Our Staff - Westside Montessori Academy Vancouver

Meet Our Educators

Elementary
- Sarah Gatiss-Brown
  Director of Admissions, Co-Founder, Casa licensee & manager
  Ms. Sarah is the Licensee of the WMA Casa Dei Bambini program. Sarah holds her St. Nicholas Montessori Teaching Diploma (0-6) and her Early Childhood Education Certificate… Learn more about Ms Sarah
- Pam Woronko
  Upper Elementary, Principal
  Ms Pam – WMA’s principal – has a wealth of experience with teaching in both Lower and Upper Elementary classrooms using the Montessori method. Prior to her work with WMA, Ms Pam was the Vice Principal of Roots and Wings Montessori School…
  Learn more about Ms Pam
- Catherine Williams
  Upper Elementary / Vice-Principal
  Ms Catherine has been teaching at Westside Montessori Academy since 2010, having taught Kindergarten, Lower Elementary and, most recently, Upper Elementary. a Bachelor of Arts – English Major, Special Needs/ECE Minor… Learn more about Ms Catherine
- Andrea Nardi
  Co-Founder, Lower Elementary Co-Directress, Elementary Educational Support
  As a WMA founder, Ms Andrea taught at the school since 2008. She has a Bachelor of Education from the University of B.C. and a Masters of Education in Child and School Psychology through the University of Calgary…
  Learn more about Ms Andrea
- Kareem John
  Lower Elementary Co-Director
  Mr Kareem has been teaching since 2010 and joined our staff in 2014, bringing with him a background in Physiotherapy and Occupational therapy. He also has a B.A in Psychology, a Bachelor of Education degree and a Montessori diploma for Lower Elementary. He is co-director of the LE1 classroom.
- Tanya Rowlands
  Kindergarten Co-Directress
  Ms Tanya is an AMI-trained Montessori teacher and Early Childhood Educator. Teaching Montessori since 1996 and an old friend of WMA, Tanya began her Montessori career with Ms Sarah at Westside Montessori School! With more than 20 years of working with children, Tanya is currently the co-directress of the kindergarten classroom.
- Jen Brown
  Lower Elementary Co-Directress
  Ms Jen has her teachers certificate with specialization in fine arts from Western University and her Lower Elementary diploma from the North American Montessori Centre. She has seven years experience supporting children with special needs and has been teaching at WMA since 2016.
- Nancy Barton
  Kindergarten Co-Directress
  Ms Nancy has been with Westside Montessori Academy since 2014. She is the co-directress in the kindergarten classroom. With over fifteen years experience working with children from infancy to age 12, she holds a Bachelor of Arts…
  Learn more about Ms. Nancy
- Noushaba Nousheen
  Lower Elementary Co-Directress
  Ms Noushaba obtained her American Montessori Society (AMS) diploma and started her Montessori teaching career in Cleveland in 2008. Prior to joining WMA, she worked as a Montessori Elementary school teacher in Winnipeg for six years. She is passionate about applying the philosophy of Maria Montessori in her teaching practice. She also has a MA in English and MBA degrees.
- Michelle Seigel
  Upper Elementary co-directress
  Ms Michelle is an Upper Elementary co-directress for WMA. She completed her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Victoria and has always been drawn to working in children’s education.
- Dave Gatiss
  Coach, ASC Leader, Guitar Teacher
  Coach David is the leader of the WMA After School Care (ASC) program, and is the classroom assistant in Upper Elementary 2. He is also WMA’s Table Tennis Coach and Golf Coach, and is an NCCP trained coach in both sports. David has been a musician all his life and has two higher Diploma’s in Music and Music Technology and is currently running the Guitar teaching program at WMA. He has also run the Rock School Summer Camp and the Soccer Summer Camp programs at WMA.
- Mark Curry
  Education assistant
  Mr Mark is an AMI trained Montessori Assistant and assisting in the Casa AM class from Monday to Thursday. Mark has a BA in Psychology from the University of Alberta and a degree in Fine Art from Emily Carr University. He has worked with at-risk youth… Learn more about Mr Mark
- Caitlin Magdaleno
  Education assistant
  Ms Caitlin majored in psychology at Simon Fraser University, with a minor in counselling and human development. Working in education since 2017, she has a passion for working with children and families.
Casa dei Bambini
- Sarah Gatiss-Brown
  Director of Admissions, Co-Founder, Casa licensee & manager
  Ms. Sarah is the Licensee of the WMA Casa Dei Bambini program. Sarah holds her St. Nicholas Montessori Teaching Diploma (0-6) and her Early Childhood Education Certificate… Learn more about Ms Sarah
- Maureen Boudier
  Casa Directress, Music Instructor
  Ms Maureen has 15 years experience as a Montessori Directress. Ms Maureen holds diplomas as a certified Montessori educator (0-6 yrs. and 6-9 yrs.), an Early Childhood Education (ECE) diploma, and an Independent Teaching Certificate. In… Learn more about Ms Maureen
- T.J. Brennan
  Casa Directress
  Ms T.J. is a directress of the Casa AM and PM programs.
- Trenna Clarke
  Lunch supervisor PM Casa Directress
  Ms Trenna is a directress in the Casa afternoon class.
- Heena Darediya
  Casa directress
  
  Ms Heena is an AMI certified Montessori teacher, teaching since 2010. She is passionate about teaching and working with young children. She loves doing yoga, reading and traveling.
Specialists
- Maureen Boudier
  Casa Directress, Music Instructor
  Ms Maureen has 15 years experience as a Montessori Directress. Ms Maureen holds diplomas as a certified Montessori educator (0-6 yrs. and 6-9 yrs.), an Early Childhood Education (ECE) diploma, and an Independent Teaching Certificate. In… Learn more about Ms Maureen
- Dave Gatiss
  Coach, ASC Leader, Guitar Teacher
  Coach David is the leader of the WMA After School Care (ASC) program, and is the classroom assistant in Upper Elementary 2. He is also WMA’s Table Tennis Coach and Golf Coach, and is an NCCP trained coach in both sports. David has been a musician all his life and has two higher Diploma’s in Music and Music Technology and is currently running the Guitar teaching program at WMA. He has also run the Rock School Summer Camp and the Soccer Summer Camp programs at WMA.
Administrative
- Lorelei Poulin
  School Secretary
  
  Ms Lorelei has been with Westside Montessori Academy since 2016. She holds a coordinated diploma in Education Assistant, with experience in both elementary and high school environments.
- Brianna Middleton
  Office assistant
  Brianna Middleton has worked at Westside Montessori Academy since 2016, working with students in After School Care and Games Club, and since 2022 has also served as WMA’s office assistant. She is obtaining her BA in Communications at Simon Fraser University.