Cristina Cort
- Director
A native of Valencia, and director of Mammolina Montessori, Cristina has a degree in Business Administration and Management from the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. With work experience in both the social and educational sectors, she has collaborated with various organizations such as UNICEF Spain, Save the Children Foundation and Obra Social “la Caixa”. Furthering her studies, she has postgraduate training in children’s rights, ethical-civic education and as a Montessori guide for both Children’s House and Primary education.
“Soy mamá de Jimena y Pelayo, de 12 y 8 años. He vivido con los dos la experiencia de la educación Montessori mientras estudiaba y profundizaba en la filosofía, sin lugar a dudas ellos han sido y son mi mejor maestro.
I have learned how meeting the child at eye-level is a fundamental part of the Montessori pedagogy, just as the importance of understanding our role as guides are in the relationship with the child. In order to get the most out of a Montessori based education, the method and approach needs to be fully integrated into the curriculum and pedagogy. The school, the outdoor space, the materials and guidance all work together like a symphony to create a uniquely nurturing educational experience for the children.”
And, while Montessori education is now over 100 years old, its approach and application is sufficiently open to incorporating new knowledge in the field of child psychology and development.”
Ana Perez
- Children’s House
A teacher of early childhood education from the University of Córdoba and a graduate in Montessori pedagogy from MCI (Montessori Center International) in London, she has training in neuroscience and positive discipline in Montessori environments.
After 7 years of experience in Montessori classrooms in England and stays in Montessori schools in Seychelles and Cambodia, Ana has been the English-speaking guide of the Children's House at International Montessori School of Valencia, now Mammolina Montessori, since 2019.
Noelia Suero
- Children’s House
Noelia is a Montessori Guide (3–6) trained at International Montessori Academy in Poland, with international experience in early childhood education. She is passionate about fostering independence and curiosity in young children through calm and beautifully prepared environments. Her ongoing studies in Positive Discipline, child psychology, and play therapy deepen her understanding of each child’s emotional world and enrich her daily practice.
Julia Lacroix
- Children’s House
Julia is French and also speaks English and Spanish. After years working as an assistant in different schools abroad, she completed her AMI training as a Montessori Assistant in France at the Institut Supérieur Maria Montessori (Nogent-sur-Marne).
She joined the Mammolina team in 2022 while finishing her AMI 3-6 guide training.
Ruby Li
- Children's House
Ruby is from China, she speaks Mandarin, English and Spanish, and has a degree in English and Literature and a postgraduate degree in Education in New Zealand with a specialization in Early Childhood Education. After the birth of her first daughter, she fell in love with the Montessori philosophy and completed the AMI Assistant course for children from 0 to 3 years. She subsequently continued her Montessori training as a 3-6 guide with NAMC (North America Montessori Association) and as an AMI Assistant for children from 6 to 12 years. After her experience with children with special needs and as a Montessori workshop trainer in New Zealand, she joined the Mammolina Montessori team in 2023 as a Children's House assistant and in 2024 as a teacher for the Chinese language and culture (Mandarin) extracurricular activity on Friday afternoons.
Théo Ronsin
- Primary
A native French speaker, he has been responsible for the English-French bilingual primary group since 2018.
He holds a Master's degree from the Université Caen Normandie, and a Master's degree in Biology and Sustainable Development. He trained as a Montessori primary school guide at the Academia Montessori Chilena and after three years of work at the Ecole Le Trampoline (Peru) as a guide and pedagogical director, he returned to Europe to continue teaching.
Lorena Calatayud
- Primary
Born in Valencia, she has worked at the International Montessori School of Valencia, now Mammolina Montessori, since its creation in 2015. She is a Preschool and Primary Education Teacher, with 10 years of experience as a preschool educator and 6 years as a primary school teacher. She has trained as a Montessori primary school guide in the IMI Master's degree from the University of Barcelona.
Lorena has competed in long distance sporting events and has trained for 15 years in classical ballet using the Royal Academy of Dance method. She is fluent in Spanish, French and Valencian.
Danielle Hardoon
- Primary
Danielle is originally from Boston, Massachusetts (USA) and has over ten years of experience as a Montessori guide in schools in San Francisco, Washington D.C., Murcia, and Valencia. She holds a Montessori Elementary I-II (6–12) teaching credential from St. Mary’s College of California and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Pennsylvania. She also earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Education from Lesley University, completing her studies while hiking, camping, and learning in the forests, deserts, and mountains of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
She has also lived and worked in schools in Ecuador and Cuba, and for many years has mentored and trained Montessori guides for the 6–12 age group. Most recently, she collaborated with more than 100 Montessori schools across the United States as a Public Montessori Programs Consultant for the American Montessori Society (AMS).
Laura Arán
- Musical Education
Laura is a Spanish teacher specializing in Music Education, a music therapist and musicologist, as well as a yoga teacher specializing in childhood and adolescence, and most importantly for her, a mother.
This last passion is what drove her to discover unconventional learning systems in Spain and brought her closer to the forest schools and Montessori. With both, she learned and "grew" with her children during their first years of life.
Her 20 years of teaching experience have confirmed to her that through music and activities related to emotional education such as yoga, you can reach the authentic and deep part of each child, and that is where the excitement of growing and learning lies.
Laura did her Music Therapy internship in the United States, and there she truly understood the "healing" power of music in all its senses.
Laura joined the Mammolina team in 2024 with music, body expression and dance classes in Primary.
Karina Garmendia
- School Counselor
Karina is from Peru and has lived in Valencia for 20 years. She is a mother, a graduate in Education, a psychopedagogical expert from the University of Valencia and a play therapist accredited by Play Therapy UK and CEFAP Mexico, specialising in Sandplay. She has extensive experience as a primary, secondary and vocational training teacher, pedagogical advisor for the production of educational programmes in Spain, emotional support, pedagogical guidance and Montessori classroom support.
After her experience as a mother of a Montessori school in Peru with her first child, she was surprised by the magnitude and depth of the Montessori method, although it was years later with the arrival of her second daughter when she decided to train as a Montessori 3-6 Guide with Montessori Canela, which in her own words “had a personal and professional impact, finding answers to methodological, neurological and child treatment questions in social and educational life.”
A tireless student, she cares about her personal development and has a postgraduate degree in Special Education, a Master's Degree in Multiple Intelligences, Certification in Positive Discipline, Certification in Creative Education, training in Sensory Processing Disorder Problems, High Abilities, TEA, Dyslexia, trauma and is currently studying High Abilities at the Open University of Barcelona.
She will join our school as a counselor in the 2024-2025 academic year after two years as an external collaborator.
Rocio Cort
- Administration
Born in Valencia, Rocío has a degree in Business Administration and Management with a master's degree in Data Analytics from EDEM, School of Entrepreneurs.
She has experience in multinational companies, such as IVI Valencia, The Bank of New York Mellon and startups such as Flit2go. She is interested in the world of education and is currently part of the Mammolina Montessori team.
