Meet Our Team

Jelena is the Founder of Family Tales, a group of storytellers, writers, and child therapy experts on a mission to create a fairy tale for every child across the world. She has worked in and around media for over 8 years with experience in writing, news reporting, producing, hosting TV and Radio Shows, and being the Programme Director of multiple radio stations. Jelena is also a fellow of the RSA (Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce).

Jess has worked in charities and the public sector for over 20 years – managing projects, developing partnerships and improving the quality of frontline services.

At Samaritans and Terrence Higgins Trust, Jess delivered major projects to improve services delivering person-centred emotional support. She successfully developed key partnerships for children’s services at Barnardo’s. While at Spurgeons, she delivered business improvement in services for prisoners and their young families.

Jess is committed to the values of respect, independence, curiosity and inclusion.

With 10 years’ experience in Adult and Primary education, Jo is a qualified Tutor with a QCF recognised Education and Training qualification – with a focus on Special educational needs Support. Her training and experience in Performing Arts has led her into teaching Drama and Musical theatre in the private sector.

Jo’s passion to facilitate the best learning environment for every child, has led to her work within the Montessori group as Accreditation Assessor for the STAR Accreditation framework and Accreditation Administrator for the STAR Accreditation team.

Having worked in the classroom for 10 years, Laura moved into digital education in 2010, firstly working with the CELT team at London Metropolitan University and then starting at MCI in 2014. She project managed the set-up of online learning for MCI and developed digital Montessori content with the academic team to transform their distance learning programmes. Currently she works on the Totara learning platform, designing and developing digital education.

Laura has a distinction Masters in e-Learning Solutions and is passionate about social learning.

Marusa is an award-winning experienced communicator and public and media relations expert. She began her career at the most famous Croatian television, Nova TV where she worked for a decade as a journalist and investigative reporter. She continues her career by starting a media consulting company where she is focused on helping her clients with media relations (strategy and campaigns) and public affairs.

In her portfolio, there is a number of public service and non-governmental projects that have an essential role in civil society. Marusa has a BA in Comparative literature and Art history from the University of Zagreb where she also got a Master’s degree in Art history, critics, and conservation. She is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Zagreb. In 2023. she graduated from the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia. She is also a vice president of the Croatian United Nations Association.

With over 20 years’ experience in International Education Recruitment, Michelle has joined our team of STAR Administrators. Previously, Michelle was a founding member of a recruitment company that specialised in bringing overseas teachers to work in the UK and was responsible for sales, recruitment, safeguarding and compliance.

Originally from Australia, Michelle holds a Bachelor of Business from Queensland University of Technology and brings a breadth of skills that will help drive excellent customer service to our most valued partnerships.

Millie holds a FdA in Montessori Pedagogy, BA (Hons) in Early Childhood and MSc in Psychology, bringing to her work an in-depth knowledge of early years education, child development and seven years’ experience in Montessori education. Millie has experience as a Montessori classroom educator, Deputy Manager and Academic Tutor for Montessori Group.

Millie works with multiple colleagues across the team, supporting with STAR accreditation, the Montessori Network and co-creating academic course content.

Sidney is a digital marketing and communications professional with experience in international communications and social media marketing, with years of work in various fields including education, telecommunications and finance.

Sidney holds a Bachelor’s Degree (BA) in Commerce and Marketing, and is currently completing his professional CIMS certification, and above all, is dedicated to spreading the mission and vision of this organisation and having it clearly understood globally.

For the past 25 years, Sinéad has worked as an IT professional with a broad competency across numerous areas of Information Technology, including delivery of and facilitating product training, application testing, authoring training and operational guides, delivery of bespoke software, website & graphic design, and support for multiple enterprise and global organisations. She holds a BA (Hons) Degree in Media Practices with Travel & Tourism.

Sinéad engaged with the role of E-Learning and E-Support Officer in January 2022, which involves maintaining the organisation’s website development & deployment, and supporting the E-Learning (LMS) Platform, both of which call upon effective design & technical knowledge.

Yelena joined Financial Team at Montessori Group in June 2019, she is dealing with day-to-day financial transactions of the organisation, analysing and recording them into the Accounting system, and provides support in financial administration across the departments.

Yelena is a qualified Bookkeeper (QCF) with background in travel and tourism industry and international publishing field. She holds Diploma in Economics from National State Institute of Turkmenistan, Diploma in Business Studies from Stratford College London and IAB Qualification in Bookkeeping.