Sunshine Montessori

Arshiya Kiran

Owner, Director and Teacher

Arshiya is the owner and director of Sunshine Montessori. She started Sunshine Montessori to share Montessori education with children and develop independence and confidence among them at an early age. 

She was introduced to Montessori philosophy when she became a Mom and sent her son to a Montessori school. She was impressed by the Montessori philosophy and decided to undergo a career change and get her Montessori certification from Northeast Montessori Institute. She believes in the Montessori principle, “follow the child” and providing age-appropriate independence to them. Montessori education emphasizes hands-on learning and developing real world skills and Montessori students grow up to be confident, enthusiastic, and self-directed learners and citizens, accountable to both themselves and their community.

Arshiya has worked at Montessori Day School of Wellesley Hills and as a substitute teacher at Lexington Montessori. Prior to that she has worked in Marketing and Healthcare IT. She has a MBA degree from the Simmons School of Management with a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Early Childhood Director certificate from Northern Essex Community College. She is fluent in Hindi and English.

Farzana Palsetia

Curriculum Expert

Farzana has been teaching in Montessori classrooms for over 19 years. Her journey began over fifteen years ago at the renowned Andover School of Montessori, where she honed her skills in preschool and kindergarten classrooms. Following this, she contributed her expertise for two years at Hill View and a year at Marigold Montessori, further enriching her pedagogical repertoire.

Farzana’s commitment to excellence led her to attain Montessori Early Childhood Certification from NCME-NE, augmenting her solid academic foundation. Holding a bachelor’s degree in History and a postgraduate degree in Travel and Tourism, Farzana’s educational background reflects her multifaceted interests and dedication to holistic learning.

Eager to take on leadership roles, Farzana completed her Early Childhood Administration course at NECC, propelling her into the role of director at Little Sprouts. However, driven by her profound passion for Montessori education, she has returned to her roots by assuming the directorship at Sunshine Montessori, where she can fully immerse herself in her educational philosophy.

Farzana can speak multiple Indian languages like Hindi, Gujarati, and Marathi. She also studied French and basic Spanish. Her diverse linguistic abilities reflect her commitment to fostering cultural understanding and inclusivity within her educational environment. Farzana’s interests include music, reading, art, and traveling to historic sites. As a mother of three college-bound children, Farzana’s dedication to Montessori education is deeply personal, as her own family’s journey underscores the transformative impact of this educational approach.

Farzana designed the curriculum for Sunshine Montessori and continues to consult with the teachers to further develop the curriculum to keep the program fresh with new ideas.