PALOS VERDES CAMPUS

Ms. Noreen Ratani - Bio  [Pre-Primary]

Mrs. Ratani completed her Montessori course from A.M.I. (Association Montessori Internationale) in June 2002. Since then, she has been teaching in Montessori environments as a professional teacher. She has also worked with children in different voluntary capacities. She truly believes in the Montessori way of teaching and finds it very inspirational and motivating, as Dr. Montessori once said, "I have studied the child. I have taken what the child has given me and expressed it and that is what is called the Montessori Method." It is designed to help children with their task of inner construction and it is successful because it draws its principles from the natural development of the child. She is proud to be a part of Peninsula Montessori Family and is very grateful to be working for this prestigious school that has proven its dedication in educating The Whole Child for many years. She loves to read, cook, and paint in her spare time.

Alice Pilkey - Bio  [Pre-Primary]

Alice Pilkey has a B.A. in English from the University of Southern California, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Arizona State University. In 2006 she earned a California State Teaching Credential in English, but found that she did not enjoy working in conventional education; looking for alternatives, she discovered the world of Montessori. She is currently waiting for an opportunity to complete a Montessori training course, and would also like to finish her M.A. in Education. She is particularly interested in creativity and learning, the influence of the natural world on learners of all ages, and literacy. In her spare time, Miss Alice enjoys running, spinning wool, and learning to play a variety of musical instruments. She also spends as much time as possible each year with her family in eastern Kansas.