PALOS VERDES CAMPUS

Claudia Krikorian is the founder, owner, and Executive Director of Peninsula Montessori School. Claudia was born and raised on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. After graduation from Loyola Marymount University, she started her career in education in the Los Angeles Unified School District. She experienced traditional education as adult centered and fragmented, thus fueling her desire for a child focused, integrated environment.

Around the same time, Claudia began scouting potential pre-schools for her daughter. Upon visiting Piera's Montessori school in Torrance, she immediately realized that not only was the Montessori environment an excellent choice for her own child, but that the Montessori methodology was calling her as a professional educator. Shortly thereafter, Claudia obtained her Montessori teaching credential and purchased the school in 1978, expanding the curriculum to include the Upper Elementary program. She has been passionately serving the children of the South Bay ever since.

Claudia Krikorian, Founder

Shane Hickson, M.A., has been the Director of Peninsula Montessori School since 1998. He received his Master degree in psychology from the University of Humanistic Studies, in which he researched the effects of parenting on youth sports. After a career in professional soccer, Shane coached and directed numerous soccer clinics for children and adolescents.

Mr. Hickson's love for working with children and his passion for education led him to pursue his Montessori teacher's credential. He shortly thereafter began teaching at the Montessori School House in San Diego. After relocating to Palos Verdes, he became the administrative director of the Torrance campus. After 2 1/2 years he became the director of the Rancho Palos Verdes campus, where he continues to enjoy working to educate hundreds of children, including his own.

Shane Hickson, Director