Maple Tree Montessori Staff

Meet our teachers

Montessori teachers treat each child with respect as an individual, using empathic listening and acute observation to direct children’s natural curiosity in a productive way. Maple Tree children know that their teachers care deeply about their interests, support their activities in the classroom, and can teach them fun and fascinating things.

  • I founded Maple Tree Montessori in 2002. It was a very small operation with my own son and five children from the neighbourhood that first year. Over those early years, it grew slowly and, in 2006 with the arrival of our second child, we moved to a full-day program with a larger classroom and full complement of staff. 

    My education started when I enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Canadian Studies and minor in Sociology at Mount Saint Vincent University. I hold a diploma in Montessori from the Montessori St. Nicholas training centre in England as well as a designation as an Early Childhood Educator with the Province of Nova Scotia. I am a certified Children's Yoga Teacher and RYS 200 hr certified yoga teacher. I also hold a certificate in Management from MSVU.

    Maple Tree is my heart. I always knew I would have a Montessori Preschool and I knew I would call it Maple Tree. Maple Tree is, and always will be, a very special place for children

  • I am so pleased to have joined the Maple Tree Montessori team in the fall of 2020. Originally from PEI, I completed my BA at St. Thomas University (Fredericton, NB) and in 2014 completed my AMI Casa training at the Foundation for Montessori Education (Toronto, ON), and have worked as a Casa directress ever since. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to work and travel abroad, and am delighted to return to the Maritime provinces where I can share my love of the Montessori approach to learning. In my spare time, I love being outdoors, wandering through parks or exploring new areas of the city. I’m also an avid reader so you’ll find me curling up with a good book, or on those rainy days, playing some of my favourite board games with friends and family.

  • Hello everyone! I am the most senior teacher at Maple Tree Montessori as I joined the team in 2009 and did my Early Childhood Montessori training then.

    I grew up in Brazil where I graduated in Psychology and moved to Canada in the late 80's. Most of my working experience in both countries is with children.

    There are lots of things I love to do in my free time. I love to learn about health and nutrition, I love music and flowers.

    It is a privilege for me to be able to teach the children that are part of our Maple Tree community.

  • My name is Ravinder Kaur. I hold a Bachelors in Arts and Masters in English. I hold a Montessori diploma and have 10 years experience working with children. Presently, I am working on my diploma in Early Childhood Education at NSCC. I have a passion for teaching and I love being a teacher. I feel blessed to be a part of Maple Tree Montessori.

  • I am Miss Katie, and I am happy to be a part of Maple Tree. 

    I am from Vancouver BC, I moved to Nova Scotia in 2014 to peruse my Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies. I have taught children in many parts of Canada including BC and Lake Louise Alberta. I have earned my Early Education Diploma from NSCECE and attained a Level 3 Certification through the province. 

    I enjoy painting, drawing and other forms of art. I love hiking, camping and being outdoors. Most weekends you’ll find me baking or cooking something!

    Every day is a beautiful day when I'm working with children.

  • My name is Ms. Mary Ann, and I am thrilled to be a part of the Maple Tree community! I have three years of experience working as an Early Childhood Educator in Canada. Before that, I spent five years working as an ECE in Australia, where I completed a Foundation Course Certificate in Waldorf Early Childhood Education. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Organisational Communication from the Philippines where I worked as a middle school teacher for nine years. Currently, I am pursuing a diploma in Early Childhood Education at NSCECE. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking and spending quality time at the beach with my husband. I also have a passion for watercolour painting, sewing puppets, and baking bread. While my husband and I have been empty nesters for a few years, we feel incredibly fortunate to have our two daughters living nearby. They were my best teachers and I continue to learn from the amazing children and teachers I work with daily

  • My name is Michelle Dias, but I'm better known as Ms. Dias. I was born in Brazil, specifically in the state of Rio de Janeiro and which is known around the world as the Marvelous City. My family and I have relocated to Halifax and we love having chosen Nova Scotia to be our home.

    Since I was a child, I was passionate about playing at school and loved teaching my dolls. As an adult, the desire to be a teacher was so strong that I completed my university degree education in Early Childhood Education. And to further expand my knowledge, I took a postgraduate course in Psychopedagogy. And throughout my career, I had the opportunity to work in classrooms and in pedagogical coordination.