Our Passionate Educators: Guiding Every Student's Journey

Prior to becoming Principal, and Teaching Assistant at VSIE, Natalie worked in several private schools, school districts, and a daycare, nurturing and learning from students of all ages.  With all of this experience, she grew high academic standards, grounded in compassion, and flexibility. She is able to understand each student’s unique needs and assist them to flourish and grow. 

In her enjoyment of teaching Natalie leans on nature for its fundamental blueprint of knowledge, " I believe real life samples and examples are the best teaching tools". For this approach, she appreciates the amount of nature embedded in the curriculum at VSIE.  

Tania has been at VSIE since 2015 as a classroom teacher and Learning Resource teacher. She received her Bachelor of Education degree and Diploma in Special Education from the UVic.
Tania has taught English to youth and adults in El Salvador, worked in public and private schools, and at READ Society as a Level B Assessor.

Tania is an avid reader and enjoys sharing her love of reading with her students.

Ms. Jade has enjoyed being a part of the VSIE community since 2018.

Her background in clinic and NGO administration, team leadership, human resources, networking, and conflict resolution make her an ideal fit to fill the role of Operations Manager here at VSIE.

Jade is passionate about the arts, and finds joy in forms such as jewelry making, music and dance movement, creative writing, and multi media art forms.

Bonnie Davison is excited to be teaching grade one at VSIE. Bonnie is a certified Forest School Practitioner, Permaculture Teacher Trainer and founder of the Victoria Nature School Society. She has a deep passion for helping children connect with nature and loves weaving gardening and music into her classroom routines.

Bonnie is a white settler with Scottish and English heritage. She has been living in Lekwungen territories for 15 years with her husband and 2 children who also enjoy adventuring in the outdoors. Bonnie hails from PEI, the traditional and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people where she feels fortunate to spend her summers kite surfing and visiting family.

​"One of the many reasons I love teaching at VSIE is the flexibility I have to follow the natural rhythm of children and how they like to learn. For example, if a child is focused on an activity or project and wants to keep doing it, I have the flexibility to give them that extra time. Or if a child has found a love for tent caterpillars, their interest becomes a theme for our Math and Language Art lessons! Sharing my love of learning through nature with our weekly forest days and school garden also makes me a happy teacher!''

Mr. Ross has been associated with VSIE for the past 8 years and from the moment he walked into the building he was amazed at the community. Some of Ross's closest friends have come from this community. Both of Ross's daughters attended VSIE and he has spent many hours volunteering, some time as an educational assistant and now a teacher.

Ross and his trusted canine, Mr Wilson, are extremely excited to be working together and believe that experiences are the best form of education. For the past 20 years

Ross has taught grades 2 through 12 as well as spending some time in corporate training. Ross has taught in Australia, New Zealand and England.

Originally from Australia, what was meant to be an 8 month holiday to Canada has turned into 14 years. Ross is incredibly grateful to be able to call the Island home.  When not in the classroom you will likely find Ross swimming in the ocean, playing lawn bowls and cricket, camping or spending time with his family and friends. A mental health advocate, Ross prides himself on providing a safe space in which students, families and colleagues can express themselves freely.

Cody Askew graduated from  UVic’s Bachelor of Education program and has taught in northern BC, VSIE and Sooke School district over the last several years. Cody has also coached a wide variety of sports; such as soccer, XC skiing, rock climbing and track and field. He has also spent several summers working for BC Wildfire as an Initial Attack firefighter. He is a strong supporter of nature based learning, and incorporating movement and activity into his lessons.

His main goal in a classroom is to create a safe space that all learners want to be and grow in by building meaningful relationships with each student. Outside of the classroom, Cody enjoys games, reading and being outside; he loves sharing these passions with his students.

 For 10 years Prior to joining VSIE Carolyn traveled and taught at international schools in Taiwan, Vietnam, and Costa Rica. There she learned the values of adaptability, appreciation of culture, and connectedness to all aspects of life. These principles, along with her intrinsic love of learning and passion for yoga, are found in each experience shared within the classroom. Carolyn is extremely grateful to be working for a school based in nature and nurturing the whole child.

In her free time Carolyn loves to read and sip lattes at local coffee shops, stroll the beach, and be placed in awe of the island’s biodiversity and beauty. 

Originally from the west coast of Newfoundland, Mrs. Martin is a proud Mi’kmaw educator who now calls Vancouver Island home. She lives surrounded by the natural beauty of British Columbia with her husband and young son. Mrs. Martin holds a Bachelor of Education from Memorial University and has completed both the Montessori Foundations course and her Early Childhood Education Assistant (ECEA) certification. She continues to pursue professional development in areas such as child-centered learning, inclusive education, and social-emotional development. Mrs. Martin is passionate about inclusive, developmentally responsive teaching that honours the unique path of each learner. She believes in the power of play-based learning to inspire curiosity, build resilience, and support meaningful growth. Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Martin enjoys mountain biking, camping, strength training, and rock climbing

Jason is an educator, family man & outdoor enthusiast. Professionally, he has been involved in supporting people with neurodiverse learning needs for the past 18 years. Jason works with programs designed for students with specific learning difficulties to strengthen their cognitive capacities and overcome their learning challenges. Jason considers himself fortunate to be able to learn and incorporate methods of neuroplasticity; non-violent communication (NVC); growth mindset; positive psychology; the science of happiness and gratitude; exercise and learning; and mindfulness and meditation. As an outdoor enthusiast -- hiking, biking, camping, paddling, to name a few -- Jason enjoys connecting the curriculum to experiential activities and helping individuals reach their full potential.

Miss Whelan is a teacher with a passion for learning who joined us as a TOC in 2024 and quickly became part of the team. She enjoys taking on new challenges that allow her to grow and contribute meaningfully. She loves being in nature, especially mountain biking, hiking and camping. She is excited to join us next year and continue to learn, collaborate with others, and explore creativity.

Susan joined VSIE in 2021, having recently completed her Educational Assistant and Community Support Certificate at Camosun College where was awarded the Andrea Van Rheenen Award.  She has been a Professional Dance Artist and Somatic Movement Educator for over 30 years. In 2011-12, she attended Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver in their year-long training program. Following this, she worked as a Personal Chef for five years at Cooking Journeys in Vancouver. Susan loves being able to bring and share these skills with the students.  When not at VSIE, her favourite thing to do is spend time with her amazing twleve year old son!

She has two sons, one of which has been diagnosed with autism. Her experiences as a parent, diverse abilities worker, and educator have given her a unique perspective on inclusiveness, educational support, and opportunities for children. She has a BA and an ECE. She worked at the Autism Early Intervention Program for three years, and she has also worked privately with children on the spectrum. She believes that all children are unique, that what works for one child might not work for another, and that it’s important to involve families in their children’s education.

Darlene has been at the school for almost two decades! Her responsibilities have included; Education Assistant, Out of School Care program, and outdoor after school care. She is able to draw upon her experience with different teachers and helping children with a variety of needs. She provides thoughtful, kind and caring support for her students social, educational, and emotional needs. Darlene’s daughter attended VSIE from Kindergarten thru to Grade 8. Darlene completed two years of post secondary education. She is an experienced practitioner of aromatherapy, massage, and pranic healing.

Kamau Kamau is originally from Kenya. She holds diploma in Intercultural Education and Training from the University of Victoria and a certificate in Education Assistance and Community Support. Since joining the Victoria School for Ideal Education (VSIE) in August 2023, she has been dedicated to fostering inclusive, student-centered learning.

She believes in personalized, one-on-one teaching to help students thrive. As a practitioner of Transcendental Meditation, I aim to integrate mindfulness into education, enhancing focus, well-being, personal growth and quality of life. My goal is to empower students academically and beyond.

Heidi has been working with children and youth for over twenty-five years in the U.S., Europe, India and Bali. She has a BA in Literature/Writing, Montessori Teaching Credential, Certificate in French Language as well as further studies in Waldorf Foundation Education and university courses in Psychology and Child Development. She founded and ran her own one-room, mixed-age school in Maui, Hawaii, blending Montessori, Waldorf and project-based learning models. Heidi has developed and facilitated programs in the public sector, worked privately with students, consulted home-school groups and has taught all subjects to students from ages four to sixteen. 

Devoted to alternative education models, Heidi has participated in several start-up schools and helped found a private preschool on Maui in addition to her own elementary/middle school. Inspired by VSIE’s commitment to a holistic teaching model and the personal development of their students, Heidi is delighted to be assisting the school as a part-time specialty teacher this year. When she is not at the school, she is facilitating SoulCollage®, meditation and writing workshops, sharing tools so we may know and express ourselves more fully. 

Colin Cameron has over 25 years of teaching experience in a variety of settings. He began teaching in 1999 at the Business and Entrepreneurship, Forestry, Environmental, and IT programs at Selkirk College in Castlegar. Since then, he has taught middle and high school English Language Arts, Information Technology, Physical Education, Social Studies, and Math. He also developed a program to teach video game making to youth with the West Richmond Community Centre. Colin’s most recent school aged teaching experience was with grades 5 & 7 as a generalist. He holds both a Bachelor and Master of education, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and an Information Technology Certificate. Colin delights in helping students find and realize their potential.

Ozlem started pursuing my passion for creative expression, psychology, and spirituality on an academic level during my BA at McGill University. Discovering the somatic practice of Focusing in 2017 allowed me to connect more deeply with my embodied inner knowing and inspired me to bring together my interests in service of supporting others.

After completing extensive training in Focusing & Focusing-Oriented Dreamwork, I obtained a Graduate Certificate in Spiritually-Informed Psychotherapy. My desire to integrate the healing power of creativity with counselling finally led me to my current Master’s program in Expressive Arts Therapy and Psychology.

I completed my year-long practicum at Bodymind Counselling where I began training in AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy). Outside of Bodymind, I offer individual counselling and expressive art therapy sessions to students at Victoria School for Ideal Education. 

Janet is an active teacher at the Victoria Transcendental Meditation (TM) Centre.  She also supports the students at VSIE with their walking and seated TM practices.  She has practiced TM for forty years and loves working with VSIE students and staff.  You may see her at TM introductory sessions, TM instructions, group meditations for VSIE parents, or in the classroom and on the playground.  Her former careers were in public libraries and law libraries, where she enjoyed everything from doing puppet shows for children to helping members of the public navigate the BC Courts system.

Sheene began at VSIE as a parent, and then became an integral part of the administration team. She is responsible for bookkeeping, payroll, expenses and all of the other wonderful financial planning that ensures VSIE is a sustainable Non-Profit organization. Sheene enjoys spending time with her teenage daughter, who completed VSIE Kindergarten thru Grade 8 and she can be found at the beach or the dog park when she is not working. 

Ms. Jodie has been working with children for over twenty years. She brings a montessori background with a deep understanding of Autism and supporting kids. She fundamentally appreciates what VSIE offers and is such a great addition to our team.