Dedicated to nurturing each student’s potential

An experienced IB and AP mathematics educator, her qualifications include Bachelor degrees (B. Sc. and B. Ed. – University of British Columbia) and a Masters degree in Mathematics Education (Simon Fraser University). Stella has been teaching since 1990, first with the Vancouver School Board and then with Mulgrave School before co-founding Alcuin College. Her administrative experience includes responsibilities as Gifted Program Coordinator, Mathematics Department Head, Principal of the Senior School and Assistant Head, Academics overseeing the three IB programmes (PYP, MYP and DP) from Kindergarten through to grade 12. Stella has also worked with the BC Ministry of Education on various curriculum, assessment and evaluation teams and has co-authored several mathematics textbooks with McGraw-Hill Ryerson. You can follow Stella on Twitter @saeducat3.

Todd taught Engineering, Electronics, Animation and Technology courses with the Vancouver School Board for 17 years before moving to West Vancouver School District to lead the Mechatronics Robotics Academy.  Todd has been honoured with numerous awards including a Prime Minister’s Teaching Excellence Award, Diamond Jubilee Medal and VEX Teacher of the Year Award.  He has coached teams in building and racing electrathon vehicles but is best known for his students’ achievements in the VEX World Robotics championships and the FIRST Robotics competitions.  By putting students of all levels together, he creates a mentoring program where students learn to work as a team while gaining useful skills for the knowledge economy.  

Daniel is most interested in how storytelling and play have propelled the human species forward. He spent the last ten years at various schools studying philosophy (UBC), psychology (WLU) and pedagogy (U of T). During this time, Daniel worked with children with learning differences, supporting them in a number of different capacities. Prior to beginning his teaching practice, he spent three years developing a Philosophy for Children program in the Fraser Valley. In his spare time, Daniel designs roleplaying games, researches developments in culture and education, and tries to come up with innovative solutions to tough problems.

Combining his love of teaching, traveling and challenges, Sergio completed his Bachelor of Education degree (SFU, 2013) with a specialization in international and global education. As part of his program, he taught in Qu-jiang No.1 High School in Xi’an (China) as well as in Vancouver.  After graduating from the PDP, Sergio spent two years in England at both independent and public schools before returning to Canada to teach in Richmond. Sergio is elated to be part of the community at Alcuin College and enjoys challenging his students and developing lifelong learners. He is passionate about teaching and believes the classroom should be a place that promotes self-growth, exploration, and creativity.

Liana leads the administration at Alcuin College and ensures the school is organized and runs efficiently. Liana studied law in South Africa and spent several years in banking before moving to Canada. Since moving to Canada, Liana has gained over 15 years’ experience in administration and joined Alcuin College in 2014 to support Stella and Eddie in building Alcuin. Liana is passionate about education, organization and administration and loves to combine them with the Alcuin philosophy.

An English and Latin teacher by training, his qualifications include a Bachelors and Masters degree (General Linguistics – University of Stellenbosch, South Africa), Higher Education Diploma (University of South Africa) and Diploma in Educational Leadership (CAIS Leadership Institute).  Eddie was a Senior English teacher and a Senior Examiner in English and Sesotho for the National Certificate Examinations.  He was also a provincial representative on the National Committee for Foreign Language Learning of South Africa. He served for several years as an Administrator; both in his native South Africa and in Canada.  As Principal Education Specialist in South Africa, he was responsible for a number of secondary schools and adult centres during the time of transition to a post-apartheid education system.  He joined Mulgrave School in 1999, directed the development of the Middle and Senior Schools, and led the school through the implementation of the IB Diploma Programme.  He was the Deputy Head of Mulgrave School, Director of Education Technology and Global Outreach Coordinator until September 2011.  Eddie, the Head of Think3R® Education, is the co-founder of Alcuin College and the Chair of the Board of Directors.  You can follow @edteach3r on Twitter.

A member of our staff since 2021, Betsie obtained her B.Sc in Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University, where she was able to explore her interest in preventative healthcare. During her undergraduate studies, she also worked with children with learning differences, in the classroom and the community. She is very passionate about making learning accessible and enjoyable for all children. Betsie was also a member of SFU’s varsity women’s NCAA volleyball team, which competed against schools across the USA. When she has some spare time, Betsie loves to run, hike, or bike, and is always keen to take on both physical and mental challenges.

Born with a love of languages, Jan pursued a degree in Classics (majoring in Latin and Ancient Greek, including studies in French, English and History) in the bilingual city of Ottawa, completing his Bachelor of Arts magna cum lauda.  In his spare time, he enjoys reading, drawing and walking, as well as tweeting in Latin (@africulus).  He is also the able leader of Alcuin’s Latin, Model United Nations and debate co-curricular programs.

Penny’s goal is to create an environment that is fun, engaging, challenging and most of all, a safe place for children to grow as students and as people. A member of our staff since 2018, Penny has a B.A. in Communications, a Masters degree in Cross Cultural Education, and over 10 years experience of teaching in California and Tennessee. In her spare time, Penny can be found baking and spending time with her family.

Al is a British-Canadian teacher with a passion for travelling and teaching. He completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at UBC before moving to Toronto for his Master of Teaching degree at OISE. Al then moved to Mexico City to teach for two years. Teaching interests include Problem-Based Learning and hands-on building projects. He also loves the outdoors, and has been working with the Army Cadets (planning outdoor activities and leadership exercises, etc.) for the past seven years. Al is greatly looking forward to joining the Alcuin community, meeting parents, and getting to know his students.

Monica, originally from Mexico City, holds a Bachelor of Law degree from Centro de Estudios Universitarios. For the last seven years, she has been teaching Spanish to children and adults at North Shore Neighbourhood House. She also enjoys tutoring at Discovery Language Academy and loves to help students to achieve their academic goals. She is looking forward to inspiring and challenging the students at Alcuin College. In addition, Monica is a member of the Canadian Association of Holistic Nutrition Professionals and is board certified in Practical Holistic Nutrition. In her spare time, she loves cooking with whole foods and helping people improve their nutrition.

Edànet’e? Katelynn Holtorf siyah (How are you? My name is Katelynn Holtorf). Katelynn is a member of the Tlicho Dene band and grew up in a small community in the Northwest Territories.

She earned a BEd in Elementary Education from the University of Alberta. Katelynn is an energetic, positive individual who seeks to help her students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. To foster a love of learning within her students, she utilizes an inquiry-based and student-centered approach to teaching. Katelynn prioritizes the building of genuine relationships with her students, a welcoming classroom environment, and meaningful learning experiences. In her free time, she loves to engage in physical activity, explore her community, sing, bake, and connect with her Indigenous culture by creating beadwork. Katelynn has been a member of our staff since 2022.

Tish Jolley holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Vancouver Island University, British Columbia, and a Higher Diploma in Education from Edgewood College of Education, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. After teaching in South Africa for a number of years, both in the public and independent school systems, she emigrated with her family to Canada in 1996, where she assumed the roles of class teacher, curriculum coordinator, IB PYP coordinator and Vice-Principal at Mulgrave School in West Vancouver. She was instrumental in preparing the way for a concept-based curriculum, incorporating an inquiry approach to learning. She has supported teachers in the development of their pedagogical skills to ensure a conceptual focus and to enhance learning through inquiry. Tish is an experienced workshop leader and site visitor, both authorising and evaluating IB PYP schools in North America. She continually seeks to expand her understanding of how children learn, and in her mission to provide the optimum learning opportunities for students, she continues to be active in bringing teachers together to collaborate, and to share ideas and strategies that will enhance learning for the students in their care.  Her interest in the curriculum and the learning process have been driven by her belief in the potential of all learners and her desire to ensure that every learner, in every classroom, can achieve success, everyday.

Annie is passionate about inquiry-based learning and environmental/place-based learning. In her classroom, she tries to blend these areas together to support students in becoming socially and emotionally aware of their curiosities and passions, as well as of their community and environment.  Born and raised in Vancouver, Annie has earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Bachelor's degree in Education from UBC. In her leisure time, she enjoys cooking, being outdoors, and re-reading Harry Potter. Annie's background is Ethiopian-Armenian, and she is very excited to explore the unique and diverse identities and perspectives her students bring to the classroom.

Janet has been teaching mathematics for over 20 years. A trained IB teacher, she taught in Bahrain and in the Philippines before returning to Canada, where she worked at Rockridge Secondary and at Mulgrave School. Janet holds Bachelors degrees (B. Sc., University of Ottawa and B. Ed., Queens) and a Masters degree in Mathematics Education (UBC). Janet is an examiner for IBDP Math Studies and a leader with the Girl Guides of Canada. In her spare time, she enjoys camping and exploring the North Shore with her young family.

A member of our staff since 2020, Maddie is an energetic teacher originally from Kincardine, a small town in Southwestern Ontario. She completed her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology with a minor in French Studies at Western University before attending Queen’s University for her Bachelor of Education. She taught French Immersion in Ontario before moving to Vancouver. She loves travelling and has spent time studying abroad in France and Australia. She was a physical education assistant in Costa Rica and has always been passionate about exercise and its effect on mental and physical health. She believes that building positive, meaningful relationships with students is the key to a successful classroom. In her spare time, she loves playing hockey, soccer, running and surfing.

Lori comes to Alcuin with over 20 years of experience providing learning support for children in various educational settings. Having a strong understanding of learning differences and how they can impact learning, she works closely with students and families to adapt and enhance programmes to assist students in reaching their goals. Lori holds a B.A. in Psychology and Rehabilitation Services (York University) and a Special Education Diploma (UBC), and has recently upgraded her counseling education to focus specifically on counseling children and adolescents. Lori has also taken further studies in  gender and sexual diversity in youth as it pertains to counseling. In her spare time, Lori enjoys hiking, gardening, birding, and hanging out with her boys and numerous pets.

Michelle has a love for teaching and art. Her goal is to truly see each learner as an individual and adapt and respond to the students' needs accordingly. Having previously worked as an Art and Photography teacher she enjoys incorporating and encouraging creativity in her teaching practice. Michelle holds a BFA from Toronto Metropolitan University and an MFA from Emily Carr University. She has studied the Orton Gillingham approach and is looking forward to becoming a fully certified Orton Gillingham Practitioner in the coming school year.

With degrees from University of Guelph and Simon Fraser University, and her Early Childhood Certification (ECE), Carol has over 25 years teaching experience in Canada, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Accra, Ghana and Clark-Freeport and the Philippines, primarily in IB/PYP schools. Teaching in Kindergarten and Grade 1 brings her the greatest joy and remains her favourite grades. Her experiences in a variety of cultures and school environments have strengthened her belief that children’s interests, learning styles and abilities must inform how she guides them through the curriculum each day. Outside of teaching, she is a mom of four adult children and enjoys baking, hiking, running and reading in her spare time. Carol has been a member of our staff since 2022.

Mhairin first joined Alcuin College in 2020. A graduate of Simon Fraser University, she obtained her B.Ed. with a focus on secondary teaching and English Language Arts. She is also an alumna of Dalhousie University, where she graduated with a B.A. and a double major in English and Russian Studies. Mhairin discovered a passion for Russian language acquisition in her first year of undergrad that would eventually take her to Saint Petersburg State University in Russia where she obtained her language certification. As someone who was born and raised on the North Shore, Mhairin is no stranger to the beautiful hiking trails and campsites that are available here in Coastal B.C. When not at school, she enjoys volunteering with Scouts Canada, as well as pursuing her photography and writing.

Born with a passion for education, Amir has tutored his classmates since he was 10, and his official experience began 17 years ago, immediately following his Bachelor of Physics. He particularly appreciates using technology to design his inquiry-based lessons, tailored to the needs and strengths of his classes. He has a beautiful knack for connecting with his students and is always patient. He is an enthusiastic Physics and Calculus teacher with a passion for animals and video games, as well as a penchant for heavy metal, rock, and house music. His thirst for knowledge and his love of teaching have made him a good fit for any classroom in the different countries he has worked as an educator. Also, he is an advocate for animal welfare. Amir has been a member of our staff since 2019.

Gaelen works to infuse creativity into all classroom activities, and is constantly seeking opportunities to engage his students in hands-on learning activities. Having completed his B.Ed. at Queen’s University in Ontario, his love of the outdoors inspired him to relocate to North Vancouver. Prior to moving across Canada, he worked as an Educational Assistant in Guelph, supporting students with exceptionalities from K-12 in their academic and social-emotional development. As a musician and artist, Gaelen uses the arts as an asset for both teaching new concepts and building a classroom community. He completed a minor in music while studying at the University of Guelph, and continues to write and perform music. He has collaborated with children’s musicians to explore the potential of music for authenticity and self expression, and he maintains his focus on bringing these ideas to his students. Gaelen first joined Alcuin College in 2022.

Inye dohoht’i? Ihzi Asia Winter-Sinnott uuzhi. (Hello, how are you? My name is Asia Winter-Sinnott.) Asia is a member of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun from Mayo, Yukon, a small northern community. She earned a BA in Native Studies and a BEd. in Fine Arts from the University of Alberta. She believes in creating meaningful relationships with all students and a learning environment that nurtures the whole student (mentally, physically, spiritually & emotionally) and in helping students develop their socio-emotional awareness. Asia strives to engage all students by following an inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning, as well as by incorporating Indigenous knowledge and culture into her classroom. In her spare time, Asia likes to be active outdoors, make beaded earrings, create and view art, listen to music, dance, learn her Indigenous language, Northern Tutchone, and other cultural skills and expand her knowledge of her field. Asia has been a member of our staff since 2021.