Meet Our Team

All our staff are highly experienced, well-travelled, degree-educated professionals with a passion for Montessori education, a love of children and a wealth of life experiences to share with them. They are Montessori trained and continue to develop their early years and primary education expertise through regular CPD training opportunities.

Patricia Thornton
Owner / Principal

Trish has worked in The Montessori Nursery School since 2012 when she undertook the teaching practice element of the diploma in Montessori Early Years Teaching before becoming manager in 2015. She is a passionate advocate of the Montessori approach in supporting young children at this crucial stage of their development having seen the multiple benefits of this approach with her own child. Trish holds a degree in Land Economics and professional qualifications in commercial property investment having worked for 9 years as a chartered surveyor for a UK pension fund following graduation. Before becoming a Montessori teacher, Trish lived and worked in SE Asia for 10 years where she jointly owned and ran a small tourism business. She returned to her city of birth in 2010 and after managing the Nursery for 2.5 years, took over as owner of the Nursery from Judy Park in December 2017.

Rachel Sharkie
Montessori Elementary Teacher (6-12) & Deputy Manager

Rachel initially studied primary education and was drawn to the opportunity to provide for the individual learning needs of each child in an early years classroom. She discovered her for the Montessori approach in her first teaching role at a nursery in Glasgow. Rachel went on to complete Montessori training for children aged 0-12 years and after 5 years working with 2–5-year-olds, spent 3 years teaching in a Montessori primary school in Wales. Rachel also became the deputy head teacher and completed a leadership and management qualification. Rachel returned to Scotland to be closer to her family and joined us in 2021. She now leads the children in our Montessori Elementary School (6-12).

Alicia Neilson
Montessori Teaching Assistant – Elementary (6-12)

Alicia is our Montessori teaching assistant working with our children aged 6-12 years. She is a qualified primary school teacher with 6 years of primary teaching experience. Originally from Canada, where she obtained both a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education at the University in Ontario, she moved to the UK where she taught children from nursery through to P7 before starting a family. Alicia discovered the Montessori philosophy whilst looking into alternative education for her daughter and hasn’t looked back! She has successfully taken the AMI Montessori Assistants Certificate course and is extremely passionate about all things Montessori.

Anna Assimaki
Montessori Lead Teacher / Manager

Anna is our lead Montessori teacher in the nursery classroom and has a Montessori Diploma (0 – 6 years) with 12 years’ experience working in Montessori settings both in the South of England and in Scotland. Anna has a BA in Childhood Practice and a Postgrad in Early Years Pedagogue. Originally Greek, Anna lived in Germany for 18 years before moving to the UK in 2011 and is fluent in Greek, English and German. Anna joined us in Jan 2022 to teach each morning and support management in the afternoons. Anna believes that Montessori Education is the most child-led and effective program, designed to develop self-esteem, independence, and confidence, and wishes she had that in her younger years. In her spare time Anna loves painting and brings her appreciation of art into the classroom.

Alicia Saavedra Cebreiro
Montessori Teacher

Alicia is a Montessori teacher, originally from Galicia, Spain who holds a BA in Early Childhood Education and is currently finishing a Masters in Montessori Methodology. She moved from Spain 12 years ago and gained experience working first with children and adults with learning difficulties and afterwards as a teacher in different settings. She lived and worked in Scotland for 6 years before moving to Brussels and then Vienna, where she worked in a Montessori International Kindergarten as a Teacher and has never looked back. Alicia has returned to Scotland and has settled with her husband and dog, with whom she loves to spend time going for hikes and bike rides in nature. Alicia´s mother tongues are Spanish and Galician, and she is fluent in English and Spanish Sign Language. Alicia runs our Nature Club and shares her Spanish language with the children.

Romali Rosales Chavarria
Montessori Teacher

Romali is a Montessori teacher, originally from Mexico, where she obtained a BA in Educational Psychology and a MSc in Education Research. She has been a language specialist in Montessori schools for over 10 years both in Mexico and the UK, where she has helped develop their English/Spanish language programs for children aged 3-6and 6-12 as well as carrying out research. Romali is fluent in English and loves welcoming all languages into the classroom while also sharing her Spanish daily with the children. She enjoys reading and writing about Montessori education and being in nature with her friends and family. Romali joined our School and Nursery teams in May 2024.

Almudena Santalices
Montessori Teacher / Deputy Manager

Almudena is a Montessori teacher, originally from Spain, with a background in Journalism and Publishing. Almost by chance she found a job in a rural Montessori nursery in Glasgow, where she found her passion for teaching young children in a Montessori way and gained her Montessori diploma in 2016. Almu also has a certificate in inclusive education from Dundee University. Almu likes to spend her free time with her young children and her partner. Almu joined our team in June 2022.

Students

The school occasionally accommodates students undertaking the teaching practice element of their Montessori training. Prior to teaching practice, students have usually completed a year’s course in the Montessori method of education. Students are well supervised and undergo the usual disclosure checks applicable to all staff.

Join our team

We welcome interest from Montessori trained teachers at all age levels. If you would like to be part of our respected and happy team, please send in your CV and a covering letter to [email protected]

13a Murrayfield Avenue EH12 6AU & 2b Ormidale Terrace EH12 6EQ Open term-time, 8.15 - 15.15 0131 346 8921