Our Team

Priscilla is trained at the 0-3 level under Judi Orion and 3-6 under Ruby Lau, Cheryl Ferreira and Hilla Patel. She began her Montessori career in 2004, working with Karen in the MMI’s model Children’s House. She has also worked as an architect in her native São Paulo, running Montessori workshops for parents and schools.

Tara Canick was most recently Head of Art at Shoreham Academy, before leaving to train as an arts counsellor. After graduating from Michael Hall Waldorf School she pursued a degree in Theatre and Fine Art, before beginning her career working with young people. Tara’s background includes teaching martial arts to children and young people, and running chocolate-making workshops for adults. Tara offers one-to-one support for a young person with special educational needs, and guides the young people’s artistic expression.

Pete Dollimore was formerly Director and Chief Grower at Hankham Organics, which has a 7000 m2 glasshouse at the core of a social enterprise supplying 500+ businesses and homes with vegetables and fruit each week. He studied Environmental Science at Aberystwyth University in Wales, is passionate about biological control, and writes and speaks nationally on the subject of organic growing. Pete guides the young people’s work developing a horticultural business centered around our 1 acre walled garden. He is also resident beekeeper.

Steff came to Montessori through her children, who attend The Montessori Place (Infant Community and Children’s House). A former Open Water Scuba Instructor, Steff is now enjoying life on land (but close to the sea), and has completed the AMI Assistants course.

Pete has a degree in psychology, sport and exercise science, and experience working with vulnerable young people. Previously Head of Business Development for a London-based sports marketing company, Pete has for the past many years been finding joy and fulfilment in nurturing a community of caring, curious and creative 6-12 year olds in Hove.

Eva is the YPC’s Creative Writing, English Literature and Sarcastic Humour guide. Following her master’s at the University of Oxford, Eva has built up both her secondary teaching experience and fiction/poetry publications. Eva leads the English Language GCSE, co-teaches on the English Lit & Lang A Level and works 1:1 with students on their individual creative writing pursuits.

On her current PhD programme, she is specialising in depictions of autism in fiction and continues her work in supporting young people and adults on the autistic spectrum. She can usually be found in a sunny spot, with coffee and book in tow.

Rich is trained in Fine Art with a focus on sculpture. He says “I am open to the use of any material that seems appropriate to the situation; the material is not my starting point. However I am in the process of a long relationship with wood and one that at this moment in time seems to be of endless possibility. Sometimes my starting point is simply to make a chair – a piece of furniture that is in itself profound; a resting place for thought.” Richard guides the young people’s work on the renovation of the school buildings.

Laura trained at the MMI in London and worked at their model school before moving down to Brighton with her pilot husband Ed, to join The Montessori Place. Laura has more than eight years of experience working with children – first as a Suzuki violin teacher, and then later as a Montessorian.

Lea studied applied psychology and was working as a SEN assistant in a primary school when she found her way into the Montessori world. She trained at the MMI, where she worked for a year before moving down to Brighton with her husband, a deacon at St. Martins.

Matt is parent, minibus driver, guinea-pig rescuer, lawn-mower and walkie-talkie holder all in one. When he is not mowing the grass, creating a piece of art out of 25 bed frames, or organising our store in Wealden View, he is offering or making us what might arguable be the best cup of coffee in East Sussex.

Magda began her Montessori career in Paris, where she worked at an Infant Community. After completing her Assistants to Infancy training, she started and ran an Infant Community in Poland, before moving to be with us in Brighton, in 2014. Her two daughters attend the Young People’s Community.

Mark has a degree in Electrical Engineering, and works as a product consultant in the telecommunications industry. His past career includes being a touring session musician, and running a recording studio. His passion for music and technology is only rivalled by his passion for sports, and if you don’t find him with a guitar on stage you’re likely to find him with a racket on the tennis court. Mark guides the young people’s exploration in music, music technology and electronics.

At age 15 Esme was in the girl punk band Skinned Teen and some years later made her first short film, about teenage girls. She has worked with young people for a number of years, most recently as Training and Progressions Co-ordinator at the charity HAFAD.

Tracey is an ecologist by training, and was most recently responsible for a 300 acre estate with cattle, sheep and fallow deer. Her previous work includes being SE Water’s Ecologist responsible for their 25 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Eastern Area Ranger for the South Downs Joint Committee and Coastal Biodiversity Officer for the East Sussex County Council. She guides the young people’s work managing our 13 acre woodland in a way that nurtures its biodiversity.

Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Tais has a degree in Geography but started her career working in a cultural institute which contains South America’s biggest photo archive. In 2015 she came to London and after gaining a Montessori Diploma she worked for a number of years in the Children’s House, Notting Hill before starting a family and moving to Hove.