MST is fortunate to welcome four new teachers to our community. Having lived in a combined eight countries, their extensive life experiences will be enriching the elementary and Sunshine programs, and indeed the whole school. Welcome!
Mabel Sajonas
Mabel Sajonas (pronounced ma-bell sa-Honas) comes to us with thirty years of experience teaching in a Casa environment at Maria Montessori Institute in Manila. She has joined Sunshine Sequoia bringing a depth of experience to the classroom’s fresh start. Mabel has been eager to join us and bring her wisdom and knowledge into a new setting. We were struck not only by Mabel’s long-standing commitment to Montessori but also by her kind and gentle nature, her quiet confidence, and her humility.
Now that her children are grown and after years of enjoying visits to Japan, Mabel wanted to strike out on a new adventure in a country she loved exploring. We are confident that Jocelyn’s warm personality and relationship with the Sequoia children, coupled with Mabel’s joyful presence and long experience, as well as Dorothy’s steady hand, will make the transition a smooth one.
Manamaya Peterson
We are thrilled to welcome Manamaya as our new Upper Elementary Willow teacher! Originally from Portland, Oregon, USA, Manamaya brings five years of Montessori teaching experience to our community. She attended a Montessori school herself from 1st to 8th grade, fostering a lifelong love for the Montessori method. Her favorite material? The checkerboard—she fondly remembers learning math with it as a child.
Manamaya's journey to Japan began during her time in Spain, where she pursued her Montessori training as part of an intercultural exchange program. She is no stranger to international experiences, having lived in Spain and done a homestay in Costa Rica during high school. Alongside her passion for education, Manamaya enjoys a variety of creative hobbies such as art, singing, dancing, playing instruments (guitar, ukulele, and piano), and travel writing. She’s also a keen language learner, with Spanish, French, and a bit of Japanese and Korean in her linguistic repertoire.
Her favorite foods are noodle dishes, and while she currently calls Japan home, her heart is back on the farm near Portland with her three beloved dogs. Manamaya was born in Nepal and moved to the US when she was just two and a half years old after being adopted. The youngest of four siblings, her brother also resides in Japan.
We look forward to seeing how Manamaya’s diverse background, creative spirit, and passion for Montessori will enrich our school community!
Sakura Suzuki
Though born in Japan, Sakura may be the most international of our new teachers. She worked in Hong Kong where she met her Columbian husband, gave birth to her twins in Amsterdam and raised them in Spain and Florida, her second stint in the US having also done a homestay in South Carolina. As a result, Sakura is fluent in Japanese, English and Spanish.
Now that her twins are in college, Sakura returned to Japan in part to take care of her mother. Raised a Montessorian in her elementary years, she is eager to guide younger generations on the same path as a full-time Early Childhood Support Teacher. And we are fortunate to be part of her return home.
Severine Remedi
Originally from Biel, Switzerland, new Garden Teacher Severine speaks multiple languages, including French, Swiss German, Spanish, English, and Italian. With a background in art history and a passion for teaching, she discovered Montessori after facing challenges with special needs students in a conventional school. Recently completing her Montessori diploma, Severine was drawn to MST by the warmth and support of the community.
Outside of teaching, Severine enjoys yoga, CrossFit, reading (especially self-help and fiction), journaling, and meditation. She is also excited to eventually bring her 10-year-old cat to Japan as she settles into her new adventure.
–Maria Hovi, Wind Edward Kim, James Moore, Gel Vicencio