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faculty & staff

Leonor March Juan

Co-founder
Leonor is co-founder and owner of Madrid Montessori School and has been involved in short- and long-term strategic planning since the school was founded in 2006. She was a 3-6 Guide in one of the Children’s House environments before taking on an administrative role in 2016. She earned her degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Sussex and completed her AMI 3-6 training in Paris at the Institut Supérieur Maria Montessori under Patricia Spinelli in 2010. She also completed the AMI Certificate in Inclusive Education at the Montessori Institute of San Diego in 2015 and is an AMI Auxiliary Trainer for the 3-6 level. Through her work with adults, she hopes to reach more children and families, contributing to building a better, more inclusive, and peaceful society for all.

Joanna Stewart

Head of School
Joanna began her career in Montessori in 1998 and has formed a part of the Madrid Montessori community since 2010. Her interest in human development and anthropology led her to this methodology, where she has taken on various roles throughout her career: as a Children’s House Guide, an Elementary Guide, and has served at the Head of School since 2022, following her passion to create environments, experiences, and relationships that support children’s development. Her academic background includes a degree in Biological Sciences from Colorado College in Colorado Springs, the Montessori Certificate for ages 3-6 from Maria Montessori School at The Golden Gate in San Francisco, and the AMI Primary Certificate for ages 6-12 from Fondazione CISM in Bergamo, Italy.

Paola Gutiérrez

Financial Director
Paola graduated in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Oviedo. She worked for several years in the financial department of various companies before shifting her professional career toward education. She completed her Children’s House Guide training under Guadalupe Borbolla and her Assistant to Infancy training in Vic with Silvia Dubovoy. After working for two years in the Infant Community, she transitioned to administration as the Financial Director of Madrid Montessori.

Giuliana Rando

Coordinator
Giuliana (Jules) was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and moved to Australia when she was five years old. After finishing high school in Wollongong, Australia, she lived in Rome for several years before returning to Australia to attend university. While studying for her degree in Modern Languages at the University of Wollongong, she conducted observations at the local Montessori school and was mentored by a wonderful guide. While pursuing a Master’s in Journalism, she began a long collaboration with Colors magazine, living in Paris, Treviso, and Orvieto. Between 1999 and 2003, she had three children and renewed her interest in early childhood development and Montessori. In 2009, she earned her Montessori diplomas for 0-3 and 3-6 in Perugia. She moved to Madrid with her family in 2010 and worked for 11 years as a guide and as a Montessori program coordinator at TEMS in Aravaca. In her current role of School Life Coordinator Jules is happy to help in any way she can.

Conchi González

Accountant
Conchi holds a degree in Political Science and Sociology from the Complutense University of Madrid. She specialized in Business Administration and completed her training in Financial Accounting. She has spent most of her professional career in the financial sector of a multinational company and since 2022 she has supported the operations of our school. In 2025 she earned the AMI 3-6 Assistant Certificate.

Tatiana Pérez Capilla

Infant Community Guide, El Encinar
Tatiana has been the Spanish-speaking Guide in El Encinar since 2014. After earning a degree in Sciences and Biology from the Complutense University of Madrid and completing a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology at the Autonomous University of Madrid, Tatiana enrolled her daughter Elena in Madrid Montessori in 2010 and her deepening interest in early childhood pedagogy led her to be trained as an AMI Assistant to Infancy at the Montessori Institute of San Diego, USA, under the direction of Silvia Dubovoy.

Patricia Díaz

Infant Community Assistant, El Encinar
Patricia (Patsy) holds both American and Spanish citizenship and has worked with children for over 15 years. She earned her degree in Foreign Language Education from the Autonomous University of Madrid. She then worked as an English teacher in China, Taiwan, and the United States. Patricia was introduced to the Montessori method in 2016 while teaching English as a Foreign Language in a Montessori Infant Community in Shanghai, China. She holds a Montessori 0-3 diploma from NAMC and an AMI 3-6 Assistant Certificate.

Michelle Elefante

Part- time Assistant in the Encinar and Children’s Houses
Michelle brings a unique combination of expertise from her nursing background and several years of childcare experience. Her passion for child development deepened when she discovered the Montessori approach. Motivated to expand her knowledge and practical skills in Montessori education, she completed the AMI 3-6 Assistants Course in 2025. Michelle is eager to continue her journey by integrating Montessori principles into her work, aiming to support each child’s unique developmental path and create spaces where they feel safe, inspired, and empowered.

Lucy González

Children’s House Guide, El Pinar
Lucy, who holds both British and Spanish citizenship, has been working with young children for over 17 years. Before embracing the Montessori philosophy, Lucy earned a certificate in Early Childhood Education and continued her studies in child development, graduating from La Salle University in Madrid. In 2019, she completed her AMI training at the Maria Montessori Institute in London. Lucy embodies our spirit of lifelong learning and has completed a postgraduate course on Montessori observation, a cornerstone of Montessori pedagogy.

Katya Rendón

Children’s House Assistant, El Pinar
Katya Rendón Dosal, originally from Mexico, holds degrees in Graphic and Editorial Design from Anáhuac Norte University and a Master's Degree in Business Communication and Advertising from the ESIC Business School. Her Montessori journey began in 2010 as a mother and volunteer at a school in Rochester, NY. She later joined Harborlight Montessori School in Massachusetts, completing her diploma for 3-6 with the American Montessori Society. Since moving to Madrid in 2019,and enrolling her children in Madrid Montessori, she has served as a Parent Delegate, substitute teacher, and Assistant Guide, earning her AMI 3-6 Orientation Certificate in 2023.

Ana Pérez

Co-Guide, Children’s House, El Hayedo
Born in Madrid and raised in the United States, Ana is half Spanish and half Japanese. Ana earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Rhodes College and began her career in social work with the homeless in New York State. She later joined the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program, teaching English in Japan for two years before earning a master’s degree in Sustainable Development from the School of Industrial Organization in Madrid. Following 11 years working in the field of sustainable development Ana was inspired by her daughter’s experience at Madrid Montessori and decided to formally pursue Montessori teacher training. She completed the AMI Assistant Course in 2018 and in 2024 finished her AMI 3-6 Guide training in Munich under the direction of Maria Roth and Maria Schäf. Ana is pleased to deepen her involvement in the school community as a 3-6 Guide and as a mother of two children in our elementary program.

Federica Cinerelli

Co-Guide, Children’s House, El Hayedo
Federica holds an AMI Early Childhood (3-6) Diploma from the Maria Montessori Institute in London, an LLM in Human Rights from Maastricht University, and a Master’s in Political Science from La Sapienza University in Rome. She has nearly a decade of experience in human rights and international development, having worked on child protection projects in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Myanmar, and Syria. Before joining Madrid Montessori, she worked in the Netherlands as Regional Programs Coordinator for AMI, a bilingual Montessori lead guide, and a consultant providing parent training.

Raji Balaram

Primary Guide, La Alameda
Raji is originally from Kerala, India and has a university degree in Physics. She first encountered Montessori as a parent in 2002 when her son was two and a half years old. She trained as an AMI Children’s House Guide and worked for three years in Chennai, India. As her son grew older, Raji pursued AMI 6-12 Guide training and taught at a school in the U.S. for five years. After a brief time in the Netherlands, she came to Spain and has over 16 years of Montessori experience in both Children’s House and Elementary environments across three continents, teaching in monolingual (English) and bilingual (English + Tamil, Spanish, and Dutch) settings.

Chelsea Dixon

Elementary Assistant, La Alameda
Chelsea is a New Yorker who recently returned to Madrid after seven-years in Dallas, Texas. She first came to Spain in 2010 as a Fulbright scholar and stayed as an English teacher in the Auxiliares program in Spanish public bilingual schools. Chelsea began her Montessori career as an Children's House Assistant in the Hayedo. Following her return to the U.S. she worked as an Elementary Assistant at the Alcuin School in Dallas Chelsea holds a degree in Elementary Education and Spanish and later obtained AMI Assistant Certificates for both Children´s House and Elementary. She has a passion for teaching literacy and geography and enjoys exploring new places whenever possible with her two children who are students at our school.

Belén Martínez

Elementary Guide, La Dehesa
With over 20 years of teaching experience, Belén has served as a lead Montessori guide for six years in schools around the world, including the U.K. and Costa Rica. Born and raised in Madrid, she considers the city her home. Belén graduated with a degree in a Primary Education from the Complutense University of Madrid and earned a Master’s in Psychopedagogy from the University of Barcelona. During her studies, Belén explored various pedagogies, finding a special resonance with the Montessori method. In 2017, she earned her AMI Montessori 6-12 diploma in Girona, Spain. She is the mother of two children in our school.

Subhagata Pal

Elementary Assistant, La Dehesa
Subhagata brings 18 years of educational experience to Madrid Montessori. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in India, she pursued Montessori education in Ireland and worked in three schools in Dublin. Upon returning to India, she joined an international school that followed the Montessori methodology, where she served as an Early Years Guide and later as the Early Years Coordinator. Subhagata has participated in various workshops and holds certifications in AMI (Assistant Course), IB Professional Development, and Cambridge Assessment International Education. After moving to Madrid in January 2022, she taught English online to young students in Asia and Europe and worked as an English teacher at a bilingual school before joining Madrid Montessori.

Miren Agirreolea

Elementary Guide, El Olivar
Miren holds a degree in Philosophy and a teaching qualification in Primary Education. She began her career as a multilingual primary school teacher in the Basque Country in 2006. Her interest in Montessori education began in 2014, leading her to work as an assistant in AMI Montessori schools in the United Kingdom for two years before joining our school as an Elementary Guide in 2016. In recent years, Miren has found joy and fulfillment in nurturing a community of caring, curious, and creative 6 to 12-year-old children in Madrid.

Juan González

Elementary Guide, El Olivar
Born in Spain, Juan holds a degree in Dramaturgy and Stage Direction from the Royal School of Dramatic Arts and is trained as an elementary Montessori guide by AMI. He worked for over seven years as a guide at the Surachi Montessori School, where he developed his passion for education based on Montessori principles. Juan approaches his work with children with a steadfast commitment to personal development and creating an environment where children can know themselves and discover their potential. Joining El Olivar, he brings his experience and enthusiasm to support children in their learning and holistic development, along with his specialization in non-violent communication and his dedication to helping them cultivate a love for work and independent research.

Mercedes Carbonell

Elementary Assistant, El Olivar
Mercedes, born and raised in Madrid, studied Early Childhood and Primary Education, along with Therapeutic Pedagogy, at the Pontifical University of Comillas. After completing her studies, she began her professional career at a Montessori school in Cascais, Portugal, first as a music teacher for the entire school and then as an assistant in various school environments. It was there that Mercedes discovered her passion for Montessori pedagogy and decided to begin her AMI training in London to become a 6-12 Montessori Guide. Mercedes has a deep connection with music and the arts, and enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also has a strong passion for participating in social and volunteer activities.

Sophia Caswell

English Guide, El Olivar
Sophia holds undergraduate degrees in Early Childhood Education and Psychology from Ohio Wesleyan University and a Master’s in Montessori Education from Loyola University Maryland. After spending time as a reading teacher in Portland Public Schools, she decided to deepen her understanding of child development and became a Montessorian. She completed her primary training in Portland, Oregon, in 2016 under the guidance of Elise Huneke-Stone. Subsequently, Sophia became the lead upper elementary guide at a public Montessori center, where she taught for three years before joining us at Madrid Montessori in 2019. She now utilizes her combined knowledge of Montessori education and language acquisition to support language arts in the 9-12 age group.

Maya Sparks

Elementary Assistant, El Olivar
Maya comes from a family of educators. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Spanish Studies and Human Rights from the University of Washington, she began working in education as an ESL assistant in Seattle. She then moved to Madrid and worked as an assistant in primary schools before obtaining her master’s degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language and ESL from New York University. Maya then taught in New York City public schools for five years before returning to Madrid in 2019. After the birth of her daughter, she began exploring alternative pedagogies and learned about Montessori, which inspired her to complete her AMI Assistant certificate through the Maria Montessori Institute in London. Maya has been working in Upper Elementary since 2023 and loves supporting children with English literacy and gardening.

Natalia González

Spanish Teacher and School Counselor/Wellness Coordinator
Natalia obtained her degree as a Primary Education Teacher in 2010. After working in various schools, she decided to specialize in Emotional Education. In 2016, she joined Madrid Montessori. That same year, she completed her Master’s in Multiple Intelligences applied to the classroom and Innovative Didactics, under the guidance of Mar Romera. Natalia completed her AMI 6-12 Assistant course in 2018. Always driven by her passion for childhood and aiming to provide more individualized support to children and families, she decided to enroll in a Pedagogy degree, obtaining her title from the University of La Rioja in 2025.

Jorge Fraile

Spanish Teacher and Physical Education Teacher
Jorge holds a Técnico Superior en Actividades Físicas y Deportivas degree from I.E.S. Carlos Bousoño in Majadahonda and a Bachelor’s Degree in Primary Education with a specialization in Physical Education from the Complutense University of Madrid. His final thesis explored the relationship between motor skills and literacy development in children, reflecting his commitment to fostering both intellectual and physical growth. Before joining Madrid Montessori, Jorge gained practical experience teaching Spanish language classes at public schools in the Comunidad de Madrid. Jorge joined Madrid Montessori in 2022.

Luis Sueza Arana

Physical Education Teacher
Luis earned his degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences from the European University of Madrid. He is a senior swimming coach, specializing in High Performance, and holds a Youth Activities Instructor title from the Employment and Economy Department of the Community of Castilla-La Mancha. In 2023, he obtained a Montessori Sports training certificate, an initiative of AMI. Since the 2018-19 academic year, Luis has been responsible for sports activities and physical education at the school. He earned the AMI 3-6 Assistants certificate in 2025.

Sofía Pérez-Serrabona

School Psychologist
Sofía is our school psychologist. She specializes in systemic and humanistic therapy with a Gestalt approach, allowing her to address emotional and learning needs comprehensively. Sofía works across all school levels, observing and supporting children in their emotional and educational development. Additionally, she provides support for the well-being of guides and families, promoting a balanced and healthy environment for the entire school community.

Cilda Cordova

Cocina
Cilda ha sentido una gran pasión por la cocina desde pequeña. Antes de venir a España hace 20 años desde su país natal, Perú, vivió en Italia, Argentina y Uruguay. Se unió a Madrid Montessori en 2013 y, desde entonces, ha enriquecido nuestros platos con nuevos sabores y su toque de esmero. En 2025, se formó como Asistente AMI de 3-6.

Adriana Coromoto

Cocina
Nacida en el pintoresco pueblo de Casanay, Venezuela, Adriana siempre ha sentido una gran curiosidad por el aprendizaje y el cuidado de los demás. Cursó cuatro semestres de Sociología en la UCV, pero debido a la inestabilidad en la universidad, decidió cambiar de rumbo y completó un curso de Auxiliar de Enfermería. Más tarde, inició la carrera de Enfermería y avanzó hasta el tercer semestre, pero la difícil situación en su país la llevó a emigrar. Vivió en Perú durante tres años antes de mudarse a España en 2020. Desde 2022 forma parte del colegio, y en 2025 completó el curso AMI de Asistente de 3-6.

Richard Martínez

cleaning and maintenance
Originally from Peru, Richard has been part of our school since 2009. He is responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of our building. Additionally, he trained as a soccer coach and has worked for many years with teams in both Spain and Peru. He has a very special bond with the children at school and is a key role model within our community.