Meet the Staunton Montessori Staff Team…
Most of you know us all already, but here’s an overview of the team including photos so you can recognise who’s who. Each short staff profile aims to give parents an idea of the professional training and background of each staff member. We hope you will find this useful.
Adrienne Staunton, Dr Miriam Stoppard and Robert Staunton, June 2005
Honorary Patron: Dr Miriam Stoppard MB MD MRCP DSc OBE
“I would lie across the threshold to get my children into this school. Local parents are very lucky to have a school like Staunton Montessori.” (Miriam’s Centenary speech 2007). Doctor, dermatologist and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Dr Miriam Stoppard is the UK’s best known expert on pregnancy and birth. She has been at the forefront of the revolution in health information since she began her writing and broadcasting career in the early 1970s. Since that time she has become well known to millions all over the world as a leading authority on parenting, baby and child care. Dr Miriam Stoppard visits the Staunton Montessori School annually and is a key advisor to Robert and Adrienne.
Head Teacher: Mr Robert Staunton MA (Hons) PGCE (Cambs) RSA.CTEFLA EYPS
Robert is Head of the Montessori School & Tutorial Centre. He obtained his Social Science Masters degree from Edinburgh University and his specialist research area was the rehabilitation and education of street children in Asia. He went on to take his Post-Graduate Certificate in Education at Cambridge University. He is also a Royal School of Arts qualified English Language teacher. He has worked in schools and colleges in Cambridge and also taught in a leading Nottingham Special School. Robert is Emeritus Vice-Chair of the Montessori Schools Association in the region and lectures on Montessori at University level. He trained at Northampton University with Professor Denise Hevey, to obtain the new postgraduate qualification of Early Years Professional Status (EYPS). He now works with Northampton University’s Department of Education mentoring and assessing post-graduates taking their EYPS. Robert has also been elected as the Early Years Governor at Orston County Primary School. As well as leading Staunton Montessori School with his wife, Adrienne, Robert runs the Staunton Tutorial Centre offering Eleven Plus intensive exam preparation and general tuition for Primary children as well Key Stage 3 and 4. He has also been elected to the Nottinghamshire Early Years Consultation Group, which is a body set up by the LA to deliver better outcomes for children in the county.
Robert also runs the successful Staunton Tutorial Centre, offering the following range of subjects:·
- Eleven Plus intensive exam preparation (11+ pass rate 2010-2011 100% – cohort of 36 candidates)
- Primary & secondary exam skills and auxiliary support
- Oxbridge interview technique
- English as a foreign language for adults or children
- Public speaking and communication skills
- Undergraduate and Post-Graduate Supervision
- Corporate Education: courses on culture and language for Asian Businesses in UK/US
You can view Robert’s Curriculum Vitae here
 Co-Head Teacher:Mrs Adrienne Staunton Mont. Dip. Ed
Adrienne took her Montessori Diploma in Education at the Montessori St Nicholas Centre in London. She also took a Foundation Certificate in Fine Art at Chelsea College of Art and Design. Adrienne has worked in some of the UK’s leading Montessori schools including St Christopher’s, Letchworth; Iverna Gardens, Kensington; and New World, Newmarket. As well as this extensive experience in Montessori, Adrienne has also taught in the Pre-prep department of Wellow House School, Notts and worked as a Play Specialist in the QEII Hospital in Welwyn. Adrienne & Robert have two children, Benjamin (b. 2003) and Jasmine (b. 2006). (For more about Robert & Adrienne see the article “There will Always be an England” and “A Very English Scene“) |
Nursery School Teaching Staff: |
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Susan Draper B.Ed.(Hons) EYPS (Prov) Head of Afternoon Sessions & Early Numeracy Susan has a Bachelors degree in Primary Education at Honours level. As well as her work in education, she has worked in business as a Retail Consultant and in Human Resources for a software company. Susan used to work as a Supply Teacher for the agency Supply Desk and is also a loyal supporter of Chuter Ede Primary School in Newark, which her daughter attends. Susan has taught at Staunton Montessori since 2006 and is currently undertaking her post-graduate in Early Years (EYPS). Susan is also a Mentor to other Early Years practitioners and is head of the curriculum area ‘Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy (PRSN)’ as well as being head of the Red Apple (3+) Team. |
Ms Hilary Hopkin BSc. (Hons) (Psychology) Administrative and Finance Manager Hilary is the Secretary of Staunton Montessori School and amongst other things handles the LA entitlement funding for 3 & 4 years olds, the accounts and the gross pay scheme offered by agents such as Busy Bees and Care4. Hilary has a background in Accountancy and Marketing with a first class honours degree in Psychology. She has had a long-standing involvement with the school, having been a parent here from 2002-2004 and is a dedicated Montessori fan. She also worked with the children in the school for a year and therefore has an excellent background understanding of how the school operates. She joined the team in 2005. |
Mrs Robyn Wood, B. Ed Hons, QTS Head of Early Literacy/Phonics Robyn is Head of Communication, Language and Literacy Development at Staunton Montessori. She has Bachelors Degree in Education from Chester College. Before joining the staff team here she worked at Allington Primary School. Robyn’s experience as a primary class teacher gives her an excellent platform from which to delivery our own high quality phonics system which is a hybrid of the national strategy’s ‘Letters and Sounds’ and the Montessori system. |
Mrs Marella Edwards Cert Early Years, NVQ 3 Head of ‘Green Apples’ (2+) Marella is Head of the Green Apples (2+ group) and has a Certificate in Early Years from the Open University as well as NVQ 2 and 3 in Childcare and Education. She joined Staunton Montessori in 2009 and came from a leading Nottinghamshire Day Nursery where she was Deputy Manager. Marella is responsible for the planning and delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage for our younger members of the nursery and she works closely with parents to ensure positive transitions into the setting and into the red apple group. |
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Staunton Montessori sent her on the acclaimed ‘Calm for Kids’ Yoga course in London, so Mrs Lisa Martin (NMEB): Children’s Yoga Specialist Lisa is our qualified Early Years Yoga teacher and physical development specialist, who has had many years experience working in the Early Years sector. Staunton Montessori sent her on the acclaimed ‘Calm for Kids’ Yoga course in London, so that she could bring this expertise into the school. Lisa is also a qualified childcare and education practitioner. |
Louise Birkett Mont Dip Ed NVQ 3 Louise is a qualified Montessori Directress and A1 Assessor in Early Years Childcare and Education. Louise is Head of the Montessori Curriculum and is lead practitioner for most afternoon sessions. Previously Louise was deputy Manager at a leading Lincolnshire Montessori Day Nursery. She has worked in the childcare and education sector for 10 years. |
Mrs Michelle Ellicott BA (Hons) Michelle has had her three daughters at Staunton Montessori and works part-time with us doing supply work. After a career as an accountant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers as a Corporate Tax Associate she took a break from professional life to be a mum. Wanting a change in direction from accountancy, Michelle is now working in Early Years. |
Mrs Louise Hare-Goss Mont Dip Ed (Prov) Louise has had two children through Staunton Montessori and before becoming a mum she worked in the finance sector as a team leader in HR for Lloyds TSB Banking Group. She is now studying with a London based college to complete her Diploma in Montessori Education. Louise has also worked at Flintham Primary School on the support staff. |
Mrs Esther Muirhead (NVQ 2): Teaching Assistant & Hygiene Manager After a career working at Newark Police Station, Esther trained as a caterer and provided hospitality for the Newark Antiques Fairs. Subsequently she joined Staunton Montessori in 2006 to assist with teaching and is the manager of infection control and cleaning. Esther has three grandchildren of school age. Esther has a particularly creative streak, which find its expression with the children in various artistic projects. Esther has qualified with Grantham College NVQ 2 in Childcare and Education. She is working towards a Diploma In Childcare |
