Our Staff

At Montessori Pointe Claire we believe that our greatest asset is our staff. These educators are the people who care for and love your children every day, and who make the effort to communicate well with the parents. Whether the staff member is someone who has been working with us for over 20 or 30 years, or whether they are one of our helpful assistant educators, everyone working at Montessori Pointe Claire is there because they love their job with children. In each classroom you have senior educators and assistant educators. Everyone is devoted to bringing joy to the child and making the children’s days productive and fun. In addition to our teaching staff, we have office staff so there is always someone to help you whenever needed. We also have a full-time chef and support cleaning staff working every day.

Eva Stratis

Mrs. Stratis was the founder of the Montessori School of Pointe Claire. Trained in Athens, Greece, Mrs. Stratis first opened the Montessori School in Pointe Claire in 1965 in a home, then expanded the school to its present location in 1972. Mrs. Stratis’ progressive ideas made the school the unique establishment it is today. Mrs. Stratis’ legacy can still be seen in the love, care, and quality of education at Montessori Pointe Claire.

Artemis Erfle

Artemis started as the Assistant Director at Montessori in 1986, and became School Director in the fall of 2000. Artemis is the daughter of Mrs. Stratis and has four children of her own who all attended Montessori. She has her BSc from McGill University and an MSc from Guelph University in Environmental Sciences and taught for five years as an assistant at the University level. Artemis also has her Montessori Teachers Diploma from the North American Progressive Montessori Teacher Training Centre and has considerable experience teaching Montessori at the preschool level. As Director of Montessori Pointe Claire, Artemis works closely with the teaching and support staff and with the Parent Committee to maintain a creative and positive program at Montessori that meets the needs of the children and parents and is ever-evolving with the times. She is there with a smile to answer questions and help out wherever she is needed. Artemis is also actively involved in promoting sports for girls and women in the community. Her volunteer work includes coaching as well as being involved at the executive level in various organizations, and actively participating in and organising numerous fundraising projects within the local community.

Cindy Batten

Diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Humber College. Office Manager at Montessori since 2002.

Toni Vriniotis

DEC in Travel and Tourism. At Montessori since 2016, currently in the position of Assistant Director.

Alana McKenna

Educated and worked in nursing for 27 years. French teacher at Montessori since 2014

Maria Quizihuil

Trained in silk-screening; currently enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at Champlain College. Educator at Montessori since 2017

Tamar Bouchalian

Bachelor of Education, Kindergarten/Elementary Program, McGill University. ECE Diploma, Vanier College. French teacher at Montessori since 2022

Herla Joseph

Bachelor's degree in Preschool and Primary Education, and Certificate in Child Care, University of Quebec in Montreal. Montessori teacher since 1988

Camille Pyle

BA Sociology. Educator at Montessori since 1998

Riham Alrefaie

BA Computer Science, University of the District of Columbia. Early Childhood Education diploma, CDI College. Educator at Montessori since 2019

Tanya Agrignon

Early Childhood Education diploma, Champlain College. Educator at Montessori since 2007

Ryan Mitchell

BA Therapeutic Recreation, Concordia University. Assistant educator and sports specialist at Montessori since 2019

Bianca Chabot

Graduated BA Psychology, McGill University;
BEd Elementary teaching, in progress. French teacher at Montessori since 2020

Sonia Schneider

Career as a writer; created and wrote for 14 years, the only magazine in Spanish in Montreal "Te Paso el Dato" Spanish teacher at Montessori since 2021

Shabanika Kandiah

BA Finance, Concordia University. Early Childhood Education diploma in progress, Champlain College. Educator at Montessori since 2019

Aisha Chaudry

At present in Social Science, John Abbott College. Will be studying Early Childhood Education. Assistant Educator at Montessori since 2022

Zoe Stratigakos

BSc Physical Therapy, McGill University.
Assistant educator at Montessori since 2005.

Camrynn Riccucci

Early Childhood Education Diploma, Vanier College, in progress. Assistant teacher at Montessori since 2022

Ashley Henzell

Studying Arts, Literature and Communication at John Abbott College. Plan to become a kindergarten teacher. Assistant educator at Montessori since 2022

Natalie Bechay

BA Therapeutic Recreation, Concordia, in progress. Assistant educator at Montessori since 2020

Sofia Gonzalez-Herrero

Completing BEd Elementary Education, McGill University. Assistant educator at Montessori since 2021.

Katelyn Dowd

Completing BA, Actuarial Mathematics, Concordia University. Assistant educator at Montessori since 2021.

Katrina Ward

Student in Interior Design at Lasalle College. Assistant Educator at Montessori since 2019

Melissa Penny

Youth and Adult Correctional Intervention, John Abbott College. Assistant Educator and music instructor. At Montessori since 2021

Riley Critch

Studying BA in Psychology, McGill University. Assistant Educator at Montessori since 2020

Tamar Bouchalian

Bachelor of Education, Kindergarten/Elementary Program, McGill University. ECE Diploma, Vanier College. French teacher at Montessori since 2022

Maureen Leong

BA, MA in Finance Western University. Mandarin teacher at Montessori since 2018

Liane De Bellefeuille

Studying Early Childhood Education at Vanier College. Assistant educator at Montessori since 2022

Pina Cinciripini

Assistant educator at Montessori since 2005.

Megan Gustilo

In Youth and Adult Correctional Intervention, John Abbott, with the goal of becoming a social worker for children. Assistant educator at Montessori since 2022

Olivia Ilkin

Studying in Youth and Adult Correctional Intervention at John Abbott College. Assistant educator at Montessori since 2023

Haya Alzein

Completing her BA Psychology McGill, with Minors in Behavioral Science & Sociology. Assistant educator at Montessori since 2018

Gigi Rampersaud

Support staff and our much-loved Chef. At Montessori since 2005

Rudy Erfle

Agriculture diploma, McGill University, Cabinetmaking diploma, Conestoga College. Since retirement, Rudy does our gardening and maintenance.

Marcel Jean François

General Maintenance since 2016

Maribel Salazar

Nanny for over 20 years. Support staff at Montessori since 2018.