Staff Team: 2009 - 2010
Monica Shah Zeeman, Head of Children First Association: 5 days per week:
Monica Shah Zeeman came to Zurich from the former English Montessori school in Bern, where she
integrated traditional teaching practices into a Montessori classroom for the 3-5 age group, and
taught English to older children in the afternoons. Monica's interest in working with children started
when she worked with a Bangladeshi child in the Oxford refugee community in 1987. This interest was
channelled into her work with schools in the UK as an advocate for disadvantaged children from 1991 -
1998. Her textbook for Heinemann management series ‘Working with Parents’ was published in 2001.
Monica’s enthusiasm and energy for children’s services became a commitment while completing her post-
graduate diploma (Tavistock, London 1998) in observing child development. Monica then initiated The
Mothering Project as director of The Maya Centre in Archway, North London, where she worked until
becoming a mother herself. Monica values key Montessori principles while drawing on her experience in
Psychodynamic therapy to conduct complementary analyses of social skills and readiness to learn in the
under 5s. She also teaches pre-reading and writing skills according to UK guidelines. Monica believes
good communication with parents will maximize a child's potential, so you are welcome to address any
questions to her about your child's progress.
Monica Shah Zeeman was born in London and educated at Wimbledon High School and Marlborough
College. She graduated from Magdalen College, University of Oxford in 1990 (BA (Hons) MA). She then
embarked on a series of social and community projects, working in London, Cardiff, Liverpool and
Knowsley before moving to Switzerland in 2002. She is married to a research professor at ETH Zurich
and is mother to Haresh.
Amy Beth Vogel-Buettner, Pre-school Teacher and Supervisor:
Amy Vogel, originally from the US, first came to Switzerland in 1998 and has been working with
children for ten years. She completed a short course through the North American Montessori Center in
2005. Until 2007 she worked at the The Da Vinci English School, an international pre-school in Berne,
Switzerland where she specialised in working with children aged two to four. Amy has also taught
English to speakers of other languages and speaks both Standard German and Swiss dialect herself.
She was awarded an Open University Certificate in Early Years Practice in 2008 and is currently
studying for a full Bachelor's degree (distance learning). At Children First she is the Pre-school
teacher for three to six year old children.
Regine Lacy, Administrator:
Regine Lacy moved to Switzerland at the end of 2007. She was born in Germany but spent the last 12
years living in London. There she worked as an administrative accountant in the leisure industry, first
for Holmes Place Health Clubs (now part of Virgin Active) and then, after becoming a mum in 2004, as a
part-time finance assistant for Vue Cinemas.
Linda Atonji, Pre-school and Nursery Assistant:
In 2002, Linda Atonji came to Switzerland from Cameroon where her interest in working with
children had taken root. She writes, “I come from a large family with younger siblings and my duty to
look after them as a big sister has contributed largely to my affinity towards working with children. I
also used to help out during holidays in the Sunday school.” Prior to her current job, Linda worked as a
nanny for a Children First family with two boys aged 2 and 4 for two years three months, so she came
warmly recommended! Linda has worked at Children First since 2007. To further her professional
development she took two Open University courses (UK Level 4 Certificate) in 2008 - 2009. Linda is
married and has a 3 year old son, Kyle.
Diana Näscher-Ortwein, Pre-school and Nursery Assistant:
Currently on maternity leave.
Jessica Scrimes, Nursery Teacher:
Jessica Scrimes lives in Zurich, and is originally from Sydney, Australia. She holds a BA degree in
Community Work from the University of Western Sydney, and an AMI (Association Montessori
Internationale) Diploma for ages 0 to 3. She is a contributor to the Montessori community worldwide
and in the past worked as an organiser for the Montessori Australia Foundation, supporting teacher
education and training, events and projects. Jessica joined CFA in July 2009.
Jessica has several years experience working with pre-school children aged 2 to 6, and helped to
establish some of the first Montessori parent-toddler programmes in Sydney. She is dedicated to
education in the not-for-profit sector, having also been involved with community work and programme
development at schools and as the Child Sponsorship manager for an NGO supporting education and
development projects in Asia and Africa.
At Children First, Jessica is responsible for the toddler group (1 to 3 years old) and for the children's
lunches. In the year 2009 - 2010 she will also be responsible for welcoming parents and children three
mornings per week. Jessica is very familiar with Montessori work as she attended Montessori schools
in Australia herself from age 3 to 12. Jessica's husband is a primary school teacher in a local bilingual
English-German Montessori School, and they have three children Aislinn, Daniel and Edmund.
Paul Decker, Pre-school and Nursery Assistant:
Paul Decker is a newly-qualified Clinical Psychologist from the UK who joined the Children First team
in November 2009. He has excellent references and has already demonstrated sensitivity when working
with the children and intellectual rigour with his colleagues. Paul will be greeting parents twice per
week in the mornings and is taking responsibility for the new garden. We are delighted to work with
him this school year.
Monica Shah Zeeman came to Zurich from the former English Montessori school in Bern, where she
integrated traditional teaching practices into a Montessori classroom for the 3-5 age group, and
taught English to older children in the afternoons. Monica's interest in working with children started
when she worked with a Bangladeshi child in the Oxford refugee community in 1987. This interest was
channelled into her work with schools in the UK as an advocate for disadvantaged children from 1991 -
1998. Her textbook for Heinemann management series ‘Working with Parents’ was published in 2001.
Monica’s enthusiasm and energy for children’s services became a commitment while completing her post-
graduate diploma (Tavistock, London 1998) in observing child development. Monica then initiated The
Mothering Project as director of The Maya Centre in Archway, North London, where she worked until
becoming a mother herself. Monica values key Montessori principles while drawing on her experience in
Psychodynamic therapy to conduct complementary analyses of social skills and readiness to learn in the
under 5s. She also teaches pre-reading and writing skills according to UK guidelines. Monica believes
good communication with parents will maximize a child's potential, so you are welcome to address any
questions to her about your child's progress.
Monica Shah Zeeman was born in London and educated at Wimbledon High School and Marlborough
College. She graduated from Magdalen College, University of Oxford in 1990 (BA (Hons) MA). She then
embarked on a series of social and community projects, working in London, Cardiff, Liverpool and
Knowsley before moving to Switzerland in 2002. She is married to a research professor at ETH Zurich
and is mother to Haresh.
Amy Beth Vogel-Buettner, Pre-school Teacher and Supervisor:
Amy Vogel, originally from the US, first came to Switzerland in 1998 and has been working with
children for ten years. She completed a short course through the North American Montessori Center in
2005. Until 2007 she worked at the The Da Vinci English School, an international pre-school in Berne,
Switzerland where she specialised in working with children aged two to four. Amy has also taught
English to speakers of other languages and speaks both Standard German and Swiss dialect herself.
She was awarded an Open University Certificate in Early Years Practice in 2008 and is currently
studying for a full Bachelor's degree (distance learning). At Children First she is the Pre-school
teacher for three to six year old children.
Regine Lacy, Administrator:
Regine Lacy moved to Switzerland at the end of 2007. She was born in Germany but spent the last 12
years living in London. There she worked as an administrative accountant in the leisure industry, first
for Holmes Place Health Clubs (now part of Virgin Active) and then, after becoming a mum in 2004, as a
part-time finance assistant for Vue Cinemas.
Linda Atonji, Pre-school and Nursery Assistant:
In 2002, Linda Atonji came to Switzerland from Cameroon where her interest in working with
children had taken root. She writes, “I come from a large family with younger siblings and my duty to
look after them as a big sister has contributed largely to my affinity towards working with children. I
also used to help out during holidays in the Sunday school.” Prior to her current job, Linda worked as a
nanny for a Children First family with two boys aged 2 and 4 for two years three months, so she came
warmly recommended! Linda has worked at Children First since 2007. To further her professional
development she took two Open University courses (UK Level 4 Certificate) in 2008 - 2009. Linda is
married and has a 3 year old son, Kyle.
Diana Näscher-Ortwein, Pre-school and Nursery Assistant:
Currently on maternity leave.
Jessica Scrimes, Nursery Teacher:
Jessica Scrimes lives in Zurich, and is originally from Sydney, Australia. She holds a BA degree in
Community Work from the University of Western Sydney, and an AMI (Association Montessori
Internationale) Diploma for ages 0 to 3. She is a contributor to the Montessori community worldwide
and in the past worked as an organiser for the Montessori Australia Foundation, supporting teacher
education and training, events and projects. Jessica joined CFA in July 2009.
Jessica has several years experience working with pre-school children aged 2 to 6, and helped to
establish some of the first Montessori parent-toddler programmes in Sydney. She is dedicated to
education in the not-for-profit sector, having also been involved with community work and programme
development at schools and as the Child Sponsorship manager for an NGO supporting education and
development projects in Asia and Africa.
At Children First, Jessica is responsible for the toddler group (1 to 3 years old) and for the children's
lunches. In the year 2009 - 2010 she will also be responsible for welcoming parents and children three
mornings per week. Jessica is very familiar with Montessori work as she attended Montessori schools
in Australia herself from age 3 to 12. Jessica's husband is a primary school teacher in a local bilingual
English-German Montessori School, and they have three children Aislinn, Daniel and Edmund.
Paul Decker, Pre-school and Nursery Assistant:
Paul Decker is a newly-qualified Clinical Psychologist from the UK who joined the Children First team
in November 2009. He has excellent references and has already demonstrated sensitivity when working
with the children and intellectual rigour with his colleagues. Paul will be greeting parents twice per
week in the mornings and is taking responsibility for the new garden. We are delighted to work with
him this school year.
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Children First Association Englischviertelstrasse 42, 8032 Zürich 044 252 9121 |