Montessori School BaliMontessori School Bali
Jeff came to Bali from Denver, Colorado, USA where he was the Head of School at a small Montessori Preschool with over 25 years of history. Jeff received his AMS Montessori (6-9) credential and a Masters in Education from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1995, and went on to teach Lower Elementary (6-9) until he became an administrator, working in several Montessori schools large and small, private and non-profit. Jeff wishes he could have been a Montessori student when he was a child; he found the training to be life-changing. Jeff is passionate about the philosophy and about helping to ensure that the schools he works for are authentically delivering award-winning and world class Montessori education.
Natalie has been a Montessori Teacher for 24 years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Developmental Psychology in Education from the University of Toronto, in Toronto, Canada, and an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in French Literature and Gender Studies from York University, also in Toronto.
Natalie first discovered Montessori after observing the experiences of her younger siblings, who attended Montessori preschool and primary. After reading Montessori’s writings on education while studying in France during high school, (where she studied at a local Lycee and the French Conservatory for piano and violin), she decided to pursue her studies in Montessori.
Natalie completed her Montessori 6-12 diploma at F.C.I.S.M. in Bergamo, Italy. She has taught in large, top-tier urban Montessori schools in Canada and at MSB. Natalie believes that Montessori nurtures independence and a lifelong passion for learning. She feels the method is unique as it deeply respects the individual and allows students to find their place and purpose within their classrooms, schools, families, communities, and the world.
A seasoned educator, Natalie approaches each year as a fresh new experience where the interests of the children take the learning in new and exciting directions. “Teaching in Bali offers a rare opportunity to delve deep into the diverse landscape, culture, and heritage of the beautiful island and Indonesia framed within the Montessori Philosophy.”
After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from Undiksha University, Singaraja, (Ganesha University of Education) in 2008, Lina entered the education world to explore her passion for teaching and learning. Lina taught English and Indonesian in a variety of local schools at various levels (preschool to senior high school) before she joined Montessori School Bali as a Teacher’s Assistant in 2014. In 2016, Lina received her Montessori Teacher Training (Diploma) from North American Montessori Center (NAMC). She also teaches Indonesian and PPKN (Indonesia Study). Lina believes that every child is unique, special, and has his or her own strengths and weaknesses. She is committed to helping children grow and become the best version of themselves in a healthy environment filled with kindness and encouragement.
Sukma is a Preschool Teachers Assistant, and has been working at Montessori School Bali since 2018. Sukma acquired her English Education Bachelors Degree from Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha. She has a great passion for supporting and nurturing the development of our younger students.
Rossi graduated from Undiknas University with a Bachelor Degree of Accounting and will complete the Accounting Profession Education soon. He’s so glad to be a part of Montessori School Bali which is a good opportunity for him to learn and grow further in accounting career and many things as well. Rossi is happy to help you all with anything you need and any questions you may have about the payments.
She has graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Accounting studies from Politeknik Negeri Bali. She loves to do reading books, listening music and swimming in her spare time. She has been worked as senior accountant who in-charge to provide financial, budget, and tax report for Finance company and hospitality industry for around 18 years. Now she has passionate to learning about various accounting system and financial reports in Education sector and joining in Montessori School Bali with Montessori Philosophy which is develop child for their self-independence and become the best version of themselves in a healthy environment filled with kindness.
Julli graduated from Udayana University Bali in 2011. Since then, Julli has worked in various industries including banking for 5 years, the hotel industry for another 5 years where she started as a Public Relations Coordinator and became the Sales & Marketing Manager. Her last stint was in the Food and Beverage industry before coming to Montessori School Bali.
Julli assists The Principal. She enjoys using her skills and experiences in marketing communication to help manage the school’s online platform such as; social media, website, newsletter, blog, etc. and also printed collaterals needed for the school’s publicity with her creative hands.
She enjoys spending time in nature, loves cycling and baking and has interest in exploring new places and cultures.
Lutfi obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Udayana University. When studying at the University, Lutfi learned about the Montessori method. Now he can see how Montessori philosophy helps students to develop hard and soft skills as they are developmentally ready. Lutfi helps to ensure the MBS meets its requirements to the Ministry of Education, helps MSB with required reporting for accreditation, and also helps to ensure that MSB families, students and expat staff meet VISA requirements for attendance and employment at MSB.
Anom was born and raised in Batubulan, and is the proud father of a beautiful 7 year-old daughter. He received his Diploma in Food and Beverage Management in 2001, and worked extensively in hospitality, most recently as Assistant F&B manager at the Double Six Luxury Hotel. In 2021, Anom became the ground operational manager at Montessori School Bali and enjoys gaining experience and knowledge in the field of education.
Diah earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and soon will complete a Master’s Degree in Linguistics from Warmadewa University. She has been teaching the kindergarten and primary levels since 2018. She is passionate about teaching and training and keen to spread positivity. She appreciates that Montessori is the education approach that emphasizes independence, individually paced learning and respect for a child’s natural psychological, physical and social development.
Dina, is the teacher assistant in the Melati Classroom and Bahasa Indonesia teacher. She has been passionate about being a teacher since she was a child. Dina graduated from Mahasaraswati University with Bachelor’s degree of education and enjoys helping students to learn and grow.
Indah is a Preschool Teachers Assistant who joined MSB in 2023. She achieved her Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from Mahasaraswati University in 2018. Indah has been teaching since 2016. During her time as a teacher, she has enjoying supporting the preschool students and she believes that every child has their own strengths and weaknesses. Welcome, Indah!
Dhian obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and Master’s Degree in Linguistics from Udayana University. Dhian has been working at Montessori School Bali since 2012. Dhian believes the Montessori philosophy has changed her perspective on education child development. It has also influenced her professional life as a teacher, and her personal life as a mother of 3 children.
Christina has worked in national, national plus and international school in Jakarta for 10 years. She worked as a volunteer in education in Jakarta and also in an NGO in North Bali to support children of lesser means to get their basic education, to help bring awareness of health and nutrition for babies, mothers and families. Christina enjoys gardening, cooking, dancing, photography and anything to do with art when she is not working in the Frangipani Classroom.
Kaavya holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce and Computers and Masters in Education from University of Hartford.
Kaavya is originally from Hyderabad, India and taught as a Montessori Guide in USA, China and Norway prior to coming to Montessori School Bali. Although she “stumbled upon” Montessori by accident, Kaavya says, “The methodology inspires me and I’m spellbound by how perfectly it has been designed with a balance which caters to both the IQ and EQ.”
An academic at heart, Kaavya enjoys studying a variety of subjects at any given time to try and better herself. She enjoys reading a variety of topics from spirituality to athletic development, finance to relationships and appreciates both nonfiction and fiction. Kaavya’s all-time favourite author is Enid Blyton and she loved reading the Amar Chitra Series as a child. Kaavya loves to travel and experience new places, peoples and cultures.
Wina joined Montessori School Bali in 2004 as a Preschool Teacher’s Assistant until about 2016. She then worked in the office from 2016 – 2017 supporting General Affairs. Wina came back to MSB during the pandemic in 2020 as a Teacher’s Assistant and around 2021 became the coordinator for the outdoor program which she currently runs for the Preschool. Wina has her AMI Assistant Teacher Training Certificate for 3 to 6. She is happy to be back at Montessori School Bali and loves working with the children.
Originally from Chicago, Illinois USA, Nicole was first introduced to the Montessori method in 2012, as a Teacher’s Assistant. From that moment, she never stopped studying, researching, and working with the Montessori Method. Nicole earned her AMI Diploma in Casa dei Bambini in 2014. Since then, she has taught in schools in Thailand, Vietnam, and Poland before coming to Bali. Nicole has also lived and worked on the east and west coasts in the US from Portland, Oregon to New York City. Nicole came to Montessori School Bali with over 8 years of experience working as a Montessori Teacher. Currently Nicole is pursuing her 6-12 Montessori teacher training. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, scuba diving, and of course traveling to new places.
Monalisa “Lisa” has her University Diploma in International Economic Relations from University of Bucharest. She worked in business for many years but after learning the Montessori methodology and the positive outcomes of the program, she decided to change her profession.
An AMI Montessori teacher who obtained her Diploma from Montessori Institute of Bucharest, Lisa has been meeting the individual needs of children and families for the last 7 years, in international schools. Lisa has significant experience in establishing entirely new Montessori environments, managing classrooms and observing her students.
Becoming a Montessori teacher has had a very big impact on Lisa’s life. It has changed her perspective on education and how she looks at the world around her.
Nothing compares to working with children, being the “servant” of their needs and feeding their hungry minds! Lisa guides them with passion, love and responsibility. In her spare time she loves gardening, as well as reading and traveling.
Ayu has returned to Montessori School Bali, where she worked for four years prior to the pandemic, as the teaching assistant in the 0-3 classroom. Ayu brings lovely experience, a calm and friendly personality to the children and her familiarity with Montessori and our school.
Vina achieved her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology Education in 2011 and completed her Master’s Degree of Educational Administration in 2013 from Ganesha University. She has been teaching biology and science at junior high school and senior high school from 2012 until 2019. After that, Vina decided to be a full-time mother to take care of her two children. Vina is very interested in the Montessori learning method; she has read a lot and has attended a workshop about Montessori with the aim of growing her child’s independence. Vina is glad to be able to join Montessori School Bali as assistant teacher in 0-3 classroom.
Iliana was born and raised in Greece and has been working with children under 6 since 2012. She loves to explore different cultures and had the opportunity to teach in schools in China, Japan and Korea before coming to Bali. Iliana completed her AMI training for children under 3 in 2019, at the Montessori training center of Athens, Greece. She has been an Infant Community Guide ever since. She also worked as a consultant with parents wishing to bring the Montessori method into the home. Iliana feels so thankful to be able to join MSB and explore once more another beautiful culture while observing the child’s journey to independence from birth.
Dwi graduated from the English Education Department of Ganesha University. She is very familiar with the teaching and learning process of conventional school. Working at Montessori School Bali brought her a new amazing experience by seeing and watching how beautiful is the implementation of Montessori philosophy, how it works for the children, and how it affects us as parents. She is really impressed and keen to implement Montessori at home for her children.
Bob has been a Montessori Teacher for 11 years. He holds a Master’s in Montessori Education from Loyola University Maryland and a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Protection from West Virginia University. Bob found Montessori through his wife, Sarah, an AMI-trained teacher. Sarah invited Bob to observe and he was blown away by the independence demonstrated by the students. Bob notes that Upper Elementary-aged students often begin developing a negative self-image of what they feel they are good at, capable of, or limited by. His greatest days are when students overcome these negative self-views and realize that their potential is so much greater than what they had previously thought.
Novita has a Bachelor Degree in English Education from Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha. She has been working as a Preschool Assistant Teacher at Montessori School Bali since 2016. Novita is passionate about the Montessori philosophy because of the hands-on independent learning of the child and the development their independence, offering freedom within limits and the respect for the child.
Çiğdem brings 20 years of experience guiding elementary and primary age students, and has been a Montessori teacher for 10 years. Her Bachelor of Arts is in Teaching English As a Second Language (ESL). She completed her Elementary Montessori Education (6-12) at the Montessori Institute of San Diego (MISDAMI) in 2017 and also received her diploma as a Preschool Guide in Munich Germany. Çiğdem is passionate about helping students develop self confidence and independence through hands-on learning. Çiğdem aims to develop a deep understanding of how to connect with and support the unique learning experiences of each child that she works with.
Born in Italy and raised in the South-East of France, Lidia Olivieri has a degree in Social Psychology from the Université de Lettres et Sciences Humaines de Nice. She received her three-to-six AMI diploma in 2002 from the Institut Supérieur Maria Montessori in Paris where she taught for a few years, before joining Montessori School Bali, fifteen years ago. She is one of our Preschool Lead Teachers and our Preschool Coordinator. Her passion and enthusiasm for guiding her students is contagious and her creativity and love of beauty bring innovative extensions to her teaching practice every year.
Saka graduated from Hospitality Management STIE Triatma Mulya. She worked for years in the Hospitality Industry as Villa Specialist. And now she would love to extend her experiences with the Montessori School as she knows that the Montessori system will be a blooming education system in the future. And as she has a toddler, she would like to have some Montessori experiences that she could bring home. She really loves working around the children!
Ayu is returning to Montessori School Bali, where she worked for four years prior to the pandemic, as the teaching assistant in the 0-3 classroom. Ayu brings lovely experience and her familiarity with Montessori and our school, and we are so glad to welcome her back to MSB!
Montessori School Bali was the very first Montessori school established in Bali and founded in 1998 by Nattalia Sinclaire and her husband, Kadek Wiranatha.
Nattalia, having grown up in Ireland surrounded by the Montessori approach, was inspired to seek Montessori training, which she participated in and completed in London and Dublin in 1984 for Preschool and Primary aged children. She then went on to teach internationally in the field of Montessori education in England, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and Indonesia. Being so convinced and inspired by her work in the Montessori field, she was eager to bring the possibility of a Montessori education to Bali and hence had the great pleasure in establishing and opening, with Kadek, Montessori School Bali in May 1998.
Kadek is a long-standing, established, and experienced Balinese businessman, operating predominantly in the hospitality, fashion, and beverage industries in Bali for over 35 years.