What do you do at PSS and how long have you been here? I teach the Grade 4 and 5 students. I have been teaching here since September of 2017.

What initially attracted you to work at PSS and what do you value about working here now? I love how the school day is shaped around the needs of the students by providing time and space to move, freedom to pursue interests, and an empathetic staff to guide kids through emotional speed-bumps.

Which educator has influenced you the most in your life, and how? My Aunt Jackie Gilbert. She taught me to look at every young person and see infinite possibility.

What do you look forward to in your role here each year? Teaching outside.

What is an example of your approach to nurturing social, emotional, physical and intellectual learning in your work at PSS? I like to nurture deep thinking about the subjects we study by incorporating elements from kids’ unstructured play into our lessons. For example, a group of kids started building a paper haunted village before Halloween. We all took inspiration from their project and used the haunted village as a setting for a story which led to creating stop-motion animations in Language Arts and then we used it again as a means to discuss the five themes of Geography.

I believe in collaborating with my students in creative endeavors and to take their efforts seriously. I offer opportunities for all students to be artists, scientists, writers, adventurers, athletes, actors and teachers.

If you could bring anyone back to life and have dinner with them, who would it be? My Aunt Jackie.

What’s one item on your bucket list? Hiking the West Coast Trail. Sailing to Desolation Sound.

What educational background, or ongoing professional development, do you draw upon in your work at PSS? Masters Degree in Secondary Education, TESOL certificate, Fresh Air Learning Professional Development, and 20 years of experience teaching.