Introducing our New Faculty and Staff 2024/25

8/27/2024

MIYUKI AONO
Science Teacher

Miyuki Aono is a passionate educator who believes in cultivating a safe, inclusive, and compassionate environment that empowers students to explore their curiosities and become the next generation of global thinkers. She is trained in teaching the IB DP and MYP curricula, with a focus on the sciences. She has a unique perspective for English Language Learners, as she was teaching English in Japan prior to teaching in Canada.

Beyond the classroom, she brings over a decade of experience in various science-related professions, including working as a cancer researcher in Boston and managing the commercialization of novel cancer treatments in Japan. In her free time, she likes to explore new places, spend time with friends, and immerse herself in music. She is excited to bring people together to make a positive impact through science!

NADA BAKI
Language Acquisition Teacher

Nada Baki is a dedicated French teacher with over 9 years of experience in education. She holds a PhD in French and Communication and has a robust background teaching at both the high school and university levels. Nada is passionate about fostering a love for the French language and culture among her students, emphasizing both linguistic proficiency and cultural understanding in her classroom.

Nada’s dedication to teaching is fueled by her lifelong fascination with French culture. This passion led her to pursue advanced studies and has profoundly shaped her teaching philosophy. She excels in creating a vibrant, immersive learning environment that not only enhances linguistic proficiency but also instills a genuine appreciation for French culture. Her dynamic approach inspires students to engage deeply with the language and to explore its cultural nuances.

Outside the classroom, she enjoys traveling, attending cultural events, and discovering new ways to bring the French language to life for her students. She is thrilled to be a part of the IB team and looks forward to continuing her journey as an educator, inspiring the students of Stratford Hall to achieve their full potential.

ALISON BOWLES
Grade 3 Teacher

Born in Victoria, BC, Alison Bowles is a passionate educator with over seven years of experience in English Language Learning (ELL) and international education. She advocates for international mindedness, having traveled extensively and taught students from various nationalities in Chile and Canada. For the past four years, she has taught in International Baccalaureate (IB) schools in British Columbia, refining her skills in the Primary Years Programme (PYP). Her experience includes serving as an ELL Educator at Glenlyon Norfolk School, where she supported students from Kindergarten to Grade 5, and as a Grade One Teacher Candidate at West Bay IB Elementary School.

With a strong background in applied linguistics and the Science of Reading, Alison is dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive environment where every student feels valued and inspired. When she is not supporting curious minds, Alison loves to get outside from hiking up mountains to biking around Vancouver to swimming in lakes and when the rainy days come, she enjoys learning how to throw pottery.

TARIK EL BABARTI

Language Acquisition Teacher

Born and raised in Montréal, Québec, as a first-generation Canadian with Moroccan and Spanish roots, Tarik's multicultural background fuels his passion for people and their stories. How could he not be curious about the world when he lived in a multilingual city, studied in an international school, and had family all over the world? After working in finance, traveling the world, and getting married, he realized he wanted to use his privilege to help others explore diverse peoples and their cultures. So, in 2013, he returned to university to complete a Bachelor’s in Education, specializing in language acquisition.

These experiences shape his teaching philosophy, emphasizing that effective learning communities reflect the principles of a healthy, pluralistic society. He believes in recognizing each student’s unique abilities and potential. By fostering curiosity and adaptability, Tarik believes we can build communities that thrive because every member’s contributions are valued equitably and their rights and dignity are protected.

DAVID CROKE

Mathematics Teacher

David studied at Dublin City University graduating with a BSc in Mathematical Sciences. He then went on to get a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) at University College Cork. David's hobbies include photography, hiking, camping, travelling, basketball, and djing. The words he lives by: There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven't yet met.

IRENE DRUGAN

Associate Teacher

Irene Drugan is an Associate Teacher for students in Grade 2 and Grade 3 this year. Irene has previously worked as an elementary school teacher in Ireland, teaching students both in mainstream and special education settings. Irene has a Bachelor of Education in Primary Education at National University of Ireland Maynooth. Specializing in Froebelian teaching methodologies, and interventions for supporting students with Dyslexia, she uses this experience to support holistic approaches to teaching and learning. When Irene is not at Stratford Hall, she is an avid hiker and enjoys spending time exploring the outdoors.

AVRAM DUMITRESCU

Design Teacher

Raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Avram Dumitrescu is an artist and educator. His illustrations have been featured in many publications in the US and UK, including The Art of Eating, Gastronomica, and The Ulster Tatler. He worked with author Joan Reardon to illustrate ‘M.F.K Fisher Among the Pots and Pans,’ painting watercolors that evoked the many houses and kitchens Fisher lived in, which both LA Magazine and O at Home called “charming.” Dumitrescu illustrated ‘Marfa for the Perplexed’ by Lonn Taylor, published by the Marfa Book Co. and recently contributed many illustrations for the Highlights Book of HOW and the Highlights Book of Things to Do. Dumitrescu recently launched Schmutznik, a game he coded where all the art is made from Play-Doh.

ZAC ETHIER

Individuals & Societies Head of Department

Born and raised in Ottawa, Zac has been studying and teaching abroad for the last 15 or so years in Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Switzerland. He is happy to have just moved back to Canada and is excited to be making Vancouver his home where he will continue to pursue his passion for the outdoors by climbing, skiing, paddling, and hiking as much as possible.

SMITA KARAM
Junior School Principal

As the Junior School Principal, Smita leads the day-to-day operations of our Junior School, which includes Kindergarten to Grade 5. She oversees the implementation of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) and ensures that all programs align with our school’s mission. Her commitment to excellence in teaching and learning, along with her understanding of the BC Curriculum and the IB framework, will greatly benefit our students.

Smita has over 20 years experience as an educator with a focus on inquiry and concept-based learning in the primary years. She is part of the International Baccalaureate Education Network. Over the past twenty years, she has worked in various ISABC schools in different roles from teacher, to teacher-librarian, to PYP coordinator, to Vice Principal. Interestingly, Smita was at Stratford Hall between 2010-2013. She continues to foster those early relationships when she has an opportunity to catch up with our alumni and their families.

Smita says, “I am excited to be back at Stratford Hall. It is heartwarming to see how the school has grown and am excited to join the leadership team on the next phase of this growth.”

JUNE LIN

Mandarin Teacher

June's journey as an IB Mandarin teacher spans continents and cultures, from the vibrant cities of Asia to the multicultural metropolis of Vancouver. Through her experiences teaching in Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul, and Vancouver, she has had the privilege of guiding students on a transformative journey of language learning, cultural discovery, and personal growth. In her free time, she enjoys hiking. The tranquility of nature, combined with the physical activity of hiking, helps her clear her mind, reduce anxiety, and find inner peace.

June is looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate with new colleagues, learn from their expertise, and contribute her skills to the team. Also, working as a Mandarin teacher at an IB school allows her to make a significant impact on students' language proficiency, cultural competence, and global awareness.

MEGHAN MCARTHUR

Junior School French

Meghan is a lifelong learner and loves learning and languages. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in French literature and Bachelor of Education at the University of British Columbia and has enjoyed teaching languages in several places such as Canada, France and Sweden. She is always trying to learn new languages and is currently working on acquiring Spanish and Japanese.

A moment in teaching she really enjoys is celebrating with students when they achieve new understanding in the language learning process and reflecting with them about how they got there. Meghan’s current hobbies are reading, hiking and swimming and she is always looking for new books to read, places to hike and spots to swim.

MIRA PATEL

K-4 Music Teacher

Mira Patel was born and raised in Vancouver, BC and graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Music. Currently in her third year of teaching at an independent school, Mira brings a passion for music education to her students, fostering creativity and a love for the arts.

Outside the classroom, Mira enjoys staying active by going to the gym and is always eager to try new culinary experiences. Mira is excited and enthusiastic about teaching music within the framework of the PYP!

AIYANNA TIANGCO

IT Co-op Intern

Interacting with users and understanding how they think is quite fascinating to Aiyanna. She believes that everyone has different perspectives, and helping them find solutions that fit their needs is what drives her.

When she's not troubleshooting, you might find her exploring a new hiking trail, diving into a good book or listening to Broadway albums on Spotify. Although she love musicals, she can’t sing or dance to save her life!

TAMARA VINCENT

Grade 6-8 Counsellor

Tamara Vincent has joined as the Grade 6-8 Counsellor. She joins us from West Point Grey Academy in Vancouver where she supported students as a Learning Support Specialist. Tamara has experience with the IB curriculum as she previously worked at the International School Utrecht, an IB World School in the Netherlands, where she worked with students from Kindergarten to Grade 9. Tamara holds a Bachelor of Education from UBC, a Master of Science in Clinical Child & Family Studies from VU University Amsterdam, and a Bachelor of Arts in Pedagogy from Inholland University of Applied Sciences.

Tamara has extensive experience in youth counselling, peer education and community outreach in both Canada and the Netherlands, and she is thrilled to join the Stratford Hall community.

ANDY WONG

Senior School Vice Principal and DP Coordinator

With 36 years of experience in public education across the Gulf Islands, Burnaby, Vancouver, and Delta, Andy Wong brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his work. His extensive background includes 30 years of IBO experience, where he has served as a workshop leader for DP Math, team leader and member for authorization visits, programme leader for evaluation visits, moderator for DP Math internal assessments, and Equity and Access advisor, as well as a teacher observer at grade awards.

A true math enthusiast, he enjoys spending his free time with Euclid, his 100+ lb. Bernedoodle, and finds joy in riding his motorcycle. He also cherishes moments with his family. As a proud Diploma Programme parent, with both his daughter and son being DP graduates, he is excited to begin his new adventure at Stratford Hall.

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