Our Team
Professional – Passionate – Present
Managing Director and Founder
Kirsty Matthews-Künzi
Born 1982 in Scotland
Founder & Creative Heart of Meadows Montessori & Mini Meadows
- Qualifications: Early childhood Educator (Switzerland), Montessori Diploma 0–3 Years (Montessori Academy, Canada), Montessori Diploma 3–6 Years (Montessori Academy, London), Montessori Leadership Diploma (London), Team Leader Diploma (Zurich), Vocational Trainer (Zurich), ADHD Coaching Diploma (Canada)
- Languages: English, German
- Superpower: “The Visionary Architect of Meadows”
With creative energy and warm-hearted leadership, Kirsty inspires both children and adults. She brings her visions to life by creating an atmosphere where everyone feels safe, motivated, and truly valued.
Born in Scotland and raised in South Africa before moving to Switzerland as a young adult, she brings a truly global perspective and a deep appreciation for diversity to everything she does.
As a mother of two daughters, Kirsty’s connection to Meadows is deeply personal; she knows exactly what it feels like to drop your child off at the red door and want nothing but the best for them.
But for Kirsty, Meadows is more than just a bilingual kindergarten — it is the realization of a lifelong passion for the Montessori way of life. She views the world through the lens of a dedicated teacher, a devoted mom, and a visionary team leader, and she works tirelessly to integrate all three of these roles into the daily life of Meadows.
Her goal is simple but ambitious: to make Meadows the best possible place for children to grow and for her team to work. She believes that when teachers feel supported and inspired, they can provide the most loving and effective environment for the children.
By combining her Montessori expertise with a heart-centered leadership style, Kirsty has created a space where curiosity is celebrated, independence is nurtured, and every child—and staff member—feels truly at home.
Beaver Group
Victoria López-Weiss Born 1977 in Honduras Group Lead, "Beavers"
- Qualifications: Montessori Diploma 3–6 Years (Montessori Academy, Munich), Montessori Sports Diploma
- Languages: Spanish, English
- Superpower: “The Sunshine Maker”
With a magic touch for good moods, Vicky makes everyone laugh and brings a ray of sunshine wherever she goes.
A passionate Montessori educator with experience spanning Honduras, Spain, and Zurich, Vicky has been a heart-and-soul member of the Meadows team since 2015. As the proud lead of our Beavers Group, she creates a loving, curious, and inspiring space where children feel free to explore and grow. With her deep experience and intuition, Vicky always finds a gentle way to connect with every child, ensuring they feel safe, happy, and truly excited to learn.
Nora Djelili
Born 2000 in Italy
Co-Educator, "Beavers"
- Qualifications: Early childhood educator (Switzerland), Montessori Diploma 3–6 Years (Montessori Academy, Switzerland)
- Languages: German, Italian, English, Spanish
- Superpower: “The Storytelling Enchantress”
Nora brings books to life, whisking children away on fantastic journeys filled with imagination and wonder.
A mother of one daughter, Nora completed her schooling in Italy before moving to Switzerland to finish her professional training as an early child hood educator. She brings valuable experience as a former Group Lead to her role at Meadows Montessori. Driven by her passion for the Montessori philosophy, Nora guides children with patience and deep empathy. She loves fostering their natural curiosity and supporting each child as they grow into their own unique self.
Zeruja Franciskumar
Born 1993 in Switzerland
Co-Educator, "Beavers"
- Qualifications: Early childhood Educator (Switzerland), Montessori Assistant Certificate
- Languages: German, English
- Superpower: “The Confidence Builder”
Zeruja is a natural at encouraging children to step out of their comfort zones, try new things, and truly believe in themselves.A mother of three daughters, Zeruja has been a heartbeat of the Meadows team for many years. Her journey with us actually began back in 2014, when she completed her professional training right here. After gaining valuable experience as both a Co-Educator and Group Lead—including time at a city-run “Kita”—she officially “came home” to the Meadows family in 2020. With a huge heart and a gentle touch, Zeruja supports every child on their own individual path. She has a gift for sparking curiosity and turning every single day into a little learning adventure—always playful, always loving, and always meeting the children right where they are.
Squirrel Group
Ariana Spahić
Born 2000 in Switzerland
Group Lead, "Squirrels"
- Qualifications: Early Childhood Educator (Switzerland), Montessori Diploma 3–6 Years (Montessori Academy, Munich)
- Languages: German, Croatian, English
- Superpower: “ The Emotional Anchor”
Ariana has a natural gift for reading feelings in an instant, helping every child feel safe, understood, and completely at home.
Ariana brings a wealth of experience to the Meadows family, having previously led both toddler and infant groups. She is passionate about supporting children on their own unique journeys and is a dedicated member of our kindergarten team. In autumn 2024, Ariana completed her advanced training as a Montessori Teacher and stepped into her role as the proud leader of our Squirrels Group. With her big heart and expert guidance, she ensures every child has the space to grow at their own pace.
Virginia Cassina
Born 1990 in India
Co-Educator, "Squirrels"
- Qualifications: Montessori Diploma 3–6 Years, AMI Assistant Teacher Certification (Zurich Montessori), Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre of Arts (Accademia Teatro Dimitri, Ticino), Certified Yoga Instructor
- Languages: English, Italian, Hindi
- Superpower: “The Movement Magician”
Virginia has a gift for turning children into little stars, filling every room with motion, rhythm, and pure joy.
In addition to her extensive experience in childcare, Virginia brings a unique creative spark to the Meadows family with her background in professional theatre and yoga. Whether it’s through dance, song, or playful movement exercises, she encourages the children to discover new ways to express themselves. Her goal is to help every child move through the world with freedom, fun, and a growing sense of self-confidence.
Weiteres Team
Nevita Bottlang
Born 1992 in Switzerland
Relief Educator & Co-Educator
- Qualifications: Early Childhood Educator (Switzerland), Leader of the “Meitliriege” (Girls’ Gymnastics) in Oberembrach, Certified Forest Pedagogy
- Languages: German
- Superpower: “The Craft Ambassador”
Nevita can turn everyday materials into creative masterpieces, helping every child discover their own inner artist.
Nevita brings a breath of fresh air and a love for the outdoors to the Meadows family. Alongside her professional childcare background, she has completed specialized training in Forest Pedagogy and has spent many years leading the girls’ gymnastics club in Oberembrach. She loves weaving her experience with nature and movement into daily life at the kindergarten. With her cheerful spirit, she helps children notice the little wonders of the natural world, encourages their natural drive to move, and supports them as they explore the world—staying brave, curious, and grounded every step of the way.
Peggy Schröder
Born 1979 in Germany
Administration / Front & Back Office
- Qualifications: State-Recognized Foreign Language Correspondent & Office Manager, European Secretary (IHK – Chamber of Industry and Commerce)
- Languages: German, English, Spanish
- Superpower: “The Organization Hero”
Peggy is the engine that keeps the office running smoothly. Whether she’s planning, sorting, or sharing updates, she always has the big picture in mind. Her door is always open—she’s here to answer questions, lend a hand, and make sure everything behind the scenes works perfectly.
A mother of a son and a daughter, Peggy brings years of experience as an Executive Assistant and Event Manager in companies across Germany, the USA, and Switzerland. She has been part of the Meadows family since 2012—first as a “Meadows Mom” with her own children in our crèche and kindergarten. Since 2020, she has been the heart of the Meadows office, ensuring everything runs like clockwork and providing reliable support to both our parents and our team for all administrative needs.
Book your child’s spot today!
Our team works hand-in-hand, built on a foundation of trust and a shared goal:
to create a space where every child feels safe, supported, and free to truly be themselves.