


Isabele-Nely Marinica – Founder of Harmony Tree Montessori
My basic education is as an economist, and I worked for 20 years in multinational corporations (in Romania and abroad), in top management positions in the financial, commercial, and business planning & development areas.
A year after I became a mother, I quit my job and dedicated my time to raising my little boy, Patrick. I found the Montessori system - a system that is based on solid principles that are also intuitive and logical - while I was looking for methods and activities to help me interact with my son in order to offer him the chance to reach his full potential spiritually, emotionally, physically and intellectually.
I decided to enrich my knowledge about children’s healthy development so I participated in different seminars and workshops about the Montessori philosophy and education, organized by the Montessori Institute of Bucharest (MIB).
I attended the Montessori Assistant Teacher Training (3-6 years) in 2014. In July 2015, along with the nursery staff, I also attended the first aid course, the course for democratic communication with children and collaborative relationships between teachers and children, all of them organized by Parentime.
Being inspired by my child’s balanced development and by Mrs. Cristina Preda, the founder of Echilibria Montessori Education Kindergarten, I followed a dream I had when I was young, which was to establish a nursery school. This dream is strongly connected to my love for children and to my desire and passion to offer them a chance to reach their full potential starting with their first years of life.
…and yes, I love dolphins!
Harmony Tree Montessori team is a strong team, formed of wonderful warm people that are responsible and dedicated to children - a team that embraces Harmony Tree Montessori’s mission and values.
Partners & Mentors
We thank our partners and mentors for their significant contribution in fulfilling the Harmony Tree Montessori project. and their continuing support for its best advancement! They are a “source of inspiration” and wonderful people!
Cristina Preda
Founder of Echilibria Montessori Education & MIB
Olena Bulat
Babyswimmer
Mirela Marin
Founder of Living Leadership
Teodor Cerneletchi
Managing Partner City Cat Solutions
Magda Rusu – Montessori Teacher, Fireflies Group (3-6 years)
… A smile, a book, a song, a story…
The incredible journey through the innocent children’s world is perfected through love, tolerance, understanding and hope…
Enjoy life like a child!
In 2011 I attended the online International Montessori Teaching Diploma course, North American Montessori Center. I graduated the Montessori AMI Teacher Training at the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis, Missouri, USA with observation hours and practice in schools in the USA and England (2014). I worked as a teacher using alternative teaching methods and as a Montessori guide for children 3-6 years old.
Abigaela Raluca Piciorang – Montessori Teacher, Ladybugs Group (18-36 months)
In 2012 I graduated the Department of Preschool and Primary School Education at the University of Bucharest, but I felt the need for a different type of education. The crucial moment came when I became mother for the little girl that changed my life. Along with my husband (who in the meanwhile became a Montessori elementary teacher), I started searching for more information about Montessori education.
We both realized that this is a method with solid principles, centred on the child and his needs. Meanwhile I attended the AMI Primary Assistant Teacher Training (3-6 years) and the Montessori Assistants to Infancy Training for teachers (0-3) at the Montessori Institute of Bucharest (2015).
As a Montessori teacher I worked with children between 0 and 6 years old. Additionally, I held different arts & crafts and music & movement projects.
My greatest satisfaction is when I kneel down and see the happiness in children’s eyes, or when I notice the development stages the children go through and especially when I realize how independent the children can become when we trust them completely.
Laura-Elena Kimelman - Montessori Assistant Teacher, Fireflies Group (3-6 years)
After getting a degree in Journalism, I continued my Master degree in Communication and Public Relations. The love for children has won and made me head towards educating them, out of the desire to actively and directly participate in all the aspects of providing the care and responsibility for the future of the little ones.
I am a happy, warm and creative person. I wish to offer children all my knowledge, attention and affection, so that they become as willing to learn and to grow as they can be.
Simona Lupu - Montessori Assistant Teacher, Fireflies Group (3-6 years)
I graduated the Pedagogical College and the Psychology Department, determined to learn more of the wonders in the children’s world. Working with children suits me very well, because I am a calm and warm person, who likes to observe their behavior.
I worked as a teacher for 8 years in the public teaching system. I wanted to give credence to a different type of education and I am currently attending the AMI Primary Teacher Training (3-6 years) at the Montessori Institute of Bucharest, to become a Montessori teacher.I like to offer children independence to think and to act, and to see them grow intellectually, psychically, emotionally and in terms of movement, through the knowledge of this method.
Carmen Catalina Pocania – Montessori Assistant Teacher, Ladybugs Group (18-36 months)
My educational background consists of my graduating the Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, the Pedagogy department. I also graduated Social Pedagogy at University College, Denmark. I am currently attending the first year of the Master programme “The Management and Assessment of Organizations and Educational Programmes” at the Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences.
The work and the effort I put in finishing my specialization in the education area were accomplished with the purpose of understanding the child as a whole, of being able to engage in different activities that help the child develop. My experience in working with children is an interesting one, I worked as a teacher in a “forest kindergarten” where I used only natural materials, thus offering the children a series of activities that involved socializing, being responsible and learning actively.
Along with my colleagues I am dedicated to children in my daily work, so that I can offer learning experiences and a safe and stimulating environment to all of them.
Ingrid Tudoran - Montessori Assistant Teacher Ladybugs Group (18-36 months)
I graduated the Department of Psychology at the University of Bucharest and I am a psychiatrist-to-be (The Romanian Association of Person-Centered Psychotherapy).
My interest in the Montessori system was an outcome of the quests that guided my journey throughout the last six years of working with children, in an attempt to encompass a learning environment both with the mind and with the soul. I found some of the answers I was looking for in getting involved in different non-formal education programmes and child’s personal development studies, but I felt that I could do more than that. Those few hours a week that I used to spend with the children seemed too few, and then I discovered Montessori. Studying, I realized that Montessori can be a lifestyle beyond a learning environment, the collaboration with the parents being an essential part of it.
I am bringing along the patience and the warmth I possess, and also the experience gained from interacting with the children that I have been so honoured to work with so far. I found out how important it is to offer the child a learning environment centered on his individual needs and on his personal growth level by working with also with children with special needs. I think that Montessori is the environment that satisfies all needs.
I am currently attending the AMI Teacher Training (0-3 years) at the Montessori Institute Sankt Petersburg.
Cristina-Anca Stoian – English Language Teacher
I have a degree in Philology (the University of Bucharest, Romanian-English Department), a Master’s degree in Romanian Literary Sciences (the University of Bucharest) and experience in translations, editing, teaching Romanian language in schools and English language to adults and Young Learners.
I have certifications both in public education (permanent teacher certification) and in the private sector (certified trainer), and I am also a certified English language translator authorized by the Ministry of Justice.
I joined the “Harmony Tree Montessori” team because I like children and I understand that they represent our future. That is why I want to offer them the most balanced form of education, in close collaboration with the parents.