Get to know: Paola Kupfersin

Paola Kupfersin – participant of the AMI 3-6 Diploma

My name is Paola Kupfersin, I am the principal at Montessori Early Education Centre (also known as Donvale Montessori) and I have recently commenced studying the 3-6 Diploma course with AMI.

After more than 20 years spent in education, including eight years in early education as a teacher and manager, I started in my position as Principal of MEEC in January this year.  MEEC is a Center with a great tradition of providing high quality Montessori education since 1975.  After attending Cycle 1 at our Centre, children go on to complete Cycle 2 and 3 in the Montessori program at Mitcham Primary school. This program was co-founded by MEEC’s former Principal.

Leading a centre with such a great tradition and with strongly passionate staff made me realise that it would be extremely beneficial for me to train as a Montessori teacher. The course I have enrolled in will help me in my current position in leading my team, giving me insight and understanding about  decisions they make in their classrooms.  It will allow me to support my team via my decision making about the Centre as a whole, ensuring that authentic Montessori practise is at the heart of everything we do.  It also means I will be in a position to have a voice in the Montessori community, on a local, national, and international basis.

On a personal level, the course is helping me as a parent to better understand my children, even if they are both teenagers now, and also to understand myself and enrich myself as a human being.

I look forward to gaining a deep understanding of the Montessori philosophy and practise, which I have long been aware of and interested in.