Our Grasshopper Guides
Miss Assia
Owner /Founder of Global education program/ Lead Guide
Assia Hamani has been with Grasshopper for 8 years in various roles such as: Assistant Guide for the morning program, Lead Guide for the afternoon program, Head of Programming for Kaona Global Education and Director at Grasshopper Montessori. During this time, she was trained to the Montessori curriculum and practices. Since 2020, she is honored to transition into full Owner as well as Lead training guide.
Ms. Assia was born in France to Algerian parents. She grew up in Lyon where she studied and obtained her bachelor's degree in English and American Literacy and Civilization, Translations and Languages. She is fluent in French (native language), English and Spanish and has competency in Italian, Portuguese, Arabic and Berber.
She has lived on four continents while pursuing goals in education, art, music and activism. Her travels have encouraged a universal worldview allowing her to communicate from a perspective of global education. Miss Assia teaches children to develop their own unique world perspective with the primary intention of encouraging our children to be global citizens and embrace culture. It is this view that has prompted her to develop her own program in order to bring out children's natural empathy and curiosity. She completed the Harvard graduate school of education online program " Educating global citizens " in 2018.
Since 2008 Miss Assia has taught students from preschool age to adults. Her love for art, music and dance is a big part of her learning and teaching style. She believes learning is a process that requires many approaches and that each person learns differently. It is imperative that a teacher work to understand the learning style of her student and to develop and reach them in a way that facilitates their full potential.
Miss Marnie
Co-Owner/Lead Guide
Marnie Nordling was born and raised in Vashon, Washington, an island nestled in the Puget Sound just South of Seattle. In 2000 Marnie began studying early childhood education and has continued on this journey throughout her life. She believes in building a rich stimulating and creative environment for children to feel empowered and inspired. Over the past 10 years, Marnie has developed a love for Montessori education and received her Montessori teaching certificate in 2018.
Marnie is well traveled, working in preschools/daycares, providing in home care, and nanny shares. Her nurturing passion and love for children has been her life.
Marnie has a passion for art and design. Using her degree from the New York Fashion Academy, she founded a small clothing line and worked with a collective of woman in Cambodia, empowering them towards sustainability through clothing production and design.
Marnie is an LMT and practiced massage therapy from 1998-2010. She enjoys physical fitness, yoga, nature, and living a healthy lifestyle. But, most importantly she enjoys being a mother to two boys.
Marnie is excited to be part of the Grasshopper community and is committed to help each child cultivate their best selves, develop a life-long love of learning, and establish a foundation for a life of success.
Miss Jassi
Guide
Jassi was born and raised in Seattle Washington. My passion includes working with kids, yoga, mindfulness, meditation and music. I have found that each one enriches my life in ways that fills and fuels me.
I obtained a degree in Interdisciplinary studies with a minor in Psychology. My passion for children has led me to work as a nanny, special needs caregiver, teachers aid, case manager, and research assistant.
I believe we are all purpose-filled, powerful individuals waiting to be unleashed. To be able to foster and nourish that which is already within them through guided freedom is amazing. I am grateful to be a part of the team.
Kelly Kaba
Guide
Kelly Kaba was born and raised in Salem, Oregon. Being the daughter of an infant/toddler teacher, Kelly has always had a natural rapport with children; and kids have always been drawn to her.
After becoming a mother herself, Kelly took a Positive Discipline Parenting Class, and immediately signed up to get certified and facilitate the next class. As a Positive Discipline Parent Educator, Kelly helps parents learn new principles and tools that make their role as parents easier and allows them to raise children with the skills and characteristics necessary to become healthy, happy, contributing members of society. The Positive Discipline method very much mirrors and compliments the Montessori way.
Kelly has a degree in Dance and French from Western Oregon University, and her husband is from West Africa. She looks forward to bringing the cultural richness from these 3 arenas to the children at Grasshopper. As a mom of 3 (two girls and a boy), Kelly is grateful to bring her perspective as a parent into the classroom, and her perspective as a teacher into her home. She believes both realms will be enriched and better because of it.
Kelly strongly believes that if we can change the way we raise our children, then we can change our world. She is grateful and honored to be a Grasshopper Guide this year.