Indranee Wijesekera - Directress, Head Teacher
Known to her students as “Mrs. VJ”, Indranee Wijesekera has served as the Directress and Head Teacher at Ventura Montessori for almost forty years. She received her Association Montessori Internationale Primary Diploma in Sri Lanka at Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre. There, before migrating to the States, she stayed on and interned under teachers directly trained by Dr. Maria Montessori. As Directress at Ventura Montessori, Mrs. VJ has developed and upheld a curriculum that adheres to the original guidelines of AMI. She is a beloved role model at the school and her passion for teaching children shines through each day in the classroom. In addition to her Montessori teaching credentials, Indranee has earned music teaching degrees from her studies at Pestonjee School of Music, Associate Trinity College of Music London, Licenciate Trinity College of Music London, and Licenciate Royal School of Music London. When she is not teaching in the Primary classroom or at the piano, Mrs. VJ enjoys spending time with her three children (VMS alumni) and grandchildren.

Lori Cambell-Brunger - Lead Teacher, Pre-Primary Classroom
Well-loved Mrs. Brunger leads the Pre-Primary classroom at Ventura Montessori, expertly preparing students for the Primary classroom. Trained by Mrs. VJ more than 20 years ago, Mrs. Brunger follows the same principles and teaching methods set forth by Dr. Maria Montessori. Lori joined Ventura Montessori as a teacher in 1987, upon completing her Early Childhood Education coursework at Ventura College and UCLA Extension. She truly enjoys teaching at Ventura Montessori for so many reasons: “The students get a wonderful education, the parents are very involved in the school activities, and the fellow teachers and board members continue to make it a great place to work.” Lori lives in Oxnard with her family. She enjoys bike-riding, walking on the beach, reading, and scrap-booking.

Melody Raguini – Assistant Teacher, Primary Classroom
Melody has taught at Ventura Montessori since 2003. Working side by side with Mrs. VJ in the Primary Classroom for more than seven years, Melody has played a key role in the continued success of the students’ learning experience. Melody has a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development from California State University, Northridge. Before joining the VMS community, she volunteered countless hours in various school classrooms. An avid Montessori enthusiast, Melody intends to further her knowledge of the philosophy by pursuing the Association Montessori Internationale training/ diploma in the near future. In her spare time, Melody enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, trying new restaurants, and laughing over good comedy movies.

Amy Freehauf – Assistant Teacher, Pre-Primary Classroom
Hired in Spring 2010, Amy is the newest addition to the Ventura Montessori teaching faculty. Her teaching career began in 1998 at Ventura College, where she taught children as a teacher’s assistant while obtaining her degree in Early Childhood Development. She graduated in 2001, while simultaneously obtaining her State teacher’s permit and teaching at various schools in Ventura. She broadened her education at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, where she worked as an infant/toddler teacher in the college children’s center, and completing coursework in Human Services. She earned three Family Services Worker certificates. Amy is delighted to be back in Ventura as a full-time teacher, assisting Mrs. Brunger in the Pre-Primary classroom.