Our Team
At Kawartha Montessori School (KMS), our teachers are pivotal in delivering top-tier educational experiences to our students. We insist on having teachers who are well-qualified, committed, and expertly trained in Montessori methods. Here’s a snapshot of our extraordinary teaching staff:
- Expert Training: Our teachers have undergone rigorous Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) or Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) accredited training, providing a profound understanding of Montessori principles and techniques.
- Best Graduates: We onboard only top graduates from renowned Montessori institutes such as the Toronto Montessori Institute, Montessori Teachers College, and Association Montessori Internationale.
- Highly Educated: Our teachers often hold Bachelor of Education degrees alongside their Montessori training, indicating their deep comprehension of child development and pedagogy.
- Continued Teacher Education: We support our teachers’ continual growth by offering regular professional development opportunities like conferences, workshops, and courses to enhance their knowledge and enrich their classrooms.
- Specialist Instructors: Our French and Arts programs are led by highly skilled specialists with remarkable experience, training, and education.
- Handpicked Support Staff: We choose our support staff, including Casa Classroom Assistants and KMS Specialist Instructors, based on their experience, training, and education to cater to our student’s unique needs.
- Committed Administrative Staff: Our administrative team ensures smooth day-to-day operations of the school and helps maintain a robust teaching staff.
Carolyn Donaldson
Head of School
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts honours degree in Child Development, Montessori Early Childhood Diploma, Bachelor of Education (OCT), Early Childhood Education (RECE)
What do you like to do outside of school? When I am not at school, my favourite thing to do is spend time with my family outdoors. We love hikes, playing disc golf, pickleball, downhill skiing, and spending time at our family cottage. We love playing board games, card games, and having movie nights too! I make time for running several times a week and enjoy reading if I can squeeze it in.
What drew you to Montessori Education? I heard about Montessori when I was completing my Bachelor of Education at Trent. A friend recommended I do my alternative placement at KMS and I’m so glad I did! Observing in the classrooms, I knew almost immediately that I had found the teaching philosophy that aligned best with my values and teaching style. And I’ve been here ever since!
What is your favourite subject and why? My favourite subject in a Montessori classroom is math! The materials are so brilliantly designed and call to the children in such unique ways. From the Golden Beads all the way up to Racks and Tubes – I love them all!
Carrie O’Toole
Vice Principal / Learning Strategist
Qualifications: BA Psychology, Bachelor of Education (Member of OCT), Leadership and Outdoor Education Diploma
What do you like to do outside of school? I love the outdoors and staying active outside. Over the years this has led me to pursuing many fun adventures with my family (my daughter, son and husband) on a mountain bike, road bike, downhill skills, nordic skis, canoe tripping and exploring different areas of the world. I can often be found at a soccer field too – I love watching both of my children play this beautiful sport.
What drew you to Montessori Education? After graduating from teacher’s college I covered a maternity leave at KMS. Even after a day here it was hard not to fall in love. The pedagogy, the people, the warmth and the curiosity and love of learning in the classrooms was unlike anything I had seen anywhere before. I was hooked!
What is your favourite subject and why? It is hard not to have an appreciation for all the subjects in a Montessori classroom with all the beautiful materials, however, over the years I have gravitated to learning more about executive functions. Executive functions are the part of the brain that help us get things done (planning, prioritizing, organizing, time management, emotional control, initiating tasks, sustaining attention, etc). This is really my favourite subject and I love learning more about this, and supporting students, parents and teachers in their journey of strengthening these important, valuable, lifelong skills.
Teachers
Aimee Quinlan
Casa Teacher
Qualifications: I have a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English and Mass Communications and Casa Montessori Teacher certification from Toronto Montessori Institute.
What do you like to do outside of school? I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I also love to create art, make music and dance. I love to garden and read, as well as travel and camp.
What drew you to Montessori Education? When my children were young, I was looking for a place for them to discover a love of learning. I found KMS, enrolled my kids, and almost immediately decided to go back to school and get qualifications in order to follow this unbelievable path of the world of Montessori.
What is your favourite subject and why? I love all of the subjects and the materials that help to teach them. If I had to pick a favourite today, I would lean toward Culture, and especially Geography. Helping young children understand the world, and watching them discover who they want to be within it, is always awe inspiring.
Casandra Lee
Casa Teacher
Qualifications: Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and Environmental Studies. AMI Casa Primary Diploma
What do you like to do outside of school?
When not at KMS, I love to paint, write stories, read, and cook. Some other favourite activities are taking long walks and spending time with friends and family.
What drew you to Montessori Education?
In 2015, I worked at a Montessori school as an Art and Gardening teacher. I knew very little about the Montessori philosophy and how the classrooms worked. When I entered the classrooms, I observed how special the environment was for the children. The freedom and independence were beautiful to witness. From that experience, I was inspired to receive my Montessori training.
What is your favourite subject and why?
I have a lot of favourite subjects and they seem to change from year to year. I went from history to science to literature to psychology. Now as an adult, my favourite subject to study is art.
Shannon Botulenko
Casa Teacher
Qualifications: Currently taking the Early Childhood Montessori Teachers Diploma through Montessori Teachers College
Correctional Worker Diploma, over 20 years of experience working with children in educational settings.
What do you like to do outside of school? Outside of School I enjoy kayaking, swimming, camping and various sports with my family. I also enjoy reading and cooking.
What drew you to Montessori Education? I love the Montessori philosophies to follow the child, develop independence and foster curiosity.
What is your favourite subject and why? I really enjoy all 5 areas of the curriculum. My favourite is the arithmetic area. I love how the Montessori teachings incorporate concrete learning as well as taking in the sensitive periods of the child into consideration and ensuring that all of those needs are met.
Danielle Brinkman
Casa Teacher
Qualifications: Bachelor of BPhEd, BEd
What do you like to do outside of school? I love to go camping, to spend time with my family, and to play music.
What drew you to Montessori Education? The Montessori way is so intentional, child centered and the classrooms are so warm and beautiful. These aspects are what drew me to Montessori Education both as an educator and as a parent.
What is your favourite subject and why? I love all of the areas of curriculum in Casa but if I had to choose a favourite it would be the math curriculum. When children start with a concrete understanding of units, tens, hundreds and thousands, they truly understand what the operations mean. Learning math, and every subject in this way, sets children up for a lifelong love of learning!
Kristi MacMillan
Lower Elementary Teacher
Qualifications: Bachelor of Honours Degree in Law and English, Casa and Elementary Montessori training.
What do you like to do outside of school? I love to spend time on my houseboat with my family and dogs, cook, read a great book, and travel.
What drew you to Montessori Education? After I learned that pursuing being a lawyer was not the path for me, I was working as an Administrator in a Montessori school in Toronto. I fell in love with everything I saw and just knew that this was what education could and should be.
What is your favourite subject and why? I enjoy working in many different curriculum areas and the Montessori materials make learning fun while also informative. Math was not a favourite subject of mine when I was in school, however working with the Lower Elementary math materials, like the Chequerboard and Racks and Tubes, has made me love math!
Shannon Mitchell
Lower Elementary Teacher
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in History and World Religions, Early Childhood Education diploma
What do you like to do outside of school? I love spending time with my family playing games, going for long walks and hikes, snowshoeing, baking, cooking and reading. We also love to take family road trips every summer.
What drew you to Montessori Education? The Montessori principles that foster a child’s natural curiosity, independence and love for learning really speak to me. I am excited to continue to grow as a Montessori educator.
What is your favourite subject and why? My favourite subject to teach is Language. I love the light bulb moment as students master new language skills, and then suddenly the world of reading is opened to them!
Libby Echlin
Upper Elementary Teacher
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Bachelor of Education
What do you like to do outside of school? Outside of school I like to be with my family and spend time with friends. I love being outdoors in any capacity, but my favourite place is Algonquin Park where I spent my summers growing up.
What drew you to Montessori Education? After working in the public school system for many years, I was drawn to learning about other education approaches. I instantly connected with the Montessori philosophy of following the child as an individual when teaching and I have been hooked ever since!
What is your favourite subject and why? I love any opportunity to be creative and expressive, which is why I have always been drawn to learning and teaching Language and the Arts.
Joe Perras
Upper Elementary Teacher
Qualifications: Bachelor of Education Primary/Junior- Trent University
Elementary Montessori Training- Toronto Montessori Institute
What do you like to do outside of school? I am happiest spending time with my son, exploring nature, and keeping busy outside. I love to play a variety of sports, my favorite being disc golf. I am usually always listening to music and enjoy building things.
What drew you to Montessori Education? During my B of Ed training, I did my ‘alternative placement’ at KMS and fell in love with the pedagogy and was inspired by the children. The Head of School offered me a position and I have been here ever since.
What is your favourite subject and why? I love learning and am very interested in and enjoy teaching most subjects.
Kellie Davis
Middle School Teacher
Qualifications: Honours Bachelor of Arts- Comparative Development, Bachelor of Education- Primary, Junior and Intermediate
What do you like to do outside of school? I love to run, bike, hike, canoe, craft and read. Spending time outdoors and with family and friends always fills me with joy. I also love to travel and learn new languages.
What drew you to Montessori Education? Maria Montessori’s approach was to support children, encourage curiosity, and ask for ideas rather than provide answers. She valued problem solving over rote learning, effort over outcomes, and independence over authority. How could an educator not be aligned with such a beautiful, child-centered approach?
What is your favourite subject and why? I love every subject because no matter what the topic is there is always so much to learn and share.
Tim Holland
French Teacher
Qualifications: OCT certified, FSL1, AIM level 1
What do you like to do outside of school? Exploring nature trails, running, unicycling, mountain biking, and performing.
What drew you to Montessori Education? Being part of a Community that makes the space to nurture the whole student.
Lucy Heo
Music and Arts Specialist
Master’s completion of Arts in Music
Diploma of Arts and Technology
What do you like to do outside of school?
Besides teaching at school, I love to spend time with my family, such as bike rides, playing board games, and cooking together. I also love to paint, read, craft, crochet, and compose songs. I am working on a diamond painting of Starry Night by Van Gogh as a new hobby.
What drew you to Montessori Education?
I was walking through the path to becoming a music therapist, and I found an amazing opportunity to be a music and arts specialist at KMS.
When I studied Montessori philosophy, I was inspired by its educational model, which supports the development of skills to help children’s learning journey by respecting their own pace, voice, and mind.
As a Music and Art teacher, I feel beyond motivated and excited to apply this whole-child approach method in teaching music and art classes.
What is your favourite subject and why?
I have always enjoyed and loved Music and Arts throughout my entire life because they give me freedom and motivation of imagination. It also allows me to express myself creatively and freely.
Lindsey Gershfeld
Senior Administrator
Qualifications: Graduate of Public Relations
What do you like to do outside of school? I love getting quality time with the family; going on walks with our dog, swimming at the beach and building sandcastles, enjoying weekly movie nights, and finding new things to try. I’m currently working on my pickleball and skiing skills, weather permitting!
What drew you to Montessori Education? The thing I love most about Montessori is the development of a genuine love and appreciation for learning; it is what I hope for my child as he grows. I also really like the idea of teaching the whole child, and meeting them where they’re at.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Literature and writing is definitely my favourite; fiction and non-fiction. It is a wonderful way to express ideas, learn about people and the world around us, or just to get lost in another universe.
Dianne Kingsley
Licensing Supervisor & Administrator
Qualifications: Registered E.C.E.
What do you like to do outside of school? When not at work, I enjoy running my kids from one sporting event to the next. We also spend a lot of time camping during the summer.
What drew you to Montessori Education? I first learned about Montessori while studying Early Childhood in College. Once I had children, I knew that Montessori was what I wanted for them. Four children and 20+years later – I know it was the right choice.
What is your favourite subject and why? My favourite subjects in school growing up were Psychology and Accounting but when I get to spend time in the classrooms here at KMS my favourite area of curriculum would have to be Math. The materials are beautiful and really foster a concrete connection to learning that just doesn’t happen in the mainstream classroom.
Michael Sterpin
Custodian and Kitchen Specialist
Qualifications: I have 25 plus years of cooking professionally from small restaurants, resorts and large luxury hotels. I also have 10 plus years of teaching culinary management in a post secondary education setting as well as owning my business.
What do you like to do outside of school? Outside of school I enjoy spending time with my boys at the soccer pitch and working with my hands on household projects as well as bringing back to life classic British sports cars.
What drew you to Montessori Education (KMS)? It brings a holistic approach to teaching. It’s child centered and moves in a logical manner with the learner and allows for true mastery in a lesson.
What is your favourite subject and why? Food of course!! Working with food allows me to think critically as well as work artistically. However, I also enjoy the sciences and literature.