Meet the Staff
GLYNIS HAMILTON
Owner/Operator
I am Glynis Hamilton, the owner of the Montessori School of Wellington.
When I had my children, I knew exactly what I wanted for them in terms of early childhood education. It was only when I visited a beautiful Montessori school in Toronto that I knew I had found what I was looking for.
I became intrigued by Montessori and so, at the ripe old age of 44, I went back to school and then switched career from legal secretary to Montessori teacher. Since that time, Montessori has become a way of life for me. The past 25 years have been a joy rather than a job.
I have moved from being front line in the classroom to the office doing more administrative work, but my office door is almost always open to the classroom where I can hear the children’s laughter and welcome them in for a visit.
I truly love what I do.
SUTHARSANI YOGANATHAN
Casa Guide & After School Teacher
I am an early childhood educator with over 30 years of experience working with children both in my home country of Sri Lanka and here in Canada. My teaching journey began when working with children in refugee camps during the war in Sri Lanka. It was their enthusiasm and joy for learning that propelled me to seek further education in the area of education. In 1991, I received my diploma in Montessori Education in Sri Lanka. It was during this time I learned about Maria Montessori, which completely revolutionized the way I thought about children and how they learn.
Due to the escalating war in my country, my family and I were forced to flee. I arrived in Canada in the summer of 2004 and have worked at the Montessori School of Wellington since 2005. To update my credentials, I took the Emergent Curriculum course offered at the Ontario Early Years Centre. I have also studied in the area of managing individual and group behaviours with a focus on developing self-esteem in children by establishing routines and giving positive guidance. In 2014, I successfully completed the Fundamentals of Montessori course through CGMS continuing education. And now with my 3 decades of teaching experience, I still continue to seek new opportunities to improve my teaching skills.
In my daily teaching, I keep a quote by Maria Montessori in my mind, “…education is not something which the teacher does, but … is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being.”
RAYNA LEW
Office Administrator
My name is Rayna Lew, and I am the Office Administrator guide at the Montessori School of Wellington. I graduated from the Toronto Montessori Institute in June 2014 and began working in September 2014.
I have grown up with the Montessori philosophy, as I attended MSW in 1996 when my mother – Glynis Hamilton – opened the school. Once I finished my third year of Montessori, I moved on to public school.
Over the years, I’ve attended a variety of Montessori conferences, workshops, and seminars. I also attended a workshop offered by Stuart Shanker on methods of developing self-regulation in young children.
Some of my hobbies include: weightlifting, taking Stella on adventures, caring for my collection of plants and caring for my adopted cat, Clyde.
VALENTYNA ZINKEVYCH
Montessori Casa Guide
started my career in Early Childhood Education 10 years ago after graduating from Hrinchenko Kyiv University with a BA in ECE. I hold a Master’s degree in Education from Herzen University in Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
Having a truly multicultural background and experience, I never stop learning. I joined the Montessori School of Wellington in early 2019 as a Montessori Classroom Assistant and After School Teacher.
I enjoy every day with my students as we explore the world, learn new skills, and discover different cultures together.
WINNIE CHUNG
Montessori Casa Assistant
My name is Winnie Chung, and I’m a Casa Assistant teacher at Montessori School of Wellington. I started at MSW in January 2023 as a caregiver for a special needs child who attended the centre, and officially as a staff in June 2023.
I graduated from the Early Childhood Education Program in 2016, then from the Educational Support program at Conestoga College in 2018. I have many years of experience working in mostly childcare centres, with my placements in schools as an ECE and Educational Assistant around Kitchener and Guelph.
After the first few months at MSW, it has really opened my eyes/changed my perspective about how children learn and seeing the differences between Montessori and regular child care environments. I’m excited to learn more about Montessori with the children and staff.
During my free time, I like going out with family and friends, trying new restaurants or activities and caring for my two cats named Jorge and Nala.
YEN TU
Montessori Casa Assistant
My name is Yen Tu, and I am a Casa Assistant at the Montessori School of Wellington. I began working at MSW in July 2024 as a Casa Assistant and After-School Coordinator.
I graduated in 2023 from the consecutive diploma/degree program in early childhood education George Brown College and Toronto Metropolitan University offered. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and am a Registered Early Childhood Educator. I have experience working with all age groups, though I have mainly worked in childcare settings.
As an educator, I am passionate about fostering equitable and inclusive learning environments for children. Working in a Montessori environment has been very rewarding, and being surrounded by knowledgeable and supportive colleagues has made the work enjoyable.
I like to spend time with my family and friends in my free time, read, and crochet
AMBER KEOGH
Montessori Toddler Guide
My name is Amber Keogh and I joined the MSW team in October 2019 where I started off as an Administrative Assistant and an After School Program Coordinator. In December 2019, I also started in the position of MSW French Teacher, where I enjoy working with the children one on one.
I graduated from the Early Childhood Education program at Niagara College and am a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) with several years of experience working with children in various settings (schools, daycares, drop-in programs, summer camps, etc.). I grew up in rural Quebec and later moved to Ontario, so I grew up immersed in both English and French culture and language. I come from a very large family with many younger cousins, which sparked my passion for working with children. In my free time I love spending time with my family, reading and volunteering in the community.
I became familiar with Montessori during my days as an ECE student, where my final practicum was at a Montessori inspired school in Niagara Falls. This resulted in my being hired as a Casa teacher the following year. After moving to Guelph, I found that I was unsatisfied working at regular daycares and missed the Montessori environment. It was with great joy that I joined the Montessori School of Wellington, where I look forward to continuing to work with families and staff.
PAIJE MCGRATH
Montessori Toddler Assistant
My name is Paije McGrath, and I am an assistant in the Toddler Classroom at the Montessori School of Wellington. I attended Confederation College in Thunder Bay and graduated from the Early Childhood Education program in 2018. After becoming an RECE, I took an accelerated program for Developmental Service Workers and graduated in 2019.
My first job working with children was at The Children’s Centre Thunder Bay, where I ran youth groups and assisted Child Protection Workers. I moved to Guelph with my son in June 2022 to be closer to family. I enjoy spending time with my family, crafting, and taking care of my houseplants.
I first discovered Montessori when I was an ECE student, and we learned about it in class. It piqued my interest, and I always kept it in the back of my mind. I started working for the Montessori School of Wellington in September 2022, where I learned more about the Montessori philosophy and teaching practices. I discovered that Montessori aligned with my beliefs about respecting children and promoting independence.
CLAUDIA PRODAN
Montessori Casa Assistant
Hello, I’m Claudia. I’m originally from Italy—the country where Dr. Maria Montessori opened the very first Montessori school in 1907. Growing up in a place so closely connected to the roots of Montessori education has been truly inspiring and has shaped my deep passion for the method.
I’m so excited to be working with Casa children and to support them in their journey of independence, exploration, and growth.
I also have a 3-year-old son, and we’ve been creating a Montessori environment in our home to nurture his natural curiosity and love of learning. I feel grateful to be part of a community that respects and celebrates the unique potential of every child.
DANIELA TERAN
Montessori Toddler Assistant
My name is Daniela Teran, and I have been working with the Montessori School of Wellington since September 2022. I started as a Before and After School Program Coordinator and then moved to a new role as Montessori Toddler Assistant.
In 2019, I graduated from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador with a double major in early childhood education and corporate communications. Following my passion for teaching, I worked as a Kindergarten and Elementary School teacher in Quito, Ecuador. In 2021, I moved to Canada to study a double Master’s at the University of Guelph. I took English, French, and Spanish courses and had the opportunity to work as a Teacher and Research Assistant in the Spanish and Linguistics Departments.
I am passionate about learning and teaching, and I’m so happy about the opportunity to work with a fascinating team highly skilled in Montessori pedagogy.
I love spending time with my husband and son doing activities like dancing, singing, cooking, travelling, and trying new food.
INOKA AMITHIRIGALA
Montessori Toddler Assistant
I am Inoka Amithirigala, and I am passionate about working with children. I have over 12 years of experience in my home country, focusing on helping young minds grow and develop.
I started my career as a special needs educator, where I learned essential skills that help me create inclusive and supportive learning environments for all children. I hold a Bachelor of Education degree and several diplomas in Montessori, Counselling, Special Needs, and Primary Education. This diverse educational background allows me to take a holistic approach to teaching, ensuring I meet the unique needs of each child.
My diploma in Montessori education reflects my deep passion for nurturing young minds and creating supportive learning environments. After relocating to Canada, I chose to pursue an early childhood teaching career, driven by a desire to impact young children’s lives positively.
I am committed to fostering creativity and curiosity, and I strive to create a supportive and engaging learning environment where children can thrive and develop their unique potential. I am excited to bring my experience and passion for education to a Montessori setting. I look forward to inspiring and nurturing the next generation of learners.
