Ilana Dover, Director
Ilana Dover earned her AMI primary diploma in 1980 and has been teaching and guiding children at San Jose Montessori School for the last 15 years. She holds a Master's degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling and leads yearly workshops and seminars for parents on topics relating to education, child development and common parenting issues.
Ilana's daughter attended SJMS in her pre-school years and attended Montessori school through her elementary years. Seeing the Montessori approach in action as both a parent and teacher has made her a passionate advocate of Montessori education.
Ilana has written and published two books for young children: An Airplane is Born, which tells the story of the Wright Brothers' airplane, and The Talking Machine, the story of Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone. She is currently working on the third book in her "Real Heroes" series, which will tell the story of Dr. Maria Montessori.
Ilana's daughter attended SJMS in her pre-school years and attended Montessori school through her elementary years. Seeing the Montessori approach in action as both a parent and teacher has made her a passionate advocate of Montessori education.
Ilana has written and published two books for young children: An Airplane is Born, which tells the story of the Wright Brothers' airplane, and The Talking Machine, the story of Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone. She is currently working on the third book in her "Real Heroes" series, which will tell the story of Dr. Maria Montessori.
Susan Fernandez, Head Teacher and Onsite Director
Susan Fernandez has been working at San Jose Montessori School for the past 15 years, beginning as an Assistant Teacher. In 2008 Susan earned her AMI Primary Diploma, and she has been a Head Teacher at San Jose Montessori School ever since.
Susan had the privilege to experience being a parent at SJMS when her youngest daughter spent her first three years in the Montessori classroom. The wonderful experience Susan and her family had during this time was what inspired her to train for her Montessori diploma.
In her spare time, Susan enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and reading.
Susan had the privilege to experience being a parent at SJMS when her youngest daughter spent her first three years in the Montessori classroom. The wonderful experience Susan and her family had during this time was what inspired her to train for her Montessori diploma.
In her spare time, Susan enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and reading.
Paulina Kim, Head Teacher
After being an Assistant Teacher at San Jose Montessori School for 5 years, Paulina Kim is now working as one of the Head Teachers. The youngest of five kids, her love of children was truly realized when her first nephew was born, and her fascination grew as she worked and volunteered with children throughout her college years at UC San Diego.
Paulina first stumbled into the Montessori world through a part-time job at a Montessori school in San Diego. She quickly became captivated by the method and the children. Upon graduating, she promptly enrolled at the Montessori training center in Mountain View. She received her AMI Primary Diploma in June of 2011, and was in the classroom as Susan's assistant teacher that very fall.
In her free time, Paulina enjoys practicing yoga, watching films, and traveling.
Paulina first stumbled into the Montessori world through a part-time job at a Montessori school in San Diego. She quickly became captivated by the method and the children. Upon graduating, she promptly enrolled at the Montessori training center in Mountain View. She received her AMI Primary Diploma in June of 2011, and was in the classroom as Susan's assistant teacher that very fall.
In her free time, Paulina enjoys practicing yoga, watching films, and traveling.
Alison Bott, Assistant Teacher
Alison Bott received her AMI diploma from the Montessori Training Center of Northern California in Mountain View. She also holds a Bachelor's Degree in English from Manchester University in the UK and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Westminster College, Oxford. She taught in the UK for 4 years before moving to California.
Alison is married and has 2 children who both went to San Jose Montessori School. She enjoys hiking, reading, arts and crafts, singing and playing the ukulele. She has been working at SJMS for 7 years and loves seeing the children become independent and enthusiastic learners.
Roxan Shroff, Assistant Teacher
Roxan got her AMI Primary Montessori training from MTCBC (Montessori Training Centre of B.C.) in Vancouver, B.C. in 2007. She worked as a head teacher in Canada. Roxan has been a parent at San Jose Montessori School since 2012. In spring 2016 she has joined the staff as the Outdoor Environment teacher. For the 2016-2017 school year, she is now an Assistant Teachers in the classroom.
Gitta Ramakrishnan, Office Manager
Gitta has been our Office Manager at San Jose Montessori School since the 2015-2016 school year. Her corporate background is in Marketing, Event Management and Customer Service. With her son, now 5th grade, enjoying a Montessori education since preschool, she has seen the benefits of the Montessori philosophy especially when it is incorporated both at school and at home.
Gitta enjoys joining her son to his soccer games, travelling, and spending time in the beautiful California outdoors with family and friends! She loves music, grew up playing the violin and recently started playing the Ukulele.
Gitta enjoys joining her son to his soccer games, travelling, and spending time in the beautiful California outdoors with family and friends! She loves music, grew up playing the violin and recently started playing the Ukulele.
