Meet our teachers

We have a team of experienced teachers, covering Montessori qualifications and musical expertise.

Annie Fishleigh

I am the directress of Smart Start. After having my first baby, Sarah, I became very interested in Montessori education and received my diploma of Montessori nursery education (London Montessori Centre) in 1990. I also hold a postgraduate certificate of Education ( Bristol University), majoring in Chemistry as I had studied medicine, prior to becoming a mum. We moved to New Zealand and I had my first experience of working with my daughter in a Montessori classroom. I started my own Montessori pre-school soon after that and ran this for 6 years.
In Perth, I started Smart Start in 2004 and in 2005, I had my second experience of working with my daughter, Sarah, and she has worked with us since then.
I have taught in Montessori as well as public schools, as for brief intervals I have taught science, mathematics and computer studies at high schools in the UK, New Zealand and Perth. But Montessori remains my love, I can't think of a more beautiful start to a child's learning journey. To see them become so competent, and have such enthusiasm for learning, it's such a privilege to witness this and to be able to have a part in helping them to achieve this.

Dipti Shah

My name is Dipti Shah. I am married and have two children aged 16 yrs and 12 years. We lived in Kenya before we migrated to Australia in 2005. I studied at Montessori Centre International, Kenya , to gain my International Diploma of Montessori Pedagogy. I started working at Smart Start in May 2005. I enjoy teaching and caring for the children and derive satisfaction in their achievements as they progress through different developmental stages in their early life. I feel privileged to work for and alongside Annie Fishleigh and my fellow co-workers in such a healthy and positive learning environment at Smart Start.

Sarah Fishleigh

Hi, I am Sarah, the eldest daughter of Annie and hence the product of a Montessori upbringing! I have always loved children so I think I was destined to become a teacher from an early age.
When I graduated from high school I wanted to become a teacher but decided to keep my options open and get a bachelor in Communication Studies whilst gaining teaching experience by working at Smart Start. In my first year classes I found that the Anthropology subjects were immensely interesting and took that as my second major. Throughout my degree, I worked at Smart Start two or three days a week as an assistant teacher/music teacher and found that I really enjoyed it. No two days were ever the same and I saw it as a great challenge to find all the ways to help the children develop. Working with children is very special, you are able to live in the moment, glimpse life through their eyes and experience a little of their excitement and fascination for everything that is new. Of course there is also the reward of being able to see the children blossom in front of our eyes and I would have to say that this is the most special thing of all. I quickly decided that teaching was what I wanted to do and after finishing my degree, I did a Graduate Diploma in Education (Montessori), which I completed in February 2009.
I have been working as a teacher at Smart Start since I graduated and believe that there are very few programs out there that provide what we do and see the results that we see. I am extremely passionate about early learning and believe it to have immense importance. The early years of a child’s life really set the foundations for their life long learning. Every child should be given the opportunity to learn, develop and be stimulated and I am just so pleased that we are lucky enough to be able to extend our services in Swanbourne and provide this for even more children.