Our Community

The faculty of MST is drawn from an international mix of talented people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. The diversity of our teaching faculty mirrors the diversity of our international community of families. One thing we all have in common is our love of teaching and our commitment to nurturing the best in children through the Montessori method.

James Moore

Head of School

James joined MST’s faculty as a classroom assistant and PE & Music specialist in 2004. He quickly got involved in coordinating our enrichment and extra-curricular programmes, which became his main role for 3 years. He then became MST's Director of Operations, overseeing the general day-to-day operational running of the school for a further 7 years while maintaining regular contact with students through various enrichment programmes.
After a decade at the school, James became MST's Assistant Head of School in 2014: a role he held for 6 years before moving into his current position as Head of School in the summer of 2020.

In his current role, James oversees the growth and development of an expanding MST, while providing stability for both parents and staff. He remains accessible to parents and is a familiar face around the school for the entire community. James plays the piano and guitar and is an active vocalist who enjoys performing in the Tokyo area.

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Administrators Certificate, 2021, Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies, Arizona, USA

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Elementary Diploma (6-12), 2020, Montessori Institute of San Diego, USA.

American Montessori Society (AMS), Montessori School Management, 2011, Center for Montessori Teacher Education, New York, USA.
Mathematics and Computer Science, B.Sc. 2001, University of Leeds, UK.

Gel Vicencio

Assistant Head of School

Gel grew up in Sydney, Australia, where she worked at various independent schools teaching English Literature and subjects from the IB curriculum, before joining MST in 2019. She has specialised qualifications in gifted education and experience working with students who have diverse learning needs. A long-time believer in the importance of progressive education, Gel loves helping students ignite their spark and discover the valuable contribution they have to make to the world. Her special interests - which she loves sharing with students - include social justice and human rights, environmentalism, and the power of the written word as a force for positive change.

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Introduction to Adolescence Certificate, 2020, International Montessori Training Institute

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Administrators Certificate, 2019, Whole School Leadership Institute, Houston, USA
Graduate Certificate of Gifted Education, 2017, University of NSW, Australia

Master of International Education, 2012, University of Sydney, Australia
Graduate Diploma of Education, 2005, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia

BA(Hons) in Government & International Relations, English Literature, and French Literature, 2004, University of Sydney, Australia

Liz Masuzoe

Front Office Coordinator

Liz graduated from an international school in Okinawa and worked in a US financial firm in Tokyo for 7. As she spent some precious time at home bringing up her sons, she attended interpreting school and then worked as an interpreter/translator mainly for Japanese media companies for 5 years. Prior to joining MST in May 2019, she worked as an assistant manager in a pearl and jewelry retail company.

Shiho Uemura

Back Office Coordinator

Chisa Honda

Educational Affairs

Chisa attended an international school in Tokyo and finished her middle, high school and university in the UK. After completing a degree in Teaching and obtaining her Montessori qualifications, she returned to Tokyo where she worked at an international school.

She joined MST in 2013 and worked in supporting the Early Childhood, before moving into the Administration in early 2015. Amongst other interests, Chisa has volunteered at orphanages and senior caring homes in Tokyo obtained a purple belt in Aikido and plays a decent round of golf.

North American Montessori Center, Infant and Toddler (0-3), 2014, Surrey, B.C. Canada

North American Montessori Center, Early Childhood Diploma (3-6), 2013, Surrey, B.C. Canada

English Studies for Teaching B.A. 2012, University of Buckingham, UK

Jake Redden

IT & Multimedia

Jake brings a wealth of experience as a former manager of a dedicated IT support and repair team in Scotland. Driven by his passion for education and creativity, he obtained his teaching certificate and embarked on a journey to bridge the gap between IT, creativity, and education. Always seeking out new opportunities, programs, and techniques, Jake strives to keep our school at the cutting edge of technology.

With a focus on supporting and training faculty members, Jake aims to provide continuous assistance in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of IT. Moreover, he aspires to develop an engaging curriculum that not only nurtures students' computing skills but also instills in them an appreciation for the safe and ethical use of technology.

By integrating his expertise in IT, creativity, and education, Jake endeavors to create an environment where innovation thrives and students are equipped with the necessary skills to succeed in the digital age.

Shoko Lowe

School Nurse

Aika Sakanouchi

Admissions

Tomofumi Ito

Facilities

Tomofumi (Bun) studied entomology and bee ecology at university. His team set a Guinness World Record by rearing 19 generations of ladybugs using male drone bees and developed a patented method for creating long-term preservable feed from these drones.

In Malaysia, he participated in a Japanese government Peace Corps project, increasing rice yields by 60% with pesticide-free Japanese farming methods.

At the Japan Institute of International Affairs, he worked on the Research Assistance Program for Young Schoolers, fostering pro-Japanese sentiment globally, and managed second-track diplomacy with organizations like the Council on Foreign Relations and Chatham House.

Faculty of Agriculture, Tamagawa University

Maria Hovi

Purchasing &
Communications

Maria grew up in Finland and Belgium and moved to the UK to go to university. After her studies, she moved to Japan and taught children and adults at various schools in Tokyo and Sapporo before becoming an Admissions Officer at an international school. After that, she worked for a university in Austria managing the university's internship program, lecturing and supporting students in finding internships, until returning to Japan and starting work at MST in 2022.

AMI Montessori, 3-6 Orientation, 2022

Maia Sameshima

Support Coordinator & Administrative Assistant

Maia has been working at MST since 2013. Born and raised in Yokohama, she was a Montessori student and also an international school graduate. Maia has been one of the lead teachers for the Sunshine Sequoia class for 10 years before going on her maternity leave. She wanted to try out something new after 10 years of teaching and is currently working at the front office as a Support Coordinator and Administrative Assistant.

Maia loves to cook, read comics and binge-watch shows on Netflix in her free time, as well as spending time with her 2-year-old son.

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Early Childhood Diploma (3-6), 2012, The Montessori Institute of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Japan

Bachelor of Liberal Arts, 2010, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan

Harumi Ono

Finance

Harumi joined MST in February 2024 with over 20 years of accounting and clerical experience. She is happy to be in an environment where she can engage with people from all over the world and contribute to peace. Her special skill is Japanese narration. She started playing music as an adult, playing flute, electric bass and vocals, and is in a world music cover band with friends.

Joji Kishigami

HR & General Affairs

Wind Edward Kim

Communications & Marketing
EAL & Literacy

Akane Katsube

Pine Teacher

Akane performed on stage with a professional Acting Company for a number of years, prior to entering the education field. Before joining MST in 2010, she worked in international schools in Tokyo working with children from 18 months to 6 years old. While working at a Japanese Montessori school, she obtained her AMI Montessori Diploma.

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Assistants to Infancy (0-3), 2016, The Montessori Training Centre of British Coloumbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Early Childhood Diploma (3-6) 2010, The Montessori Institute of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Japan

En Acting School, Japan. 1994, Japan

Arts & Science College, 1991, Temple University, Tokyo, Japan

Jansdei Bersalona

Pine Teacher

Jansdei was born in the Philippines and is a registered nurse with hospital experience. Before coming to MST, she was a homeroom teacher in an international Science school in Tokyo. She has a great interest in Montessori education. In her spare time, she enjoys singing with her daughter, reading, dancing, amongst other cultural activities.

AMI Montessori, 0-3 Orientation, 2022

Registered Nurse, 2006, Baguio City, Philippines

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 2004, University of Northern Philippines, Philippines

Sayuri Sonoda

Banyan Teacher

Sayuri spent her childhood in Utah where she was born. She worked as a flight attendant for fifteen years until the birth of her daughter, which gave rise to her interest in Montessori. Her experience of motherhood reinforced her belief in the Montessori approach; her decision to study it from a mother's perspective led to her becoming a teacher.

Association Montessori International (AMI) Elementary assistant (9-12) Diploma, 2019, Yokohama, Japan

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Assistants to Infancy (0-3), 2017 Ebina, Kanto Japan

Ayano Ito Riley

Banyan Teacher

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Assistants to Infancy Diploma (0-3), 2023, International Montessori Training Center, Fukuoka, Japan

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology-Anthropology, 2016, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan

Yulia Akyol

Banyan Teacher
Early Childhood Music

Yulia graduated from the Vaganova Academy in Saint-Petersburg in 2007. While studying, Yulia worked as a pianist in the Mariinsky Theater, and actively performed as a solo pianist, became a winner of Grand Prize Competition in Italy in 2005, and performed at Carnegie Hall, New York City, USA in 2006. She was invited to come and work in Japan as a pianist at the International Dance School in Tokyo in 2007. From that point on Yulia worked as a pianist in classical ballet and as a private piano teacher until 2018.

In 2018 her daughter was born. That is when Yulia became very interested in early childhood education, and discovered the Montessori method for herself. In 2021 she started her Master of Music in Music Education at the University of Florida. Yulia joined MST in April 2022 as a music and early childhood support teacher. She has received her AMI certificate (0-3) in 2022.

Master of Music in Music Education, 2023, University of Florida, USA

Association Montessori International (AMI) Assistant to Infancy (0-3) Certificate, 2022, Washington Montessori Institute, USA

Bachelor of Art in Music (Concertmaster, Teacher, Chamber Ensemble Artist in the field, Instrumental Performance: Piano), 2007, State Vaganova Ballet Academy, St. Petersburg, Russia

The School of St. Petersburg Conservatory, Russia, 2002

Ludovica Molinari Momoi

Sunshine Level Lead
Hazel Teacher

Ludovica studied in her home country of Italy and worked at a school there. After a few years, she was introduced to Montessori and went to Ireland where she gained her AMI qualifications. Since then she worked at Montessori schools in Ireland and the Netherlands. She joined MST in 2014.

Instructional Leadership Certificate, 2022, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Administrators Certificate, 2021, Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies, Arizona, USA

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Early Childhood Diploma (3-6), 2012, The Montessori College, Dublin, Ireland

Educational Sciences MA, 2007, University of Milan, Italy

Mu Li

Hazel Teacher

Mu got her bachelor’s and master's degrees in finance in the UK and the US before joining an investment
bank in Japan, where she spent 7 years working as a trader. Since then she has worked and studied in Hong Kong, New York, Beijing and London. Mu is passionate about screenwriting and became the co-founder of a film company.

After giving birth to her first child, Mu stumbled upon the Montessori philosophy and became genuinely interested in it. She finished her AMI 3-6 diploma training in London in 2020. In order to understand the full age spectrum of the Montessori journey that follows the child’s natural development, Mu completed the AMI 0-3, 6-12 and 12-18 training before joining MST.

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Montessori International Diploma 3-6 level, Maria Montessori Institute, London, 2020

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Montessori International 12-18 Adolescent Introductory Workshop Certificate, Maria Montessori Institute, London, 2022

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Montessori International 6-12 Orientation Certificate, 2022

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Montessori International 0-3 Orientation Certificate, 2022

Master of Financial Engineering, 2007, University of California, Berkeley, USA

Bachelor of Accounting and Finance, 2005, University of Manchester, UK

Screenwriting and Producing, 2015, New York Film Academy, USA

Allison Nakagawa

Cedar Teacher

Allison grew up in both the US and Japan. She worked in several international preschools and public schools around Kansai. She had a dream to make education better for children in Japan and found and fell in love with Montessori. Upon receiving her Masters in Montessori Education, she opened a small Montessori infant community with her husband for a short time before moving to Kanagawa to receive her AMI training. Allison loves singing with her husband and son. She joined MST in 2021.

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Early Childhood (3-6) Diploma, 2021, The Montessori Institute of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Japan

Masters in Education (M.Ed) with a Montessori focus, 2019, Xavier University, Ohio

Bachelors of Science in Psychology, 2012, Lehigh University, Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies, 2012, Lehigh University, Pennsylvania

Dolly Solanki

Cedar Teacher

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Casa dei Bambini (Early Childhood Diploma 3-6), 2015, The RTI Montessori Training Course, Mumbai, India

Bachelor of Commerce, 2014, Mumbai University, India

Mabel Sajonas

Sequoia Teacher

With over two decades of experience as a certified Montessori educator for primary-level children, Mabel has been passionate about the application of the Montessori method across various aspects of life. She commenced her teaching career at a Montessori school in her native country, the Philippines, before making the courageous decision to relocate to Japan in pursuit of further professional development.

With great enthusiasm and a wealth of experience, she is poised to embark on a new journey and become a part of the MST community.

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Early Childhood Diploma (3-6), 2003, Manila, Philippines

BA in English Language, University of the Philippines

Jocelyn Saito

Sequoia Teacher

Mother of three and passionate Montessorian, Jocelyn is excited to bring her love of nature and art to the MST Garden. She finds joy in seeing how easily children discover more about their world, without even having to leave school! In her spare time, Jocelyn enjoys watercolor painting and finding unique vintage pieces around Japan.

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Early Childhood Diploma (3-6), 2023, Montessori Institute of San Diego, San Diego, California

Master in Teaching, 2016, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

Bachelor of Art History/Arts Management, 2013,
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

Miho Hamaji

Olive Teacher

Miho has worked at MST since 2006. Prior to that, she studied towards an Early Childhood qualification in Australia. She recently returned there to study towards her Montessori assistant's certification.

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Early Childhood Diploma (3-6), 2018, The Montessori Institute of Tokyo, , Kanagawa-ken, Japan

Montessori Assistant Certificate, Australian Centre For Montessori Studies, 2014, Sydney, Australia

Karen Salmon

Olive Teacher

Karen was born in Japan but grew up in the United States (Oklahoma). After graduating from university, she combined her passion for children and teaching with her love for other cultures and traveling. She taught in the United States, South Korea, Italy, Honduras, and Japan. In 2024, she obtained her AMI diploma, completed nine years of teaching at another international school in Tokyo, and joined MST.

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Early Childhood Diploma (3-6), 2024, The Montessori Institute of Tokyo, Kanagawa-ken, Japan

Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education, 2009, Northeastern State University, Oklahoma, USA

Associate of Cosmetology, 2006, Owasso Cosmetology School, Oklahoma, USA

Dorothy Sasai

Early Childhood Support

Dorothy worked in a secretarial business role prior to relocating to Japan. Her passion for education arose after she had her own children, and she taught in a Japanese kindergarten until she first discovered MST in 2006. After 5 years supporting our Sunshine programmes, she continued to teach and tutor in a private capacity, before returning to MST again in 2018. During her free time, she enjoys travelling, dance aerobics, art and window shopping.

Certificate of Classroom Leadership by The Montessori Foundation, 2007, U.S.A (Online Study).

Diploma in Private Secretarial, 1981, Bedford Finishing College, affiliated with The Pitmans Examination, London

Amy Maeda

Early Childhood Support

Originally born and raised in Hong Kong, Amy worked in finance, accounting and marketing in California for 5 years after earning her degree. She moved to Japan in 2009 to start a new life and a family. As a breast cancer survivor, Amy actively volunteered and participated in the RFTC Run for the Cure. She has a long list of things that she loves doing, and reading, traveling, and laughing are among the top activities. Amy joined MST in October 2023 as a supporting teacher for the Sunshine classes. She loves being on the team, giving her a sense of belonging. Through MST, she hopes to help the young children build strong and positive mental health.

Bachelor of Business Administration, option in Business Law. California State University, Northridge

Silvia Brunone

Early Childhood Support

Silvia is a certified NAMC Montessori Guide and recently graduated from a Master's course in Pedagogy.
She started working as a teacher in Tokyo since January 2019 and her motto is “Education is the most powerful weapon that can be used to change the world."

Silvia also loves drawing, reading, watching movies, travel and taking walks with her puppy Hotoke-chan.

NAMC Early Childhood (3-6) Montessori Diploma, 2019

Master in Pedagogy, 2024, Niccolò Cusano University, Rome, Italy

Sakura Suzuki

Early Childhood Support

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Assistants to Infancy Diploma (0-3), Montessori Training Centre of Akiruno, Akiruno, Japan

Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language, Kansai University of Foreign Studies, Osaka, Japan

Ayako Bonham

Early Childhood Support

Manamaya Peterson

Willow Assistant Teacher

Manamaya is excited to be here at MST. She is a Montessori alumna herself, attending a Montessori school from 1st to 8th grade. She comes here with a wide variety of interests including art, music, writing, dancing, hiking, drinking tea, traveling, and learning more about languages, and plants and animals, especially. Having just moved to Tokyo, she is looking forward to discovering new places to go and things to do. Manamaya just received her AMI (6-12) diploma this summer and is currently working towards a Masters in Education. She hopes to graduate next year!

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Elementary (6-12) Diploma, 2024, Montessori Northwest, Spokane, Washington, USA

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), AMI 3-6 Orientation Certificate, Montessori Northwest, Portland, Oregon, USA

Bachelor of Art in Linguisitics, 2019, Reed College, Portland, Oregon, USA

Sanjana Soman

Maple Teacher

Sanjana’s relationship with the Montessori pedagogy began at the age of three when she attended a Montessori school in Bangalore, India. Having experienced memorable non-traditional schooling systems as a child, Sanjana is passionate about sharing this love of learning with children around the world. After 5 years of teaching at non-Montessori schools, she then moved to an international Montessori school in Vietnam where she was the 6-12 Elementary teacher for next 3 years. Sanjana is very excited to be a part of the MST community from 2020

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Elementary Diploma (6-12), 2015, Navadisha Montessori Foundation, Chennai, India

Master of Design (Graphic Design), 2010, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Visual Communication B.Sc, 2007, MOP Vaishnav College, Madras University, India

Yuki Hamaguchi

Maple Teacher

AMI Montessori 12-18 Orientation, 2024, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, United States

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Elementary Diploma (6-12), 2021, Montessori Training Centre of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

Bachelor of Human Sciences in Human Behavior and Environment Sciences, 2013, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan

Kari Frentzel

Oak Teacher

Kari is from Boston but grew up in Tokyo and attended Honmura Elementary School in Minami Azabu. Her interest in education began when she worked with international exchange students from around the world in college. She previously worked in the elementary classroom of a Montessori school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and she is currently working towards obtaining her

AMI Elementary Diploma. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from Tufts University and has also lived in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Elementary Diploma (6-12), 2021, Montessori Center of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

Montessori Elementary Education, M.A., 2021, St. Catherine’s University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

International Relations, B.A., 2016, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA

Makiko Shimada

Oak Teacher

Upon graduating from Meiji University, Tokyo, Makiko traveled the world and taught Japanese to elementary students in different countries including Canada, where she lived until 2005, obtaining a Fine Arts Degree in that time. She returned to Japan with her Canadian husband and together they ran a language school in Akita for 10 years. She joined MST in 2016.

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), 2019, Classroom Assistants Certificate Elementary (6-12)

Printmaking & Ceramics B.F.A. 2000, Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Vancouver, Canada

Dramaturgy B.A., 1990, Meiji University, Tokyo, Japan

Kei Shirakawa

Ginkgo Teacher

Kei first qualified and worked as a Montessori Coordinator at the Early Childhood level in Japan for 3 years. Her interest in Montessori education for older age groups led her to train at the Elementary level in the U.S. She joined MST 2018

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Elementary Diploma (6-12), 2018, Montessori Northwest, Oregon, USA

Bachelor of Education (Qualified as Kindergarten and Elementary Teacher),2015, Tamagawa University, Tokyo, Japan

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Early Childhood Diploma (3-6),2013, The Montessori Institute of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Japan

Taylor Young

Ginkgo Teacher

Taylor comes to us from Redlands, California, U.S.A. where she attended a Montessori school from the age of three, all the way through her high school years. She later went on to graduate with her BA in Anthropology and Sociology, a MA in Education and a California State Multiple Subject Teaching Credential at the age of 22 years old.

Although she began her career in a traditional school setting, Taylor has always been anxious to get back to Montessori and teach in an environment like the one that helped to prepare her. She is thrilled to have become a part of the Montessori in Tokyo community and looks forward to helping her students discover and thrive.

(AMI) 6-12 Montessori Teacher Diploma - Montessori Northwest 2024

(AMI) Monterssori Assistant Certificate - Montessori Northwest, Spokane, Washington, USA - 2021

Bachelors in Anthropology & Sociology - University of Redlands, Redlands, California, USA - 2018

Masters in Education - University of Redlands, Redlands, California, USA - 2019

California State Multiple Subject Teaching Credential - University of Redlands, Redlands, California, USA - 2019

Kelly Godsoe

Elementary Level Lead
Willow Teacher

Kelly studied Japanese at Duke University in the USA, and upon graduating moved to Japan to teach in Japanese public schools with the JET Program. She then returned to the US to obtain her Master's degree. Since then Kelly has held numerous teaching roles at Japanese and International schools in Japan (including observing and doing her Montessori teaching practice at MST). She taught in both public and private Montessori schools in the USA and Canada before her bond with Japan brought her to MST in 2016.

Instructional Leadership Certificate, 2022, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Administrators Certificate, 2021, Southwest Institute of Montessori Studies, Arizona, USA

Public School Licensure, 2014, Washington D.C., USA

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Elementary Diploma (6-12), 2011, Montessori Institute of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Teaching Foreign Languages, M.A., 2004, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA

Art History & Japanese, B.A., 2000, Duke University, Durham, USA

Koji Taniyama

Willow Teacher

Koji studied child development in Japan and the USA and has taught Japanese and music at schools in San Francisco. He enjoys writing and singing songs in English and Japanese and sharing his love of music and language with children. He has also taught guitar and organised community groups in the Bay Area for Japanese/English bilingual early childhood educators and multicultural family playgroups. After 16 years living in San Francisco, he returned to his hometown, Tokyo, with his wife and young son. He joined MST in 2016.

Music Education for Teachers Specialization 2023, Berklee University

6-12 Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials. 2021, Ministry of Education - Japan

Association Montessori International. 12-18 Orientation. 2021, Great Work Inc, Train Montessori

Montessori Model United Nations Teacher Coordinator Certificate - 2016, in California, Montessori Model United Nations,

Montessori Fundamentals, 2016, Center for Guided Montessori Studies, Florida USA

Elementary School English Teaching Certificate, 2015, Japan

Child Development Administrator Certification, 2014, City College of San Francisco, California, USA

State Early Childhood Development Teacher Permit, 2013, California, USA

Child Development Practitioner Certification, 2013, City College of San Francisco, California, USA

Yukimasa Nakagawa

Willow Teacher

Yukimasa is from Kyoto and grew up in a little city in a valley full of nature. He played gymnastics for 9 years, then rugby for 3 years, and still loves them. He worked in the package design industry and in real estate, and then with his wife Allison, he decided to pursue a career in Montessori education.

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Early Childhood Diploma (3-6), 2023, The Montessori Institute of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Japan

Elementary Teaching Licence (Japan), 2023, Tamagawa University, Tokyo, Japan

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Elementary Diploma (6-12), 2024, The Montessori Institute, Denver, USA

Master of Education, 2025, Loyola University, Maryland, USA

Naoko Kikkawa

Sustainability Lead
Early Childhood Mentor

Naoko has worked for the school since 1993. After gaining many years of experience she decided to learn about the theory behind it all and in March 2002 she completed her Montessori training at an AMI centre in Japan (The Montessori Institute of Tokyo). More recently, she completed a bachelor's in Child Psychology.

Child Psychology B.A., Tokyo Future University, 2013, Tokyo, Japan

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Early Childhood Diploma (3-6), 2002, The Montessori Institute of Tokyo, Kanagawa-ken, Japan.

Secretarial Diploma, 1983, Kanda Institute of Language, Tokyo, Japan

Elizabeth Ogiyama

Librarian

While raising her children in Tokyo, Elizabeth has led cub scout, girl scout, and boy scout troops. She has taught English to Japanese students as well as teaching in international schools, including running a mixed-age pre-school class for 4 years. In 2010 she joined MST’s Little People programme and has worked in the library since 2013. She enjoys community theatre and is involved in both adult and children’s productions.

Primary Years Programme Certification (International Baccalaureate), 2009

English B.A., 1987, Akron University, Ohio, USA

Vitalii Goncharenko

Physical Education
After School Activities

Before coming to live in Japan, Vitalii played professional basketball in Ukraine and was involved with various sporting organizations. After graduating from college, he taught at a high school in Gunma prefecture for a few years before moving to Malaysia where he coached basketball and ran the athletic program at the UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur. He joined MST in 2016.

PE & Sports Specialist, 2007, National Pedagogical University, Kyiv, Ukraine

PE & Sports B.A., 2006, National Pedagogical University, Kyiv, Ukraine

Wind Edward Kim

EAL & Literacy
Communications & Marketing

Wind has over 15 years of experience in teaching English as an additional language, creating curricula, writing and editing textbooks and designing programs for a major educational company. He also has decades of experience in writing and editing and helping students communicate more effectively, in the US, the UK and Japan.

After growing up in California, Wind moved to the Pacific Northwest and performed for several dance companies and collaborated in multimedia projects. During this time, he was a researcher studying child psychology. After a decade in the performing arts, he went to graduate school in the UK to study peace and conflict resolution, getting back to his roots in advocating for social justice and environmentalism. In his free time, Wind enjoys exploring new places with his family, instilling in his children a love of adventure, creativity and nature.

Research Methods, PgDip, 2004, University of Bradford, UK

Peace Studies, MA, 2003, University of Bradford, UK

Environmental Studies, and Psychology, BA, 1992, University of California at Santa Cruz, USA

Wesley Lim

Learning Support

Wesley started his career in Special Education in 2015 in Malaysia, working as a Behavioral Therapist in a centre for individuals with autism, before eventually moving to Japan to work as a learning support teaching assistant in an international school in Tokyo. He then worked in a private company that provided learning support services to students across Tokyo, before finally joining MST’s faculty in 2023. Wesley has a Bachelor in Psychology and is currently pursuing his Master in Special & Inclusive Education.

Bachelor of Psychology, 2013, HELP University, Malaysia

Certificate of Achievement: Implementing the Reading and Language Intervention for Children with Down Syndrome, 2019, Down Syndrome Education International

Certificate of Achievement: Improving speech and language development for children and young people with Down Syndrome, 2019, Down Syndrome Education International

Special Needs Certificate, Credential: SNC21212233, 2021, International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards

Shukuko Takeda Matz

Support Coordinator

Shukuko worked for MST between 2003 and 2016 as a Montessori Elementary Teacher and Japanese Curriculum Coordinator. Since then, Shukuko has continued to support MST and also work at other International Schools as a substitute teacher. Before joining MST, she worked at Nursery Schools and Kindergartens in Japan and a Montessori School in Connecticut, USA. Shukuko also has a nursery School Teacher Certification and Japanese Teacher Certification

Master of Education, Cleveland State University, 1990, Ohio, U.S.A.

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Elementary Diploma (6-12), Montessori Teacher Training Center, 1983, Bergamo, Italy

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Early Childhood Diploma (3-6), The Montessori Institute of Tokyo, 1981, Kanagawa-ken, Japan

Early Childhood Education (Qualified as Kindergarten and Elementary Teacher), Tamagawa University, 1980, Tokyo, Japan

Japan Association of Montessori (JAM) Early Childhood Diploma (2&1/2 - 6), Sophia University, 1978, Tokyo, Japan

Ryoko Seto

Garden Teacher

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Early Childhood Diploma (3-6), 2022, The Montessori Institute of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Japan

Master of Business Administration (MBA), 2019, HOSEI Business School of Innovation Management Global MBA, Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan

Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, Minor: Arabic Studies, 2017, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Bachelor of Psychology and Child Studies, 2009, Kobe Kaisei College, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan

Severine Remedi

Garden Teacher

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Early Childhood Diploma (3-6), 2024, Institut Formation Maria Montessori IFMM, Geneva, Switzerland

Master of Arts in Art History and History, 2022 University of Lausanne UNIL, Lausanne, Switzerland

Bachelor of Arts in Art History, History and English language and literature, 2018, University of Neuchâtel UniNe, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

DELE, Diploma de Español Como Lengua Extranjera (B2), 2013, Instituto Cervantes, Madrid, Spain

English for Academic Purposes (C1-C2), 2015, University of Neuchâtel UniNe, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Norma Cabugos

Custodian
Early Childhood Support

Norma has been a part of MST since 2005. In her spare time, Norma enjoys gardening as she loves being surrounded by nature. She also enjoys listening to music and cherishes her time with her friends and family. Her fondest memory is her time spent in Vancouver with her closest friend.

Julieta Rely

Custodian
Early Childhood Support

Julieta has been a member of MST for 13 years. Traveling is a big part of her life, and her dream is to one day travel to Israel and she hopes to accomplish this soon. She enjoys going on road trips with her husband, and also loves to cook for her friends and family.

Candy Wijeyewickrema

Custodian
Elementary Support

Originally from the Philippines, Candy has lived in Japan since 1999. She has a background in environmental technology and management and has worked as a senior research associate at the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. She likes to work with children and has held part-time positions in kindergartens and international schools in Tokyo, before joining MST in 2020. Candy is very interested in Montessori education. She has travelled to many countries with one of her most memorable visits being to Vatican City. Candy enjoys cooking, gardening, aerobics, and listening to music.

AMI Montessori 6–12 Orientation (AMI) Montessori 6–12 Orientation, 2021, Association Montessori Internationale

Diploma, 31st International Course for Advanced Research in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, UNESCO-Monbusho Program, 1996, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan

Master of Science in Environmental Technology and Management, 1992, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.
Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Chemistry, 1987, Visayas State University, Leyte, Philippines

Tara McInerney

Art Specialist

Hiro Momoi

Music Specialist

Emily Dowell

Middle School Coordinator

Emily Dowell grew up in Ontario, Canada and worked as a paediatric nurse prior to her life in Montessori. Emily trained at the 3-6 level, but her passion is adolescence. She attended the NAMTA/AMI Orientation to Adolescent Studies and helped establish Strata Montessori Adolescent School in 2011. She has worked in several adolescent communities, including Hershey Montessori’s Farm School. She supports adolescent practitioner development as a lecturer, consultant, and workshop speaker.

Association Montessori International (AMI) Early Childhood (3-6) Diploma, 2015, Foundation for Montessori Education, Toronto, Canada

North American Montessori Association/Association Montessori International (NATMA/AMI) Orientation to Adolescent Studies Certificate, 2011, Ohio, USA

Bachelors of Science in Nursing, B.Sc.N., 2008, McMaster University, Canada

Chris Marks

Eucalyptus Teacher

Chris was initially introduced to the Montessori approach to education through his experiences in peace studies. On the advice of a good friend and Montessorian in Canada, Chris obtained his Casa certificate from the training center in Toronto started by Renilde Montessori. His early experiences with the 3–6 year olds lay the foundation for his commitment to Montessori pedagogy and eventually brought him to his current work of the adolescent.

Chris obtained his Adolescent accreditation at the inaugural AMI Orientation and has been involved with Adolescent work, in several capacities, for the past 13 years. He was a member of the team which designed and implemented a land based program in Ontario, Canada, acting as pedagogical lead, specialist, generalist, director and lead guide throughout his time there. Additionally Chris has been on staff as a lecturer and student advisory to the AMI Adolescent Orientation to Adolescents for several years. Chris has both a Montessori wife, Emily, and daughter (Siddrha), who corroborate, everyday, the power of Dr. Montessori’s remarkable method of transformation.

Association Montessori International (AMI) Early Childhood (3-6) Certificate

Association Montessori International (AMI) Adolescent (12-18) Certificate

Kartika Harsono

Eucalyptus Teacher

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Montessori Orientation Programme to Adolescent Studies, 2016, Queensland, Australia

Master of Science, 1993, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA

Magister Management in Finance, 1997, Prasetiya Mulya Graduate School of Management, Jakarta, Indonesia

Bachelor of Science in Zoology, 1991, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA

Xavier Maréchal

Eucalyptus Teacher

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Certificate Orientation to Adolescent Studies (12-18), 2018, The Montessori Center for Work and Study, Rydet, Sweden

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Elementary Diploma (6-12), 2013, The Washington Montessori Institute, Columbia (MD), USA

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Early Childhood Diploma (2.5-6), 2012, The Washington Montessori Institute, Columbia (MD), USA

Master in Education, 2012, Loyola University, Baltimore, USA

PhD in Physics, 1993, Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble, France

Our Community

James Moore

Gel Vicencio

Liz Masuzoe

Shiho Uemura

Chisa Honda

Jake Redden

Shoko Lowe

Aika Sakanouchi

Tomofumi Ito

Maria Hovi

Maia Sameshima

Harumi Ono

Joji Kishigami

Wind Edward Kim

Akane Katsube

Pine Teacher

Jansdei Bersalona

Pine Teacher

Sayuri Sonoda

Banyan Teacher

Ayano Ito Riley

Banyan Teacher

Yulia Akyol

Banyan Teacher Early Childhood Music

Ludovica Molinari Momoi

Sunshine Level LeadHazel Teacher

Mu Li

Hazel Teacher

Allison Nakagawa

Cedar Teacher

Dolly Solanki

Cedar Teacher

Mabel Sajonas

Sequoia Teacher

Jocelyn Saito

Sequoia Teacher

Miho Hamaji

Olive Teacher

Karen Salmon

Olive Teacher

Dorothy Sasai

Early Childhood Support

Amy Maeda

Early Childhood Support

Silvia Brunone

Early Childhood Support

Sakura Suzuki

Early Childhood Support

Ayako Bonham

Early Childhood Support

Manamaya Peterson

Willow Assistant Teacher

Sanjana Soman

Maple Teacher

Yuki Hamaguchi

Maple Teacher

Kari Frentzel

Oak Teacher

Makiko Shimada

Oak Teacher

Kei Shirakawa

Ginkgo Teacher

Taylor Young

Ginkgo Teacher

Kelly Godsoe

Elementary Level LeadWillow Teacher

Koji Taniyama

Willow Teacher

Yukimasa Nakagawa

Willow Teacher

Naoko Kikkawa

Elizabeth Ogiyama

Vitalii Goncharenko

Wind Edward Kim

Wesley Lim

Shukuko Takeda Matz

Ryoko Seto

Severine Remedi

Norma Cabugos

Banyan Teacher
Early Childhood Music

Sunshine Level Lead
Hazel Teacher

Elementary Level Lead
Willow Teacher