Greetings!

I am Coco, the principal of the Avocado Montessori Academy. Originally from the coastal city of Tianjin in northern China, I moved to Seattle in 2010.

My journey into Montessori education began with the arrival of my first daughter, igniting a profound desire to connect with her on a deeper, more personal level beyond conventional parenting roles. This led me to explore alternative parenting methods, ultimately discovering the Montessori philosophy. I deeply appreciate its principles of following the child and providing them with sufficient freedom within limits. Intrigued, I decided to earn the AMS certification from the Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest to gain a comprehensive understanding of this educational approach.

With over seven years of experience in education, I have had the privilege of working with many groups of students and educators, witnessing firsthand the transformative power of quality education. I deeply enjoy spending time with children and have spent most of my career in the classroom as the lead teacher. In 2023, I transitioned to the administration team, allowing me to work closely with parents and focus on school’s management.

The name "Avocado" represents more than just a fun or healthy choice; it embodies our school's core values: Independence, Empathy, and Responsibility. The avocado's strong skin symbolizes children's independence, its soft flesh represents their empathy, and its hard seed signifies their sense of responsibility. Just as the avocado's seed grows into beautiful branches and leaves, we aspire for each child who graduates from Avocado Montessori to flourish wherever they go.

We will continue to build on the strong foundation for which this school is known, embracing new opportunities for growth and development.

We warmly welcome parents to join our community. It is an honor to be entrusted with the opportunity to spend invaluable moments with your children, fostering their growth and embarking on a shared journey of exploration and learning.

Coco

Principal

Toddler Director: Ms. August

Hi, I am August Teng. In 2018, I started working at a bilingual Montessori school, where my passion for teaching truly began. After earning my Montessori preschool teacher credential, I became eager to learn more about the early development of young children. This led me to enroll in Montessori infant and toddler teacher training, which I completed in 2020.

By guiding students to help them reach their potential at their own pace, I have consistently utilized my inherent passion for fostering collaborative and engaging environments to nurture productive, thoughtful, and self-motivated young learners. Through encouraging independence and a love of learning, I am continually amazed and humbled by the transformations that occur in young children.

Outside of work, I am passionate about church ministry, teaching at Sunday School, and playing switch games with friends( I am an overcook master).

Panda class Lead: Ms. Sue

Hello! I am Ms.Sue and have been working in Montessori classroom with children since 2013. It has been great joy to work in Montessori classroom where children are accepted for who they are and challenged to become the best possible person. I truly enjoy watching children gaining independence and blooming in their own. I aspire to observe where each child is and bring adequate topics or materials to better their growth. As a teacher and a mom of two, my mission is provide the best start to a lifetime of learning. I am very honored to be in beginning of your child’s journey into the world.

Giraffe class Lead: Ms. Yoyo

I am Yoyo. I have been working with children aged 0 to 3 years all the time, and I really enjoy interacting with younger children. I believe that with a prepared environment, all children can grow well! I began training in the International Montessori Teacher Program in San Diego in 2018 and obtained my certification in 2019. I hope to put Montessori education principles into practice.

Educating children requires not only a lot of love but also a lot of wisdom. In interacting with children, they also teach me many things. With respect and reverence for life, I take responsibility for each child I come into contact with. Additionally, I am skilled in early childhood art education, using commonly found materials to create art. This approach allows children to experience the fun of life from a different perspective, explore materials freely, and create their own artwork to express themselves.

Nido class Lead: Ms.Alisa

Hello, my name is Alisa!

I was born and raised in Japan and moved to Seattle in 2023.

I graduated from Kwansei Gakuin University with an early childhood education bachelor’s diploma in 2021.

Through my education, I began to earn interest in the Montessori Method and I am really excited to start my journey as lead teacher at Avocado Montessori Academy!

I really enjoy seeing children smile wide when they see their parents come pick them up. I want to support children to feel happiness and joy through learning and playing with friends and teachers, so that they may go home with a big smile on their face:)

In my spare time I enjoy playing with my two beautiful cats, traveling, reading, and studying Spanish!

Elephant class Lead: Ms. Caity

Hello, my name is Caity and I am very excited to begin my journey at AMA. I graduated from Oregon State University in June 2023 with a BA in science. I majored in biology with a pre-education option. Previously, I worked at Linn-Benton Community College where I was an assistant volleyball coach and a tutor in psychology, chemistry, and biology. I have always loved working with kids and I am passionate about supporting the development of their purpose, identity, and self-regulation. Outside of the classroom I enjoy playing volleyball, making puzzles, and gardening.

Preschool Chinese program Supervisor : Ms. Emily

Hello! My name is Emily Chan and I am very excited to be a part of the team at Avocado Montessori Academy. I was born and raised in Hong Kong and I graduated from the University of Washington in 2018 with a BA in Communications and a minor in Education. I am also a certified Montessori teacher holding both AMS (0-3 Years) and AMS (3-6Y) Montessori Teacher Certification from MEIPN.

I enjoy working with children and I have over 7 years of experience teaching in a Montessori environment in Seattle and Hong Kong. I believe through careful observation and well-prepared environment, children can thrive and develop to their full potential. I strive to encourage independence and a love of learning in my classroom and I am very excited to work with in the preschool class in AMA!

Bee Preschool Chinese teacher: Ms.Maggie

I am Maggie, a graduate of the University of Washington with a major in Communication and Education. I volunteered extensively at two public elementary schools in Seattle during my undergraduate years. After gaining work experience, I pursued a Master's in Teaching at Seattle University to further my passion for education. I now hold a graduate diploma in education and a teacher's certificate in Washington state. I am thrilled to be a part of AMA, where I can learn and grow alongside my students and colleagues in the Montessori environment.

International Preschool Lead: Ms. Joy

Hello, My name is Joy, and I am excited to join Avocado Montessori Academy. I'm originally from South Korea, where I used to work as a social worker. After I moved to Seattle 5 years ago, I decided to pursue my passion in early childhood education. While taking the Montessori teacher training, I fell in love with the Montessori method. I have been working in a Montessori classroom for three years now, including two years as a lead teacher. I love observing each child and figuring out what they need to be successful. I believe that all children deserve to be happy and enjoy learning independently. The Montessori method respects and guides children differently from traditional education.
I'm confident that your children will benefit from their experiences here at AMA, and I look forward to working with them.

International Preschool English teacher: Ms. Siree

Hi, my name is Siree, and I am very excited to join the Montessori community at the Avocado Montessori Academy. I had experience working with young learners aged 6-10 as an English Teaching Assistant and a private English tutor in Laos. The goal was to help them speak English confidently and independently, which shares some of the great qualities in the Montessori Method, where we aim to prepare the right environment where children can strive and develop themselves to their fullest potential with love and independence.

Education:

· Present: Montessori Training Program, Kent, Washington, USA – Montessori Teaching Certificate

· 2019: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA – Master of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management

· 2014 Brussels Business Institute, Wiltz, Luxembourg – Certification of Specialization in Room Division

· 2013 Lao American College, Vientiane, Laos – Business of Management

Toddler Assistant: Ms. Jay

Hello!

My name is Jay. I have BA degree in Piano Education from Catholic University in South Korea. I have owned and directed Preschool Art Center in Korea for 12 years before I came to USA with my family. That experience gave me a fundamental understanding of the children education. As a mother of a college student, I had another 20 years’ experience of nurturing him. That experience also provided me deeper understanding of the child’s potential development. Now, as an AMA assistant teacher, I am utilizing those experiences to nurture and guide the children develop their potential to the fullest. I truly love AMA children.

Toddler Assistant: Ms. Guo

Ms. Guo

郭老师，2004年毕业于湖南师范大学汉语言文学专业，2004年取得中国普通话二级甲等证书，曾实习于长沙芙蓉幼儿园。这些年经常与在全国各学校任教的同学一起讨论儿童教育理念及方法等问题，深被孩子们天真和可爱所吸引。

Toddler Assistant: Ms. Miku

Hello! My name is Ms. Miku and I am very excited to be a part of Avocado Montessori Academy!

Growing up exposed to many different languages in my life, I have a deep passion for language learning and feel the importance of having exposure from a young age. I have also always had an interest in working with children, previously in high school and university, I had the opportunity to student teach in a 4th-5th bilingual classroom. I began working with toddlers 3 years ago and have loved the experience ever since. I love that I am able to assist the children as they learn the necessary tools in becoming independent!