About Us
"It is true that we cannot make a genius, but we can give the child the chance to fulfill his potential possibilities." Dr. Maria Montessori
Victoria Montessori Preschool and Childcare has been in operation since 2004.
We are situated in Victoria West in a beautiful new facility, constructed in 2019. We offer a full time Montessori program for children from 2.5 years up to and including Kindergarten.
Twenty-first century children are growing up in a crazy-paced world with the stresses of a busy home life and over-stimulating media and toys. At Victoria Montessori, we thrive to cultivate independence, self-awareness and confidence. We create a harmonious and calm environment amidst the "moving see of chaos".
The Montessori classroom is a prepared environment with purposeful activities and materials which help children to focus their attention, while they enjoy a peaceful, orderly and calm atmosphere. Children are actively involved and learn through all senses. Repetitive exercise brings discipline and success while stimulating creativity and curiosity.
At Victoria Montessori, we are committed to the Montessori curriculum. We build strong foundations and strong values. Each child is seen as a unique individual, and with respectful love and care, the child is guided toward independence and self control. The directresses model respect for the environment, respect for others and respect for oneself. These values build confidence, self-esteem and mindfulness, which are vital for emotional and mental health.
The owner and Directress, Miss Ivana graduated from the University of Toronto with a BA in Sociology, and French & German. After many years of training in business, marketing and public relations with Lufthansa German Airlines, she and her husband Pavel moved to the Okanagan, where she and her sister owned and operated a successful home décor business, called Beautiful Ideas.
During a whale watching trip in Tofino, they where captivated by the intense beauty of the natural environment and they moved to Victoria shortly after. When their daughter Sofia was born, Ivana wanted to be actively involved in her education, in and outside the classroom. Ivana researched the best options for her daughter and realized that the Montessori method was by far her favourite. She took the Montessori training and opened a school that would not only serve Sofia well, but would also enable other parents to share in the success of their own children.
Miss Ivana speaks 4 languages fluently (English, Czech, German & French) and loves to travel, having extensively experienced Europe, North America and Australia. When she is not at the school Miss Ivana can usually be found walking along the ocean with Pavel, Sofia, Isabella and her Aussie Yogi.
Miss Angela has been with us since July 2006, and has been a Montessori Teacher since graduating in 1999. originally from Ontario, she grew up spending hours in the pool training a a competitive swimmer. She started her work with children coaching the newest young prodigies in the Development Levels of the Newmarket Stingrays Swim Club. Children were always her passion, so after university she decided on a career in education. Being a Montessori child herself, spending time observing in a Montessori classroom as an adult felt like coming home. She had found her career.
She has a Bachelor of Arts from the university of Western Ontario, an AMI Montessori Diploma from The Foundation of Montessori Education (FME) in Toronto, and is a British Columbia certified Early Childhood Educator. During her career as a Montessori Teacher, her love of travel has given her opportunities to work at a school in Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Vancouver and Victoria.
She has lived in Victoria since 2005, and loves the amazing outdoor recreation it has to offer. In her spare time she very active, she is pretty much up for any adventure! She loves seeking out new goals, then challenging herself to reach them. her most recent achievement was completing her first Triathlon in Sooke, where she lives.
Miss Kathryn joined the Victoria Montessori team in 2018. She graduated from Fanshawe College in London, Ontario with a Diploma in Recreation and Leisure Services, and then went on to get her Outdoor Adventure Skills Certificate from Fleming College in Lindsay, Ontario. Miss Kathryn has been working with children for many years in a variety of settings from Summer Camps, Daycares, After School Programs, and Outdoor Education Centres, in Ontario, British Columbia and Hong Kong. As an extension of her passion for working with children, she decided to make a career change and returned to school and received her AMI Montessori Diploma from the Foundation for Montessori Education (FME) in Toronto, and also obtained her B.C. Early Childhood Education Certificate and B.C. Independent Teaching Licence. The Montessori teaching methods and approach were what drew her to furthering her career in childcare and she could not be happier! Miss Kathryn taught at a Montessori School in Vancouver last year and learned a lot while developing her teaching skills and Montessori knowledge. Miss Kathryn is excited to live on the island and loves being able incorporate the Victoria's beautiful outdoor settings into her teaching.
Miss Cheryl was born and raised on Vancouver Island and has lived on the island for most of her life. Growing up she spent much of her time outdoors, whether it be at the lake or the beach, playing soccer, camping, going up Mt. Washington, or just exploring in general. She feels lucky to have had these experiences, which fostered a love and appreciation of nature that has impacted who she is as an educator. As an adult, Cheryl moved to Victoria and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree, then later went back to school to complete her Bachelor of Education. After completing her education degree, she moved to London, England to work as a teacher as well as travel through Europe every chance she got. It was in England that Cheryl decided to learn more about Montessori, and completed a correspondence diploma in Lower Elementary Montessori from the North American Montessori Centre. Cheryl grew passionate about the Montessori philosophy and when she returned from London two years later, was lucky enough to find a role at Victoria Montessori part-time and as a teacher-on-call. Cheryl then moved back up island and was teaching at a preschool in Fanny Bay, BC. She joined Victoria Montessori on a full time basis in the summer of 2017. She loves Victoria and can’t wait to revisit all that the city has to offer during this lovely time of year!
Miss Caitlyn is an Early Childhood Educator Assistant and a Montessori Assistant who is passionate about providing children with a nurturing, loving and inclusive learning environment. She was born and raised on the mainland and island trips from her own childhood formed her love of Vancouver Island at an early age.
After receiving her ECEA from Camosun College, she is continuing on her educational journey with a dedication to expand her practice. Currently, she is studying to complete her Early Childhood and Education diploma. Caitlyn has a multifaceted background, receiving a diploma in Illustration & Design from Capilano University in 2013 followed by years of work on organic farms locally and abroad to develop an intricate understanding of the nourishment we receive from nature. During this time, a variety of volunteer opportunities allowed her to contribute to communities growing food alongside children.
Caitlyn is committed to share her artistic sensibilities, naturalist insights and sense of wonder with the children she meets on her journey as an educator. Outside of the classroom, you can find her being active in nature- trail running, exploring the ocean on her paddle board, hiking in the hills and bike touring around the island. In her down time she tends her flower garden in Metchosin.
Miss Stana graduated from George Brown College in Toronto with a Diploma in Hotel Management. Starting out in Night Audit, with the massive Toronto CP Hotel, over a few years, she worked her way up through the Accounting department until she was the one in charge, the Head Controller. But after some time, she realized she wanted a more relaxing life and moved to the Okanagan, where she and her sister owned and operated a successful home décor business, called Beautiful Ideas. While living in Kelowna, her future husband Jeremy wandered into her life, setting into motion a series of global trips and lifestyle changes, from building a log cabin in the backwoods of the Kootenays, to backpacking through South America, South East Asia and China, to vacationing in Europe and Hawaii. When her sister Ivana became pregnant, Stana and Jeremy sold their house to move to Victoria, a place they have loved for years. Here she could help out with the school, taking charge of the Administration, and the family, as she's been doing ever since.
Miss Stana speaks 3 languages, English, Czech and gets by in German. When she is not at Ivana's house, she can be found renovating or gardening with her husband and three cats.