Our Teachers & Staff

Cynthia Dyer

School Principal, Executive Director of Discover Montessori Society, Elementary Art Teacher

Cynthia holds Montessori certification for both Primary and Elementary levels, Early Childhood Education (ECE) Certification, a Bachelor of Child and Youth Care, and a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from VIU. Cynthia is a past co-chair of the Vancouver Island Montessori Association and has been involved for many years with Montessori; first as a parent, then as a teacher.  Cynthia also facilitates Montessori parenting classes and teaches art to the elementary students.

Karin Barker

Office Administrator, Farm School Project Manager

Karin holds a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University with a Double Major in Anthropology and Communications, as well as a Diploma of Technology in Broadcast Communications from BC Insitute of Technology.  She was instrumental in opening our Parksville Campus in 2008 and her son completed the entire program from age 3 through the end of Middle School.  Karin serves the school community as Office Administrator and is also the coordinator of the Montessori Farm School Project.

Kathleen Hancock

Casa Montessori Directress & Casa Manager

Kathleen has been a Directress with Discover Montessori since receiving her AMI Montessori training in 2007. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia, in History and Botany, and has worked in community and outdoor recreation in the past. Kathleen is passionate about sharing Montessori education, and her love for the outdoors, with our students and families.

Valerie Mermet

Casa Montessori Directress

Valerie moved to Canada from the south of France in 2000. In 2003, she began working with Discover Montessori School as the French and Dance Specialist Teacher. Literally inspired by her students, Valerie completed her AMI Montessori Primary certification in 2008, and joined Discover Montessori School as a Primary Directress.  Valerie brings a global and ecological perspective to the classroom, having studied organic horticulture in England, and as a member of Kabudu, a professional West African dance and drumming ensemble. She has also lead expeditions and volunteer trips to Nepal. 

Jodi Donaldson

Casa Classroom Assistant

Jodi first experienced Montessori while assisting with Discover Montessori School’s summer program. Jodi has completed the Early Childhood Educator and Care program, including the additional Infant/toddler and Special Needs training. Jodi has worked with supportive child care at the Nanaimo Child Development Centre, and has since completed her AMI Montessori Assistant's Course. As part of Discover Montessori School's Primary Program, Jodi absolutely loves working with the students. 

Darla Thiara

Casa Classroom Assistant

Darla is the mother of three DMS Montessori educated children, and first came to the school as a parent. She is drawn to child development and early childhood education, and spent time fostering children before completing her ECEA and AMI Montessori Primary Assistant Certification. Darla is looking forward to continuing her Montessori training. 

Joyful Belino

Extended Day Montessori Program

 Casa moved to Canada in 2017. With her mother’s encouragement, she completed her AMI Primary diploma at MTCBC in 2020. She started this journey by volunteering at a child care centre of Saint Louis University while she was taking Communication Arts. To further answer her calling, Joyful involved herself as coordinator of Amigos Para Tubo, a charity organization co-founded by her father to help marginalized children in remote and mountainous areas of their hometown. She collaborated with school administrators and local businesses to distribute school supplies and execute feeding programs and arts and music classes. She hopes to extend Montessori’s reach to even more children and to make it easily accessible.

Andrea Saam-Lawry

Elementary Montessori Teacher

Andrea completed a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts in History and English from Malaspina Univeristy-College (now Vancouver Island University). In addition to AMI Montessori Elementary Teacher certification, she holds a Professional Certification of Qualification for teaching with the BC Ministry of Education. Andrea has travelled and volunteered in Europe, South America, and Asia, including Hsin Chu, Taiwan, where she created the curriculum for, and taught, the 'English as a Foreign Language' program to preschoolers at the America Montessori School. 

Zeny Belino

Elementary Montessori Teacher

Zeny holds an AMI Elementary Diploma and a BC Independent School Teaching Certificate. She worked in the ESL department at an international school chartered by the embassies of Canada, the UK and the USA in Moscow, Russia. Zeny holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Masters in Science Education as well as Registered Professional Teaching Certification  in the Philippines. At the International School, Zeny pioneered the beginning of the Biology department and was the Coordinator and Head of Instruction in addition to teaching laboratory and natural science courses. She worked as a Middle School Classroom Adviser and Biology teacher before she joined the college Department teaching Laboratory Sciences. Alongside her teaching workload, she was  an adviser to an Indigenous Student Group in the Philippines which aimed to promote and preserve indigenous arts, songs and dances.

Sarah Campbell

Elementary Montessori Teacher

Information to come

Kaitlin Jackson

Elementary Classroom Assistant

Kaitlin studied at Mount Royal College before completing a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts (majoring in English Language Arts) at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. Kaitlin provided tutoring and aide/respite services to children with behavioural and physical challenges from 2011-2015, and worked at Bragg Creek School as a Teacher’s Assistant. In 2016 she completed her AMI Montessori Assistant’s training and is a valuable member of our Elementary team.

Stephanie Ingram

Elementary Classroom Assistant

Stephanie completed her BSc. in the Biology program at VIU, and her MSc. in Zoology at UBC.  She complete the AMI Montessori Assistant’s Training course in 2017 and worked in the primary program for 3 years before moving into the elementary program. Stephanie has been a part of the Discover Montessori Program most of her life. After joining the program at the age of 3, she completed her 7th year (the highest year available at the time). She later went on to volunteer at the school as a drama instructor and a reading companion to the students.

Elan Tombs

Elementary Classroom Assistant

Information to come

Kirsten Bradshaw

Elementary Music teacher

Information to come

Rehanne Newcombe

Elementary French Specialist Teacher

Information to come

Gail Conway

Middle School Guide

Gail has completed a Bachelor of Arts in Physics, Masters in Science in Astronomy, and a PhD (ABD) in Astrophysics. She also holds Independent School Teaching Certifications in math, science, English, and social studies, and is a graduate of the North American Montessori Teachers Association/AMI Montessori Orientataion to Adolescent Studies. Gail was a faculty member at Vancouver Island University for 16 years before joining the team at Discover Montessori School and has been instrumental in the development and implementation of our Montessori Middle School Program.

Fiona Trotter

Middle School Assistant

Information to come.