My name is Gina Marie Fontanilla, Lead Kindergarten Teacher at Discovery World Montessori. I have been a teacher for ten years. This year marks my sixth year teaching at Discovery World Montessori. Prior to coming here, I taught in different levels including toddler and elementary. I was a Montessori student as a child and loved the method so much that I also enrolled my daughter at a Montessori School. My 13 year old daughter, Gia Marie graduated in Montessori until her 5th grade and continued middle school at Our Lady of Guadalupe. She recently graduated 8th grade with honors. She is presently enrolled at Troy Tech High School in Fullerton for Freshman.
I am originally from the Philippines. I graduated at Philippine Women’s University with the Bachelor’s Degree of the Arts Major in Interior Design. I started working as a designer at a construction firm and in a restaurant for 2 years. I worked at a manufacturing company as a graphic designer and Logistic Planner for 10 years until I migrated to the United States in 2002.
When my daughter started going to school, I decided to start my career in teaching and took Early Childhood Education at Laguna Technical College at Pomona in 2008.

My ten years of Montessori Teaching experience have helped me develop a set of beliefs about how I can best help students learn and grow. Being in my second year as a Head Kindergarten Teacher at Discovery World it is a challenge but fulfilling and fun working experience. I plan to learn more along the way as I continue my teaching career as a Montessori Teacher.