Our Team

Kerryn was born in Melbourne, Victoria. She has been with Perth Montessori both as a parent and a staff member since 2000. What Kerryn finds most inspiring about her EA role is the satisfaction of seeing a child’s face when they achieve what they set out to accomplish. Kerryn loves the fact that the Montessori way promotes independence and allows children to develop at their own pace.

Kerryn’s hobbies include going to the gym, walking, cycling, gardening, cooking, watching Netflix and spending time with her family and pets. One thing you may not know about Kerryn is that, before her time at Perth Montessori, she did a Cook’s apprenticeship! She also has three kids, 24, 23 and 16!

Her favourite sayings are; "You can do it!" and "There’s no such word as can’t."

Arul was born in Malaysia and moved to Melbourne in 2011. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) (Hons) and worked as an industrial chemist in the petrochemical industry in South East Asia. In view of her strong desire to work with children, she later pursued post-graduate qualifications in education and taught Maths and Chemistry to high school students.

Arul continued her teaching career in WA in 2014 upon relocating to Perth. Arul has been at Perth Montessori since 2019 and is currently teaching Maths for the Cycle 4 & 5 high school students and is an EA in Cycle 1 Sunflower.

The most inspiring part of her job is sharing her experiences and knowledge with her students. Arul values the Montessori way as it focuses on child-centred learning whereby children explore the material independently.

Arul can speak English, Tamil, and Bahasa Malaysia. In her free time, she attends singing, dancing and yoga classes. She also loves gardening and playing with her puppy. She has travelled to many countries over the years, which has caused her to develop a passion for charitable causes. Some of the organisations which she supports are CARE Australia and Médecins Sans Frontières Australia.

Her favourite saying is; "If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are." (Mother Theresa)

Udenie originally comes from Sri Lanka and is bi-lingual, speaking both English and Sinhala. Before coming to Australia, Udenie had many other roles in the workforce including being an auditor and an assistant manager at various government institutions, in addition to working as a graduate teacher for seven years.

Udenie has been with Perth Montessori since 2011 as an education assistant and has recently completed her Montessori Diploma studies for ages 3-6. She absolutely loves working with young children, through all the laughter, tears, and exhaustion! Udenie values the Montessori approach as it teaches children how to be independent.

In her spare time, Udenie enjoys cooking, gardening, and sewing. She strongly believes that as educators, we must be willing to do whatever it takes every day, for every student.

Her favourite quote is; "The education of even a small child, therefore, does not aim at preparing them for school, but for life." (Maria Montessori)

Vijayata belongs to the Holy city of Amritsar in Northern India. She is multilingual, and is fluent in Hindi, Punjabi, as well as English. Before joining Perth Montessori, Vijayata worked as a relief teacher at public and private schools. She has also worked at Southbank Montessori for six years in a range of roles. She is not new to Perth Montessori as she has been a relief teacher on many occasion, but as of Term 1 2023 has taken a permanent role as Jacaranda's Director.

When it comes to inspiring aspects of her job, Vijayata cannot name just one. Teaching in a multi-age classroom, and nurturing a child's innate abilities to learn for constructive and positive outcomes rank in the top two. She also loves the child-centred educational approach in the Montessori setting, as well as appreciating how a child's natural curiosity to learn and grow and flourish is always encouraged.

When not in her role, Vijayata can be found spending time with family, reading and leisurely walking.

Her favourite quote is; "The greatest sign of success for a teacher…is to say, 'The children are now working as if I did not exist.' " (Dr. Maria Montessori)

Michelle comes from Australia and grew up in the Great Southern Region (Denmark/Albany). While Michelle is new to Perth Montessori in 2022, for the past five years she worked in other independent and department schools, most recently in Dandargan in the Wheatbelt, in a K/PP/Year 1 multi-aged group class.

Michelle loves that she is able to learn new things every day from the students and fabulous staff. She appreciates how the Montessori way enables her to meet each child where they are at and follow their lead in their learning. She particularly likes the feeling of community the Montessori approach evokes.

In the past, Michelle has been a musician of woodwind instruments and a singer, which has now reduced down to singing in the car. She has recently taken up roller-skating, which she finds thrilling, and has been dabbling in embroidery. If Michelle were to retire today, she would adopt three more dogs, a lizard, and birds.

Her favourite advice-nugget is; "Four words on which to build the foundation of an amazing life are Joy, Love, Gratitude, and Music."

Deb originally hails from Singapore and speaks both English and basic Mandarin. Before her time at Perth Montessori, she taught at Australian Islamic College as a lower primary school teacher. She has been at Perth Montessori since 2019.

Deb truly loves being in a community of children and their families in addition to staff that seek the best for the children’s potential to blossom. She highly values the open-ended possibilities the Montessori way has to offer and enjoys witnessing the love of learning through the children’s eyes.

When not in her role at school, Deb loves dancing, abseiling, kayaking, jogging, being creative and working on her self-growth. Two fun facts about Deb are; she has a sweet tooth, and she learnt how to change a car tyre on the way to her 33rd birthday party!

The best advice she’s ever been given is; "Be true to who you are" and "It’s never too late to learn." Her favourite saying is; "Cracker Lackers!"

Shamim comes from Singapore and has been at Perth Montessori since 2005. Prior to this, she taught in Kuwait for ten years.

Speaking English, Indonesian, Malay, Tamil, Hindi, and Chinese, Shamim loves being able to contribute towards the students’ growth and lives. She values the fact that the Montessori way prioritises every student’s individuality as they are encouraged to develop at their own pace.

When not in her role at PM, Shamim can be found teaching the ladies in her church and volunteering at the soup kitchen in Ellenbrook. A fun fact about Shamim is that she is married with five children!

The best advice she has ever been given is; "Be yourself and do the best that you can."

Marta comes from Brazil and speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish, German and Italian. A Montessori-qualified teacher, she has work at Silkwood School and Brisbane Montessori School. Marta has been at Perth Montessori since Term 1, 2023.

Marta believes the best thing about her job is being able to assist both the students as well the director. When it comes to Montessori teaching, Marta particularly loves the emphasis on the respect for the child and for going at the child’s own pace.

When not working, Marta loves surfing, skydiving, walking, and has a love for reading (which she hasn’t been able to do much of lately!). 

Her favourite quote is; "The greatest sign of success for a teacher…is to say, 'The children are now working as if I did not exist.' " (Dr. Maria Montessori)

Lee was born in Perth, raised in London, and speaks some German. He started at Perth Montessori in 2021, initially doing relief teaching. Before joining the school, Lee had a wide range of experiences including six years of teaching, ten years of working in event management in Europe and the Middle East, and other roles in Skyworks, City to Surf and cycle races, all in Perth.

This year, Lee will be working with students in both Cycle 3 and 4, with a focus on hands-on projects in the workshop and science room. Lee finds working with both students and staff the most inspiring aspect of his job. He loves project-based work as he can really get to know students and teach valuable life skills in a nurturing environment.

When not in his role at PM, Lee is a keen amateur astronomer, cinephile, frisbee tragic and loves taking his labradoodle down to the beach. 

His favourite sayings are; "Never fear being thought a fool for remaining silent, for when you open your mouth you remove all doubt." (Abraham Lincoln). That, and; "Measure twice, cut once."

Ashe was born in Geraldton, but spent most of her youth living in Busselton. Before coming to Perth Montessori, Ashe worked as a Maths and Science teacher for five years. Before this, she was an environmental consultant in the Perth Region.

Having just started at Perth Montessori in 2023, Ashe finds working with students and staff who love learning most inspiring. When it comes to Big Picture, Ashe particularly loves seeing students excited about what they are doing and teaching her all about their passions.

When not working, Ashe is often found sewing her own clothes, swimming at the beach, hiking or playing sport.

Deb originally comes from the Wheatbelt, WA. Apart from English, she also speaks Aussie slang (and is pretty good at it!). Before coming to Perth Montessori, Deb worked on farms, as a vet nurse, a support worker, a bookkeeper and an EA in mainstream schooling. Deb joined Perth Montessori in Term 4, 2022.

The most inspiring part of her role is helping kids develop a love of learning and explore their interests. Deb feels that the best thing about Montessori is the mutual respect and the development of independence that everyone is encouraged to have. She also loves how Big Picture allows the students to explore their interests and still cover all their school learning requirements and even enter university if they wish, without all the stress of ATAR exams.  

When not working, you will find Deb outside in the paddock, on or around the water, fixing something on one of their many cars, trucks, motorbikes or farm machines, or starting a new venture. She believes life is about constant learning; and a love of learning makes life much more enjoyable.

The best advice she has been given is; "Show respect even to people who don't deserve it. Not as a reflection of their character, but as a reflection of yours." Also; "If you love your job, you'll never do a day's work in your life."

Willow was born in Albany and moved to Perth for high-school. Before joining Perth Montessori, Willow worked as a maths teacher at Halls Head in Mandurah. She also worked as a wellbeing coordinator in London, UK. Willow has been at Perth Montessori since Term 1, 2023.

The most inspiring part of her role is watching students develop as a whole, rather than within a segmented learning structure. When it comes to Montessori, Willow likes that students call the teachers by their first names as it just feels better to her. When it comes to Big Picture, Willow feels it's the way of the future, as it allows students to learn whilst developing real-world skills.

When not working, Willow can be found hanging out with her two young daughters, friends, and family.

The best advice she has ever been given is; "If you can be anything in this world, be kind."

Tamara has been at Perth Montessori since 2018. Originally employed as a Literacy Support Specialist, she has taught students across the school from Cycles 2 to 5. This year, Tamara will be working as a Cycle 4 & 5 Advisor helping implement the Big Picture Education model, which she is very excited about.

Prior to working at PM, Tamara taught internationally in Singapore, Egypt and Norway. She particularly loved the Reggio Emilia approach she used in Singapore, which has several crossovers with Montessori, including hands-on learning and respect for the child. Tamara has Anglo-Egyptian heritage, speaks both English and Arabic, and has recently become an Australian citizen. 

When not teaching, she can be found singing, writing, reading, Netflix-ing, and entertaining her toddler. A fun fact about Tamara is that she has lived in eight different countries on four different continents.

Her favourite saying is; "Begin now. This time next year you’ll have wished you started today."

Lorenzo originally comes from Madrid, Spain and is fluent in both Spanish and English. Before coming to Perth Montessori, he worked in Community Services and as an Education Assistant for over two decades. Lorenzo started at Perth Montessori in Term 1, 2023.

The most inspiring thing about his role is helping students to find their potential and watching it grow. When it comes to the Montessori way, Lorenzo loves the fact that students are given the freedom to work independently, as individuals, according to their own strengths and abilities.

When not working, Lorenzo can you be found playing the guitar, song writing, and spending time with his children.

One of his favourite sayings is; "To live, to love, to learn and to leave your legacy." That, and; "Smile on."  :-)

Caroline is originally from Dublin, Ireland and has been with Perth Montessori since 2001. She grew up in Dublin until she was 21 and then spent three years backpacking throughout South East Asia, South and East Africa, Mexico, Florida, and the Channel Islands. During this time, Caroline worked in retail and hospitality.

After high school, Caroline had the opportunity to work for a year in a Montessori school, which is what ignited her passion for all things Montessori. Caroline is inspired most by watching her students learn and grow and develop intrinsic motivation and a love of learning. She loves getting to know both students and families and being able to respect and cater for individual learning styles/needs.

Caroline has a teenage son and a six-year-old daughter so, when not teaching, she is usually chasing around after them! She can also be found at the local surf club or assisting at her local football club in winter.

Her favourite saying is; "One foot in front of the other and one step at a time and, if it's not working, change it."

Todd completed his musical tertiary studies at WAAPA/UWA graduating in 1994 with a Certificate in Music (Classical) and Diploma of Music Teaching. He received several distinctions for Excellence in Performance and was awarded Best Graduating Student by the Western Australian Music Teachers’ Association. Todd teaches students of all ages and levels. His areas of interest include Performance Practices and Early Education Music Application.

Todd joined the Montessori team in 2002 and soon realised the similarities between Montessori principles and the learning of a musical instrument. Each student is unique and will respond best when shown, and while havin fun! Todd's approach as an instrumental teacher at PM comes within a broader educational sense. Assisting Cycle 1 students with early concepts of numeracy and literacy. Cycle 2 students with comprehension, higher thinking and problem-solving. Cycle 3+ in the areas of confidence, self-reliance, and personal achievement.

Todd’s hobbies include restoring instruments, pianos, harmoniums, and pianolas. He recently designed and built his own harpsichord for performing authentic Baroque repertoire.

Sally hails all the way from Scotland and first started work at Perth Montessori in 2004. She has always been passionate about art and feels inspired when she manages to get the students interested in it too. Sally loves everything Montessori and feels it is a fantastic way of both teaching and learning.

When not teaching, Sally can be found babysitting her two grandchildren, painting, cooking, gardening, walking her dog on the beach, or playing golf.

Her best advice is to; "Give it a go!" and "Always try your best.".

Linda comes from Jakarta, Indonesia. She speaks both Indonesian and Japanese and has taught Indonesian to the Perth Montessori students since 2014.

The most inspiring part of Linda’s job is seeing students appreciating other cultures. She also loves the way the Montessori approach allows for students to explore their creativity.

When not teaching, Linda enjoys swimming, eating out, cooking, and golf.

One of her favourite sayings is; "Happiness is not about getting all you want, it is about enjoying all you have."

Born and raised in Perth, Sally moved to Melbourne in 1996 looking for adventure. While studying for her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne, Sally worked in after-school care and unexpectedly discovered the joy of working with children. She subsequently went on to complete a Graduate Diploma of Education (Primary) at Monash University, commencing her career as a classroom teacher in 2004.

Sally has travelled extensively throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, India and south-east Asia and speaks French and Spanish. In 2006, Sally spent two years living and teaching in Colombia. It was at that time that she came across Paula Polk Lillard’s book, Montessori Today. Reading this book ignited a spark in Sally’s imagination; she was determined to embrace this holistic approach and began working towards her International Montessori Teaching Diploma that year.

Sally’s passion for Montessori has sustained her throughout her career in education; from teaching in mainstream and Montessori classrooms, to investigating parents’ reasons for choosing a Montessori school in fulfilment of her Graduate Certificate of Educational Research, the child-centred philosophy of the Montessori approach has been her beacon. Sally holds a Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership from Monash University and has worked as an Inclusive Education Leader, Deputy Principal and most recently Principal of Mount Dandenong Primary School. Sally is inspired by the privilege of working with communities to effect educational change at the school and system level. She strongly believes in the transformational power of Montessori education to change lives for the better.

A couple of Sally’s favourite nuggets of wisdom are; "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." (Maya Angelou), and "The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn." (Alvin Toffler)

At the start of 2022, Sally, along with her husband and kids, relocated to Perth for a lifestyle change and to be closer to her own family. Outside of school, Sally loves spending time with her family and dogs, especially exploring nature and discovering new places. She enjoys travel, walking, reading and cultural pursuits such as museums, galleries, restaurants and live music. Sally joined PM in 2022.

Originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Adin has been at Perth Montessori since 2005. Prior to this, he taught Martial Arts (and still has a club in Bull Creek that he teaches at two afternoons a week).

One thing Adin enjoys about his job is that he is able to work with all classes, as this allows him to see students transition through multiple cycles over many years. When it comes to the Montessori way, Adin loves the multi-age classes and the strong social and collaborative skills that emerge as a result.

When not in his role, Adin can be found either at a playground with his sons, Zayn and Amir or tinkering with cars, a passion his dad passed onto him at a young age. Something you may not know about Adin is that he can speak five languages: English, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, and Italian!

Adin’s favourite quote is; "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." (Wayne Gretzky)

Nina originally comes from Kenya and moved to Australia in 2004. Being multi-lingual, she speaks Punjabi, Hindi, Kiswahili and is currently learning French. Nina is a CPA qualified accountant.

Before coming to Perth Montessori, she had several accounting roles in various companies including Shell Australia as a Systems Accountant and at a legal firm in Trust Accounting. Nina came to PM in November 2020 and looks after the finances and cash flow. In her role, she loves the excitement of everything falling into place. Nina values the Montessori way due to its many, different modes of learning, some of which even involve playing games.

When not working, she enjoys walks on the beach, hiking, and watching TV. Nina is grateful for so many things, including being given the opportunity to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2018.

The best advice she has ever been given is; "Believe and have faith in yourself." Also; "Every day is a Gift. Remember to unwrap it with Joy and Gratitude."

Yoh originally comes from Japan and is bi-lingual, speaking both her native tongue and English. Before coming to Australia, Yoh taught English in Japan for six years. After relocating, she worked at a local childcare centre in East Kimberly for over three years.

Yoh has been at Perth Montessori since March 2021, first working with One Tree Community Services and now PM's in-house Waabiny after-school care. As well as still being an after-school care educator, she is also the school’s Receptionist. The most inspiring part of Yoh’s role is caring and educating children and watching them grow. She also loves her role in administration as she enjoys organising, customer service, and supporting the families and children.

When not working, Yoh can be found spending time with her partner, her cat, and her friends. She also likes walking, eating out, Netflix, visiting new places, and travelling. Yoh particularly loves animals and feels very happy around them. One fun fact about Yoh is that she used to play the piano as a child and would like to start again!

The best advice she has ever been given is: “Don’t worry; Be happy!” and “Believe in yourself”.