About Us
Staff
- Tracy Baudais, B. Ed., International Montessori Teaching Diploma, Directress
-
About
CASA I
Tracy completed her Bachelor's of Education Degree from the University of Manitoba in October 1999. After this she moved to Calgary where she taught in a private Kindergarten program for three years. She was also the Special Needs Program Coordinator. This involved working with children at the school as well as a daycare. She went on to teach at Renfrew Educational Services in Calgary, which focuses on helping children with special needs. Tracy's special needs experience includes working with children with autism, Down's syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, as well as speech and global delays. After working for two and a half years at Renfrew, Tracy moved back to Saskatchewan where she started her own tutoring company and has been writing curriculum for a local church’s Sunday School program. Tracy is also working to complete her Special Education Teaching Certificate at the University of Saskatchewan. She strongly believes that young students learn through their senses and through fun, interactive, and hands-on learning experiences. She also believes that children need to feel emotionally safe and cared for in their learning environment before they can reach their potential academically. Tracy has a passion for teaching and is excited to be part of Maria Montessori School.
- Regina Wood, Enhanced Dip. ECE (Germany), International Montessori Teaching Diploma, Directress
-
About
CASA II
Regina was born in Heusweiler, near Saarbrücken, Germany. Regina grew up on her family's farm with four other siblings. After graduating high school, Regina entered a year of apprenticeship at a community kindergarten. Upon completing this year in the practical field of Early Childhood Education, Regina entered a three year program at the Technical School of Social Pedagogic in Saarbrücken to complete her diploma in Early Childhood Education. One of three years was spent fulltime in a Preschool/Kindergarten. During this time Regina prepared and implemented a theme based curriculum in the class room she was interning. At the age of 21, Regina decided to travel abroad and explore parts of the North American Continent. It was here in Saskatoon where she took root in 1989, worked as a nanny, pursued her career as an Early Childhood Educator, and later as the coordinator for an after school care program. In 1996 Regina left Saskatoon and moved to Northern B.C. During the following years Regina started her family. She and her husband have two children, ages 11 and 13. In 2003 Regina worked in Hinton, Alberta as a Preschool Teacher and Director for Growing Adventures Preschool until she moved back to Saskatoon in 2008. Regina has been employed at Maria Montessori School since 2008. She began as a substitute Educational Assistant and soon moved to permanent part time Educational Assistant. Regina has also worked as a substitute Educational Assistant in our Upper and Lower Elementary classrooms. She has completed her International Montessori Teaching Certificate for Preschool/Kindergarten. She is proud to be Casa II Directress.
- Maria Danylczuk, B. Ed., International Montessori Teaching Diploma, Directress
-
About
CASA III
Maria started at MMS in September 2009 and helped to build our Casa III classroom. Having grown up in Saskatoon, Maria completed her Bachelor's of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2003. She has had a wide variety of teaching experiences with elementary and preschool aged children. In 2006 Maria combined her love of travel and teaching by moving to Seoul, South Korea. In Seoul she taught both preschool and Kindergarten children and also had the opportunity to be involved in developing and overseeing school curriculum. She is pleased to be back in Saskatoon and being part of the MMS family. Maria recognizes the importance that early educational experiences have for setting the tone of a child’s future education. She always looks forward to nurturing the natural inclination and curiosity in each of her Casa children.
- Lisa Taylor, B. Ed., Directress
-
About
LOWER ELEMENTARY
Lisa was born and raised in Rosetown, Saskatchewan. She has called Saskatoon home for the last nine years. Lisa completed her Bachelor's of Education degree with Honours from the University of Saskatchewan in 2009. For the past 10 years, Lisa has worked with children as a child safety instructor, child care provider, and tutor. During this time, Lisa has gained a great deal of experience working with children that require additional support, including children with O.D.D., A.D.H.D., speech impairments, and cerebral palsy. Lisa also enjoys playing the piano and cooking, and has completed her Food Safety Certificate. She was recently married to her husband Steven at the end of 2009.
- Jane Wollenberg, B. Ed., Directress, Lead Directress
-
About
LEAD DIRECTRESS
Jane is delighted to be returning to Maria Montessori School. She is married to Peter Wollenberg and has two sons Andrew and Jan. Andrew is married and living in Australia and Jan is studying at McGill University in Montreal. Teaching is one of Jane’s passions in life and she has had the opportunity to teach in many different settings, both in Saskatchewan and in other parts of Canada and the world. She knew immediately, while studying history at Brock University it was what she wanted to do. A few years later she retuned to university and received her Bachelor's of Education at the University of Saskatchewan. She has taught preschool in Toronto and elementary education in Australia where she was also privileged to work on innovative literacy projects and special programs with Aboriginal children. This experience, combined with the past two years as a substitute teacher in the Saskatoon Public School Board has given Jane diversified experience and a keen appreciation of the opportunities and challenges that families and educators face in providing meaningful and appropriate education to children. Jane balances her teaching career with a very busy volunteer schedule. She is the Vice-President of the Saskatoon Symphony and plays the cello in the Saskatoon Fiddle Orchestra. She is also a member at large on the Advisory Board for the Breaking the Silence Conference held each year at the University of Saskatchewan.
- Marie Prevost, B. Ed., Directress
-
About
UPPER ELEMENTARY
Marie was born and grew up in Saskatoon, working with children at home through a family daycare her mother ran. She took on a full time daycare position throughout high school. During these years, Marie developed a special interest in the education of middle or upper years students. She went on to attain her Middle Years Bachelor's of Education Degree from the University of Saskatchewan. Marie is extremely excited to be part of Maria Montessori School. Marie spent some time working at MMS in 2009 and had the opportunity to meet many of the students and staff. During her time at MMS, she fell in love with the Montessori philosophy of education and was drawn to explore it further. Marie maintains an energy-filled approach to learning that is infectious to her students! She loves to learn about the students’ lives and interests and integrate this into the classroom learning.
- Lori Healy, International Montessori Teaching Diploma, Educational Assistant
-
About
CASALori is in her ninth year as an Educational Assistant at Maria Montessori School where she works side by side with the Casa Program Directress. Lori has worked and volunteered in various schools and community groups throughout the city. Her involvement includes areas pertaining to Adlerian philosophy, mediation methods, environmental and peace issues and children's and youth organizations. Lori completed her International Montessori Teaching Certificate in Preschool/Kindergarten in September, 2006. She also holds her Certification as a Yoga Teacher."Free the child's potential and you will transform him into the world." Dr. Maria Montessori
- Marsha Matheson, Educational Assistant, Art Enrichment
-
About
CASAOriginally from Calgary, Marsha and her family moved to Saskatoon in the Fall of 2008. After graduating from the Cinema Television Radio and Stage program at SAIT in Calgary, Marsha went to work for the CBC where she stayed for 14 years. Marsha moved on to a career as a graphic artist and this talent lead her to The Calgary Waldorf School where she worked for seven years as an Art Teacher and Educational Assistant. During the 2008-2009 school year, Marsha substituted as an Educational Assistant in our classrooms. Her interest in the Montessori method of education and her gift for connecting with the children lead her to join the school on a fulltime basis. Marsha is also extremely pleased to be able to use her many artistic gifts and talents to create an Art Enrichment Program for our students. Marsha loves Saskatoon as her home and is continues to inspire our students and enlivens the school with her creative and artistic talents.
- Information to follow
-
About
Information to follow
- Robin Sasko, Dip. ECE, Cert. Ecotourism, Educational Assistant
-
About
CASA and LOWER ELEMENTARYRobin was born and raised in Saskatoon. Robin discovered her love of children when she was working for the U of S extension division presenting environmental workshops in elementary schools. Robin has spent much time in preschools around Saskatoon working one on one with students. It was while she was working at Confederation Park Childcare Centre that she discovered her interest in working with special needs children. After completing her Diploma in Early Childhood Education in 2005, Robin spent a year working at Bishop Murray High School in the Infant and Toddler program, and then moved on to Maria Montessori school where she worked for 2 years with a special needs student. For the past year, she has been at home with her son Gavin, who was born in September 2008. She has loved her time at home with Gavin, however have kept busy by traveling, instructing Mom and Baby Fitness classes at the Field House, and spending time with friends and family.
- Lina Sharmeen, M. Comm. (Marketing), Educational Assistant
-
About
CASALina started her career in customer relations for a telecommunication company after graduating in Marketing (Business) from the Dhaka University in Bangladesh. Lina quickly realized that rather than working in a tiny office cubicle, she was destined to work where she could see the outcome of her pleasant and convincing communication skills in more effective ways. Lina found a perfect opportunity when she started as a teaching assistant at the Montessori Children’s House in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after joining her husband who was working at the Louisiana State University. Lina worked here for almost two years and enjoyed every moment with the kids, the teaching methods, and the shaping of young minds. Lina and her husband moved to Pretoria, South Africa, where she once again found herself working in a Montessori school. She continued with her passion and career at the Hatfield Montessori School for about sixteen months before she emigrated to Canada in December, 2008. From this moment on, it was Lina’s quest to continue to working in a Montessori setting. She worked as a part-time administrative assistant at the Saskatoon Misbah School and a substitute teacher at Campus Day Care in the Education Building at the University of Saskatchewan. We are very fortunate that Lina found her way to Maria Montessori School in October of 2009, where she began as an Educational Assistant substitute while continuing to work as a part-time pre-school teaching assistant at the Misbah School. Lina is now a full-time Educational Assistant. She hopes to complete her International Montessori Teaching Certificate in the near future. Lina is confident that she is going to enjoy every moment here at Maria Montessori school.
- Dana Willms, B. Ed., Directress
-
About
LOWER ELEMENTARY
Dana was raised in Saskatoon, SK. She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2002 with her Bachelor of Education Degree. In September of 2002 Dana got married and moved to Edmonton, AB. While in Edmonton she worked for Edmonton Public schools as a substitute teacher. During her first few years in Edmonton she enjoyed teaching a dynamic dance fitness class in the city. Her two boys, whom she adores, were born in Alberta, Noah in 2006 and Arthur in 2008. In 2009 she moved back to Saskatoon and has enjoyed substitute teaching at the school for this school year. Since March of 2010 she has been teaching on a part-time basis in the Lower Elementary classroom. Dana is passionate about each student's academic success and literacy, she believes that if children have a pleasant experience in school it will encourage them to be lifelong learners. She feels excited and priveleged to be teaching at Maria Montessori School.
- Alyson Werner, B. Comm. (HRM), Cert. TESOL, Educational Assistant
-
About
UPPER ELEMENTARYAlyson moved to Saskatoon in 2001 to attend the University of Saskatchewan. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce, with a major in Human Resource Management. She also holds a Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language. Alyson loves to travel and learn about other cultures. She has spent time in South Korea, where she taught English as a Second Language to kindergarten and elementary school students. She has spent time in Gambia, West Africa as well as Tanzania, East Africa where she was involved in various humanitarian service projects. Teaching in South Korea strengthened Alyson’s desire to work with children, especially in an educational environment. She loves to share her experiences and encourage the students as they discover their own unique talents and abilities. She is excited to help students reach their goals, support them, and help their experience at Maria Montessori School to be a positive one.
- Jewel Kelly, Cert. PDW, Cert. ESL, Educational Assistant
-
About
UPPER ELEMENTARYJewel was born and raised in Saskatchewan. She holds a Personal Development Worker certificate specializing in Early Childhood Development, as well as a certificate in English as a Second Language. Jewel has also taken numerous other courses pertaining to autism, violence in children, ADHD and FAS. Jewel has been at Maria Montessori since January 2008 as an Educational Assistant. Previously, Jewel worked as an Educational Assistant for two years in Alberta and 10½ years with the Prairie Spirit School Division, has operated her own Day Care in Ontario and worked in a Day Care in Alberta. Most of her work experience has been with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Jewel has a passion for working with special needs children and her goal is to enable them to reach their full potential.
- Linda Holmes, M. Ed., B. Ed., B.A., Core French Enrichment
-
About
ENRICHMENTLinda is in her ninth year teaching Core French at Maria Montessori School. She previously taught French at a secondary level. Linda holds a Bachelor's of Arts and a Bachelor's of Education degrees, both with a major in French. In addition, she holds a Master's of Education in which her research project was a reading paper on parental involvement in education. Linda is also a member of the Saskatchewan Association of Teachers of French. Linda enjoys her work very much and continues to inspire the students with her brilliance in French.
- Kelly Bjorndal, Cert. Business Admin., Dip. Admin Assist. Legal (Hons), Office Administrator and School Manager
-
About
ADMINISTRATIONKelly (and family) joined the Maria Montessori School community in 2002 when her daughter started school. Since then, she has been actively involved in managing the school's and staff's day to day operation. She is involved in many of the MMS activities and is very passionate about everything Maria Montessori School has to offer. Kelly has over 20 years of experience in office administration. She also holds a Business Administration Certificate from the University of Saskatchewan and an Honours diploma from the Legal Secretarial program at the Saskatoon Business College. Kelly very much enjoys working with the teachers, the children and their families.
