STAFF

Young Children’s Community (YCC)

Elana Simaitis

Elana holds her infant/toddler certification from the M.A.C.T.E accredited Montessori Teachers College and is currently working on her AMI Assistants to Infancy Training from Montessori Training Centre B.C.  Post-Secondary studies include the Applied Music Program at Mohawk College and Brock University for Classical Voice studies. Elana discovered the joy of working with young children while teaching music for 12 years. Many people over the years told her Montessori would be a great fit for her values and love of children. After several years of owning a music school and café she finally took the plunge and has never looked back. Elana is a regular guest lecturer at the Montessori Teacher’s College lecturing on Music. Elana considers it an honor to work with the youngest children in their most important years of their development.

Kelly Tiernay

Kelly was born and raised in Burlington and studied music at both Mohawk College and McMaster University, while performing solo and with orchestras in the GTA. After obtaining an applied music diploma and a BA in music Kelly began teaching flute, piano, Kindermusik and Musikgarten in a variety of daycare centers and private schools, but was especially drawn to the Montessori philosophy she encountered at one of these schools. Kelly completed the Infant/Toddler Assistant course at MTC, and the AMI Casa Assistant Training at the Foundation for Montessori Education. She has worked in both YCC and Casa environments, as well as teaching music at the YCC, Casa and Lower Elementary level. Kelly and her fiancée live in Ancaster and have 3 children enrolled at DVMS in the Casa and Elementary levels.

Lauren Majowicz

Holding an AMI diploma at the 0-3 level, Lauren has spent over 15 years as a Guide in Young Children’s Community environments throughout the GTHA. Central to her teaching practice is a commitment to offering the young child real work opportunities that build community while feeding the soul.  Lauren is currently completing her Masters of Montessori Education while raising two wonderful adolescent boys.

Becky Costigan

Becky started at DVMS as a Supply Guide in Jan 2023 and fell in love with the programs and us with her in turn. She joined the YCC team full-time in September 2023, and we’re thrilled to have her. Becky has two girls, one in Upper El and one in Strata this year. She was born and raised in Dundas and is currently still living in town with her husband and girls. Becky and her family have been members of the DVMS community since 2015. Becky has her Honours degree in gerontology from the University of Guelph. She is really loving working in YCCS with the opposite end of the aging spectrum. Becky enjoys all things renovations and houses and enjoys her cottage on Georgian Bay in the summer months.

Isis Ramirez-Khokhar

Isis has graduated from being a rover, multi purpose staff member, to playing an integral part in our our YCC community. She’s our youngest staff, but has lots of practice with caregiving as she has 4 younger sisters and has always been a great example and big part in their upbringing. Isis plays trombone, trumpet, and French horn in 3 different bands. She’s started her ECE program at Mohawk College and has her AMI 0 - 3 and 3-6 year old assistant training.

Ava Moretti

Ava recently completed her ECE (Early Childhood Education) diploma at Mohawk College in April of 2024 which is how she came to know all the kind and lovely people at DVMS through her final placement. When she first discovered the YCC program, she had her eyes opened to a whole new way of working with children. In public elementary school, at the age of 8, she was asked to lunch monitor for the younger grades which is where she found her love of children and has been finding various ways to work with them ever since.

In June of 2024, Ava completed her AMI Orientation (formerly Assistants Certificate) for ages 0-3 and will be working in YCCS where she will continue to find joy in children who always put a smile on her face by telling the blunt truth.

CASA

Serena Camacho

Many years ago, Serena discovered Montessori while looking for an alternative form of education for her children.  She stumbled upon DVMS and she was sold.  Drawn to the warmth of this little community and to the beauty of the philosophy, she committed herself to learn as much as she could about this method of education.  After completing her Montessori Assistant training at the AMI Foundation for Montessori Education in Toronto, Serena worked as a Toddler Assistant at White Oaks Montessori School in Mississauga.  Although grateful for the experience, she was very fortunate to land an assistant position in Casa South in 2011 (with a much shorter commute).  Hungry to learn more, she dove into the full Montessori teacher training programme.  Serena feels honoured to be working in this community of educators who are so dedicated to creating the best environments for the children to thrive in.  In her previous life (before having kids), Serena spent most of her time creating and performing dances.  If you look closely, you may still catch her stealing moments to leap with the children among the trees.

Jaclyn Genovese

Growing up in Dundas, Jaclyn played soccer, spent summers camping with her family and nurtured her love of reading.  After completing her undergraduate degree in Child and Youth Studies at Brock, she took some time to research a variety of educational approaches. Having returned to Dundas to nanny for the summer, she discovered Montessori and scheduled an observation at DVMS. She was hooked. Jaclyn began her journey as a Montessori guide in 2013, practicing teaching in Elizabeth and Holly's Casa East environment at DVMS while earning her AMI (Associate Montessori Internationale) 3-6 diploma. After guiding two Casa classrooms for 5 years, Jaclyn is thrilled to be back at DVMS, as a guide in Casa East. She is passionate about inclusivity and cultivating a love of learning in each and every child. Her goal is to find a moment to share a belly laugh with (at least) one child each day. Outside the classroom, Jaclyn enjoys cooking and baking all things delicious, reading novels and spending time in nature.

Charlotte MoffatT

Charlotte discovered the Montessori philosophy while teaching an art class at the art gallery in her hometown of Grimsby. The local Montessori school came for one of her classes. As so many of us are Charlotte was inspired by the children’s independence and desire to learn. After reading more about the Montessori philosophy Charlotte received her AMI 3-6 training at the FME in Toronto in 2015. From there Charlotte had the opportunity to be the lead guide at schools in NYC and London England. She is absolutely thrilled to call Casa South and DVMS her second home. She lives in East Hamilton with her partner Mark.

Juliet Paul

Juliet has worked as a French assistant in a Casa classroom for 4 years and fell in love with the Montessori philosophy. She has acquired her TMI 3-6 Assistant certification as well as her AMI Elementary Assistant certification, and is looking forward to further Montessori education. Juliet loves spending her time outdoors paddleboarding and hiking, reading, painting and playing board games with friends! She was born and raised in Montreal and is a proud French tutor. Juliet is thrilled to be joining the wonderful community at DVMS which already includes her brother and mother!

Delta Conchas

Hello, my name is Delta and I hold AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) Montessori teacher certifications at the Assistants to Infancy (0-3), Primary (3-6) and  Elementary (6-12) age levels. I also studied a course for Montessori for  Ageing and Dementia from the Maria Montessori Institute in London, England. I am currently broadening my early childhood education knowledge through various courses. My passions are children, studying and karate.

I have more than  20 years of experience in early childhood at different age levels, I have my own two adult children and I have co-owned a Montessori School in Mississauga. I am very excited to have joined DVMS two years ago as a Young Children’s Community guide and now as a Casa guide in Casa East. I am looking forward to many years with this wonderful community of colleagues, children and parents.

HELEN LUND

Helen's biggest joy in life was raising her two amazing children -  James and Charlotte. Helen enjoys yoga, reiki, single shell rowing in Jordan Harbour, adventurous travel and walking in nature. Helen feels lucky to be surrounded by the children everyday. Helen is an AMI trained Casa assistant with 8 years experience.

Jenn Green

Having a university background in French, Jenn had been told for years to “get into teaching”; however, the public school system never really appealed to her. She had first heard about Montessori education upon returning from a 2-year stay living in Montréal. Do you know when everything just seems to fall into place so perfectly? That's how it's been for Jenn ever since she started pursuing a career in Montessori education. As of the summer of 2021, Jenn is AMI certified as an assistant for ages 0-3 and 3-6. In her spare time, Jenn loves hanging out with her cat, Franklin, and practising mindfulness through yoga and meditation.

Katie Sullivan

Katie was born and raised in Ancaster, Ontario. From an early age, she exhibited a love of learning, which naturally led her into exploring education as a career and passion. She studied at Brock University, completing her BA along with a Bachelor of Education, realizing early on that she wanted to engage with education in a unique way. Introduced to Montessori education after the birth of her first child, she has been dedicated to learning and growing ever since. With several years experience as a Casa Assistant and the completion of her 3-6 AMI Assistant Training in 2019, she is excited to contribute to the exceptional team at DVMS. Katie resides in East Hamilton with her husband and two children and spends her time outdoors in nature whenever she can. 

LOWER ELEMENTARY

Jodi Northey

Jodi Northey is the guide in DVMS’s Lower Elementary North Montessori environment and was formerly the assistant in Casa North. Jodi received her AMS (American Montessori Society) Montessori Casa training and her elementary training from TMI (Toronto Montessori Institute). Jodi also has an Honours B.A. in psychology and sociology from Trent University. Jodi’s teaching years have now extended into the elementary level, so she is a well-rounded Montessorian. Her other interests include reading, sports, and running. Oh, and singing at the top of her lungs in the car by herself.
Jodi lives in Burlington with her partner, two kids, and a dog. Jodi also brings some non-Montessori experience to her role as a guide: her first job was working as a clown for a flower shop. Duties entailed standing on the curb, walking back and forth down the sidewalk, dancing, and flagging down cars driving by. This was in downtown Peterborough, where she grew up, and right across from a Holiday Inn, which meant sometimes boys’ hockey teams would come for tournaments and throw snowballs at her from the other side of the street. So, she became a snowball-dodging, dancing clown.

Emma Cassidy

Emma Cassidy joined the DVMS team in 2019 as a Montessori Learning Resource Guide in the Lower Elementary Department. Since then, she has completed her Montessori Elementary Guide training at the Toronto Montessori Institute.

Emma has a degree in Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University and has a post-grad in Autism and Behavioural Science from George Brown College. She has always loved working with children but wanted a more natural teaching environment; as fate would have it, she stumbled upon the Montessori pedagogy and subsequently began to study it immediately. She completed her Casa level training in 2012 and has worked with infants through to the elementary-aged children in schools in Toronto, Burlington, and now Dundas.  

It has been an honour and privilege for her to work with various individuals with learning resource needs. She has had the opportunity to use her wide range of experience and education to adapt the Montessori curriculum to meet the child's needs so that it can remain an inclusive and accessible environment to them. Currently, she is thrilled to support each individual in Lower Elementary South while nurturing and fostering the classroom community.

Noeleen Gibbons

Noeleen has been with DVMS as Lower Elementary Guide since 2010. After graduating York University with a BA in History, Noeleen completed her Montessori Training with Toronto Montessori Institute, receiving her Casa, Lower, and Upper Elementary Diplomas. She has also participated in the AMI Montessori Orientation to Adolescent Studies and has her AMI Montessori for Aging and Dementia certificate. Over the years, Noeleen has worked in Toronto (her classroom was housed in what was once the Eaton’s family indoor swimming pool!) and beautiful Bermuda, where she was a guide and Elementary Program Coordinator.

Two Truths and a Lie:

-she is happily married and has two incredible teenage daughters that attended DVMS and Strata

-she loves earl grey tea, dogs, sun shiny days, and the mighty Boston Red Sox

-her mum attended a Montessori school as a child and met Dr Montessori

(Just kidding, no lies here all truths!)

Lauren MacKenzie-Pratt

Lauren began her work with children as a camp counsellor for the Hamilton YMCA while attending McMaster University for Political Science. It was here she developed a cosmic desire to be an agent of peace in the world and was drawn to work with children. This led her to pursue a Graduate Diploma in Education (and a yoga certification) in Australia, and later an AMI diploma through Montessori Northwest in Portland, Oregon. Somewhere in between the two degrees she worked in an orphanage and taught English in Mexico while attempting to learn Spanish. Fresh out of Montessori training, Lauren opened a small Elementary classroom at her local Montessori school in Salem, Oregon. It was when her Visa expired that she returned to Toronto and worked for a Montessori School in Oakville. She now lives in Hamilton’s harbourfront with her husband and daughter, who also attend DVMS. You will find Lauren buzzing around happily in Lower Elementary North. Outside of teaching, Lauren reads, bakes, enjoys coffee and writing, and dreams of completing the PCT one day.  

UPPER ELEMENTARY

Catherine Warne

Catherine Warne is a Montessori guide in the Upper Elementary environment. Over the past ten years, she has been fortunate enough to work in almost every level at DVMS. Catherine completed her Montessori Elementary training at the Toronto Montessori Institute. Catherine also holds a BA in Anthropology from McMaster University, was raised in Dundas, and spent her primary years at Central Park public elementary school, which is now Dundas Valley Montessori School. She now resides in Hamilton with her partner and two children. When she is not working, you can most likely find her on a trail enjoying the natural world.

Catherine Reipas

Catherine Reipas has over 30 years of experience working with children of all ages. She entered the Montessori world in 1999 and spent 13 years as a lower elementary guide in Oakville. In 2002 Catherine took a little detour to own and operate a Montessori-inspired art studio for children. Truly missing the classroom and the school environment she returned as a supply at DVMS. In this role, she was able to work in almost every environment and meet almost every child. This role allowed her to get a real understanding of how special DVMS is and made her want to join the team in a more permanent role. Catherine resides in Oakville with her husband, 2 children and beloved dog. She takes every opportunity to escape to her ‘CAMP-NOT COTTAGE’ near her hometown in Northern Ontario.

Joanna Blackwell

Joanna is a Dundas native who knew from her earliest days that her career would ultimately involve two things: teaching and dance. Making this dream a reality has been her lifelong pursuit in every sense of the word. A childhood devotion to ballet flourished and evolved, and ultimately brought her to the creative pulse that is Montreal. While completing her undergraduate degree in Contemporary Dance at Concordia University, Joanna worked as a ballet teacher at a local Montessori school. Inspired by both the method and by her young students, she decided to pursue her Elementary Teachers’ Diploma at the Toronto Montessori Institute.

Since 2002, she has enjoyed the opportunity to teach at both the elementary and adolescent levels in Oakville and Hamilton. As an educator, she believes that dance and the performing arts can play an important role in a young person’s development. She carried this belief forward in running a successful theatre and film summer camp that operated in Westdale for 20 years and has now reopened at DVMS.

Kathleen MacKinnon

Kathleen MacKinnon is head of Elementary Administration and is excited to be back in the classroom in Lower Elementary South. She attended the University of Guelph and holds a BA in Psychology. Kathleen obtained her Montessori teaching certificates for Casa, and Elementary from the Toronto Montessori Institute. Kathleen has been teaching for over 20 years in London, Oakville, and of course Dundas. In her free time… oh that’s right, she doesn’t have any because she is a busy mom of two active, teen girls. Before parenthood, Kathleen enjoyed travelling around the globe as the Children’s Summer Camp Chair for Children’s International Summer Village. Now, she enjoys spending time with her family, golfing and biking. She looks forward to the time when her girls are a bit older and they can all enjoy travel adventures together.

Alicia Looyenga

Alicia has worked in a wide variety of elementary educational models, both public and alternative, for many years before receiving her 6-12 elementary training in Montessori.  She is currently teaching French in the Upper Elementary classrooms, as well as other subject material integrated with artful follow-ups.   Alicia enjoys hiking the trails of Hamilton with her four children and has been practicing her painting skills with daily, tiny paintings. 

CULINARY PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Brad Davis

Brad is very excited to start a new adventure as Culinary Program Coordinator at DVMS. Cooking and baking have been a passion of his since childhood where he would bake cookies and other creations with his mother.  This early connection to the kitchen sparked a lifelong journey of learning new ways to make delicious things. Having spent the last six years as an AMI certified assistant in both Casa and YCC communities, he is eager to see these two loves merge. Brad is also a graduate of the George Brown Community Worker Program. When he isn’t thinking about food, he is probably thinking about music. He lives in Hamilton with his wife Joanne and his cat Martin Hannett, who unfortunately is a biter. 

LEARNING RESOURCE

Mairi Achong

Mairi Achong is the Learning Resource Specialist at DVMS. She was bitten by the Montessori bug when her little sister attended a Montessori school as a child. Mairi completed her practice teaching at the Ecole Montessori International after receiving training from the Montessori Centre International, based in the UK. She taught in francophone and bilingual Montessori schools in Montreal for fourteen years, becoming passionate about inclusive education. Since 2014, Mairi has specialized in adapting the Montessori curriculum for children with learning differences. She holds the Advanced MACAR (Montessori Applied to Children at Risk) certification from the Shelton School in Texas and Orton-Gillingham Level II Practical Linguistics from the Claremont School in Toronto. Joining the DVMS community in 2015 was a dream come true: the opportunity to work with students and staff throughout all levels of the school.  She is committed to helping each student realize their goals. Mairi is the mother of four children (the youngest attends the Upper Elementary program at DVMS) and has two grandchildren. She lives in Hamilton with her family and pets. Outside of school, Mairi dedicates her time to lifelong learning, reading, music and spending time outdoors with family.

Shannon Folland

Shannon is an LRT support and a Mom to two lovely children who inspire her every day. She has a B.A in Child Studies and is AMI certified as a Casa English Assistant through the Foundation for Montessori Education. She had the honour and pleasure of being trained by Sandra Girlato, who was trained by Dr. Maria Montessori’s granddaughter herself. Shannon’s career has always had a therapeutic focus and has included Community Development as well. She is a Behavioural Specialist and a certified Mental Health First Aid Responder. She has spoken at many conferences across Ontario and was recruited by the United Nations to speak about her work with children. She firmly believes in celebrating the uniqueness, of each child and their strengths and abilities. She passionately believes in the power of compassion, humour, self-development,  gratitude and teamwork and is so grateful to be a part of the DVMS family.

ADMINISTRATION

Tony Evans

“Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war.” This is the Montessori quote that drives Tony’s work. That fundamental idea is that we can change the world through high-fidelity Montessori education, for him the definition of peace includes the individual, the family, the community and society at large. A few years after training as an Elementary Montessori Guide in Bergamo, Italy, Tony started Dundas Valley Montessori School. Since those early days with only 8 students, DVMS has grown to 275 students on 2 campuses, with students from 18 months to 15 years. He established Canada’s first authentic Erdkinder and developed a high school built on the idea of a village as a curriculum. He has been on the board of the CCMA for almost 20 years and served as Chair and Vice-Chair for much of that time. He has been Canada’s foremost lobbyist for Montessori and was successful in creating 13:1 ratios for authentic Montessori programs in Ontario. Most proudly, he is the father to two Strata graduates including the first High School graduate from our Family of Schools.

Skye Collins

Skye has been on the admin team for our Montessori family of schools since 2007. She has been located mainly at our Strata campus for the past seven years but is involved at both schools. She hails from a Library and Information Technician background, and had a professional organizing business (years before Maria Kondo did). She has 3 wild and wonderful children that have been moving through this family of schools much too fast! Skye has completed her AMI Montessori 12-18 Orientation and most recently graduated from the Whole School Leadership program.

Kate Millie

Kate Millie believes that the most important citizens are our smallest. She has dedicated her life’s work to advocating for the best for the smallest and is a speaker, consultant and mentor for teachers and families that raise our smallest citizens. Kate recognizes the capabilities of our youngest children and supports the important role early childhood educators, assistants to infancy and families have in nurturing healthy early child development. With 15 years of experience promoting Montessori pedagogy as a way to live life, Kate holds her Association Montessori Internationale diplomas at the 0 -3 and 3 - 6 levels and a Masters of Education in Montessori Education. Kate has taught at the Nido, Toddler and Casa levels on three different continents and has acted as Academic Director for two large International Montessori Schools in Beijing, China. At DVMS, Kate facilitates all DVMS programming, supports parents and staff and runs our outreach programs.

Robynne Millie

Robynne joined DVMS in 2013 as a grandparent.  Eight years later, she decided to jump in as a staff member too!  In September 2021 she became a part-time Administrative Assistant after retiring from a lengthy career in retail management.  Robynne brings skills that can be applied to many aspects of the school. Robynne is happy to be immersed in a community that is built on the love of the child.

Shalyn Baker

From the very beginning, Montessori has always been in Shalyn’s blood. As a child, she attended the Montessori House of Children school in London, ON from Casa until grade 8. DVMS’s own Kathleen MacKinnon was one of her guides! Shalyn received her B.A. in psychology from Laurentian University in Sudbury and her AMS (American Montessori Society) Casa certification from Sheridan College in 2007. For the past 14 years, Shalyn has worked as a Casa guide, Upper El assistant, LRT and is now excited to embark on the next stage of her Montessori teaching journey as our Office Manager at DVMS. She lives in Paris, ON with her husband, son, and daughter. Her children attend DVMS’s Upper Elementary program. While Shalyn was an active soccer player before having children, life now is spent either at the baseball diamond, hockey arena or up north at the family cottage!  She loves to bake and read whenever time allows.