Meet our Directress

Shyamli “Rini” Kumar is the Head Directress at Montessori Children’s House. Rini was born and raised in India. She and her husband, Ajit Kumar, along with their nearly 3-year-old daughter Sanya arrived in West Des Moines in June of 1999. A year after their move, their son Armaan arrived. When a spot opened for Armaan at Montessori Children’s House, the Kumars jumped at the chance to enroll him in the preschool.

With her BA in English and Psychology, Rini first became involved at Montessori Children’s House in 2002 as a parent volunteer. Within a short period of time she moved from parent volunteer, to teacher-in-training, to teacher at the school. In the summer of 2004, she completed the Montessori Apparatus Workshop in Denver, CO. Rini also completed her Montessori certification, her International Diploma and then went to London where she became a Montessori trainer. Rini became Head Directress of Montessori Children’s House in 2007.