All staff members are focused on student achievement and well-being. They place a high value on making connections with students and getting to know them. Teachers are cognizant of the ideals of the International Baccalaureate - inquiry, critical thinking, authentic assessment and interdisciplinary connections.

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SENIOR ADMINISTRATION

Dave Dirks (2007): Director of Finance and Operations
Mr. Dirks is a Certified Management Accountant with extensive experience in business, mostly with TCG International in Burnaby, a leading North America automotive glass products company. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in commerce, from Simon Fraser University, and takes ongoing CMA training.

Alexis Malinowski (2008): Coordinator of Admissions
Ms. Malinowski is moving out of the classroom (where she taught grade 4) and into our Community Development division as Admissions Coordinator and general assistant to the Director. She has a BA from the University of Waterloo and her Bachelor of Education from UBC. She has Level 1 and Level 2 IB training, so she is well versed in the overall IB philosophy. Alexis is an avid outdoors enthusiast.

James McConnell (2000): Head of School
Dr. McConnell has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and teacher training in science from the University of Calgary, a Master of Arts in Education Administration from San Diego State University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (SFU). He taught at Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (Alberta) and Crofton House School prior to joining Stratford Hall. At both schools he was also the Director of the Senior School and Deputy Head of School. He has IB training in PYP, MYP, and DP programs.

Sarah Scott (2004): Director of Community Development, Director (Acting) of the Junior School
Ms. Scott is no stranger to independent schools, having graduated from Shawnigan Lake School. She studied at the University of Victoria and then the UBC, where she earned her Bachelor of Education degree. In 2008 she earned her Master of Education degree (UBC). Ms. Scott has taken Level 3 IB-PYP training in Social Studies & Science and Early Childhood Education, and is a certified IB workshop leader, site visitor, and consultant.

Brad Smith (2011): Director of the Senior School
Mr. Smith has been the IB Diploma Coordinator and, more recently, the Vice Principal of the Senior School at Pacific Academy in Surrey. Prior to joining PA in 1998 he taught for nine years at Handsworth in the North Vancouver school district. He holds a BEd degree from UBC and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from SFU. He also holds a diploma in guidance counseling from UBC.

JUNIOR SCHOOL TEACHERS

Greta Bartsch (2002): Grade 6 English, Humanities, and Co-Coordinator of Student Life
Ms. Bartsch has been teaching since 1998, following her graduation from UBC with Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees. She is now pursuing a Master of Educational Leadership degree from SFU. She has her Grade Ten piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music and has Orff training. Ms. Bartsch has had IB Level 1 MYP and Level 3 (Language Policy) training. This year she will be part of the Junior School leadership team.

Candice Birch (2008): Grade 1
Ms. Birch is a graduate of UBC, with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education (FAME cohort). Prior to working at Stratford Hall, she was a faculty associate at Mulgrave School, where she assisted in their IB PYP. Ms. Birch has completed Level 1 IB-PYP training as well as Level 2 (Collaborative Planning) and Level 3 (Reading and Writing).

Kika Carranza-Salazar (2006): PYP Spanish
Sra. Carranza-Salazar was born and raised in Peru, where she earned her Bachelor of Education degree at Women’s University in Lima. After immigrating to Canada, she obtained her Early Childhood Educator’s certificate. She has completed her Master’s Degree in Teaching Spanish as an International Language from Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona, Spain. Sra. Carranza has completed Level 2 IB-PYP training in Collaborative Planning and Level 3 training in Modern Languages.

Lindsay Causey (2010): Grade 2
Ms. Causey holds a Bachelor of Education degree from UBC. Her practicum experience has been in the North Vancouver school district. In addition, she is a longtime volunteer, with Ms. Scott, at Ronald McDonald House, in Vancouver.

Rebecca Contant (2009): PYP PE and Athletics
Ms. Contant holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Victoria. She was a part-time PE teacher last year and now is working with us full-time. She has completed her Master of Educational Technology degree from UBC.

Andrea DeTerra (2004): Grade 5 and Coordinator for Fine Arts
Sra. DeTerra is a graduate of Cornell University, with a BA (distinction) in theatre and English. She also has a BEd from UBC (FAME cohort) and was a Rotary International scholar with a fellowship to complete postgraduate studies in Spanish Literature at the University of Seville. Sra. DeTerra has Level 2 general, Level 2 PYP training in Internationalism, and Level 3 training in Social Studies & Science. She is a certified IB Teacher Trainer and Site Consultant.

Boyd Grealy (2005): Music
Mr. Grealy was a percussion teacher at the Ailanthus Centre before working at Stratford Hall. He has a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Victoria and initiated the taiko program at Ailanthus. He was also the artistic director and performer with Uzume Taiko. Mr. Grealy teaches in both the Senior and Junior Schools and has Level 2 IB-PYP training in Inquiry as well as MYP Level 2 training (Creative Arts).

Tricia Grzybowski (2010): Kindergarten
Ms. Grzybowski has a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan. She taught briefly in Calgary, and then joined the faculty at Meadowridge, teaching there for five years and learning about IB PYP. She has a strong music background, and has Level 1 and Level 3 IB training.

Sylvana Herrera (2003): Spanish
See Senior School listing

Smita Karam (2010): Grade 5
Ms. Karam graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from SFU, and remained there to do her education professional development program. She has worked at two previous IB PYP schools, Meadowridge and Mulgrave, as well as West Point Grey Academy. She has IB Level 1 and Level 3 training, most recently in reading and writing through inquiry. This year she will be part of the Junior School leadership team.

Dan Lin (2011): Grade 7 Science, Math and OEE
Mr. Lin is the maternity leave replacement for Ms. Ryan. He holds degrees in Science and Education from UBC, and has an avid interest in sports and outdoor activities. He is fluent in Chinese.

Gillian Louie (2011): Kindergarten
Ms. Louie began teaching internationally as an ESL instructor in Korea. Following that experience, she joined Mulgrave School, where she taught for nine years. She is a graduate of Collingwood School in West Vancouver, and has both a BA and BEd from UBC. She has Level 1 and Level 2 IB PYP training.

Courtney McFadyen (2009): Theatre
See Senior School listing

Laura Moriarty (2004): Grade 3
Ms. Moriarty is a graduate of UBC, with Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees. She is also a trained SCUBA diver and holds a grade 10 certificate from the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has received Level 3 IB-PYP training in Social Studies & Science and Assessment. Ms. Moriarty is returning this year from a maternity leave.

Bobby Nishi (2004): PE , PYP Athletics Coordinator
Mr. Nishi is a triple graduate of UBC with degrees in Human Kinetics and Education, as well as a Master of Education Degree. Mr. Nishi has Level 3 IB-PYP training in Assessment and MYP Level 1 training in PE. This year he will be part of the Junior School leadership team.

Nicole Ottahal (2006): Kindergarten (on maternity leave)
Ms. Ottahal has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Education degree, both from UBC. She has also earned a Master of Education degree in Language and Literacy from UBC. Prior to joining Stratford Hall, she taught Kindergarten at Kansai International School (KIS) in Osaka, Japan. She has had Level 1 and Level 3 IB-PYP training in Social Studies & Science and Early Childhood Education, and Level 3 IB training in reading and writing.

Meg Penafiel (2000): Learning Specialist, Research and Resources
Ms. Penafiel was one of the original six teachers at Stratford Hall, and was responsible for the implementation of Spanish. She left to travel and pursue other opportunities, to return in 2003. However, she left again to become a mother, returning last year to teach some Spanish in the Senior School. She shares the role of Learning Specialist this year with Ms. Smith.

Sarah Phillips (2007): Grade 6 Science, Math, and OEE
Ms. Phillips graduated from Crofton House School and has a BSc and BEd, both from UBC. She has international experience in outdoor education (USA and New Zealand). Ms. Phillips has MYP Level 2 training (Science) and Level 3 in Building Transitions and Level 3 in the IB Learner Profile. She also has Level 3 training in MYP Coordination and last year was the interim coordinator. Ms. Phillips is a member of the IB Academy, and can do authorization visits and teacher training for MYP schools.

Susan Riordan (2006): Grade 3
Mrs. Riordan has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trent University and a Bachelor of Education from UBC, and is currently in the MEd program at UVic. She attended Shawnigan Lake School on Vancouver Island and worked as a faculty associate at Collingwood School prior to coming to Stratford Hall. Mrs. Riordan has Level 2 IB-PYP training in Assessment and Level 3 training in Social Studies & Sciences. She is returning this year following a maternity leave.

David Ritchie (2006): Grade 1
Mr. Ritchie obtained his Bachelor of Science with a major in biology from the University of Victoria and his Bachelor of Education from UBC. He is one of several Stratford Hall teachers who have come through the FAME cohort at UBC. Mr. Ritchie has Level 3 IB-PYP training in Early Childhood Education and Level 3 training in reading and writing.

Andrea Ryan (2007): Grade 7 Science, Math, and OEE (on maternity leave)
Ms. Ryan has a BEng (Mechanical) from UBC. Part of her degree involved an exchange year in Melbourne. Realizing her true passion involved working with children, Ms. Ryan returned to UBC to obtain her Bachelor of Education degree. She has MYP Level 2 (Math) and Level 1 in Technology.

Sarah Sakaki (2010): Grade 4
Ms. Sakaki has Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Victoria. She has taught in the Victoria public school system, and more recently she taught at Greybrook Academy in Pitt Meadows and Meadowridge School in Maple Ridge, both of which are IB PYP schools. She has Level 1 IB PYP training.

Elizabeth Smith (2006): Learning Specialist, Research and Resources
Ms. Smith was with the Vancouver School Board for 25 years before moving to Crofton House School, where she was teacher-librarian for eight years. Ms. Smith has a MEd in Language Education: Teacher-Librarianship, a Dip. Ed. Teacher: Teacher-Librarianship, and a BEd (General studies). She has also acquired Level 2 IB-PYP training in Collaborative Planning as well as MYP Level 2 training.

Carmen Stephen-Patel (2002): Grade 7 English, Humanities and French
Ms. Stephen-Patel came to Stratford Hall after teaching in London, England. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Victoria and her teaching certificate from SFU. She studied French at Laval University, in Quebec and has IB Level 2 MYP training. Ms. Stephen-Patel was on maternity leave last year.

Daniel (DJ) Thompson (2007): Grade 5 and PYP Coordinator
Mr. Thompson taught at the Canadian International School of Singapore for four years prior to joining Stratford Hall. He is also a certified SCUBA diver. Mr. Thompson’s education includes a BA from the University of Ottawa and a BEd from the University of Windsor, as well as a Master of Educational Leadership and Administration K-12 from Simon Fraser University. He has several levels of IB training and is a certified IB Teacher Trainer and Site Consultant. This year he will be part of the Junior School leadership team.

Chelsea Todd (2011): Grade 4
Ms. Todd is a familiar face to the PYP students, teachers, and parents: she has worked in after school care and at the PYP reception. Partly because of her work with children at Stratford Hall, she decided to go into education at SFU, finishing her program in the summer of 2011. She has a BA from SFU as well.

Beverly Willms Best (2007): Music
Before working at Stratford Hall, Ms. Best was at Crofton House (1993-2006) where she taught grade 3, and music for grades 1-6. She has a Bachelor of Education degree from UBC, specializing in music, and a Master of Arts in Music Education degree from the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota). Ms. Best has Level 2 IB-PYP training in Inquiry.

Jennifer Yeung (2007): Grade 2
Ms. Yeung is a graduate of Crofton House and taught at West Point Grey Academy from 2001-2004. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill, a Bachelor of Education degree from UBC and a Master of Education degree from the University of Melbourne. She has Level 1 IB-PYP training and Level 3 training in mathematics and language policy.

SENIOR SCHOOL TEACHERS

Philippe Barois (2006): Spanish, Physics
Mr. Barois has taught for 35 years, most recently at Winston Churchill Secondary School in Vancouver as Head of Modern Languages. He has taught IB Diploma French, Spanish and physics (all at Standard and Higher Levels), has been a Teacher Trainer for IB North America (languages and physics), and is an IB examiner. He has a Bachelor of Engineering Degree from Universidad Autonoma de Mexico (Mexico City) and a Master of Arts (mathematics education) from UBC.

Rick Campanella (2004): Mathematics and CAS Coordinator
Mr. Campanella earned his BA degree in Mathematics and he worked in business for four years. He returned to UBC, earning his Bachelor of Education (secondary mathematics) degree in 2003. He is currently pursuing a Master of Educational Leadership from SFU. He has IB Diploma and MYP mathematics training. Mr. Campanella is also the IB DP Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) Coordinator and has IB CAS training.

Catherine Daniel (2007): Science and MYP Coordinator
Ms. Daniel graduated from the United World College of the American West with an IB Diploma. She speaks French and Greek and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from McGill, a Master of Science degree from Laurentian University and a Bachelor of Education degree from UBC. Before Stratford Hall, she taught at Island Pacific School on Bowen Island. Ms. Daniel has IB Level 2 MYP training in several areas.

Emma Hawkes (2010): Learning Specialist, Visual Arts
Ms. Hawkes graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Glass Design from the Staffordshire University, Stoke-On-Kent, UK, and has a Post Graduate Certificate of Education (art specialization) from Birmingham City University, UK. She has taught art at the Plantsbrook School (Birmingham, UK), Arthur Terry School (Birmingham) and was a lecturer at the Sutton Coldfield College of Further Education, in West Midlands, UK. Ms. Hawkes has Level 2 (Visual Arts) IB training.

Sylvana Herrera (2003): Spanish
Ms. Herrera joined Stratford Hall as a Kindergarten to grade 8 Spanish teacher and moved to the Senior School in 2005. She is a graduate of SFU, with a Bachelor of Arts, and UBC, with a Bachelor of Education (FAME cohort). She is originally from Peru, and is a native Spanish speaker. She has studied a French instruction program at Laval, and has IB DP Spanish, DP Psychology, Level 1, and IB MYP Spanish Level 2 training. She has recently completed her Master’s degree in Education at UBC, specializing in Modern Language Instruction.

Feda Ghaleb (2011): Math
Ms. Ghaleb has been a student and teaching assistant at UBC since 2005, earning her PhD candidacy in mathematics and her BC teaching certificate. Her first degree was a Master’s degree in Education (mathematics major) at the American University of Beirut in her native Lebanon. Ms. Ghaleb taught mathematics at a K-12 school in Lebanon for two years. She is fluent in English, Arabic, and French.

Boyd Grealy (2005): Music
See Junior School listing.

Stefania Iacchelli (2010): Science
Ms. Iacchelli has a Bachelor of Science degree with a specialization in pharmacology from the University of Alberta, and a Bachelor of Education degree from SFU. She has also had formal training in Mandarin from both Tamkang University (Taiwan) and National Taiwan University (she also speaks some Italian and French). As part of the International Teacher Education Module at SFU, she taught at Maple Leaf International School in Dalian, China. She has Level 2 Biology DP training and Level 3 Biology Internal Assessment training.

Stephanie Kinneard (2011): Social Studies and Spanish
Ms. Kinneard is no stranger to Stratford Hall; from 2005 to 2008, while she was an undergraduate student at SFU, she was part of our after school care program. Ms. Kinneard has her BA and BEd from SFU, and has taught on-call at Stratford Hall and the Vancouver School Board, and has been a full time teacher at Bodwell High School. She is fluent in Spanish.

Courtney McFadyen (2009): English and Theatre
Ms. McFadyen has a Bachelor of Arts from Acadia University and a Bachelor of Education from Memorial. Her Master of Arts (Drama) is from University of Toronto. Her most recent position was in the Victoria school district. She has received Level 2 IB-MYP training in English.

Chris McGuigan (2005): English and History, IB Diploma Coordinator
Mr. McGuigan grew up in independent schools, and understands their special cultures. He has a Bachelor of Arts (History and English) degree and teacher training from the University of Victoria. He has taught in Korea and in Japan, has IB Level 2 training in DP English and Level 1 training in DP History, Level 2 training in MYP Humanities and Level 3 training in Coordinatorship and Theory of Knowledge.

Michael McGuire (2008): OEE and Co-Coordinator of Student Life
Mr. McGuire has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario, a teaching certificate from University of Victoria and a Master’s degree (Education) from UBC. Prior to Stratford Hall, he worked at Archbishop Carney Secondary School (Port Coquitlam). He has qualifications in advanced first aid, ski, canoe, and avalanche safety. He has MYP Level 2 Humanities training and Level 3 training in the IB Learner Profile.

Melahnie Moodie (2007): Spanish
Ms. Moodie speaks French, Spanish, and Portuguese, and instructs yoga. She obtained her BSc degree in environmental sciences from Royal Roads University and holds a BEd from UBC. Ms. Moodie has been heavily involved in the 4Reel series that has now been aired in over 30 countries and has MYP Level 2 training in Humanities.

Kirsten Morozov (2002): Learning Specialist, Research and Resources
Mrs. Morozov has Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education (FAME cohort) degrees from UBC. She is currently pursuing a Master of Education in Teacher-Librarianship from the University of Alberta. She has taught at Stratford Hall in the PYP, MYP, and DP and has IB PYP and MYP Level 2 training as well as MYP Level 2 training for Librarians.

Jay Nunns (2005): Theatre
Mr. Nunns was the Artistic Director at the Ailanthus Centre (which was at 3000 Commercial Drive) for its last eight years. He is accomplished in improv, film production, and circus and is the artistic director of Circus West.

Kyle Nystad (2008): PE and Coordinator of Athletics
Mr. Nystad joined Stratford Hall after four years in England (St. Charles Catholic Sixth Form College). He graduated from UBC with degrees in Human Kinetics and Education and has MYP Level 2 training in Physical Education.

Leah Parker (2010): Science and OEE (on maternity leave)
Ms. Parker graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Hons) from the University of Guelph, and following that worked in both outdoor education and water resource engineering. She return to university for teacher training, and received her graduate diploma in secondary teaching and learning from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

Caitlin Shepard (2010): English
Ms. Shepard graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) majoring in English and History. She earned her Post Graduate Certificate in Education from Roehampton University, in London, England. Prior to joining Stratford Hall, Ms. Shepard taught for two years at Greenshaw High School in London, England. She has DP level 3 training in English.

Jenna Skipsey (2009): French
An IB DP graduate from Mahindra United World College (India), Ms. Skipsey has a BA and BEd from UBC in addition to IB MYP Level 1 and 3 training. In the summer of 2011 she attended an intensive French program in Quebec City.

Ana Ver (2011): Learning Specialist, Science
Ms. Ver has her BA from Mount Holyoke College with a major in biogeochemistry (all degrees from MHC are BAs). She has her MA in Child Study and Education from the University of Toronto, and has done graduate studies at the School of Oceanography at the University of Washington, having received a fellowship in the Program for Climate Change. She has been a faculty associate at Collingwood School and for three years was a Science Facilitator at Science World in Vancouver.

David Wees (2009): Learning Specialist, Information Technology
Mr. Wees comes to Stratford Hall via teaching positions at Ruamrudee International School (Thailand), Southbank International School (England) and The School for Legal Studies (New York, USA). He has IB MYP and DP training and a Bachelor of Science (UBC) with a BEd in Secondary Math (UBC), as well as a Master of Educational Technology from UBC. He has IB MYP and DP training in mathematics, has been an assistant examiner, and has authored an IB math textbook.

Andrew Wheeler (2010): Science and Math
Mr. Wheeler holds an honours BScMed from the University of Western Ontario, and a Bachelor of Education from the Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario. He taught at the American School of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and then at the Fukuoka International School in Japan. There, he taught IB Chemistry, Biology and Environmental Systems. He has IB Level 1 training in Biology, Chemistry and Theory of Knowledge and Level 3 training in Chemistry Internal Assessment.

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