The founder and Head Directress of Alexander Montessori School, Leislie Alvarenga, received her Montessori training during 1977/78 at the International Training Center in Hampstead, England, graduating 'with credit'.  Leislie, who is fluently bilingual in English and Spanish, had previously earned her B.A. degree in child psychology from Carleton University in 1976.  She taught at Montessori schools in Toronto and in Ottawa before beginning her own classroom in 1984.

Leislie has been and continues to be a very active participant in Montessori societies and organizations and has attended numerous workshops and Montessori conferences in Canada and the United States.  She is firmly committed to safeguarding and improving the high standards which she has placed upon the environment and pedagogical practice in her classroom.

The importance of education, honesty, self-respect, and dignity were values taught to Shirley by her parents – values which have played a central role throughout her life.  Shirley comes from a large family of ten children, born and raised with a strong Catholic faith in the Philippines.

Shirley is a graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Secretarial studies.  She worked for seven years as a Nursing Department secretary at the Andres Bonifacio Memorial Hospital in the Philippines.  Her passion for learning has led Shirley to pursue courses in Home Daycare, computer studies, and to a certificate in Early Childhood Education.

Shirley is a travel enthusiast and has been  fortunate to visit many beautiful countries throughout the world including Switzerland, Italy, and Austria, learning to speak Italian and German along the way.  She first visited and decided to settle in Canada in August of 1981, working for several years as a domestic nanny to support herself.

After working briefly as an assistant manager at a family clinical laboratory in Los Angeles, California, in 1996, Shirley joined Alexander Montessori School in August 1997.  Since joining the school, she has trained as a Montessori teaching assistant at the primary level.  Shirley works a supply teacher each summer with several different daycare centers in Ottawa.  She continues to nurture her knowledge of childhood education through frequent attendance of Montessori workshops and conferences.

"Quality education is the fundamental source of a successful life."  Based on this motto, Shagufta Rubab joined the Alexander Montessori School in November, 2000, as a teaching assistant.  Shagufta's home life is orientated around her three teen-aged children.  In addition to being a devoted mother, she has also managed to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.  After completing her education, she received her teaching certificate and went on to participate in the School Age Programs and also served as a Parents-Children Councillor with UNICEF.  Shagufta gained her teaching experience at Charles H. Hulse Public School as a volunteer and has also worked as a supply teacher for the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board.  Along with reading and crafts, she is also keenly interested in sports and was athetically active throughout her school years.