+ years and has her B.Ed from UBC and ECE credentials from U.Vic. Miss Helane has been involved in Montessori teacher training focusing on communication and guidance as well as creating workshops for zoology and botany. That experience brought together two of her passions; mentoring teachers engaged in their Montessori Training and bringing natural science alive in the classroom. In recent years Helane has been looking at the brain/mind connection and how emotion, memory and critical thinking are processed. Learning how our mind works can bring a conscious awareness of these processes. Learning how to identifying our thoughts and feelings calms the mind and enables us to make more skillful decisions. These are the building blocks of emotion health. Miss Helane loved being a part of Sunflower’s Kindergarten Team since September 2018.
Sweet Pea
Trudi Samson
Trudi Samson is a Preschool Classroom Teacher in the Sweet Pea Room. She was educated at Montessori Centre International, St Nicholas in London (UK). She worked as a teacher in the UK and Sweden, before moving to Canada in 2001. Trudi loves to travel and is always planning her next trip abroad. She dreams of one day selling up, buying a yellow camper van and taking to the road!
Willow Polis
Willow Polis began at MMA in September 2020. She completed her Montessori ECE training at the Angela Martin training centre in 2006, since then she worked at St. Christopher’s Montessori School in Oak Bay. Miss Willow loves spending time with her husband and two boys. In her spare time, Miss Willow can be found going for a hike with her family, going to yoga class or trying out a new recipe in the kitchen.
Elementary Classroom Teachers
Alpha
Marilyn Triste
Marilyn Triste joined MMA in the year 2000 as the Culture Teacher for the lower elementary classes. Since then she has been the Head Teacher for the Alpha Class. Miss Marilyn has also been involved in the training of teachers at the Angela Martin Montessori Training Centre. She holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Research, a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Communication, and a Diploma in Montessori Elementary Education. Miss Marilyn is a true believer in awakening the sense of wonder in every child. She imparts her enthusiasm for cooking, baking and gardening to her students, teaching them skills for everyday living.
Beta
Lesley Duthie
Lesley Duthie has been the classroom teacher in Beta (Lower Elementary) since 2010, and taught for three years at a Montessori school in North Vancouver. She has an MA in Art Education from the University of British Columbia and has worked in art gallery education as well as in corporate training and communications. Miss Lesley leaped into a Montessori training program in Vancouver, after observing her daughter (now an MMA graduate) thrive at a preschool there. Miss Lesley’s greatest joys outside of school are gardening and horseback riding.
Jaz Grewal
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.
Gamma
Jodi Brown
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.
Kappa
Sandra Haywood
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.
Lambda
Rhianna Wickson
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.
Delta
Rachel Hartsook
Rachel Hartsook has been teaching at the Academy since January 2009. She first taught preschool/kindergarten music and worked as a classroom assistant, while completing her Montessori Elementary credential. Miss Rachel began teaching in the Delta classroom in September 2011, after a large wait list prompted the new classroom to open. Miss Rachel has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Sociology and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Victoria. She loves teaching her students about the world, different cultures and history. In her spare time Miss Rachel enjoys reading novels, going for walks, and singing in a community choir.
Sigma Classroom Teachers (Middle School)
Lee Patterson
Lee Patterson has worked as a Sigma Director since 2015. Since joining the MMA community, he has been involved with coaching soccer, helping with other sports, and the creation of the senior school garden. Lee is a graduate of the University of Victoria, having completed a Bachelor of Arts with a major in French, as well as a Bachelor of Education, with a focus on Middle School. He is currently undertaking his Montessori training through the Cincinnati Montessori Secondary Teacher Education Program.
In his free time, Lee enjoys a wide array of activities, including: swimming, ultimate Frisbee, soccer, hockey, skiing, kitesurfing, camping, cooking, reading, and gardening.
Morgan Reid
Morgan is motivated to help students learn deeply about things they’re interested in, so as to help them build their confidence, resilience, and love of learning. He has taught a range of subjects including Math, Laboratory Science, and Social Studies. Experienced in public, private, and post-secondary schools, Morgan holds a B.Ed. in Geography from Simon Fraser University and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of BC. Morgan holds Montessori Secondary I and II credentials from the Cincinnati Secondary Montessori Teacher Education Program, which he completed from 2020-2022. On any given day you might find Morgan exploring the Salish Sea by sailboat or zodiac with his family, reading science fiction, or making pizza in his backyard wood-fired oven.
Sarah Gord
Sarah Gord joined MMA in 2022. After earning her Bachelor’s in History and English, she moved to Norway to teach English, politics, and writing to high school and college students. She then moved to Oakland, California, where she completed her Master’s in Education and taught middle school for five years. While in Oakland, she co-coordinated a drama program and directed two shows per year. She is passionate about working with middle school students and supporting their growth and wellbeing. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys running, exploring new restaurants, and reading Shakespeare.
Omega Classroom Teachers (High School)
Aaron Gillatly
Aaron Gillatly came to Maria Montessori Academy after 6 years in the public system, and arrived just in time to be there at Omega’s very beginnings. An enthusiast in politics, Mr. Aaron has been fortunate enough to attend Teacher Institutes in Democracy held at both the Provincial legislative and the Parliament in Ottawa. When not boldly defending the value of the Oxford Comma, Mr. Aaron can be found riding about on a motorcycle with his club, the Angry Pandas.
Kathy McIntosh
Kathy McIntosh first joined MMA in 2018. She has a BSc. in Chemistry and a DVM. She practiced as a veterinarian in Calgary and Regina for 10 years before getting her BEd. from the University of Calgary in 2004. She has taught Mathematics and Science for Grades 6 – 10 for over 10 years in different private schools in Calgary. She teaches Mathematics for Grades 9, Foods 9 &10, Culinary Arts 11 & 12, Life Sciences 11, and Anatomy & Physiology 12. When she is not teaching enjoys cooking, baking, knitting, running and spending time with friends and family.
Brooke Rose
After graduating high school in Toronto, Miss Brooke made the trek across Canada to attend UVic for Creative Writing. After graduating with a BA in Hispanic Studies (plans change sometimes!) she travelled around Mexico for a while. Soon after, a BEd from UVic occurred, which led her to MMA in 2008. She was the French teacher and part-time in Sigma, to start, then full-time Sigma teacher from 2009-2017. She received her Montessori certification in 2013, from Houston, Texas. In 2017 Miss Brooke decided it was finally time for her to graduate Middle School, and she moved into Omega, where she’s been ever since. Outside of school, Miss Brooke loves exploring this beautiful island, road trips, pretending she’s a backup singer, reading, taking photos, and plugging away at her novel.
Haley Rymer
Haley Rymer has worked at MMA since 2011 teaching science to grades 9-12 students. She received her bachelor of science in Biology at the University of Victoria in 2009 and went on to get both her teaching certificate and her Montessori certification. Haley brings an inquiry based, hands on approach to science that encourages students to explore and make their own discoveries about the world around us. When Haley is not at school she enjoys cooking, hiking and spending time with her family.
Breanna Bland
Breanna Bland moved to Victoria in August 2022 after working with the Edmonton Public School Board. She started working with MMA as a Teacher On-Call at the start of 2023 and, as of November 2023, transitioned to a full-time position, eagerly embracing her new role with Omega. Outside of the classroom, Breanna enthusiastically delves into various hobbies, cares for her plants, enjoys exercising , and spending quality time with her cat. As an avid Wordler, she takes pride in her accomplishment of nearly 500 Wordles with an impressive 97% success rate.
Specialty Teachers
French
Dominique de Chantal
Dominique de Chantal has been teaching upper level French at MMA since 2014. Dominique has a French Canadian background and took her teaching education at UVIC along with a bachelors of English Literature. She also has a bachelors of Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership from Mount Royal University. Dominique is an active equestrian and loves spending her weekends competing or camping with her Appaloosa horse Elmo. Keep an eye out for them around Elk Lake Park.
Stephanie Charlebois
Stephanie Charlebois has been member of the MMA team since moving from Toronto in 2016. She holds a Physical Education & Health degree from U of T and is a MACTE certified Casa Directress. Miss Stephanie has shared her love of French language and culture throughout her 10+ year career in Ontario, teaching exclusively in French and bilingual Montessori classrooms. Her family of four is fully immersed in life on The Island-each part of a local team or group in either field/ice hockey, rowing, hiking or rugby. They are determined to get more time on the water and cycling in this amazing part of the country.
Arts Education
Susanne Ledingham
Susanne Ledingham has been involved with art education for over 20 years. After moving to Victoria in 2004, Miss Susanne began working at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, developing art programs and teaching art classes. Using her experience both as an artist and as an art historian, Susanne brings a multi-cultural emphasis to her classes while focusing on process and play in order to gain mastery and skill. When Miss Susanne is not thoroughly enjoying herself in her MMA art studio, she can be found kayaking on Mayne Island, taking in a yoga class, playing around with her own art projects, and having tons of fun with her family.
Sandi Henrich
Sandi Henrich has been teaching art classes and developing art programs and workshops in Victoria since 2002. Her teaching approach is centered on encouraging creative expression and process-based art exploration. Miss Sandi has a degree in History in Art from the University of Victoria and a background in visual arts. When she is not making art, Miss Sandi loves to spend time with her creative family enjoying the beauty of nature.
Music Education
Stephanie Smith
Physical Education/Outdoor Education
Andrew Farrell
Andrew Farrell began at MMA in 2007 as a PE and Outdoor Education Teacher as well as a Classroom Assistant in Serenity. Andrew finished a Geography Degree at the University of Victoria in 2002, followed by teaching English in Japan, then returning to the west coast to complete a Bachelor of Education at UBC in 2004. His first teaching stint after UBC was as a Social Studies Teacher in Comox, moving there so that he could be on the mountain on a more often. Andrew left MMA for a year to run an alternative school but returned on an on-call basis in 2017,and is back to four days a week in 2018. Andrew and his wife have two young daughters at home, who love to go camping, biking, paddling, swimming and playing in the snow with their dad as often as possible. Andrew loves the outdoors, snowboarding, and paddling. Growing up in Ontario, Andrew played all sports that were in season. He continues to stay active outside of school chasing his daughters around playgrounds and beaches and playing squash on a regular basis.
Basil McCarthy
Christina Hofmann (maternity leave)
Christina Hofmann has been a part of the MMA team since January 2011. Previous to her time at MMA, she worked at St Michaels University School working in the Outdoor Education Department. Miss Christina has a Human Kinetics degree from Trinity Western University and Outdoor Experiential Education degree from Queens University. What she loves most about working at MMA is all the laughs and good conversation she has with her students and co-workers. Five things Miss Christina could not do without are: skiing, hot tea, friendships, family, and camping.
Darcy Howard Inclusive Education Coordinator
Darcy graduated from Applied Child Studies in Alberta in 2012. Shortly after her graduation she made her way to the island. Darcy fell in love with the rugged coastline and mountain scapes the island has to offer. After working with children with autism for several years she made a switch to the outdoor field. Darcy completed the COLT program at Strathcona Park Lodge in 2021, with the goal of working with children and youth in the outdoors. When Darcy is not at work you’ll find her rock climbing, hiking or adventuring with her dog.
Inclusive Education Team
Chantel Nairn Elementary Inclusive Ed. Coordinator
Kris Repay graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and most recently completed her Master’s Degree in Special Education. She has experience in inclusive education both as a teacher and as a parent of two children with designations. Her background has given her a deep understanding of the challenges that neurodiverse students and their families face and is committed to providing support and resources to help all students succeed. Kris is passionate about inclusive education and believes that every child deserves access to quality education that meets their unique needs.