FACULTY

CATRIN WEBB |
HEAD OF SCHOOL

Catrin is a dynamic educator, with more than two decades of experience in teaching, experiential education, business management and leadership. She worked in the Outdoor Education Program with the North Vancouver School District for 15 years, and then completed her AMI Montessori Elementary training in 2013, teaching in Lower and Upper Elementary. With a formidable wealth of experience, Catrin is uniquely positioned to effectively lead our faculty, enhance curriculum and strengthen enrichment programming, from music and arts to athletics.

CHRISSY MACDONALD |
MANAGER OF OPERATIONS

Chrissy is originally from Ontario and moved to the Sea to Sky corridor over 20 years ago. She graduated from Georgian College with a Hotel and Resort Operations degree. She worked many years in hospitality, sales, and marketing before moving to education. She has spent the past six years working at Mamquam Elementary School in a similar role and brings with her a wealth of knowledge in school operations.
She has two children and is passionate about the outdoors, skiing, swimming, and traveling. She is thrilled to join the Skyridge community.

CASA PROGRAM

HEATHER VELANISKIS |
CASA PROGRAM LEAD

Heather comes to Skyridge with more than 10 years of Montessori teaching experience and we’re excited to tap in to her extensive knowledge, as we develop and deliver our new Casa Program. She is a gifted educator; warm, kind, and highly qualified to lead and deliver a strong Montessori Casa Program. Heather loves the outdoor lifetsyle in Squamish and you’ll often see her riding the local trails with her family. Her two children attend Skyridge, the youngest in Lower Elementary and oldest in Upper Elementary.

BOA XIONG |
CASA PROGRAM TEACHER

Boa was raised in Detroit, Michigan and holds an undergraduate degree from Central Michigan University. She moved to Thailand in 2012 to teach and give back to the community who supported her parents when they were there as refugees from the Vietnam War. She fell in love with the Montessori philosophy and curriculum and returned to San Diego to complete her Master’s in Education (from Loyola) and Montessori training and certificate for 3 to 6 year olds. Boa moved to Squamish in 2019 and enjoys food, culture, hiking, diversity, comedy shows, and singing…in the shower!

BRITTNEY-ANN JORDAN |
CASA PROGRAM ASSISTANT

Brittney-Ann was raised in Squamish and graduated from the Early Childhood Education program at Capilano University. She owned and operated a home daycare for more than 12 years and is also the Regional Figure Skating Coach with Skate sea2Sky. Brittney-Ann has two children and enjoys watching her kids in sports and playing SloPitch and golf.

MARIA GAZDIK |
CASA PROGRAM ASSISTANT

Maria, hailing from the picturesque European country Slovakia and surrounded by mountains her whole life, developed a deep love for the outdoors. At just 14 years old, she chose her career path and entered Pedagogical school to study child psychology and pedagogy for four years. By 18, she completed a Kindergarten teacher diploma program. Following her graduation, she embarked on travels to Germany, England, and Canada, engaging with children of all ages. Upon becoming a Canadian citizen, Maria pursued a new direction, earning a Destination Resort Management Diploma over two years. Inspired by her own children’s experiences in Waldorf and Montessori education, she recognized the uniqueness of each child’s development. This realization led her back to the field of education. She has been involved in the lives of children at a North Vancouver daycare and Squamish Waldorf school for several years and is now eager to explore the programs at Skyridge Montessori.

BAL BASSI |
CASA PROGRAM ASSISTANT

Balwinder, a resident of Squamish for over 26 years, has three children. With a deep passion for working with children, she looks forward to meeting the staff and parents. Her extensive experience lies in the Montessori community, bringing valuable knowledge to our program.

geometric mountain coloured blue, green and yellow

JANETH PADERNAL |
CASA PROGRAM ASSISTANT

Janeth, originally from the Philippines, obtained a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with a focus on Physical Science. She taught high school Science in the Philippines for three years before relocating to Squamish in 2019 for a job as a home childcare provider, a role she has held for four years. Presently, she is employed as a Call Custodian in School District 48 since 2022. Her interests include various outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, badminton, paddle boarding, road biking, mountain biking, and running. She has a passion for indoor plants and enjoys reading books on business.

APARNA SHARMA|
CASA PROGRAM ASSISTANT

Bio coming soon!

LOWER ELEMENTARY PROGRAM

ESMÉ CHRISTENSEN |
LOWER EL TEACHER

Esmé grew up in Whistler and has called the Sea to Sky region ‘home’ her entire life.She volunteered in elementary schools in West Vancouver and Whistler before accepting a position at Skyridge Montessori as an Assistant. After three years, learning from Catrin Webb, Esmé decided to become a teacher and recently completed her AMI Elementary Diploma at Montessori Northwest. She also has a Behaviour Intervention Certificate from Douglas College. With a wealth of education and experience, we’re pleased to welcome Esmé back as a teacher!

JORIS JANSSEN |
LOWER EL TEACHER

Born and raised in Belgium, Joris discovered a love for the mountains very early in life, so much so that he has been in the Sea to Sky area for the past 12 years. After spending many years working in the hospitality industry, he found a great interest in teaching outdoor education. As a mountain bike, ski and snowboard instructor, he particularly enjoys working with children of the Elementary age. Fascinated by their many questions as to the how’s and why’s of life, he decided to pursue a career as a Montessori Elementary teacher. Joris is completed his studies in Bergamo, Italy, where Maria Montessori first started her Elementary courses!

KATE GENTIL |
LOWER EL ASSISTANT

Kate moved to Squamish from South East England over 13 years ago. She has worked as an Early Childhood Educator for the past six years, with children all over Squamish, including Garibaldi Highlands, Brackendale and Mamquam preschools, as well as downtown childcare programs. Kate is an active member of our local community, volunteering in schools and raising considerable funds for the Canadian Cancer Society, Squamish General Hospital, local families in need and Squamish Women’s Centre. She is a mom of two boys and one girl and enjoys hiking with her two rescued dogs.

DANIELLE LAFONTAINE|
LOWER EL ASSISTANT

After completing a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University in Montreal, Danielle worked while traveling the world and living in places such as New Zealand and Mexico. Danielle has lived in Squamish for 3 years now working as an Education Assistant, French teacher and gymnastics coach. She is passionate about sports like mountain biking, snowboarding, swimming, and gymnastics.

ALEX ADSETTS-CHAMPOUX |
ELEMENTARY ASSISTANT

Alex Champoux has called the Sea to Sky home for nearly a decade. Coming to Skyridge with a background in outdoor education, youth work, and as an education assistant, Alex has a passion for teaching and advocating for kids of all ages. When he isn’t working, find him in the mountains, on the trails, or scaling the rock faces around town!

UPPER ELEMENTARY PROGRAM

AMANDA MORRIS |
UPPER EL TEACHER

Born and raised in Squamish, Amanda is well-known and loved by many local children! She has been working with ages 3 to 13 for more than 12 years with Broadway or Bust, doing choreography and directing, and as an Assistant with Skyridge Montessori. She has a degree in Liberal Arts from Capilano, holds AMI and MACTE Montessori Teaching certifications and is a certified Royal Academy of Dance teacher. Last year, Amanda completed the Montessori Model United Nations certification and is looking forward to leading MMUN at our school.

COLLEEN BOWMAN |
UPPER EL TEACHER

Colleen’s Montessori education began as a baby in Spokane, Washington, crawling around her mother’s Upper El classroom and she continued her Montessori schooling to the 6th grade. She completed her undergrad at the University of Portland, then volunteered as a teacher in Ecuador. Upon returning to the U.S., Colleen obtained her AMI certificate and completed her Masters in Education at Loyola. She taught in both Lower and Upper Elementary classrooms for 5 years before moving to Squamish. Colleen has been part of the Skyridge Montessori community for six years and her two young boys attend Casa.

DANIELLE MINICHIELLO |
UPPER EL TEACHER

Danielle grew up in the Upper Squamish Valley and has recently returned to Squamish after 12 years of teaching in Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver. She completed her undergraduate degree at Simon Fraser University and attended teacher’s college at OISE at the University of Toronto. She has over 10 years of experience working in International Baccaleureate schools, is a certified ECE, and has completed some Montessori training through MTCBC. She is a mother of two young girls and loves hiking, snowboarding, and is learning to mountain bike. Danielle is excited to bring her passion for inquiry, her love of the outdoors, and her enthusiasm for getting her hands dirty in the garden to Skyridge this year!

jessica mallett upper elementary assistant

JESSICA MALLETT |
UPPER EL ASSISTANT

Jessica, a Squamish native, began her journey focusing on children by volunteering as a softball coach years ago. For over a decade, she has been an Assistant at Casa, enjoying the lively and joyful environment with preschoolers. Transitioning to the elementary program, Jessica brings a wealth of knowledge, excelling as a web designer and being a parent to a child in the Skyridge Casa Program. An interesting tidbit about her is that she traveled the world on Rihanna’s plane!

ADOLESCENT PROGRAM

JEN HOWE |
ADOLESCENT PROGRAM LEAD

Jen joined Skyridge Montessori with a wealth of experience in middle and high school education from around the world. After finishing her Honours Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto, she began her teaching career in Australia. There, she attained a Graduate Diploma of Secondary Education and enjoyed teaching at independent schools. She later completed a Master of Arts in Writing and Literature and worked with students in career readiness and job development. Jen is the proud mother of two boys and enjoys hiking, skiing, running and exploring the outdoors.

LAUREN GALLACHER |
ADOLESCENT ASSISTANT

Lauren has worked with children for most of her career, in daycares and as a nanny. She has completed an Education Assistant certificate with Okanagan College and many child development courses. When not in the classroom, you’ll find Lauren exploring her passion for fitness and the outdoors and you may see her hiking local trails, with her dog Millie!

EDUCATION SPECIALIST

CAROLINE DUNNE |
CASE MANAGER

Caroline holds a degree in Sociology and Psychology from Carleton University. Her passion for supporting those with specific needs led her to obtaining her Registered Behaviour Technician Certificate to work as an ABA and IBI therapist in the Autism Program at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Since moving to BC, she has worked as an educational assistant in the Sea to Sky School District. Her commitment to building strong relationships to better understand and support those she works with prompted her to pursue a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University. Caroline is eager to continue exploring opportunities to help children feel confident in learning new things and provide support that is specific to each of their individual needs.

MELANIE TREMION |
ENRICHMENT MANAGER

Mélanie grew up in France and moved to BC in October 2017. Being active and outside has always been something important to her and she always wants to share this with the children. After completing her Masters in Sport Sciences, she became a sports teacher for young kids, first in a primary school and then in different sports companies. Between Whistler and Squamish, she worked as a tennis/sport instructor, afterschool leader, forest exploration educator and in a daycare. Spending her free time mountain biking and trail running, she is grateful to be part of this community, surrounded by this incredible nature and she loves sharing her passions with our students.

SIAN WILLIAMS |
SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANT

Sian relocated from the UK to Canada in 2016. She has over 13 years of experience supporting children with learning difficulties in elementary schools. She has developed a passion for exploring the best ways children can access their potential, giving attention to their individual needs. In 2010 Sian gained Higher Level Teaching Assistant status, allowing her to teach whole classes in the UK. Putting her art–based education and degree to use, Sian also enjoys sharing these skills and techniques with children.