Peninsula Montessori Academy at Getzville

Yuan is a globally trained educator who brings a unique blend of Eastern and Western teaching philosophies to her work. She holds a Secondary Teacher Qualification Certificate from China, an AMS credential from the MTEC in San Francisco, and a Montessori ECE diploma from Vancouver.

Her Montessori journey began at Montessori World, an AMI-accredited school in Vancouver, where she taught for three years before relocating to Buffalo. After a meaningful hiatus to raise her three children, she returned to the classroom with renewed insight, blending professional expertise with the wisdom of parenting.

Alaina is a recent graduate of Niagara University, graduating Cum Laude with her degree in English. She has observed and assisted in teaching lessons in classrooms across all grade levels and curriculums, finding her passion in Montessori teaching methods. While working for Peninsula Montessori Academy, she will partake in teaching assistant training with the goal of working her way up to a certified Montessori teacher someday.

Birdie is a New York State certified teacher in Early Childhood and Childhood Education (Birth–Grade 6) and holds a Montessori certification for ages 2.5 - 6. With years of experience guiding toddlers, children, and adolescents, she brings both heart and skill to her work.

At the core of Birdie’s teaching is a deep respect for each child’s unique voice, rhythm, and potential. She believes that strong, trusting relationships - with children and their families - are the foundation of meaningful learning. Her classroom is a calm, nurturing space where children feel seen, safe, and inspired to grow.

Birdie is especially passionate about social-emotional learning, nature-based education, language development, mindfulness, and creative expressive arts. These interests shape her approach and help children build inner resilience, curiosity, and connection to the world around them.

She listens closely - whether to words or behaviors - and responds with kindness, clarity, and consistency. She believes children thrive when adults truly observe, understand, and honor who they are.

Birdie celebrates diversity and draws strength from the shared experiences, cultures, and passions of her students, families, and fellow educators. For her, teaching is not just a profession, but a joyful, lifelong practice in empathy, growth, and community.

Kayleigh is a first-generation college graduate who earned her degree in Psychology from the University at Buffalo in May. She also completed a Micro - Credential in Child Advocacy Studies. Throughout her life, Kayleigh has been deeply passionate about helping and caring for others. During her college years, she took multiple courses focused on child care and advocacy, which further strengthened her commitment to this field.

From a young age, Kayleigh was known as the “go-to” babysitter for family and friends. It was through her family that she was first introduced to Montessori philosophy, and she quickly fell in love with its approach. As someone who values learning through experience and believes in personal growth through exploration, she felt an immediate connection to Montessori care.

Kayleigh is excited to meet and build relationships with each child in her care. She is wholeheartedly dedicated to providing exceptional care rooted in kindness, authenticity, and compassion.

With over a decade of experience in early childhood education, spanning both daycare and home environments - Lauren Stitt has had the privilege of supporting children across a variety of ages and developmental stages. Every child has their own rhythm and way of learning, and it’s Laurens passion to meet them right where they are - with patience, warmth, and curiosity. 

Throughout Laurens career, she has developed a deep appreciation for the unique ways each child learns and grows. She strives to create a nurturing environment where every child feels safe, valued, and encouraged to explore the world around them. Lauren is especially committed to fostering strong, trusting relationships with both children and their families, understanding that collaboration with parents is essential to each child’s success and well-being.

As she joins the Peninsula Montessori community, Lauren will also continue her professional growth through further study of the Montessori philosophy with AMS training courses. Lauren is very excited to deepen her understanding of this approach and integrate its principles into her daily practice alongside her class.