OUR MONTESSORI EDUCATORS TEAM
Where the Passion Begins
Our Montessori teaching team is based in West Vancouver and proudly serves families from West Vancouver, North Vancouver and Downtown Vancouver. Our educators are highly trained, deeply experienced, and committed to nurturing confident, capable learners in a calm and respectful Montessori environment.
MS. LEANNE
Montessori Guide & Manager
Leanne was born in Saskatchewan and spent most of her childhood growing up in the Lower Mainland of Vancouver. She completed her degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia (UBC), and then went on to receive a post graduate diploma in Applied Information Technology. After her studies, she began her career as a Web Developer/Computer Analyst and went on to start her own online publishing company. Leanne became passionate about Montessori pedagogy and its power to foster compassionate and caring children when her two daughters were thriving in a Montessori school. She pursued and completed her AMI Montessori diploma and ECE certification in 2017 and became an enthusiastic educator who loves working with children. She also holds a permanent B.C. Independent Teaching Certificate. Leanne enjoys hiking, biking, visiting new places as well as spending time with her two entertaining pets, a pug and a rescue cat. She has always been curious to learn more about different cultures and loves meeting new people to hear their stories. Leanne is thrilled to be part of the Treetops Montessori team. She especially wishes to inspire children to love art, and enjoys seeing who they are through their creations. She appreciates how much a child can achieve and grow in early childhood, especially with the right conditions present and by observing their interests and needs. She looks forward to getting to know all the children, families and teachers and learning more about each child - and what makes them unique to best support them.
MS. ROBERTA
AMI Montessori Guide
MS. MAHTAB
AMI Montessori Assistant
Mahtab was born and raised in Tehran, Iran, where she practiced law before moving to Canada in 2023. After arriving in Canada, she pursued her passion for working with children by earning her Early Childhood Educator Assistant (ECEA) certification as well as her AMI Montessori Assistant Certificate.
With two years of experience in early childhood education, Mahtab is dedicated to creating a warm, supportive, and engaging environment where children can learn, grow, and develop confidence in their abilities. She enjoys supporting children as they explore the world around them and takes great joy in witnessing their curiosity, independence, and unique personalities emerge.
Outside of the classroom, Mahtab enjoys spending time in nature through swimming and hiking. She is an animal lover and shares her home with her beloved dog, Teddy. Guided by the principles of good thoughts, good words, and good deeds, she believes in treating others with kindness, compassion, and respect. Mahtab values community, lifelong learning, and helping others, and she brings these qualities into both her personal life and her work with children and families.
Roberta is excited to be part of the Treetops Montessori School community. Originally from Brazil, she moved to Canada in 2015 with her husband and son, and since then, has proudly made Canada her home. In 2019, her daughter was born, completing their family. She loves spending time together exploring parks, enjoying the outdoors, going out for meals, or having Brazilian barbecues in their backyard.
Roberta's professional background is in graphic design, but she has always had a deep passion for education and working with children. After moving to Canada, she decided to pursue this calling. While researching different educational philosophies, she found that the Montessori approach aligned beautifully with her beliefs— respecting each child’s individual journey and nurturing their development in a safe, supportive environment. She then went on to complete her AMI Montessori diploma in 2017 and has been working with children ever since then. She especially enjoys bringing creativity into the classroom through arts and crafts, both with the students and at home with her own children. She looks forward to years of learning and growing together with the children she guides in the classroom!
MS. LAUREN
Director
Lauren and David are the owners of Treetops and took over the school operations from Ms. Justine in 2019. They have two young children, two of which are recent Treetops graduates. Lauren has a Bachelor of Technology and majored in Graphic Communications Management. She has been working in the sales and marketing field for the past 15 years. Lauren loves continuing the Treetops legacy for her mother-in-law, and building a loving, fun and nurturing environment for the children.
MR. DAVID
CFO (Chief Fun Officer)
MS. JUSTINE
Founder
I was born in Manchester, England. I was educated at St. John’s College and later studied as a fever nurse at Monsall Hospital, Manchester. After emigrating to Canada, I studied at Ryerson University.
After my children attended a Montessori Preschool in Vancouver, I decided to take the Montessori training and eventually received my Early Childhood Educator qualifications.
I opened Treetops Montessori Preschool in 1993 and have been passionately running and acting as head teacher at the school until my retirement in June 2019.
I now act as a mentor and provide support to our Treetops team.
David is the son of Treetops' founder, Ms. Justine. He grew up around the Treetops classroom and is a child of Montessori education. He has years of teaching experience in China and Vancouver and when he’s not working in the polar regions as a photographer, he is at the school assisting the teachers and chatting with the parents at pick-up and drop off.
