Sherin was born in Mombasa, Kenya and after finding her calling for Early Childhood Education in the mid 80’s trained as a Montessori Teacher. Sherin is the founder of Montessori Learning Centre and has been an owner and teacher for over 35 years.
Sherin is also the founder and an Adult Instructor for Montessori Professional Training Canada and has trained Montessori teachers for over 15 years.
Sherin’s instinct and passion for understanding children’s and adults’ needs drives her to motivate her students and help them to enjoy the process of learning; thus bringing out the best in them. A former preschool student of Sherin’s came by to visit one day and this is what she had to say:
“You are the best teacher I have had. You have the coolest stuff in your school and you can tell what we are thinking even before we tell you.”
Sherin’s diversified and collective experience with adults and children makes her a competent and high achieving individual who always aims to provide high quality education. In addition, Sherin’s passions include her family, lifelong learning, volunteering, choreographing and other recreational activities.
Deepa was born in Fort McMurray, AB and grew up all around Alberta until her family settled in Calgary over 25 years ago. At a young age, Deepa recognized that she enjoyed working with children and youth and so her journey began at the age of 12 when she started babysitting for her close family friends and neighbors all around Calgary. This led her to start volunteering for various agencies such as AHS, Malayalee Cultural Association of Calgary and many more.
Deepa’s passion for advocating for and working with children led her to complete the Bachelor of Applied Child Studies degree at Mount Royal University. This amazing education then finally launched her into first job in her career at a Montessori child care centre where she was privileged to be mentored by none other than Ms. Sherin Alibhai. Deepa was mentored and took on the role of Program Director and thereafter was recruited to Mount Royal University (College at the time) where she began her 8 year career as the Directed Field Studies (practicum) Coordinator for the Bachelor of Applied Child Studies degree. It was there that she was able to help direct and lead students of the program into their child and youth care careers.
Her role consisted of teaching a Professional Development Course to 2nd year students, partner with agencies around Alberta to facilitate work experience opportunities for students, as well as sit on many in-house committees as well as facilitate provincial conferences through MRU. This role also helped her to realize that she was missing being in the front line-which is why she is honored to be in the role of Program Supervisor at Montessori Learning Centre since May 2017, again under the guidance and mentorship of Ms. Sherin. She enjoys this role very much as she gets the best of working with both the children, their families as well as continuing to learn the Montessori philosophy.
Deepa has also been fortunate to have both her boys attend Montessori Learning Centre for their preschool and kindergarten education and she is a firm believer of the Montessori philosophy as it fosters, empowers and respects the rights of the child.
Deepa’s interests include: dancing, cooking (and eating!), badminton, and spending quality time playing board games and card games with her friends and family!
Emma was born and raised in the Philippines where she took her nursing degree. It was in 2007 when she moved here to Canada and resided in Saskatchewan for a short while. Emma then moved to Calgary where she worked as a caregiver for two lovely young boys who were enrolled in a Montessori program-this was her first exposure to the Montessori philosophy. She then enrolled in a “Montessori in the Home” course where she found that she very much appreciated and realized this philosophy really fell in line with her values and ethics of working with children.
A few years later she was given the opportunity to enroll in Ms. Sherin’s Montessori Assistant course. This is where both their friendship and professional relationship began and soon enough Emma became the Assistant Teacher for Little Angels Montessori (a dayhome program that Ms. Sherin started).
Emma’s career at Little Angels and MLC spanned over many years before she took a short break to pursue further studies. Emma is now back at MLC as the Assistant Montessori teacher and her passion for working with children is evident in the love, care and compassion she brings to the classroom. Emma loves working in the classroom as the children not only make her feel young, but she is constantly amazed at how inquisitive and honest their minds are.
Emma’s hobbies include playing musical instruments, and flag twirling.
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