Teachers

Alemitu (Ally) Hill is a passionate educator who has been working with children professionally for the past 18 years. She pursued the education field and obtained an associate degree in early childhood education in 2013 and worked and taught preschool and pre-K settings at different institutions in the USA. She moved to Vancouver, BC from Seattle, WA and received the AMI primary certificate in 2016.

Education was very important in her family, and she knew from an early age that she wanted to be an educator. She has a natural ability to connect with children. Ally believes in Montessori’s philosophy and pedagogy approach to education for young children. Creating an environment for children that is enriching, which encourages curiosity, exploration and freedom of movement is critical towards their development. The prepared environment should lead towards bringing out each child’s innate potential. She is excited and looking forward to working at Monarch Montessori School with all the amazing teachers, children, and parents.

Alanas is originally from the vibrant city of Hong Kong and moved to Canada in 2021. With a Bachelor of Education degree, she worked as an elementary school teacher for five years. She is also a mother, and parenthood has been a deeply rewarding experience that brings her daily joy and gratitude.

Raising a child in today’s fast-changing world has deepened her appreciation for the Montessori philosophy, especially the principle of following the child. She believes that when we meet a child’s needs with care and intention—offering tools rather than just answers—we empower them for a lifetime. Alanas is grateful for the opportunity to become a Montessori guide, hoping to support not only her own child’s development but also to nurture capable, confident, and independent learners.

Shirley Boerssen moved to Vancouver from Cape Town, South Africa, with her family in 2023. She has a background in Early Childhood Education and a BA Honours Degree in Psychology, with a focus on child development. Shirley also brings many years of experience as an Exercise Therapist, supporting women through pre- and postnatal care and movement-based development. She is a certified English Foreign Language teacher and has training in children’s movement and yoga. Shirley is passionate about meeting each child where they are and creating a safe, nurturing environment where they feel settled and supported. She values close collaboration with parents to help children feel secure, explore with curiosity, and grow in confidence.

Mai first joined Monarch Montessori as a practicum student before returning as a full-time Montessori Assistant. She holds both her AMI Primary Montessori certificate and Early Childhood Education certification, earned in 2026. Her passion for Montessori began in childhood, when she attended Montessori preschool and kindergarten herself. This early experience inspired her to pursue a career in early childhood education. Mai is excited to bring her warmth, passion, and Montessori experience to the classroom while growing alongside the children and families at Monarch.

Mouna was born and raised in Nice, France, where she worked as a school teacher.  In September 2021, she arrived in Vancouver with her family to start a new adventure. She loves to travel and discover new cultures and new languages. She is very enthusiastic to be a part of the team at Monarch Montessori and contribute to their development and learning. She fell in love with the Montessori method when her son attended the program in France. Mouna is passionate and focused on creating positive environments where children can learn and grow. She looks forward to sharing her passion for speaking French with the Monarch students. 

Maddy holds a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from McMaster University. She is registered in good standing with the professional colleges in British Columbia and Ontario and is a member of Speech-Language & Audiology Canada. After beginning her career in Ontario, Maddy moved to Vancouver in 2025 and has enjoyed becoming part of the local community.Maddy provides individualized speech-language therapy based on each child’s unique strengths and needs. Her areas of interest and expertise include speech sound development, motor speech, early language development, social-emotional communication, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Her approach is warm, playful, engaging, and evidence-informed, with the goal of helping children become confident and effective communicators.

Aimee Fan, also known as Jialing Fan, is a Montessori teacher from China with a deep passion for early childhood education. She earned her AMI Primary Certificate in Vancouver 2021 and is fluent in both Mandarin and English, allowing her to effectively support children’s language development. Aimee is known for her friendly demeanor, strong sense of responsibility, and collaborative spirit.

Her teaching philosophy is learner-oriented, focusing on tailoring the curriculum to meet each child's unique needs and interests while encouraging exploration. Aimee values understanding each child’s background to bridge the gap between their current knowledge and future goals. She is committed to fostering a culture of curiosity and innovation through teamwork with colleagues. Aimee is eager to build responsive and supportive partnerships with children, families, and fellow educators.

Laura was born and raised in England, where she studied Dance, Performance, and Teaching before completing a postgraduate degree in Education. With three years of experience as a kindergarten teacher, she developed a caring and supportive approach to working with children. After moving to Vancouver in 2022, Laura discovered the Montessori philosophy, which deeply resonated with her. She went on to complete her AMI training and is now a certified Montessori Guide, dedicated to nurturing each child’s natural curiosity and love for learning.

Jing is a Montessori Early Childhood Assistant at Monarch with a degree in Early Childhood Education from China. She began her career as a kindergarten teacher, where she developed a passion for nurturing young children’s growth. Drawn to the Montessori philosophy for its respect for individuality and emphasis on independence, she now enjoys observing and gently guiding children as they build confidence, focus, and joy in learning. Grateful to be part of a supportive and respectful community, Jing is dedicated to fostering children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development while supporting the lead teachers in the classroom.

Anita completed her AMI Montessori Teacher Assistant training in 2018 after both her children went on to pursue their own aspirations. She joined the Montessori team three years ago, helping create teaching materials and keeping the school clean and safe. Anita respects the individuality of every child and enjoys working with their various characters. Her wish is for all the students to be able to have a safe environment in which to learn and play

Denise is an arts professor with a major in sculpture and a Diploma in Set Design (Argentina). Her local work experience includes instructing Clay Sculpture and Immersion Art Start at Arts Umbrella, Art Summer Camps at Seymour Art Gallery, beArt After - School Art Programs at Lynnmour Creative Child Care Centre, JBCC and NSNH. Denise's passions are stimulating creativity and inspiring children to love art. In teaching the program, Denise has found that children produce more than just a painting or sculpture - they provide us with a glimpse of who they are.

Born in Langley and currently residing in Vancouver, BC, Holly graduated from Langley Fine Arts School, where she majored in music. Her love for the art form led her to pursue a BMUS in Vocal Performance. In addition to her studies, Holly has worked in early education for the past three years. She is passionate about teaching music in the Montessori environment and firmly believes that it has the power to cultivate kind and empathetic children. Holly enjoys sharing unique and challenging music with children to foster curiosity and build musicianship in young minds.