School Staff
Preschool / Kindergarten Teachers
Lavender
Sara Mackenzie
Teacher
Sara Mackenzie 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
Teacher
Biography coming soon!
Bluebell
Janelle Doucette
Teacher
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
Teacher
Biography coming soon!
Sunflower
Kyung-Hee Kim
Teacher
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.
Clare Fensom
Teacher
Clare Fensom began working at MMA in 2022 as a Classroom Assistant in Sweet Pea. She is a licenced Early Childhood Educator and brings 5 years of ECE experience in a Junior Kindergarten setting to MMA. She has previously worked with children as a school bus driver and Girl Guide Leader. Clare brings background knowledge of farming, gardening and nature knowledge from various travel experiences. She enjoys helping the children learn while facilitating growth in their emotional and social well-being. She enjoys the warm, friendly community of MMA. Outside school you will find Clare gardening, hiking, traveling or visiting family and friends as much as possible.
Sweet Pea
Cindy Shin
Teacher
(Cindy) Hyun Soon Shin is from Korea. Although she doesn’t know exactly what led her to leave her comfort zone and come to this beautiful but unfamiliar country, she is glad she came. Cindy loves education, and loves working with children. She has worked in in elementary schools for 22 years and loves watching the growth that comes with learning. She was always impressed by Waldorf education, which originated in Germany, and applied some of its methods to her classroom. This interested quickly inspired further exploration of Montessori education, which she believes is education for life. She is very excited to be part of the team at Maria Montessori Academy beginning in September 2024. In her free time, she loves going to PKOLS (Mount Douglas) with her kids and her dog, Thorney.
Willow Polis
Teacher
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.