Staff Team: 2010 - 2011
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
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.
Regine Lacy, Financial Administrator:
Regine Lacy has been working for Children First since April 2008. She was born in Germany but spent
the last 12 years living in London with her English husband. 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. Regine lives in
Meilen, where she helps to organise regular coffee mornings for international women. Her son attends
his local Swiss school.
Paul Decker, Supervisor and Sports teacher:
Paul Decker is a qualified Clinical Psychologist from the UK who has been working at Children First
since November 2009. He also works as a psychologist with international families in the Zurich area.
Paul attended a Steiner school himself and sees parallels with the small, professional environment of
our nursery school. Paul has been working at CFA to support the children's team and also works for
Foundations for Learning, with international families in and around Zurich.
Deepti Modha, Pre-school and Kindergarten Lead:
Deepti Modha has a BA (HONS) Degree in Early Childhood Studies and seven years' experience of
working with children aged 0-8 years. While working as a community nursery nurse in Wandsworth,
London, Deepti gained knowledge of child health matters running her own ‘well baby’ clinics twice a
week. She prioritises a balanced and holistic view of children in terms of their learning, growth and
development.
Deepti enjoys undertaking voluntary work, and has an interest in fundraising for charitable causes,
with one of her successful efforts being a 13000ft tandem sky dive to raise funds for ‘Autism Concern’.
Imogen van Brussel, Pre-school and Nursery Lead:
Imogen van Brussel moved in 2010 to Zürich from Paris, France where she spent ten years working as a
private nanny for several international families. Before that she spent three years in a day nursery
working as a nursery nurse in the UK . Imogen has a British diploma in Nursery Nursing (NNEB) and
extensive experience caring for young children, both English-speaking and speakers of other languages.
She came to Children First with excellent references and has proved a very welcome addition to the
team. Imogen will be covering for Lucy Kassell's maternity leave from September 2011.
Corinne Sober, Pre-School and Nursery Assistant:
Corinne Sober was born in Zürich and lived here her first five years, then her family moved to Denver,
Colorado in the United States of America. She has a BA in Anthropology and Sociology and a
Certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Colorado. The year after finishing
her BA degree she discovered the Montessori philosophy and worked as an assistant for a year in an
internationally recognized (AMI) Montessori school working with children 3-6 years of age. She then
moved to Switzerland in order to fulfill her goal of returning to live and work in her homeland. In
August 2012 she will complete her Montessori training for 3-6 year olds at the AMI training institute
in Munich, Germany. Her trainer Frau Roht studied under Mario Montessori, the son of Maria
Montessori. Corinne loves playing the piano, violin and tennis, and says her special hobbies are ice
hockey, astronomy and "our natural world which we are all a part of".
Francesca O'Connor, Pre-School and Nursery Assistant:
Francesca O'Connor was born and educated in Dublin and is of Irish descent. After completing a Pre-
Nursing Diploma and a Montessori Diploma in child development (ages 0-6 years), Francesca spent
three years in Italy teaching in nursery, pre-school and reception classes at bi-lingual nursery schools
and international primary schools in Milan. Francesca also gained broad administrative experience and
perfected her Italian during her ten years living in Italy! For the past 6 years she has been living in
Switzerland with her Italian husband and their two young sons.
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
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.
Regine Lacy, Financial Administrator:
Regine Lacy has been working for Children First since April 2008. She was born in Germany but spent
the last 12 years living in London with her English husband. 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. Regine lives in
Meilen, where she helps to organise regular coffee mornings for international women. Her son attends
his local Swiss school.
Paul Decker, Supervisor and Sports teacher:
Paul Decker is a qualified Clinical Psychologist from the UK who has been working at Children First
since November 2009. He also works as a psychologist with international families in the Zurich area.
Paul attended a Steiner school himself and sees parallels with the small, professional environment of
our nursery school. Paul has been working at CFA to support the children's team and also works for
Foundations for Learning, with international families in and around Zurich.
Deepti Modha, Pre-school and Kindergarten Lead:
Deepti Modha has a BA (HONS) Degree in Early Childhood Studies and seven years' experience of
working with children aged 0-8 years. While working as a community nursery nurse in Wandsworth,
London, Deepti gained knowledge of child health matters running her own ‘well baby’ clinics twice a
week. She prioritises a balanced and holistic view of children in terms of their learning, growth and
development.
Deepti enjoys undertaking voluntary work, and has an interest in fundraising for charitable causes,
with one of her successful efforts being a 13000ft tandem sky dive to raise funds for ‘Autism Concern’.
Imogen van Brussel, Pre-school and Nursery Lead:
Imogen van Brussel moved in 2010 to Zürich from Paris, France where she spent ten years working as a
private nanny for several international families. Before that she spent three years in a day nursery
working as a nursery nurse in the UK . Imogen has a British diploma in Nursery Nursing (NNEB) and
extensive experience caring for young children, both English-speaking and speakers of other languages.
She came to Children First with excellent references and has proved a very welcome addition to the
team. Imogen will be covering for Lucy Kassell's maternity leave from September 2011.
Corinne Sober, Pre-School and Nursery Assistant:
Corinne Sober was born in Zürich and lived here her first five years, then her family moved to Denver,
Colorado in the United States of America. She has a BA in Anthropology and Sociology and a
Certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Colorado. The year after finishing
her BA degree she discovered the Montessori philosophy and worked as an assistant for a year in an
internationally recognized (AMI) Montessori school working with children 3-6 years of age. She then
moved to Switzerland in order to fulfill her goal of returning to live and work in her homeland. In
August 2012 she will complete her Montessori training for 3-6 year olds at the AMI training institute
in Munich, Germany. Her trainer Frau Roht studied under Mario Montessori, the son of Maria
Montessori. Corinne loves playing the piano, violin and tennis, and says her special hobbies are ice
hockey, astronomy and "our natural world which we are all a part of".
Francesca O'Connor, Pre-School and Nursery Assistant:
Francesca O'Connor was born and educated in Dublin and is of Irish descent. After completing a Pre-
Nursing Diploma and a Montessori Diploma in child development (ages 0-6 years), Francesca spent
three years in Italy teaching in nursery, pre-school and reception classes at bi-lingual nursery schools
and international primary schools in Milan. Francesca also gained broad administrative experience and
perfected her Italian during her ten years living in Italy! For the past 6 years she has been living in
Switzerland with her Italian husband and their two young sons.
| © Children First Association |
Children First Association Englischviertelstrasse 42, 8032 Zürich 044 252 9121 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |