LISBON - Key Persons


AMI Primary Montessori

Job Titles:
  • AMI Primary Montessori Guide and Forest School Leader
  • AMI Primary Montessori Guide and Pedagogical Director
Caitie is an experienced Montessori teacher who has been meeting the individuals needs of children and families for the last 8 years. She has significant experience in establishing entirely new Montessori environments and has developed excellent classroom management and observation skills. In addition to her AMI Montessori Diploma, Caitie holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Anthropology and a Master of Education with a Montessori concentration. She is also a classically trained singer and her classroom often sounds like a remake of "The Sound of Music". Caitie is an American citizen with an outgoing and positive personality; she loves working with both children and parents and enjoys communicating her deep knowledge of Montessori in a very articulate yet relatable way. Caitie is a driving force in any situation and a valued founding member of the MBA community. Mark is an enthusiastic and dedicated educator with 8 years of experience. He started his career in traditional schools, but soon found his way to a Montessori school and never looked back. He has guided children in both well established and entirely new classrooms, drawing valuable insights from the different dynamics and teaching opportunities. In addition to his AMI Montessori Diploma, Mark holds a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education. He is a British citizen with a great love for outdoor education. Since completing a permaculture design course, he has created numerous gardens and outside classrooms for children to evolve in nature and grow aware and respectful of their environment. He is currently undertaking a Forest School certification. Patient and team-oriented, Mark is a role model for both children and adults. MBA is proud to have him as a founding member of its team and community.

Caitie McKinley

Job Titles:
  • AMI Primary Montessori Guide and Pedagogical Director
Caitie is an experienced Montessori teacher who has been meeting the individuals needs of children and families for the last 8 years. She has significant experience in establishing entirely new Montessori environments and has developed excellent classroom management and observation skills. In addition to her AMI Montessori Diploma, Caitie holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Anthropology and a Master of Education with a Montessori concentration. She is also a classically trained singer and her classroom often sounds like a remake of "The Sound of Music". Caitie is an American citizen with an outgoing and positive personality; she loves working with both children and parents and enjoys communicating her deep knowledge of Montessori in a very articulate yet relatable way. Caitie is a driving force in any situation and a valued founding member of the MBA community.

Fabienne Mikou

Job Titles:
  • Founder and School Director
Mother of two little Montessorians aged almost 6 and 5, Fabienne began cultivating an interest for Montessori Philosophy during her studies. After earning a Psychology degree with a specialization in Behavioral Sciences from McGill University, she continued on to become a trained lawyer and started her practice as a defense attorney. Her profound interest for the human psyche and years of legal practice representing young offenders led her to a clear passion for children and their development. As she sought relentlessly to understand how children become who they are, she became convinced that education in the deepest respect of the child, their potentialities and their vocation to become the future, could change their destiny. Selecting a Montessori education for her own children was therefore a natural choice. As Fabienne witnessed them flourish and become their own in an healthy and stimulating learning environment, she decided to become part of the change and to get a formal Montessori education herself. After her training as an AMI Montessori Guide completed, she embarked on a journey to build Montessori Bright Academy, bringing under the same roof a team of unique individuals that seeks to offer a holistic approach to the development of the child…and vows to always put the child's authentic self first!

Françoise Dolto

Job Titles:
  • French Pediatrician

Marie-Louise Bordaz

Job Titles:
  • Head Child Psychologist
Marie-Louise's career as a Psychologist spanned over 35 years. She started her career as a child therapist, counseling children and their families. She developed an expertise with special needs children and ones evolving in challenging contexts. For 20 years, she dedicated herself to this cause as the Head Psychologist of a state institution specializing in the fostering and care of children overcoming life difficulties. She was in charge of a large team of psychologists, educators and other health professionals working with children from 0 to 17 years old. Since her retirement, she has been consulting with day care centers, pre-schools and other child-related initiatives, often being a part of the founding team. Marie-Louise is an avid reader who names Françoise Dolto - renowned French pediatrician and psychoanalyst - as one of her favorite author. Her four children have vivid memories of Dolto's books laying around the house with highlighters next to them….it is no coincidence that Dolto was fascinated by Montessori education, and that her work and writings strongly echo the ones of Maria Montessori.

Mark Tabern

Job Titles:
  • AMI Primary Montessori Guide and Forest School Leader
Mark is an enthusiastic and dedicated educator with 8 years of experience. He started his career in traditional schools, but soon found his way to a Montessori school and never looked back. He has guided children in both well established and entirely new classrooms, drawing valuable insights from the different dynamics and teaching opportunities. In addition to his AMI Montessori Diploma, Mark holds a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education. He is a British citizen with a great love for outdoor education. Since completing a permaculture design course, he has created numerous gardens and outside classrooms for children to evolve in nature and grow aware and respectful of their environment. He is currently undertaking a Forest School certification. Patient and team-oriented, Mark is a role model for both children and adults. MBA is proud to have him as a founding member of its team and community.

Victor Ranély Vergé Dépré

Job Titles:
  • Physician
  • Head Pediatrician and Nutritionist
Victor is a physician who has been working with children for over 40 years now. After spending a couple of years working in hospitals, he founded his own clinic in order to offer the best individualized care to his patients. During the course of his career, Victor undertook further medical training, specializing in homeopathy and nutritherapy / micronutrition, in order to focus his practice on treating the various underlying causes of a disease rather than on the symptoms only. His daily experience alongside patients and other health professionals convinced him to embrace a more holistic approach to his medical practice, and to consider the individual as a whole, addressing all aspects of that individual's life…and especially the way they eat.