Our Team
Anna Lee
Early Childhood Educator
I majored in Education, where I learned to create and develop teaching methods and materials with an eye on the different ways in which students absorb and process information. I obtained a teaching certificate and have since worked at different schools, which gave me the opportunity to guide and communicate with students of different age groups.
While working with high school students, I observed firsthand that the way teenagers behave and think is highly influenced by how they were educated in their early years. I subsequently decided that I wanted to become involved in educating children at the early stages of their life and to pursue Early Childhood Education (ECE) as my career. Through my time focusing on this age group, I have become well-versed in tactful guiding, different caring methods, and individualized ways of communicating with children. By working with children within the ECE field, I have learned that each child has their own set of skills and talents, which need to be cultivated with appropriate stimulation, careful guidance, and purposeful teaching methods and materials.
I believe a quality education in the early years is critical for ensuring a child’s success, academically and socially, later on in life. I am looking forward to playing a positive role in your children’s continued development and creating beautiful moments with them during their time at Ambleside Montessori.
I majored in Education, where I learned to create and develop teaching methods and materials with an eye on the different ways in which students absorb and process information. I obtained a teaching certificate and have since worked at different schools, which gave me the opportunity to guide and communicate with students of different age groups.
While working with high school students, I observed firsthand that the way teenagers behave and think is highly influenced by how they were educated in their early years. I subsequently decided that I wanted to become involved in educating children at the early stages of their life and to pursue Early Childhood Education (ECE) as my career. Through my time focusing on this age group, I have become well-versed in tactful guiding, different caring methods, and individualized ways of communicating with children. By working with children within the ECE field, I have learned that each child has their own set of skills and talents, which need to be cultivated with appropriate stimulation, careful guidance, and purposeful teaching methods and materials.
I believe a quality education in the early years is critical for ensuring a child’s success, academically and socially, later on in life. I am looking forward to playing a positive role in your children’s continued development and creating beautiful moments with them during their time at Ambleside Montessori.
Ibeth Duarte
Early Childhood Educator
My name is Ibeth Duarte, and I am proud to be an educator at Ambleside Montessori Preschool.
I am originally from Colombia, where I obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing, a field in which I worked for several years in Colombia and subsequently two years in Canada as part of an internship.
I grew up in a family of teachers. My mother was a kindergarten teacher for many years, and that inspired me to pursue early childhood education as my chosen profession in Canada. I obtained my ECE (early childhood educator) certification from Collège La Cité in Ottawa, Ontario. As I pursued my studies, I also worked at a Francophone preschool for six years. I am fluent in English, French, and Spanish.
I am committed to working tirelessly with our young students. Helping each child progress in all areas of their academic, social, linguistic, and motor development is a challenge that I am delighted to embrace, and I will strive to contribute to the nurturing and fun environment at Ambleside Montessori.
My name is Ibeth Duarte, and I am proud to be an educator at Ambleside Montessori Preschool.
I am originally from Colombia, where I obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing, a field in which I worked for several years in Colombia and subsequently two years in Canada as part of an internship.
I grew up in a family of teachers. My mother was a kindergarten teacher for many years, and that inspired me to pursue early childhood education as my chosen profession in Canada. I obtained my ECE (early childhood educator) certification from Collège La Cité in Ottawa, Ontario. As I pursued my studies, I also worked at a Francophone preschool for six years. I am fluent in English, French, and Spanish.
I am committed to working tirelessly with our young students. Helping each child progress in all areas of their academic, social, linguistic, and motor development is a challenge that I am delighted to embrace, and I will strive to contribute to the nurturing and fun environment at Ambleside Montessori.
Kathy Mooney
Early Childhood Educator Assistant
I am an Honours graduate from an English Literature program (Queen’s University, Kingston, Ont.), with a concentration in creative writing, media studies, and marketing. I have used these skills throughout my entire career. Not only have I worked in marketing and newspaper /magazine departments, but I have also worked on many writing projects for different businesses.
This broad background, blending University training in the English classics and modern writing achievements, makes me a much sought-after tutor in my field.
I always bring a fresh approach to students who need help with their writing / comprehension / grammar, and spelling work. I bring information from contemporary issues to life in their writing and encourage them to be very creative.
I have worked both privately and in groups with students from ages 5 – 18 and enjoy every level in their learning path. I have conducted Novel Study programs and Summer Reading/Writing Camps for Aspire and enjoyed every moment of it. Working with senior students on special assignments and critiquing their work is also a very rewarding part of my tutoring.
As I get to know each student and their interests, I can create special programs for them and develop a good rapport with their parents and teachers. As a parent of a child with a learning disability, I have also worked with autistic and challenged children in a fun, creative way.
I am an Honours graduate from an English Literature program (Queen’s University, Kingston, Ont.), with a concentration in creative writing, media studies, and marketing. I have used these skills throughout my entire career. Not only have I worked in marketing and newspaper /magazine departments, but I have also worked on many writing projects for different businesses.
This broad background, blending University training in the English classics and modern writing achievements, makes me a much sought-after tutor in my field.
I always bring a fresh approach to students who need help with their writing / comprehension / grammar, and spelling work. I bring information from contemporary issues to life in their writing and encourage them to be very creative.
I have worked both privately and in groups with students from ages 5 – 18 and enjoy every level in their learning path. I have conducted Novel Study programs and Summer Reading/Writing Camps for Aspire and enjoyed every moment of it. Working with senior students on special assignments and critiquing their work is also a very rewarding part of my tutoring.
As I get to know each student and their interests, I can create special programs for them and develop a good rapport with their parents and teachers. As a parent of a child with a learning disability, I have also worked with autistic and challenged children in a fun, creative way.
Manuela Quintero
Montessori Teacher & Early Childhood Educator
I have twenty years of experience working with children and young adults. I am particularly passionate about providing the tools for young children to build their autonomy in learning and in life. I am a bilingual professional (native in English and Spanish), experienced in leadership, education, management, and customer service. I have gained extensive education, including a Montessori Diploma, a Bachelor of Education, an Early Childhood Education Diploma, and an Honours Bachelor of Arts. I have held full-time positions in the education field as a Montessori Head Teacher, an Early Childhood Educator, an International School teacher, a Language Teacher (of English and Spanish), and a Yoga and Meditation teacher.
Something unique about me is that I have lived in seven countries, which has helped me to form a global approach to education. I have also worked on researching the impact of international experiences on young educators and how travel can enrich their lives in a meaningful way. For this reason, I apply for a well-rounded program at Ambleside, full of cultural diversity and opportunities for our students to explore the world through the lens of inquisition and curiosity for what is beyond our immediate environment.
Yoga and meditation are also fundamental parts of my life, and I apply the principles of mindfulness to my teaching approach. I believe that it is very important to present these concepts to our young children, especially since we live in a time in which they are constantly exposed to an excess of stimuli and technology.
I feel very proud to be a part of Ambleside Montessori Preschool, and I take pride in the work we do for our students. I am looking forward to meeting new students and creating more memories together.
I have twenty years of experience working with children and young adults. I am particularly passionate about providing the tools for young children to build their autonomy in learning and in life. I am a bilingual professional (native in English and Spanish), experienced in leadership, education, management, and customer service. I have gained extensive education, including a Montessori Diploma, a Bachelor of Education, an Early Childhood Education Diploma, and an Honours Bachelor of Arts. I have held full-time positions in the education field as a Montessori Head Teacher, an Early Childhood Educator, an International School teacher, a Language Teacher (of English and Spanish), and a Yoga and Meditation teacher.
Something unique about me is that I have lived in seven countries, which has helped me to form a global approach to education. I have also worked on researching the impact of international experiences on young educators and how travel can enrich their lives in a meaningful way. For this reason, I apply for a well-rounded program at Ambleside, full of cultural diversity and opportunities for our students to explore the world through the lens of inquisition and curiosity for what is beyond our immediate environment.
Yoga and meditation are also fundamental parts of my life, and I apply the principles of mindfulness to my teaching approach. I believe that it is very important to present these concepts to our young children, especially since we live in a time in which they are constantly exposed to an excess of stimuli and technology.
I feel very proud to be a part of Ambleside Montessori Preschool, and I take pride in the work we do for our students. I am looking forward to meeting new students and creating more memories together.
Kaylee Yuck
Early Childhood Educator
My name is Kaylee Yuck. I am an Early Childhood Educator with 9 years of experience working with diverse groups of children, including those with learning disabilities. I obtained my degree at Vancouver Career College and worked at larger centres prior to joining Ambleside Montessori. I am committed to fostering a motivational and collaborative learning environment that encourages social and emotional growth. I firmly believe that if the teacher is happy, the children will be happy; therefore, a positive and welcoming environment is key in nurturing our young ones. In my spare time, I enjoy watching movies and spending quality time with loved ones. I am very much looking forward to creating memories with everyone who is a part of this lovely community!
Melisa Penã
Early Childhood Educator
I am passionate about creating a positive and lively atmosphere for all of the students at Ambleside Montessori to thrive in. I graduated from the Early Childhood Education program at Vancouver Community College and have paired my ECE license with a Responsible Adult Certificate. I am both patient and eager to learn more about the people around me, which allows me to build deeper connections with every child and family. I speak both English and Spanish fluently. I greatly look forward to preparing and carrying out engaging language lessons for the little ones to partake in.
Marjan Nejat
I was raised in West Vancouver and am proud to call this wonderful and vibrant community home. I attended West Vancouver Secondary School and, upon graduation, began my post-secondary studies at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where I obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a major in sociology. The child psychology courses that I took at UBC piqued my interest in early childhood education. After obtaining my B.A., I developed that interest and made the decision to enter and work in the field of early childhood education with a focus on the Montessori approach. To that end, I completed studies in business management and human resources at BCIT and obtained my early childhood education (ECE) certification from Vancouver Career College. I am fluent in the English and Farsi languages.
My personal belief has always been that the preschool experience ought to be about more than just providing child care for working or busy parents; ideally, it should be an immersive experience that appropriately educates the children, aides in their socialization and growth, and readies them for the next chapters of their lives. My survey of and experience with the preschools on the North Shore revealed that very few were education-focused and child-centered. That is why I founded Ambleside Montessori with the aim of helping to fulfill a need for more quality child care in the community. I am grateful for and have been encouraged by the positive response shown by parents and children to the Ambleside Montessori brand of early childhood education. It has been my absolute pleasure to meet and work with incredible parents and educators since the inception of Ambleside Montessori and to watch our pupils learn, grow and graduate to kindergarten. We now operate two locations in beautiful West Vancouver and I look forward to continuing this rewarding journey in the years to come.
I was raised in West Vancouver and am proud to call this wonderful and vibrant community home. I attended West Vancouver Secondary School and, upon graduation, began my post-secondary studies at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where I obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a major in sociology. The child psychology courses that I took at UBC piqued my interest in early childhood education. After obtaining my B.A., I developed that interest and made the decision to enter and work in the field of early childhood education with a focus on the Montessori approach. To that end, I completed studies in business management and human resources at BCIT and obtained my early childhood education (ECE) certification from Vancouver Career College. I am fluent in the English and Farsi languages.
My personal belief has always been that the preschool experience ought to be about more than just providing child care for working or busy parents; ideally, it should be an immersive experience that appropriately educates the children, aides in their socialization and growth, and readies them for the next chapters of their lives. My survey of and experience with the preschools on the North Shore revealed that very few were education-focused and child-centered. That is why I founded Ambleside Montessori with the aim of helping to fulfill a need for more quality child care in the community. I am grateful for and have been encouraged by the positive response shown by parents and children to the Ambleside Montessori brand of early childhood education. It has been my absolute pleasure to meet and work with incredible parents and educators since the inception of Ambleside Montessori and to watch our pupils learn, grow and graduate to kindergarten. We now operate two locations in beautiful West Vancouver and I look forward to continuing this rewarding journey in the years to come.
Meet Ambleside Montessori's Team
Anna Lee Nakyoung
Early Childhood Educator
Ibeth Duarte
Early Childhood Educator
