Our Staff

Faculty Foundation

Our classrooms for infants to kindergarten-aged children are staffed by fully certified Montessori and/or Early Childhood Education trained professionals. Our Elementary classrooms are staffed by Montessori trained teachers who also meet the educational requirements as outlined by the local Provincial Government. In addition to our teachers, our classrooms also have a sufficient number of assistants to maintain the appropriate ratio of adults to children. The staff are involved in continuing education throughout the year.

Global Montessori Schools and Langley Montessori Children's Centre Ltd. offers a range of educational programs and services for children and their families. We are based in Langley City, British Columbia and have been in operation for more than 20 years. Our programs are based on the Montessori method of education.

Leslie Stettler
Founder (Retired)/Consultant

For more than 20 years, I have been worked to develop high quality Montessori educational programs and child care services for children and families. I hold my certification as an Early Childhood Educator in British Columbia and my Montessori Preschool and Elementary teacher training. I also hold a Masters of Arts in Leadership & Training from Royal Roads University. I have worked as the Head of School for several Montessori independent schools in British Columbia. I am the past President of the BC Montessori Association and have been nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award. I am passionate about respect for our planet and helping children to focus on the role that they can play in caring for our Earth. I am the mother of two grown sons and enjoy cooking and gardening.

Karun Kumar
Director of Operations

Karun brings a great deal of business experience and a passion for the Montessori curriculum. Over the years, his passion has been growing stronger after his two daughters have evolved into confident and independent young girls, mainly credited to their Montessori based education. His focus is on the business, finance, and facility operations. His long-term view is to grow our existing elementary program, and plan an extension for a full Montessori - based high school.

Ms. Shelley Carruthers

Elementary

I came upon the Montessori Method at a point when I was looking for more fulfillment in my career. I wanted to work with children and be part of bringing a conflict resolution program to them at a young age when it can make a profound difference in how they approach their everyday experiences. I quickly found my path, thanks to friends with Montessori children. It was hard to pinpoint, but these children clearly approached the world differently. The two characteristics that stood out were confidence and respect.

After my Montessori training, I began teaching in 2000 in the preschool classes at Global Montessori.

The highlights of working in the lower elementary class?

The unstoppable grin as reading fluency gains momentum… The excitement of recognizing patterns in math problems and exercises... The ‘Aha!’ over self-discoveries in chemistry and physics… The awe over the great stories of the universe… The fastidious care to plants, animals and the environment... The collaboration of peers toward projects and goals... The creative solutions to problems devised by young minds… I can’t imagine a day that I will ever tire of these opportunities that the children share with me.

Michelle Edwardes
Preschool

Born in England, she immigrated to Canada with her parents in 1991. Since the tender age of six she knew her career would be that of a teacher so she enrolled into the Early Childhood Educators Program and began her fulfilling teaching career soon after. Years later after the birth of her first two children she continued her studies and became certified as a Montessori Teacher. Today she offer 16 years experience from a variety of preschool aged programs and she is as passionate about her teaching role as she was 16 years ago.

The pleasure of observing your children joyfully engaged in their work, interacting peacefully and becoming aware of their world around them is what continues to motivate me to teach each year. It is her belief that each child is unique and thrives in a warm, nurturing environment that offers structure and consistency in their daily routine. Teachers and parents are a team and she feel open communication is one of the keys to support a childs' success in their classroom environment.

At home she is a busy wife and mom to three sons ranging in age from almost 2 to 13 years old, its a busy day but in those few moments of down time she enjoy running, reading and taking family vacations!

Melissa Sinclair
Preschool

It gives me great pride and joy to be a teacher in the P2 class at the Global Montessori School with Miss Michelle.

I have worked in the childcare industry for the last ten years at facilities including the Arbutus Club, West Point Grey Community Center, Collingwood Neighbourhood House and CEFA Junior Kindergarten. I have achieved a diploma in Early Childhood Education and a diploma in Montessori. During my teaching career, I took my practical studies to Beijing China as a preschool teacher while studying Mandarin abroad.

I am excited to work with strong, dedicated and passionate teachers that enhance children’s learning within the Montessori philosophy. I strive for new victories as a Montessori preschool teacher and it is my personal goal is to provide the students with the support that is needed to continuously grow each and every day.
It is a great milestone in my career to become part of such a wonderful organization such as Global Montessori and work with a team of devoted and inspiring teachers.

I believe Global Montessori creates an excellent foundation of learning and prepares our graduates for their scholastic future.

Candis Pilar
Infant/Toddler

My name is Pilar Sieiro and I have been working with children for three and a half years, the last two of which have been with Global Montessori. I started working with children because I love them! I have a child of my own, a son Luis, who is 12 years old. I was lucky enough to stumble upon a job opportunity on the internet, which is what brought me to Global Montessori and the Infant Toddler classroom. I love all the staff at the school, who have supported me though my battle with cancer. I have a very outgoing personality and can be seen to be always smiling! When not working I spend most of my spare time with my son, going to movies and the arcade, two of his favourite activities.

Natalie Christianson
Preschool

It is an honor to become a member of the faculty of Global Montessori School. I spent four years at the University of British Columbia majoring in the Education of Young Children as well as a minor in Psychology. I received my Montessori Teaching Diploma from the North American Montessori Training Centre ten years ago and have since been working with school age children in the Montessori classroom environment.

I am also the mother of two daughters ages 23 and 20. Samantha works full time at a Vancouver advertising firm as a graphic designer and Melissa will be graduating from the Vancouver School of Art and Design in Fashion in the Spring of 2012.

I am very excited to be a part of the P1 teaching team with Miss Susanne and Miss Lana and I am looking forward to a successful new school year!

Andrea Riegert
Head of School

For more than 20 years, I have been working in Montessori school and child care environments. I hold my certification as an Early Childhood Educator in British Columbia and my Montessori Preschool teacher training certification. I am an experienced classroom teacher and have worked with infants through school age children. I have spent several years as a Director of Admissions and enjoy working closely with families and children to ensure they get the most out of the opportunities our programs can offer them. I am a past Director of the BC Montessori Association and I am often called upon to present at Montessori conferences and professional development opportunities for teachers. I am the mother of two grown sons. I enjoy gardening and cats.

Debbie Horton (Tontsch)
Administration Assistant

I was born in Hertfordshire in England, and immigrated to Canada in October 1993 with my family.

My son attended a Montessori preschool, which got me interested in pursuing a career in teaching. Previously I worked as an executive assistant in London, England, working for Guinness Publishing (amongst others).

I came to work at Global Montessori in September 1997, so have been here at the school for 14 years. Both of my children also attended the school. My son was here from Grade 2to7 and my daughter from the age of 3 to Grade 7. I have had the opportunity to see first hand the wonderful outcome of keeping a child in the Montessori system. I continue to enjoy teaching, watching the children develop and gain important life skills.

Ms. Susanne Ball
Kindergarten

Susanne has been a Montessori educator for over 20 years. She is certified as an Early Childhood Educator in British Columbia, holds certificates for Foundations in Montessori (3-6 year olds) and Lower Elementary Montessori (6-9 year olds) thus qualifying her to teach children from 3 years to 9 years of age.

After ten years of classroom experience in Canada, Susanne was inspired to live her passion and purpose of making a difference in children’s lives globally through guiding, caring and educating.

Susanne worked in several Montessori Schools in Arizona for eight years as a Montessori Consultant, where she had the privilege and honor to support administration by implementing the philosophy, curriculum, method, and classroom management. Along the way, she also assisted with supporting parent education and implementing successful enrollment. Amongst many opportunities to advocate for children in the field of Montessori education, Susanne became a member of the Board of Directors, mentored new educators, and assisted with educating teachers to implement Montessori Education.

Susanne believes that children are our future and that it takes a community to raise a child. She aspires to live Dr. Maria Montessori’s vision that “Education must no longer be merely the imparting of knowledge, but must take a new path seeking the release of human potentialities.”

Melissa Yelland
Infant/Toddler

I was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. At a young age, I knew I wanted to work with children. In 2010, I received my Early Childhood Educator certificate. After marrying Tyler Yelland, we moved to Spruce Grove, Alberta, where I worked as an Early Childhood Educator. A short time later, I was transferred to Langley and on November 10, I began working with infant/toddlers at Global Montessori. I am currently taking distance education classes in the Infant/Toddler program at Northern Lights College. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and running.

Lana Mussche
Preschool

I have been teaching in a Montessori classroom for over five years and first became interested in the Montessori program when my children attended this school a few years ago. My education has lead me to complete a diploma in Montessori studies ages 0-6 years, a certificate in Montessori studies ages 6-9 years as well as my certificate in Early Childhood Education. In my spare time I enjoy taking my two Italian Mastiff dogs for walks and spending quality time with my husband and our five children. As a family we enjoy many activities together such as waterskiing and RVing in the summer and snowboarding and dirt bike riding in the fall and winter months.

Mai Ichihara
Toddler

I joined Global Montessori School in September 2010 with a passion to work with our Montessori Child Day Care centre. I have a Bachelor’s degree, Early Childhood Education certification and to fulfill my Montessori passion I have earned an Association Montessori International diploma.

I have now 4 years of experience working with children under 3 years old. I am originally from Japan and love to travel in different regions of the world. It was in one of my travels that I fell in love with British Columbia and decided to settle down in the lovely community of Langley, BC.

Candiss Brown
Infant/Toddler Classroom Supervisor

I contribute my expertise in child care with my more than 23 years of experience working with infants and toddlers. I joined Global Montessori School 5 years ago to fulfill my passion with the Montessori philosophy and its implementation with infant and toddlers. As Global Montessori School was the first centre implementing Montessori philosophy in British Columbia, I wanted to contribute my over 18 years of experience working with infants and toddlers so that I could assist Global Montessori School to successfully launch the first Montessori - based centre in BC.

In addition to the expert tutelage of Leslie our founder and Andrea (our Head of School), I feel blessed that I am working with Global Montessori school and I look forward to many more years at this amazing school.