We are committed to maintaining a learning and working environment in which everyone’s human rights are respected and do not discriminate or permit any discrimination on grounds of basis of race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin.
Our team holds a variety of degrees (B.A, B.Sc, M.A.,) and certifications (BC Teachers, AMI diplomas, ECE, ECEA and Orton-Gillingham). Criminal record checks, First Aid, and ongoing professional development training are required for all adults working with our students.
Reflective of our diverse community, the staff at Lions Gate hail from such places and cultures as Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Iran, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, and the United States. We have all chosen to come together here, at Lions Gate, to collaborate and support each other in a way that models the Montessori approach.
We offer through our staff and facilities, an exemplary Montessori education that meets Early Childhood Education licensing and British Columbia Ministry of Education requirements. We prepare enriching environments, present appropriate lessons, and above all, respect and nurture our students’ holistic development.
The staff and I invite you to visit us in person – We’d love to meet you and your family!
Riza Weinstein, Head of Pedagogy
Andreza Goulart, Primary & After School Club I Originally from Brazil, Ms Andreza holds a Masters Degree in mathematics and developed a sequence of activities focused on solving problems for her graduate degree research. With her AMI Montessori Primary Assistant certification and over 25 years of experience working with children, she is well-equipped to engage students ages 3 and up. In her spare time Ms Andreza enjoys running and traveling to discover the cultures of other countries. With an affinity for the Montessori approach, she is delighted to be able to learn contribute to the Lions Gate Montessori community. Ms Andreza’s vast experience provides much breadth and depth to our team.
Ashley Ewing, Elementary I A Montessori child herself, Ms Ashley enjoys sharing her Montessori background as a member of the elementary teaching team at LGMS. Ms Ashley’s interest in sustainability on our planet led her to pursue an undergraduate degree in Geography from the University of Guelph, followed by a B.Ed for elementary students. Ms Ashley especially enjoys connecting students to lessons beyond the four walls of the classroom!
Devyani Katkade, Primary I Ms Devyani holds a AMI Primary Diploma from the Ratan Tata Institute as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce, and recently completed her AMI Montesssori Elementary training. Prior to joining LGMS, Ms. Devyani spent 8 years working in Mumbai and Albuquerque. She believes that creating a work friendly atmosphere is absolutely vital and takes pride in creating a safe and beautiful environment for students at Lions Gate to thrive and flourish.
Ghita Seffar, Primary I Ms Ghita is originally from Morocco and lived in France for 6 years where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She was able to experience work in a Montessori School while completing her University Degree in Professional Careers Development, which inspired her to learn more about Montessori. In addition to her EJE (French Early Childhood Educator) Diploma, Ms Ghita also holds AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) Diplomas to work with infant/toddlers as well as preschool and kindergarten children. Ms Ghita enjoys travelling and discovering other cultures so as to gain a better understanding of different communities around the world.
Ghislaine Totel-Atomsa, Primary & Elementary I “Madame Gigi” has been a French as a Second Language teacher for over a decade. She serves on the school’s administrative team while working with preschool and elementary students. She having completed her FSL Master’s Degree from the Université Jean Monnet in Saint-Etienne, France, and worked in Ethiopia with young military cadets as well as in Louisiana, the U.S.A. where she taught in a public elementary school for 5 years. Madame Gigi believes that traveling the world is both a humbling and enlightening experience. She loves her job because she feels that teaching a language allows one to share so much more than just vocabulary and grammar. Her favorite quote from Rita Mae Brown explains it best, “Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where it’s people come from and where they are going.” Outside of work, Madame Gigi loves spending time with her husband and their children. She enjoys the outdoors, reading a good book, watching a good movie, learning about the latest research in the language learning field, and learning a new language.
Hossein Mousavi, Elementary Math Specialist I In addition to being a math tutor for advanced elementary students, Mr Hossein can also be found tutoring high school and university students. Mr Hossein is the author of over 40 high school and pre-university mathematics textbooks in Iran and has trained about 2000 Iranian high school Math teachers on how to effectively teach mathematical concepts. His current focus is on introducing problem-solving strategies to elementary and young adolescent students, especially to enable them to solve problems representing situations never encountered before, and problems for which students do not have ready-made algorithms for a solution.
Ingrid Geiger, Interim Principal I Ms Ingrid received her teacher training in Germany and holds both Primary and Elementary AMI Montessori diplomas. Ms Ingrid worked approximately ten years as a traditional teacher in Germany prior to embarking on her Montessori journey in 2006 and joined our Lions Gate team in 2023. She is fluent in Spanish, German as well as English, and taught in Mexico and the US prior to immigrating to Canada. Ms Ingrid’s broad teaching experience enables her to connect and guide our diverse community with deep, multicultural understanding.
Jia Feng, Primary I Ms Jia comes to us with a Bachelors Degree in Music as well as AMI Montessori Primary and Elementary credentials. She taught piano for 15 years prior to embarking on her journey as a Montessori guide. Fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, Ms Jia especially enjoys incorporating her background in Mandarin and music with the Montessori lessons. Her ability to enrich the Mandarin and music programs as well as work with both preschool and elementary students contributes to her versatility as a team member of our community.
Joan Bernal, Elementary I Ms Joan was introduced to our Montessori elementary environment as a practicum student. She is now a member of our team supporting our elementary students at Anchor Point as an Education Assistant and After School Club supervisor. Calm and patient, Ms Joan provides comfort and support to all our students!
Joel Reid, Elementary Music Specialist I Mr Joel began playing saxophone at the age of 13 and attended Capilano College for Jazz, where he learned a wide variety of instruments and soon became very passionate about guitar. He enjoys sharing his love of music and is able to guide students on a wide variety of instruments. He has been providing a musically fulfilling experience for our students LGMS for the past decade and his passion has yet to fade! Elementary students in grades 1 and up have the option of participating in his formal ukulele, guitar or recorder lessons once a week.
Lili Wang, Primary & Elementary I Ms Lili began her career working with children in 1987 as an Early Childhood Educator in China. She has been a Mandarin Teacher and Assistant at Lions Gate since its inception working with both preschool and elementary students as Primary assistant, Mandarin teacher, and Keyboard tutor. She’s grateful to have the opportunity to witness the growth of our students from preschool and up for so many years.
Lula Marin, Primary I Ms Lula holds an AMI Primary diploma and ECE certification. Originally from Mexico, Ms Lula has lived in different continents of the world and worked as a Montessori Directress in Singapore and Vancouver. Ms Lula is a firm supporter of the Montessori pedagogy and believes the beautiful curriculum provides holistic development for all children.
Mafel Trillanes, Primary I Born in the Philippines, Ms Mafel was raised in New York City and Edmonton before making Vancouver her home. Armed with a B.Ed degree and AMI Assistant certification, Ms Mafel leads our kindergarten program while incorporating Montessori lessons with the BC Ministry of Education curriculum. Her warm and friendly nature provides a is a welcoming balm for preschool and kindergarten students.
Omkar Balli, Resource I Mr Omkar started his career as a software developer, and developed a passion for education whilst volunteering at local schools in India connected the implementation of innovative pedagogy in a variety of small and large scale projects in India. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, a diploma in Advanced Computing, and a Masters Degree in Social Entrepreneurship. Mr. Omkar is an avid “maker” who also dabbles in drawing, sketching, crocheting, carpentry, and other hands-on arts. His broad background in the Sciences and Arts is a wonderful contribution to our community. Mr Omkar is currently pursuing his AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori while working part-time at LGM.
Shailja Vashisth, Elementary I Ms Shailja attended Simon Fraser University majoring Psychology and minoring in Counseling and Human Development. She has worked the field of developmental psychology as an ABA therapist and found Montessori education to be a natural fit for her background in psychology and human development.
YuQi Liu, Primary & Resource I Originally from China, Ms Yuqi found her way to Canada as a high school student, which led to a path of diverse opportunities. Her creative and storytelling skills mastered while attending film school along with enterprise management skills honed while completing her Business Administration degree allows her to fulfill a wide range of duties at the school. Volunteering as a Chinese teacher during high school ignited Ms YuQi’s passion for teaching. There, she witnessed the transformative power of education, which inspired her obtain her Early Childhood Education Assistant certification. Ms YuQi’s commitment and dedication towards nurturing and inspiring students is reflected in her willingness to share her experiences, knowledge, and skills, fostering dynamic educational journeys for all.