Maria Bollendorff

Maria was born in Townsville and lived on Magnetic Island for the first few years of life, after which she grew up in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland from the age of 4, except for a few years spent in Colorado during High School.

After High School Maria spent some time overseas traveling, and working in Colorado as an Optometry Assistant, and then a number of years at Brisbane Universities gaining a background in Biochemistry, Microbiology, Nutrition, Dietetics and Education. Maria worked as a dietitian in rural areas of the Darling Downs and then the Gold Coast, before beginning to raise her own two children, as well as her sister’s two children for several years as a daytime nanny while her sister studied medicine.

Maria has always been drawn to education and in particular, alternative ways of educating primary school children, that ultimately result in happier and more resilient beings.

Maria is a high school trained registered teacher and has worked as a teacher for primary schools as well as for primary and secondary exceptional education. She currently works as a teacher aide and relief teacher, so that she can give her whole heart to her BIS role, as well as to her parenting role.