Meet Our Team
While we are certainly proud of our classrooms, which are fully equipped with authentic Montessori teaching materials, we believe our team is what truly sets us apart from any other school in the Yukon.
Anna Klinova
Anna moved to Canada seven years ago. Before finding her home in Whitehorse, she lived in PEI and Montreal, where she was learning French. She joined Yukon Montessori School in 2022 and fell in love with the atmosphere the team has created.
Anna is AMI assistant trained and holds a bachelor’s degree in Pedagogical Psychology. She strongly believes in an individualized approach to education, fostering independence, and encouraging freedom of choice in a thoughtfully prepared environment. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, painting, and spending time with her dog, Tuna.
Dominic Bradford
Dominic holds a BA (English and History) , B Ed. and M. ED. He is trained at the Casa, Elementary and Adolescent levels through AMI Montessori and has taught in a Montessori classroom since 1995. He has taught in Calgary, India, Alaska and has been teaching at YMS since 2006. Dominic is bilingual in French and English and enjoys working with students on large group projects as well as regular day to day activities in the classroom. He is a founding member of the Yukon Montessori School and enjoys outdoor pursuits and sports such as running, hiking, skiing as well as indoor activities such as yoga, theatre and singing. Dominic is passionate about bringing Shakespeare to all ages in classrooms and is trained to work with students for the Montessori Model United Nations. Dominic lives in Whitehorse with his wife and twin teenagers.
Erin Schultz
Erin was born and raised in the small village of Mayo, about 5 hours north of Whitehorse. She is a proud member of the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun. At age 6 she and her family moved to Whitehorse, where Erin went through her schooling and graduated in 1999 from F.H. Collins Secondary. She enrolled in the Yukon First Nation Teacher Education Program at Yukon College and graduated in 2005 with her Bachelor’s of Education.
In 2006 Erin enrolled her son in Montessori Borealis and got to know more about the Montessori philosophy. She began substitute teaching in the preschool and immediately fell in love with how different it was from other centres she had observed. It was then that she realized she wanted to be a part of Montessori education in the Yukon. In 2008 Erin was hired to run Montessori Borealis’ first summer camp and from there became an assistant until 2019. In 2019 Erin made the choice to take her AMI training in San Diego and graduated with her AMI Montessori diploma in 2020.
Together with her husband Cliff, they own and operate Avalanche Athletics, a local fitness facility here in Whitehorse. With their 5 children, they love to travel, paddle board at their cabin and spend time with their Newfoundland puppy, Mike, and Burnese Mountain Dog, Gus. Erin also loves to paint, bead, sew and learn about her culture.
Miiku Kawashima
Miku was born and raised in Japan and moved to Canada at 18. She graduated from Yukon University with a diploma in Early Learning and is AMI Assistant trained. Along with a passion for working with children, she enjoys playing guitar, ukulele, piano, and Taiko (Japanese drum). Miku is also an active member of two nonprofit organizations supporting the Japanese Canadian associations combining their love for community and culture
Puneet Kaur
My name is Puneet Kaur. I moved from India to Canada in August 2021 after my high school. I graduated from Yukon University in Early Learning and Child CareProgram in 2023. I have been in this field for the last 3 years. I started working at Montessori in 2022 while I was a student. I have been greatly influenced by Maria Montessori writings about the leaders in the class and I strongly resonates with the image of children as “leaders” in Montessori environment. I am excited to meet all of you and ready to work with all of you
Allu Maria Johnson
My name is Allu Maria Johnson, and I’m originally from the vibrant province of Kerala in southern India. After earning a bachelor’s degree in English, I moved to the Yukon in 2019, driven by a passion for early childhood education. I graduated from Yukon University with a diploma in Early Childhood Education and have since made the Yukon my home alongside my husband. Since 2020, I’ve been dedicated to my role as an educator, and working in Montessori since 2023. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, crocheting, and digital illustration.
Noemie
I am very excited to have joined the school as the Executive Assistant. I especially love being around young, creative minds and witnessing their curiosity, imagination, and unique ways of seeing the world. I strongly believe that every person is unique and brings their own strengths and perspective. This is one of the reasons I feel so aligned with the Montessori philosophy and its respect for each child’s individuality and development. With a background in healthcare and management in remote northern communities, I have always been drawn to working with people and learning from the communities around me. Originally from Quebec, I fell in love with the Yukon the very first time I set foot here in 2012. Since then, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the incredible outdoors and the immense playground we are fortunate to have around us. I am currently pursuing my studies in First Nations Governance and Child Development.
Jaismeen Kaur
I am Jaismeen Kaur. I was born and raised in a small village in Punjab, India. I moved to Canada in 2021 to pursue my studies and earned an ELCC diploma. It’s been an incredible adventure to work with children. The most thrilling thing I learned was patience. Every day is a fresh beginning, and I look forward to learning more with our tiny ones.
Erolyn Benitez
Hi my name’s Erolyn. I am from the Philippines and I came to Whitehorse during the summer of 2023 to study Early Learning. I love going out in nature and discovering new things, and the Yukon Territory has so much of that to offer. I have been exploring activities I can do in the North such as kayaking, polar dipping, hiking, and skiing, among other things
Eva Slana
Eva was born and raised in Czechia (formerly Czechoslovakia), where she earned her Master’s degree in Secondary Education, specializing in German Language and Social Sciences.
She moved to Yukon in 2009 and has called it home ever since. Captivated by the stunning natural beauty of Yukon and nearby Alaska, Eva enjoys spending time outdoors with her partner and two children. In the winter, they can often be found skiing, while summers are filled with biking, canoeing, boating, climbing, camping, and hiking. Indoors, Eva’s favorite pastime is mending her children’s clothing.
Before joining the Montessori team, Eva worked as a substitute teacher for a year. She now supports Dominic’s class and is passionate about education, always eager to help children explore and realize their potential.
Eva’s motto is: “Learning is a lifelong journey—there is always something new to discover, no matter your age.”
Laurie
Laurie came home from the first day of Kindergarten and told her Mom she wanted to be a teacher. That dream never wavered.Laurie holds diplomas in both the Casa and Elementary levels, and has taught for over 40 years in Toronto, Stratford, and Whitehorse. She holds a Masters in Early Learning and is currently working on her Masters in Educational Leadership with a Montessori Option through Vancouver Island University. She is also an instructor in the Early Learning department at Yukon University. Laurie always said that if the day ever came when she didn't want to go into work then she would quit because children deserve to be with people who want to be with them. Fortunately, that day has never come.
Lovepreet
My name is Lovepreet. I was born and brought up in India and moved to Canada in 2019. I hold a BA (Mathematics and Economics) and a Diploma in Liberal Arts. I am currently pursuing my Diploma in Early Learning. I am passionate about working with children and supporting their growth and development. I see every child as capable, curious, and competent, with their own interests, strengths, and unique ways of learning. I personally connect with the Montessori philosophy because it views children as active, capable, and independent learners. I believe children learn best when they are given opportunities to explore, make choices, and learn through hands-on experiences. My approach is to give children the freedom, support, and confidence to learn at their own pace and become independent.
Ramandeep
Hello! My name is Ramandeep, and I am an Early learning student at Yukon University.
My experience in a Maria Montessori environment has inspired me to believe that every child is unique, capable, and has their own special gifts. I enjoy supporting children’s independence and creating a caring, respectful environment where they can thrive. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy hiking, camping, and spending time in nature and I love the joy that comes from spending time with animals.
Rukhsana
My name is Rukhsana, and I am very happy to be part of the Montessori community.
I have been living in Canada for the past three years and have been working with children for over five years. I have a Diploma in Early Childhood Education from Yukon University, along with studies in Northern Science. For the past 2.5 years, I have been working in a Montessori classroom as an Assistant Teacher. Working in Montessori has taught me how important it is to respect each child as an individual and give them the time and freedom to learn at their own pace. I enjoy watching children explore, try new things, and become more independent and confident. I believe children learn best when they can learn through hands-on experiences and activities that interest them. One of my favourite things to do with children is cooking and baking. It is a fun way for children to learn about numbers, measuring, science, following instructions, teamwork, and practical life skills. Outside of work, I also enjoy cooking and baking. I love sharing these interests with children and seeing their excitement when they create something of their own. I feel very lucky to be part of the children's learning journey and to learn from their curiosity and creativity every day. I look forward to getting to know the children and families and being part of our wonderful Montessori community.
Valerie
Now that my two grown sons (aged 20 and 23) are living independently in Quebec, I am fully embracing my time in the community and my favorite season, winter. Outside the classroom, you can find me volunteering, playing board games, dancing or enjoying Yukon's outdoors (hiking, swimming, biking, cross-country skiing, and skating).
Emily
Hello all! My name is Emily Blanchard, I am a part of the Nacho Nyäk Dun First Nations from Mayo and was born and raised in the Yukon. I have a passion for our local fauna and flora, and the wonder that is sparked in young minds through exploring the beauty our land has to offer. I have been studying at Yukon University for the past 6 years, and this will be my second year in a Montessori classroom. Due to my current studies, I will be joining the classroom for afterschools only (for the time being). I am so looking forward to getting to know you all throughout the school year.