Mésanges Ecole Bilingue Montessori
Olivia Gollain
Director, 3-6 AMI educator, 6-12 AMI assistant
Since 2024, Olivia has been joyfully carrying forward the beautiful momentum of Mésanges School. After joining the team in September 2023, she took over the leadership of the school in a spirit of continuity and gentle transmission, staying true to the values that have always guided this place: kindness, respect for each child’s rhythm, and an openness to cultures.
An AMI educator for children aged 3–6, Olivia is passionate about education in all its forms. She has enriched her training by completing the AMI Montessori assistant course for ages 6–12, allowing her to better support the entire team and the children with a coherent, holistic vision of development.
Before Mésanges, she co-founded and co-directed a Montessori middle school in Cruseilles (Les Aiglons – 74) from 2014 to 2023, a rich human and educational adventure in which she embraced many roles: 12–15 educator (in literature, French language studies, art history, Montessori micro-economy...), school director, team manager, project coordinator, and much more!
With over 25 years of experience working with children and adults in various fields (sports, education, entrepreneurship, nonprofit management…), she holds a degree in Educational Sciences and has been trained in compassionate communication following the Thomas Gordon approach since 2015.
Curious, committed, and deeply connected to nature, Olivia loves recharging in the mountains whenever possible, together with her family, always with the same enthusiasm for learning, sharing… and growing together.
Melissa
3-6 AMI French educator
Melissa is an AMI-trained 3–6 educator, certified by the Montessori Training Center in Geneva.
She joined the Mésanges team in 2024. After several years working in daycare settings, she chose to return to what resonates most deeply with her: supporting children aged 3 to 6 during this rich and foundational stage of their development.
A keen observer, Melissa is constantly seeking to grow and refine her practice. She is a committed and thoughtful team member, who brings both professionalism and a collaborative spirit to the daily life of the classroom.
Maryline
3-6 AMI French educator
Maryline is a Montessori educator for children aged 3 to 6. After spending nearly five years in India, where she trained, she joined the Mésanges team in September 2023.
Holding a master’s degree in management and communication, she worked for over ten years as a marketing and communication director within French and international companies, operating in multicultural teams. Wanting to change direction, she decided to dedicate herself to education and early childhood.
It was in India that she discovered the Montessori pedagogy and became involved with underprivileged children. This experience motivated her to pursue further training to become an educator. Today, she brings to the children her human skills, organizational abilities, and team spirit.
Passionate and deeply committed, Maryline places the child’s well-being and nonviolent communication at the heart of her teaching approach. A mother of two, she brings energy, kindness, and a spirit of sharing to the team. Outside of her educator role, she is a great lover of travel, which she sees as a source of learning through encounters and exchanges. She also finds balance by reconnecting with nature, especially in the mountains.
Ana
My name is Ana, and I have been working with children for many years. I have a background in psychology, with a specialization in childhood and adolescence, and I’ve always known that guiding and walking alongside young children in their development would be at the heart of my professional journey. In 2019, I discovered the Montessori approach, which was a true turning point for me. I decided to shift my career in that direction, and since then I have worked in various schools as an assistant. Today, after completing my training, I am joining the team as a 3–6 English-speaking Montessori educator.
Originally from Spain, I’ve had the opportunity to live in several different countries. I love traveling and discovering new cultures, and I enjoy sharing this openness with the children. Diversity, respect for others, and open-mindedness are essential values for me, and I try to pass them on every day.
I am also trained in mindfulness, which I integrate into my work through moments of yoga, relaxation, and connection with nature; another one of my passions.
3-6 English Educator
Erika
3-6 AMI French assistant & Sport teacher for the school - Montessori sport AMI.
Erika joined the team in February 2025 and quickly felt like she had always been part of it.
She naturally built strong connections with the children and integrated seamlessly into the classroom. Erika supports the 3–6 environment with her joyful energy, calm presence, and constant smile — from morning to evening!
To enrich her journey, she's now a Montessori Sport teacher AMI !
Nga
6-12 AMI english educator
Nga is an AMI-certified Montessori educator for children aged 6 to 12, trained at the Maria Montessori Institute in London. Before becoming a teacher, she earned a PhD in chemistry and worked as a researcher at the CNRS. She discovered the Montessori approach with great enthusiasm after the birth of her child in 2020.
Deeply inspired by Montessori pedagogy, she decided to retrain and dedicate herself to her true passion: guiding children in their learning through Cosmic Education. This unique and essential aspect of the Montessori approach invites children to explore the interconnectedness of all things—from the origins of the universe to the development of life, the story of humanity, and our shared responsibility toward the Earth. Cosmic Education cultivates a profound sense of wonder, gratitude, and meaning, helping children understand their place in the world.
A mother herself, Nga loves learning new things, cooking, crafting, and spending time in nature.
Peter
6-12 AMI french educator
Peter joined the Mésanges team at the end of September 2025, after many years working as a 6–12 educator and school director, both in France and abroad. His extensive experience, combined with his kindness and his clear, respectful vision of the child, makes him an ideal partner for Nga in supporting the 6–12 children through all the challenges they take on each day!
Chantal Detournay
Peter
Mésanges Bilingual Montessori School was founded by Chantal Detournay in 2009. Chantal holds a Master’s degree in Education from Duquesne University in the USA, a 6-12 diploma from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies, and a 3-6 educator training from the Maria Montessori Institute in Geneva.
She brings 20 years of international professional experience in marketing, nonprofit management, and children’s education. Passionate about yoga, she trained in a 200-hour ShivaShakti program with Charlotte Saint Jean in 2019, followed by another 200-hour training with Julien Levy in 2020, convinced of the well-being benefits that meditation, movement, breathing, and body connection can bring to children. Chantal continues to pursue her passion for personal development and is trained in professional coaching and NLP techniques to better support children, educators, and parents.
Chantal has now passed on Mésanges to Olivia and will focus on her personal projects, such as her Mindful Parenting workshops that she's offered since 2022. She's also providing personal coaching services to parents and teens.