Lesley was born in South Africa in a small town outside Cape Town, and immigrated with her family to Israel when she was 11 years old. They settled on kibbutz Maoz Haim in the Bet Shean Valley. It was this life experience that planted the seed that would lead to the creation of Children's Rights Education. A kibbutz is a collective agricultural community that is socialistic in philosophy and democratic in practice. It's members worked without pay, and meals were taken together in a large dinning hall. Children were raised in a children's house with other children of similar age. Once a day, in the late afternoon, they would visit their parents in their homes, and have a small supper with them.
The concepts of equality, commitment, accountability, collaboration, and trust are an integral part of this collective community, and these values were instilled in Lesley during her teenage years. After graduation from high school, she served in the Israeli Defence Force as a tank instructor in the southern part of Israel. This work further developed her commitment to serving others.
In 1988 Lesley immigrated to Canada with her parents and younger brother. The reunification with grandparents was important to Lesley, as she had missed the extended family she had left in South Africa. Shortly after this move, Lesley commenced her Bachelor of Education at the University of Victoria in the field of Art and Music Education. During her degree program, she met and married her lifetime partner, Bryan, and shortly after graduation, their first child was born. Both Lesley and Bryan decided at that time that Lesley would stay home to raise their growing family. And grow it did; Lesley is the proud mother of four lovely children.
In the years following graduation, Lesley enjoyed time with her young family, while she created art and pottery in her home studio, gardened with her children, camped, and helped manage her husband's practice. A great deal of time was also spent serving as a volunteer in the children's preschool and schools, and within the general community.
Sometime in late 2010 Lesley had the urge to return to the classroom, but her license had lapsed. So, back to school she went. At the same time, Lesley also commenced the Montessori Methods for the Elementary classroom course, because she connected deeply with the Montessori philosophy and its application in the classroom. She intuitively knew that the children in a Montessori classroom develop similar values to those instilled in her during her teenage years on the kibbutz. These include collaboration, trust, accountability, and self-regulation.
Lesley graduated with an MA from the department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Victoria in the spring of 2016. Her thesis research topic was International Human Rights Education: An evaluation of treaty compliance in British Columbia's Kindergarten to Grade 12 Social Studies school curriculum. She also continues to enjoy having her family around, while working as the office manager of her husband's optometric practice. She loves the times she gets called in to work as a teacher-on-call at Maria Montessori Academy. A large chunk of her free time is spent hiking, gardening, reading, and expanding Children's Rights Education. The values Lesley acquired during her early years on the kibbutz are the driving force behind the way she chose to raised her family. These values, partnered with Montessori, also guide her as she continues to develop Children's Rights Education.
The concepts of equality, commitment, accountability, collaboration, and trust are an integral part of this collective community, and these values were instilled in Lesley during her teenage years. After graduation from high school, she served in the Israeli Defence Force as a tank instructor in the southern part of Israel. This work further developed her commitment to serving others.
In 1988 Lesley immigrated to Canada with her parents and younger brother. The reunification with grandparents was important to Lesley, as she had missed the extended family she had left in South Africa. Shortly after this move, Lesley commenced her Bachelor of Education at the University of Victoria in the field of Art and Music Education. During her degree program, she met and married her lifetime partner, Bryan, and shortly after graduation, their first child was born. Both Lesley and Bryan decided at that time that Lesley would stay home to raise their growing family. And grow it did; Lesley is the proud mother of four lovely children.
In the years following graduation, Lesley enjoyed time with her young family, while she created art and pottery in her home studio, gardened with her children, camped, and helped manage her husband's practice. A great deal of time was also spent serving as a volunteer in the children's preschool and schools, and within the general community.
Sometime in late 2010 Lesley had the urge to return to the classroom, but her license had lapsed. So, back to school she went. At the same time, Lesley also commenced the Montessori Methods for the Elementary classroom course, because she connected deeply with the Montessori philosophy and its application in the classroom. She intuitively knew that the children in a Montessori classroom develop similar values to those instilled in her during her teenage years on the kibbutz. These include collaboration, trust, accountability, and self-regulation.
Lesley graduated with an MA from the department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Victoria in the spring of 2016. Her thesis research topic was International Human Rights Education: An evaluation of treaty compliance in British Columbia's Kindergarten to Grade 12 Social Studies school curriculum. She also continues to enjoy having her family around, while working as the office manager of her husband's optometric practice. She loves the times she gets called in to work as a teacher-on-call at Maria Montessori Academy. A large chunk of her free time is spent hiking, gardening, reading, and expanding Children's Rights Education. The values Lesley acquired during her early years on the kibbutz are the driving force behind the way she chose to raised her family. These values, partnered with Montessori, also guide her as she continues to develop Children's Rights Education.