Our Team
Because all Montessori courses are not equivalent in terms of quality, at the Montessori Rive Gauche school, our teachers hold the official diploma of Montessori Educator 3-6 years old or 6-12 years old, recognized by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). More information on the official AMI website or on the website of the Association Montessori Switzerland.
Children receive psychomotor support through the practice of RMT (Rythmic Movement Training), IMP (Intégration Motrice Primordiale), Brain Gym... These individual and/or group sessions are significant tools for the development of the child in general, and for the development of his concentration in particular.
Sport and music are part of our curriculum at Montessori Rive Gauche: children shape their voice through singing and discover the guitar with our music teacher, they also enjoy the joys of climbing and develop their concentration on a professional climbing structure.
Please, also meet our kind and dynamic afterschool childcare team, which supervises the children after class.
3-6 classrooms
6 teachers spread in 2 classrooms
Cécile
French-speaking teacher
(AMI graduate, ISMM, 2011).
3-6 AMI-graduate from the Institut Supérieur Maria Montessori (ISMM) in Paris, Cécile has been teaching in Montessori schools since 2011. Native from Paris, Cécile has a degree in Sciences of Education.
Sweet and caring, Cécile is very close to children and will guide them through the path of knowledge and self-confidence. Cecile is the mother of two little boys.
Helen
English-speaking teacher, part-time
(MCI-graduate, UK, 2007).
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3-6 Montessori graduate from the London 'Montessori Centre International' (MCI), Helen has been working for nine years in the Montessori School Geneva before joining our team in 2014.
Highly experienced, of British and Swedish origin, Helen grew up in England and has been living in Switzerland for more than 20 years. She is the mother of two children.
Helen also hosts an 'Introduction to Montessori' course for new parents, holds various workshops during the year about our school and Montessori philosophy as well as a 'parent cafe' every other month which is open to Parents, Grandparents and Nannies.
Heather
English-speaking teacher
(AMI graduate, IFMM, 2019).
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3-6 AMI graduate from the Institut de Formation Maria Montessori (IFMM) in Geneva, Heather also has a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, a Postgraduate degree in Science of Education and a Cambridge University Certificate in Teaching English language.
Originally from the United States where she worked as a nursing assistant and social worker, Heather moved to Geneva in 2002. She worked for several years in various bilingual primary schools in Geneva before joining our team in 2016. Heather is the mom of two teenage boys. She is also an avid animal lover and is passionate about sharing animal stories with the children: she currently shares her home with eight rescue animals that she calls her "fur children"!
Alissia
English-speaking teacher
(graduate Bournemouth Montessori, GB, 2008).
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Born in Geneva, Alissia is multilingual thanks to her studies in England and her Italian origins.
She has been teaching Montessori since 2010 and is the mother of two young children, both schooled at Montessori Rive Gauche (one in the 3-6 section and one in 6-12).
Creative, she always has new ideas for crafts and DIY to help children develop their fine motor skills and attract their curiosity for art.
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English-speaking teacher
(AMI graduate, IFMM, 2019).
3-6 years AMI graduate from the Institut de Formation Maria Montessori (IFMM) in Geneva, Alexia, born in Geneva, is trilingual (French English and Spanish) thanks to her studies and a previous career in marine ecology abroad. Passionated by nature, enthusiastic and patient, she will be able to guide children in their development with kindness. Alexia is also mother of a child attending the school.
Alexia
Nina
Christelle
English-speaking teacher
(AMI graduate, IFMM, 2021).
Christelle, 3-6 years AMI graduate from the Institut de Formation Maria Montessori (IFMM) in Geneva, is the mother of three children. She comes to us with more than ten years of experience working with children aged 0-6 as an assistant, as an English or French Teacher, as a special needs assistant and as a Montessori Teacher for the 3-6 y.o. children. She lived in London for 9 years.
She loves to cook, is currently learning to play the guitar and particularly enjoys working in the maths area of the class.
English-speaking assistant (3-6 AMI Assistant graduate).
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Nina, a British national, is a trained Montessori AMI 3-6 assistant and has been teaching English as a foreign language (ESL) for 6 years in a Geneva-based children's centre.
6-12 classrooms
6 teachers spread in 2 classrooms
Laure
French-speaking teacher
(AMS graduate, CFMF, France, 2015).
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3-6 AMS graduate (AMI affiliate) and 6-12 AMI graduate, Laure also has a university degree in Science of Education and has been teaching since 2003. After 6 years with autistic children, Laure works passionately in Montessori classrooms since 2009.
With her enthusiasm, her experience and her dynamism, Laure will bring your children to discover the world through magnificent experiences. Laure is the mother of a little girl attending school in the 3-6 section.
Freda
English-speaking teacher
(AMI graduate, CFMF, France, 2015).
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South African and mum of two adolescents raised in the Montessori spirit, Freda has been teaching in Montessori schools in France and Geneva since 2005. She has extensive experience with children 6 to 12 years old and holds an AMI 6 to 12 diploma from the CFMF, as well as an ESL (English as Second Language) diploma from the Montessori International Centre in London. Nature lover, natural optimist and always ready to listen, Freda will accompany your children with joy on the road of wonder, knowledge and discovery.
Marion
French-speaking teacher
(AMI graduate, CFMF, 2017).
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Originally from France, Marion graduated from the Montessori Francophonie Training Center (CFMF) for the 6-12 section.
In her childhood, Marion's family traveled the world and lived in various countries on different continents of the globe. She now happily shares her world traveling experiences with children in her class and guides them through their individual and group projects.
Mother of a little girl, she had the opportunity to discover the Montessori approach in different schools in Paris and Neuchâtel, before joining our team in spring 2017.
Alexandrine
French-speaking teacher
(AMI graduate, CFMF, 2015)​.
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Alexandrine is an AMI 6-12-graduate from the Montessori Francophonie Training Center (CFMF) and member of the committee of the Swiss Montessori Association (AMS).
Mother of three children, Alexandrine is passionate particularly by non-violent communication, the emotions/conflict management, parenting support and philosophy. After having worked for several years as a humanitarian project manager in NGOs and having traveled extensively in Central Asia, Georgia, Pakistan, India, Morocco, Turkey, or even sub-Saharan Africa, she held positions as a Montessori teacher for 6-12 years for several years.
Christina
German-speaking teacher
(part time)
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Of German origin, Christina teaches German using dedicated Montessori material and the material recommended by the Plan d'Etudes Romand PER (Grüne Max and Junior).
She is also experienced in teaching elementary school children through art projects, drawing and art classes. Teaching with creativity is very important to her.
Jin Mei
English-speaking teacher
(AMI graduate)​
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Jin Mei graduated from the AMI 6-12 program at Montessori Northwest in 2020. She is from Portland, Oregon, and was a Montessori student until the age of 13. Compassionate and thoughtful, she enjoys helping children explore their interests and gain confidence in themselves. When she is not teaching, she likes to travel, dance, be creative, and spend time in nature.
6-12 classrooms
6 teachers spread in 2 classrooms
Laetitia
English-speaking teacher
(AMI graduate, CFMF, France, 2015).
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Laetitia and her companion engage in Montessori pedagogy at the birth of their daughter. Montessori AMI 3-6 graduates from ISMM, they left Paris to settle in Greater Geneva area. Laetitia then starts her Montessori 6-12 training at CFMF while being responsible for the creation of a Montessori class in Grilly.
She wants to transmit to children this wonderful educational tools tat are Montessori material, and give them the means to found an autonomous community that cares about each other.
Passionate about cinema, before committing to Montessori Laetitia was a film producer of feature films selected in international festivals.
Dexter
English-speaking teacher
(AMI graduate, “Fondazione Centro Internazionale Studi Montessoriani” Bergamo / Italy, 2007)
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An American and Swedish citizen, originally from Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Dexter has been a Montessori teacher for the past 14 years both in US and in Sweden. Prior to that, he worked as a psychological Counsellor in the US. In Sweden, Dexter actively contributed to the establishment of the first authentic Montessori Adolescent Program in Europe, which is recognized as the leading Montessori school for adolescents in Europe : he brings a wealth of experience with regards to the psychological and educational needs of the adolescent.
He enjoys all things outdoors, and is also a Youth Rugby Coach.
Educational support
Caroline
French-speaking teacher
(AMI graduate, part time).
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Caroline holds a BBA in management and graduated from 6-12 AMI at the CFMM in Archamps. She taught at the Montessori School of Pringy before joining our team.
Today, she brings great support to 6-12 children in their French reading skills and at the library.
She is a mother of 5 children.
English reading support
An external contractor brings great support to 6-12 children in their English reading skills. Her high interest in positive parenting, in the Montessori approach and her passion for books and literature led her towards our school years ago. Motivated and organized, she built our entire library. She regularly adds different types of books from various sources to accommodate the enthusiastic curiosity of the children.
Psychomotor support
We are very fortunate, at Montessori Rive Gauche school, to offer children motor and emotional support through the practice of RMT (Rythmic Movement Training), IMP (Intégration Motrice Primordiale), Brain Gym... These individual and/or group sessions are significant tools for the development of the child in general, and for the development of his concentration in particular.
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Sport & Music
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Olivia
Sports teacher
(Holder of a STAPS degree,
specialising in education
and motor skills)
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After several years of experience in traditional schools, Olivia has joined our team and is currently taking part in the Montessori sport training course.
Serious, dynamic and a good listener, Olivia helps children to discover and practise a wide range of sports, through workshops and a variety of fun games.
Caroline
Music teacher.
Practicing music from a young age, Caroline was trained in transverse flute and singing at the Geneva Conservatory. She teaches music theory and directs the choirs of children, adolescents and adults and sings in the Franco-Swiss vocal ensemble Ad Limina. Caroline is the mother of three children, all musicians. Within the school, she offers extra-curricular choir and transverse flute workshops.
Afterschool Childcare team
Marie-Ange
Aftershcool childcare animator
(3-6 AMI Assistant graduate, full time).
Marie-Ange holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Certificate of 3-6 AMI Assistant. Mother of two children, Marie-Ange supervises the children of the 3-6 sections during lunch and the midday outdoor break.
Sweet and empathetic, she also takes care of nap time for the little ones and afterschool childcare activities after class. Among the diverse and varied activities, Marie-Ange particularly likes to read beautiful stories and to guide the children in craft activities and planting flowers.
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Elsa
Animatrice Parascolaire
(diplômée assistante Montessori AMI 3-6, temps partiel).
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Elsa holds the 3-6 AMI Assitant certificate as well as BAFA diploma (Brevet d’Aptitude aux Fonctions d’Animateur - a French compulsory diploma to be allowed to work in childcare environments).
In addition to her passion for children, Elsa's second interest is the earth! She is an organic farmer in neighboring France and holds the title of "cuisinier du terroir".
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Hélène
Aftershcool childcare animator
(diplômée dans le commerce, maman de jour, part time).
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Former air hostess and Swiss nanny, Hélène is of Swiss-German origin and settled in Geneva since 1994.
Mother of two teenage girls, she takes care of children at her home for lunch and supervises the children of the Montessori Rive Gauche school during afterschool hours. Cheerful and dynamic, she likes to play football with the children in the garden and particularly likes to guide them in craft and pastry workshops.
Maintenance
Cristina, Dionicia & Teresa
Cleaning at lunch time and in the evening. We value their support as our premises are clean every day thanks to them!