Our People
Meet Our Team
A diverse, multilingual community of dedicated professionals who bring warmth, expertise, and a deep commitment to authentic Montessori education.
Our Strength in Diversity
A Community That Speaks Your Language
One of our greatest strengths is the diversity of our team — not only in our talents and expertise, but in the cultural richness we bring to our community. Our staff collectively speak 16 languages, ensuring that children and families from all backgrounds feel an immediate sense of belonging and familiarity from their very first day.
When a child hears their home language spoken by a trusted adult at school, the transition into a new environment becomes gentler and more natural. This multilingual capacity also enriches the classroom experience for all children, fostering cultural awareness, empathy, and a global perspective from an early age.
Languages Spoken by Our Team
16
Languages across our team
Our Heritage
Founded on Authentic Montessori Values
Lions Gate Montessori was established in 1999 by Ms. Riza Weinstein (AMI Primary & Elementary) as the only Montessori school in downtown Vancouver. Beginning with just two students, the school grew steadily — one grade at a time — to preserve the intimate, personalized learning environment that defines our community today.
Ms. Weinstein served on the board of the Montessori Society of Canada (now AMI Canada) for a decade, including as Vice-President, President, and Chair from 2004 to 2010. Her dedication to authentic Montessori education and her work supporting schools for Tibetan refugees in Nepal established a legacy of compassion and global citizenship that continues to guide our schools.
Today, under new administrative leadership, we honour this foundation while expanding our reach to South Surrey through Petite Girafe Montessori Academy — carrying forward the same commitment to authentic Montessori education and the pursuit of AMI standards.
1999
Year Founded
25+
Years of Montessori Excellence
3
Campus Locations
Growing Together
Committed to Continuous Learning
Professional Development
We actively pursue and support our staff in advancing their education through workshops and training — not limited to Montessori pedagogy, but extending to child development, neurodiversity, inclusive education, and emerging research. Through organizations like AMI Canada, our team stays at the forefront of best practices.
Cross-Disciplinary Support
We work closely with occupational therapists, behaviour interventionists, and other specialists to identify and remove obstacles for students with diverse needs. This collaborative approach ensures every child receives the individualized support they need to thrive in our prepared environments.
Community Seminars
We welcome professionals from related disciplines to collaborate with us in hosting seminars and webinars for families across all campuses. From child psychology to nutrition, these events empower parents with knowledge and strengthen the bridge between home and school.
Protecting Concentration
A child’s deep concentration during work is extraordinarily precious and difficult to develop. We train every member of our team — from guides to assistants — to recognise and protect this state. Practical routines such as meal preparation are structured around the child’s work cycle, never the other way around. We do everything possible to safeguard these moments of focused engagement.
Trusted Practicum Host Site
Training the next generation of Montessori guides and early childhood educators
Our schools are proud to serve as trusted practicum host sites for aspiring educators. We welcome student teachers from leading training institutions, providing them with hands-on experience in authentic Montessori environments committed to AMI standards. This partnership reflects our commitment to the broader Montessori community and ensures that the next generation of guides is trained to the highest standard.
Montessori Training Centre of BC
Montessori Practicum Partner
Sprott Shaw College
ECE Practicum Partner
Capital College
ECE & Montessori Practicum Partner
Stenberg College
ECE Practicum Partner
Western Community College
ECE Practicum Partner
Pacific Rim College
ECE Practicum Partner
Douglas College
ECE Practicum Partner
Leadership
Ethan Chang
Group Executive Director
B.Sc. in Behavioural Neuroscience & Physiology · AMI Montessori (0–6) Certificate · AMI Montessori (6–12) Certificate · AMI Montessori Administrator (now School Leadership) Certificate · AMI Montessori Sports (2026 candidate)
Vicky Lin
Group Operations Director
B.Ed. in Childhood Education & Enterprise Management · AMS Montessori (3-6), Early Childhood Credential · AMI School Leadership Certificate · AMI Montessori Sports Certificate
Ingrid Geiger
Principal
AMI Montessori (3-6) Diploma · AMI Montessori (6-12) Diploma
Roiza Reuyan
School Administrator
B.Ed. in Elementary Education (Special Needs Education) · Orton-Gillingham Classroom Educator Certificate · AMI School Administrator (now School Leadership) Certificate
Mafel Trillanes
Vice Principal
Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education · AMI Montessori (3–6) Certificate
Martin Chui
Facilities Manager
Early Childhood Education Basic · AMI Montessori Sports Certificate
Faculty
Ingrid Geiger
Principal
AMI Montessori (3-6) Diploma · AMI Montessori (6-12) Diploma
Mafel Trillanes
Head of Kindergarten Program
Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education · AMI Montessori (3–6) Certificate
Ashley Ewing
Upper Elementary Teacher
Bachelor of Education · Bachelor of Arts
Flora Marckert
Montessori Directress — Elementary
AMI Montessori (6-12) Diploma
Jasmine Pardsooei
Montessori Directress — Elementary
Master of Education Administration · AMI Montessori (6-12) Diploma
Kate Kobayashi
Montessori Directress — Primary
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish · AMI Montessori (3-6) Diploma · AMI Montessori (0-3) Certificate
Marisol Arrechea
Montessori Directress — Primary
Bachelor of Arts in English · AMI Montessori (3-6) Diploma
Support Team
Donya Ghazaghi
Inclusive Education Support
Bachelor of Arts in English Language Teacher Education · Registered Behaviour Technician (RBT)
Joan Bernal
Inclusive Education Support · After School Leader
Education Assistant Diploma
Specialists
Charlotte Leguy
French Specialist
BC Certified Teacher · Certificat de capacité à l'enseignement du français langue étrangère (FLE)
Lili Wang
Mandarin Specialist
BC Certified Teacher · Early Childhood Educator
Rina Kitahara
Yoga Specialist · After School Leader
Early Childhood Educator · 200-Hr Registered Yoga Teacher Training
Careers
Join Our Community
We are always looking for passionate educators and support staff who share our commitment to authentic Montessori education. If you believe in nurturing the whole child, we'd love to hear from you.
INQUIRE ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES
"The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say, 'The children are now working as if I did not exist.'"
— Dr. Maria Montessori