Mrs. Virginia Ramirez - Principal

I graduated from Sheridan College, Ryerson Polytechnic University and Toronto Montessori Institute (TMI). My education has qualified me to teach Montessori students from 18 months to 12 years of age. I have completed a Management Course from the CCMA of which I was elected a member of the executive board for a few years and continue to be an active member. I also served as one of the PAC (Program Advisory Committee) members at Sheridan College and have been invited yearly to participate as one of the administrators in panel discussions. For the past three years, I have been asked to evaluate oral examinations and act as a student field advisor for TMI graduating students.

My first encounter working with young children started when I was twelve years old. I was chosen to work with the kindergarten students at my school to help supervise while the teachers were engaged in testing the children individually. I knew at that moment that teaching was the career to pursue. Since then, I was always involved in education, either through volunteer work, as a tutor, childcare provider or teacher. I have worked in various child care centres and for the Dufferin Peel Roman Catholic School Board as a teacher and/or a supervisor. I focused my studies in Montessori when it was introduced at Sheridan College as it reflected the same belief I had about teaching and motivating children.

My goal to own and operate a Montessori school was achieved in 1996 and have enjoyed every minute of it, even through the challenges, obstacles and growing pains of running a school. I am very proud to have my three boys attend Northstar. I feel confident that they are in a caring and nurturing environment. They love going to school to learn and interact with other students. The close-knit staff of Northstar makes my job easier and worthwhile as they share the same passion and commitment in providing the best possible Montessori education.

Mrs. Sherry Gosal - Vice-Principal

After completing my Montessori training (AMI), I joined Northstar Montessori School as the Casa Directress. We started with a small group of students whose parents believed in the vision of the school and took a chance to enroll their child into a class with a newly graduated teacher and into a school that was still being built. I am forever grateful to those parents as they and their children helped me to become the educator that I am today. I have had many fulfilling years of watching students develop and become independent thinkers that explore with confidence and with a need “to know”. After teaching for 6 years, I was promoted to the position of Vice Principal. I am proud to be a part of Northstar Montessori Private School as it truly promotes the development of the whole child and is interested in seeing each child succeed. As the Vice Principal, I have a deeper commitment to staff, parents, and students to see that their needs, concerns, and questions are always addressed and that we are providing a true Montessori experience. As a mother of 3, I have a deeper commitment to ensuring that there is a place where children can grow, be respected, and be safe.

Mrs. Kristina Wright - Supervisor

I completed my post-secondary studies at the Carleton University and continued at the Toronto Montessori Institute where I received my Montessori Training for Casa and Elementary. I began my employement at Northstar Montessori in August, 2000. I have two daughters. They are ages 4 and 1 and they both attend Northstar Montessori School. My father was a teacher and it was always something that I was interested in doing. Throughout high school and university, I taught swimming lessons and upon graduation spent three years overseas teaching ESL. While in South Korea, I realized that teaching was a rewarding and fulfilling profession where I could have a positive effect and influence on the children in my classroom. I decided at that time that teaching was what I wanted to do as my career. When I graduated from TMI, I was searching for a school that was well equipped with the Montessori materials and followed the Montessori principles. This is what I found at Northstar. Over the years I have developed close relationships with the staff, administration and families of Northstar. I have also found a school where my children love attending and where I am confident that they are being provided the best possible education and positive experiences that will help to shape them into productive, considerate and well-rounded individuals.

Mr. Rick Ramirez - Business Manager

I graduated from Ryerson University in Graphic Communications Management, comprised of Business and Advertising in the Marketing Media. I like to stay active because I enjoy all kinds of sports. I try to give 100% of my effort and I hope to inspire students to do the same no matter what skill level they are. I was also very involved in coaching team sports and participated in many extra-curricular activities that revolved around sports (squash, badminton, karate, wrestling, basketball and volleyball). I joined Northstar in February 2004 in the capacity of Physical Education and Art teacher. I enjoyed the years teaching both the Casa and Elementary students, but this year, my days will be spent more in the operations of the business and only teach gym in the Casa program and Computers in the Junior High program.

Mrs. Rose Sta. Ana - Office Administrator

My name is Rose Sta. Ana (pronounce Santa Ana). I graduated from George Brown College. I started working at Northstar Montessori in 2007. I have a daughter who is attending the PreCasa Program. I am here at Northstar because I enjoy and love working with students of all ages. I especially enjoy seeing them develop academically and socially throughout the school year. Northstar has pleasant staff members and administrators who are very helpful, supportive, and friendly.