Meet the Team

Philip Bujak - C.E.O

BA, C.Ed, ARHistS, ACMI

Philip joined Montessori St Nicholas in 2004 after eight years as Boarding Housemaster and Deputy Headmaster at Langley School for Boys in Norfolk and ten years as Headmaster of Stover School for Girls in Devon. As Chief Executive, Philip oversees the direction and expansion of the Montessori movement in the UK. He established the Montessori Schools Association in 2005 and the MEAB School Accreditation scheme in 2008 and was responsible for the purchase of the MCI Teacher Training College by the Charity in 2009. Currently engaged on a series of new Montessori developments in the UK, Philip also writes for a number of journals and newspapers on education.

Sharron Zubaida - Group Administration Manager

Chris Marke - Finance Officer

Chris joined the Charity in 2006 after working as Finance Director of an Exhibitions company for 28 years. He is responsible for all financial matters relating to both the Charity and MCI Training College.

Karen Brunwin – Accounts Assistant

Karen Brunwin joined the Charity in 2010 and works as Accounts Assistant supporting the Finance Officer. She deals with the day to day accounts for the Charity and MCI.

Christa Defazio - DL Enrolment Officer

BA

Christa hails from Vancouver, Canada and has been working at the Charity since April 2012. She recently completed her B.A. in English Literature, and has previously worked in higher education.

Elizabeth Knott-Simey - Receptionist

Details to follow shortly.

Stephanie Ilo - Head Office Administrator & Diary Secretary

BA (Hons), PR. Dip

Stephanie joined the Montessori St Nicholas Charity in October 2006. She is currently Diary Secretary to the CEO and deals with the administration for the Head Office. She is also responsible for the administration of the magazine department including subscriptions and classified job advertising as well as updating key sections of the Charity and MCI website.

Amanda Gilchrist - Commercial & Marketing Manager

BA (Hons), Marketing Dip.

Mandy joined Montessori St Nicholas in 2006 after leaving the education book publishing world to have her baby daughter, Sophie. She is the Commercial and Marketing Manager and is responsible for getting Montessori known and more importantly understood in the UK. She also promotes the benefits of Montessori teaching as an inspiring career option for people from all walks of life.

Kristine Largo - MSA Communications and Marketing Manager

MBA, PG Dip, BA

Kristine runs the Montessori Schools Association (MSA) office supporting a team of Regional Chairman who are based round the country, organises the annual MSA Conference and is responsible for communication with MSA members.

Rupert Smedley - National Sales Manager

HND, HNC

Rupert joined Montessori St Nicholas in summer 2009 having previously worked in Sales & Marketing for Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz. Rupert manages student enquiries, liaises with MCI Centres around the country and is responsible for promoting teacher training at home and abroad. He is also involved in representing the College at educational and career events throughout the year.

Catherine Tubbs - Marketing and Advertising Manager

MA, LLB

Catherine joined Montessori St Nicholas in 2006 having worked in Marketing and Advertising for an international media company.

She is the Marketing and Advertising Manager of Montessori International magazine and is responsible for securing Corporate Partnerships for the Charity. Catherine has recently completed an MA in Marketing which was partially funded by St Nicholas.

Philip Davis - MEAB Administrative Manager & Editor, Montessori International

Philip administers the MEAB accreditation scheme, overseeing and scheduling assessment visits to Montessori nurseries in the UK and abroad, and does technical proofreadings of all reports. He is also Editor of Montessori International, the Charity’s magazine for the Montessori community; he occasionally contributes articles to the magazine.

Peter Salvadori - Cleaning and Maintenance Officer

Peter joined the Charity in December 2008 after working for over 30 years for Royal Mail. Peter is responsible for the general maintenance of the building.

Barbara Isaacs - Director of National Strategies

MA, BA, Adv. Mont. Dip.

Barbara joined the newly established MCI in 1998 after training Montessori teachers both at Montessori St. Nicholas and London Montessori Centre.  She was also a proprietor of Seedlings Montessori Nursery in Oxfordshire for fifteen years. She is the Academic Director for the Montessori Centre International and the Senior Accreditation officer for the Montessori Accreditation and Evaluation Board.

Rachel Hill - Examinations Administration Manager

NVQ Level 2

Rachel joined MCI in June 2010 and fulfils the post of Examinations Administrator. After working in the financial district of the city and spending some time travelling in the Far East, Rachel has now settled here at Montessori where she is responsible for exam enquiries and administration. She is also responsible for issuing diplomas and certificates for current students and sorting out replacement certificates and confirmation letters for former students.

Padmini Persaud

Padmini supports the admin once the students have registered, oversees queries and all elements of Teaching Practice such as organising placements in Montessori settings and assisting students to obtain their CRB checks.  She also plans our annual Graduation ceremony.  She joined MCI in August 2004 on a part-time basis but recently came to work full-time after 8 years of experience working in Montessori settings with both infant toddler and pre-school children. Padmini's original training was in the administrative field and she gained qualifications as a legal secretary before deciding to pursue Montessori training. 

Michela Yagoub - Academic Tutor

Mont. Dip.

Michela has been working at MCI for about 10 year after having taught and managed the Balderton street branch of St Nicholas pre-preparatory school. She is a lecturer, group tutor and leader for the Montessori diploma course in Early Childhood. Her duties also include supporting and tutoring students during their teaching practice experience.

Ewa Donnachie - External Programmes Manager

BSc (Hons), Mont. Dip.

Ewa started working for Montessori St Nicholas Centre (MSN) distance learning department in February 1990 and moved to MCI in 1998 when MSN merged with London Montessori Centre. Her main duties now are running the External Part-time Centres, returning assignments to distance learning students and issuing transcripts to past students.

Susan Balcombe - Distance Learning Administrator

B Ed. (Hons), Mont Cert. Stage 2

As distance learning co-ordinator, Susan provides a contact for all enquiries about the distance learning course and acts as the administrator for the distance learning course and the MCI seminar and workshop programmes.  She also deals with student accounts as well as registering students on their courses.

Helen Barber - Tutor

MA, BA, Mont. Dip.

Helen joined MCI in 2002 after completing a MA in Early Childhood Education. She trained to be a Montessori teacher at MCI and worked as such in London and the Midlands.  She is currently Course Leader for the Foundation Degree.  She also teaches on the Diploma Course and is responsible for the Mallinson Library at MCI.

Sarah Olley-Dorey - Tutor

Sarah has worked at MCI and formerly LMC since the 1990s. She has also worked in schools across London and ran her own small infant toddler community that evolved into a small school for a few years. Her current involvement at MCI is teaching cultural and creativity and as a teaching practice tutor. She writes for Montessori international magazine and volunteers in her local primary schools supporting children with reading.

Antonella Cirillo - Tutor

PG Dip, Mont. Dip.

Antonella joined MCI in 2007. She practised as a clinical psychologist in Italy, before moving to the UK. Antonella gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Observational Studies at the Tavistock and Portman and trained as a Montessori Teacher at MCI. At MCI, she is a lecturer for the for the Diploma Course and for the Foundation Degree and is also a Teaching Practice tutor.

Penny Johns - Director of Studies

MA, BA (Hons), PG Cert., Mont. Dip.

After a previous career in theatre costume Penny retrained as a Montessori teacher at MCI with further Early Years training at Middlesex University.  After working as a Montessori teacher at a North London Montessori nursery Penny joined the teaching team at MCI in 2009, teaching on the Foundation Degree and Diploma courses.  She is currently Director of Studies at MCI.  

Marion Meechan - Tutor

Marion left a successful career as a senior buyer for a large retail group in 1996 and retrained at L.M.C. She still owns and manages the Montessori Nursery School in Surrey that she started fifteen years ago. More recently she has joined the team at M.C.I. as a part time tutor. Marion has a Foundation degree in Early Years, an Honours degree in Education; she recently completed the Montessori trainer certificate and is currently undertaking Early Years Professional Status at Chichester University.

Lynnette Brock - Tutor

Lynnette has worked in early years both as a practitioner and as a head teached in Montessori nursery settings and preparatory schools in South West London.
 
As an avid supporter of play in the outdoor environment, principally the role of play in contributing to children’s learning, knowledge, motivation and self-esteem, she has recently led two projects; the first at a preparatory school working with teachers from reception to year two, and the second at a seventy place Montessori nursery setting.  She has also co-ordinated a project in an under two's room to enhance sensory and communication experiences for babies.
Lynnette completed her Montessori Diploma at MCI, and read for a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies at the London Metropolitan University, where she also achieved Early Years Professional Status.