Nanaimo Innvation Academy

CHILD CARE FACULTY

At Nanaimo Innovation Academy, we hire professional, experienced ECE and ECEA teachers that are young at heart, excited about teaching and learning, and are creative with how they engage students. Our teachers imagine the future of our students and work with them through trusting relationships that bring out growth and achievement.

Please read more below about our current teachers and their passions...

If you are interested in joining our team, please email your cover letter and resume to admin@nanaimoinnovation.org

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Joana - Pre-K Manager prek@nanaimoinnovation.org

Hi! My name is Joana and I'm currently a teacher on call. I've had the pleasure of being in the ECE field since 2015 and have had a variety of roles, from assistant to supervisor.
I love working with children and being able to marvel and rediscover the world trough their eyes! I hope to learn alongside them and to being able to facilitate meaningful discussions and projects!
In my free time I love to photograph, swim and hike with my cat.

Vanessa- IT Manager it@nanaimoinnovation.org

Hello my name is Vanessa and I graduated from the Early Childhood Education and Care program at VIU in 2017. Before coming to NIA, I worked on the floor and as a manager in a preschool program located in Lantzville. I have been working with children for most of my life; babysitting, working at summer and day camps, as well as being a behaviour interventionist, and working as a home caregiver. I love bringing the outside world inside and exploring and learning, while still playing through play. I am very excited to be a part of the NIA team.

Roxy - Nutrition Manager nutrition@nanaimoinnovation.org

Misty - Forest Manager forest@nanaimoinnovation.org

Hi, my name is Misty and I'm very excited to be a part of the NIA team. I graduated from Douglas College's ECE program with a post basic in special needs. My interest in early childhood education stems from my own experience as a child in preschool. I have fond memories of a fun, messy, and caring environment where I got to explore all the best parts of becoming an awesome human being. My intentions are to provide these same opportunities for children today. In my personal time I like to sew, tend to my plants, attend music concerts, make crafts, go tent camping, explore the outdoors, rollerskate, and volunteer with Girl Guides of Canada. My husband and our two cats (Barley & Nitro) moved to Nanaimo in February of 2023. We are very much looking forward to what this new community has to hold.

Alex - ECE Assistant

My name is Alex, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the NIA team! I’ve spent the past 15 years pursuing art, and am dedicated to this pursuit. I am in the midst of studying to receive my ECEA, and plan to work towards my ECE in the future. From southern Ontario, I moved to Nanaimo in 2007 to study Jazz at VIU, majoring in Voice. I am a voice teacher, and a co-creator of a comically crafted marionette show called, A Penny a Sketch. I also continue to build my yoga teaching certification for kids.

Larissa - ECE Teacher

Hi, my name is Larissa. I graduated from the Early Childhood Education and Care program at Vancouver Island University in June 2020. I have always had a passion for working with children of all ages and have spent my high school years babysitting, teaching swimming lessons, life-guarding and teaching CanSkate through Skate Canada. I discovered that this was the right path for me when I began my work experience at the local Strong Start program in Gold River during my last year of high school.

Lisa - ECE Teacher

My name is Lisa, and I am thrilled to be a team member at Nanaimo Innovation Academy! I recently graduated from the North Island College ECE program and plan to continue my education in order to complete a child and youth care degree. Previously I have worked alongside children with diverse abilities as a behavioural support worker. I love to recognize and celebrate each child’s unique spirit and strengths. I value building positive and mutually respectful relationships with the children and families I work with.
I believe every child is a gift and that providing a quality environment for them to play, be curious, explore, problem solve and work in cooperation helps to build their sense of belonging and confidence in their own abilities. Children hold boundless potential and I feel honoured to work in collaboration with them and guide their learning and discovery.
I grew up in the Okanagan and New Zealand and moved to beautiful Nanaimo when I was a teenager. I feel so lucky to call this incredible island home and love to explore its endless opportunities for adventures alongside my husband and our daughter Emerson. I enjoy expressing my creativity through quilting, pottery, painting and gardening.

Tarena - ECE Teacher

Hi my name is Tarena and I am finishing my ECE certification at Vancouver Island University. I am excited to learn and grow with everyone at NIA! I come from Sri Lanka, where I did a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interior Design. I have over three years of experience co-heading my church’s Sunday School Teens group and volunteering at a Kindergarten in Sri Lanka. I also coordinated the child care program at Project OASIS, for war orphans affected by conflict in Northern Sri Lanka.

Lily - ECE Teacher

Hi! I’m Lily, and I am so honoured to be a part of the Nanaimo Innovation Academy team. My interest in child development started very early in my life. I grew up with a daycare in my family home since I was 8, so I have always been immersed in a child care environment. In my teens, I became a swim coach, working with children ages 3-10. Guiding these children to learn and grow became my passion quickly. Shortly after, I enrolled in an Early Childhood Education program. Once I completed my program, I worked in my mothers daycare as well as another centre in Nanaimo for over a year before beginning my journey with NIA. I was born and raised in Nanaimo, while also spending plenty of time on Gabriola Island. Some of my favourite things to do are painting, spending time in nature, and going to the beach at low tide to look for sea creatures.

Keely - Executive Director admin@nanaimoinnovation.org

Keely Freeman is the founder and Executive Director of Nanaimo Innovation Academy. Education has
long been a passion of hers. Keely is most interested in innovative teaching methods and practices,
especially those involving hands-on learning in nature.
After completing her degree in Anthropology at the University of British Columbia in 2004, she taught
overseas in Korea, Taiwan and throughout South America. She has visited and lived in over 50 countries
and can’t wait to explore more. When she first moved to Nanaimo in 2015, Keely worked supporting the
enrolment efforts at Island Oak High School, a Waldorf School in Duncan, BC. She also supported the
fundraising and community involvement efforts at the Nanaimo Women’s Centre (NWC). It is at the
NWC that she was able to hone her grant writing skills.
Before Keely moved to Nanaimo, she was one of the founding staff members who worked alongside Dr.
David Strangway to create Quest University Canada, in Squamish BC. During her 14 years at Quest, Keely
was responsible for admissions, enrollment, financial aid, and marketing. Prior to Quest, she worked at
an experimental high school in Burnaby, BC, a community elementary school in Whistler, BC and with
educational groups at the Delta Museum and Archives.

Throughout her career, she has been on the following boards:
• 2019-2023 Board of Directors for PacificCARE- Nanaimo, BC
• 2017-2020 Board of Directors for Cedar Beach Resort- Salt Spring Island, BC
• 2015-2019 Planning Committee Member for the NACAC Vancouver International Universities Fair-
Vancouver, BC
• 2012-2016 Board of Directors for Casa Guatemala- Orphanage in Río Dulce, Guatemala

Michael - HR and Family Support

I have been in many career paths since the 1970s, artist, musician, wildlife technician, and eventually by the 1980s began working in education as a primary and middle school teacher for a few years in Alberta, where I was born and raised. Eventually, I went into art as therapy, counseling with youth and families and ended up in higher education with a MA in Adult Education and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction (UBC). Over the years I have been part of several conscious learning communities and worked as an organizational consultant in various places of which mostly my experience is in the caring field. I've most enjoyed this new adventure with NIA and getting to know young children and the ways they create and learn, especially in the outdoor and nature-based settings. I delight in challenging children and others to 'think outside the box.' After doing a five month artist residency at NIA in July-Dec. 2021, I made a commitment to help out in the social building of a forest school and community in my semi-retirement years, here in Nanaimo. My special interest is helping staff, administration and parents in supportive ways so that they may continue to grow and develop a quality life-style and improve their knowledge and skills in being with children. I look forward to serving on the NIA leadership team and as HR and Family Support.

Junko - ECE Teacher (on leave starting June 2023)

Hello, my name is Junko. I feel very lucky to work with such amazing educators at NIA.
I was born and raised in Kawasaki, Japan and came to Canada as an exchange student in high
school. I loved the vast nature of Canada so much that I decided to stay permanently. I
obtained Environmental Science degree from Carleton University in Ottawa but did not pursue
a career in the field. Instead, I found my passion for early childhood education when I moved to
Vancouver Island in 2016.
I see children as capable and competent beings who have amazing curiosity, creativity, and
enthusiasm for life. They teach me how to be in the present moment and look at ordinary things with fresh eyes everyday. I have a genuine interest in helping children build confidence
and self-esteem by providing a safe and nurturing environment where they can explore, pursue their interests, and construct their own learning experience. I want them to love being who
they are while respecting and celebrating each other’s uniqueness. I also feel very passionate
about helping children cultivate curiosity and excitement in learning about our natural world
and develop appreciation and kindness towards all living things. I love being in nature. I feel the happiest and healthiest when I’m close to nature. I love
backcountry hiking and camping with my partner, playing with my dog, walking on the beach,
observing wildlife, meditating, swimming, stargazing, and cooking delicious meals. I also love
travelling and immersing myself in different cultures.

Katy - ECE Teacher (on leave starting June 2023)

My name is Katy and I graduated from the Early Childhood Education and Care program at VIU in June of 2015. I feel that there is something unique and special about every child and it is important that we cherish and celebrate these qualities. Early childhood is a time for exploring and discovering the world around us. Children should have lots of opportunities to explore materials, their environments and get messy, whether it be mud or paint. The learning opportunities are endless!

Charmaine - Administrative Assistant (on leave starting Mar 2023)

I recently graduated from the Office Administration program at Vancouver Island University in June of 2022. Prior to my program, I was going to take the Early Childhood Education and Care program, I chose Office Admin, but I still plan to take the ECEC program in the future! I am happy to be able to work in an environment that truly makes me so happy and excited for work every morning.

A little bit about me- I was born and raised in Nanaimo. I was a member of the Nanaimo Youth Choir for 11 years, the best decision ever as a child. I love animals, I have one cat and one fish. I love the outdoors and everything plant related. I love Vancouver Island; I think we are all so lucky to live in such a beautiful place. During my free time I am usually at a beach, or on nature walks. My grandparents, partner and pets mean so much to me.

I am so thrilled to be a part of the team at NIA.

Nick - ECE Teacher

Hi there, I'm Nick Larsen, an enthusiastic educator and mentor originally from Regina,
Saskatchewan. My wife and I moved to the Island in April of 2020, and we've been
awe-inspired by the area ever since, spending as much time as we can exploring and
camping.
In 2017, I graduated from the University of Regina with a Bachelor's of Education. Since
then, I've had the privilege of working with children in various settings such as
elementary schools, daycares, and preschools. I'm passionate about helping young
people develop confidence and overcome challenges such as anxiety, low self-esteem,
and negative self-talk.
After dedicating nearly a decade to studying personal growth, psychology, and human
behavior, I became a consultant with the Proctor Gallagher Institute and started my own
coaching/consulting business. It's been an incredibly rewarding journey, helping
individuals bring out their best selves.
I firmly believe that every child has greatness within them and an infinite flow of creative
potential waiting to be expressed. That's why I'm grateful to be an educator at Nanaimo
Innovation Academy, where I can support preschoolers in their learning, wellbeing and
self-understanding as they embark on this beautiful school called life.
I look forward to getting to know you!

Lea - Administrative Assistant info@nanaimoinnovation.org

I grew up in a small town in Northern Alberta. I have lived on the island for 10+ years and have enjoyed many career paths, but working with children and their families is the most rewarding.
I enjoy spending time exploring, volunteering with many programs for youth and the community, most of all time with my son.
I am looking forward to working with and getting to know everyone at NIA

Flo - ECE Teacher, Woodwork, and Special Projects

As the oldest of 9 children I was always taking care of the needs of others.
I grew up in the Austrian Alps drawn to adventures and exploration
with creek wanders, sledding races and deep forest hikes with my
sisters and brothers.
It was clear I wanted to work with something natural, so I took up an
apprenticeship in Carpentry, became a journeyman in Austria and later
a Red Seal in Canada, and also studied some years in Vienna in the
field of Wood and Fibre Utilisation on the University of Applied
Science and Natural Resources. Personally I understand more about wood
but it was too little practical for my taste.
So in the end I became an ECE and worked in The Interior of BC and
Vancouver Island for the last 4 years.
At the moment I immerse my skills in the creative process of
upkeeping, improving and managing the maintenance task at Nanaimo
Innovation Academy. A great Joy to work with so many fabulous People.
I am also a father of a 5 year old daughter and married for 10 years
with my lovely wife Anita.

Paige - ECE Teacher

Hi, my name is Paige. I was born and raised on Vancouver Island. I graduated from my ECE program 7 months ago, and am so glad I followed my heart into child care. I am happy about becoming apart of Nanaimo Innovation Academy, as I adore outdoor/play based philosophy. I am planning to become infant/toddler certified as well.

Some info about me - I love being in nature especially in the water. I love animals. I try to be a better teacher everyday through sharing literature, music and a lot of humor. I live in Cedar with my boyfriend and we have a cat named Koda. I am the eldest daughter in my family, so I feel very natural in my leadership role with children. Some of my favorite things are singing, having a nap, working on my messy unfinished art projects, books, movies, yoga. I was a barista before coming into child education

I look forward to meeting all of you