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.

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

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If you are interested in joining our team, please read this JOB POSTING and email your cover letter and resume to

 

                                                                                              Wen Li - ECE TEACHER

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Hello, my name is Wen Li and I’m a registered early childhood educator in both BC and Ontario.

I graduated in 2016 from ECE program at Conestoga College in Ontario, and have been working

in different childcare settings and kindergarten since then. After graduation, I worked in

Conestoga college experimental childcare centers where offer care for infant to Grade 6

children, as well as children who have special needs. I found this job filled with challenges and

learning opportunities which helped me grow my practical knowledge, professional experience

and confidence.I believe children are competent, capable of complex thinking, curious, rich in potential, and learn best when they construct their own knowledge through playing. As an educator, I enjoy being a lifelong learner and always open to different educational philosophies: Play-based learning, Reggio-Emilia Approach, Waldorf, and Montessori. I believe belonging, well-being, engagement and expression are the foundations for children to grow and flourish in a childcare setting. I am excited to have the chance to collaborate with other educators to create engaging environments and experiences to foster children’s learning and development.

I enjoy reading, cooking and travelling, when I have free time. My husband and I recently moved

to Lantzville from Ontario, so we spend lots of time explore this beautiful island.

Chloe Bernard - ECE TEACHER

 

I have always been interested in child development and have pursued learning and working alongside children all my life. I began regularly babysitting for a family at the age of 15 and also spent time as a live-in nanny. From there, I went on to working in a Childcare Center as a summer student.

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I fell in love with the field of child development and have completed my ECE diploma at Vancouver Island University with a specializations in infant toddler/ diverse abilities. I have worked in a variety of daycares, in ECE and IT positions. Most recently, I ran a multi-aged classroom in a dual language culturally based Childcare Center in Port Alberni.

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I believe that children are much more capable than they are often given credit for, and I strive to help foster their own independence and learning through play, imagination, and exploration. 

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                                                                           Katy MacDonald - ECE TEACHER

 

My name is Katy and I am so excited to be apart of the amazing team at the Nanaimo Innovation Academy! I graduated from the Early Childhood Education and Care program at VIU in June of 2015 with a specialization in infant/toddler and diverse abilities. I first became interested in working with children when my sister was born when I was a teenager. Having the opportunity to be apart of her development and watch her grow was a wonderful experience for me! During my time as an early childhood educator, I have worked in both programs for 3 to 5 years and infant and toddler programs.

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Giving children the tools be able to recognize, express, and eventually regulate their own emotions is an area of importance to me when working with children. Sometimes we need to be reminded that children are people too, who have good and bad days! It is our job to give children the tools to help them navigate successfully through the big feelings they will have throughout the day. Emotional development is just as important as other areas of development.

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! When children are able to explore and discover the world around them, the learning opportunities are endless!

 

                                                                                     Kozue Rathe - ECE TEACHER

 

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Hello, my name is Kozue, I first came to Canada from Japan with the working holiday program which was an exchange program for young adults between Canada, Australia, New Zealand  and Japan. The program allowed young adults to travel and work for a year within the alliance. The culture in Japan is more formal and rigid compare to the one in Canada. Naturally, the education system including early childhood education is close ended and rule oriented with focus on unity as a group. As I grew up I learned to follow the rules at school and to focus on the tasks given to me by the teachers.

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My journey as an ECE started in a beautiful small town in Alberta where I met many wonderful children and families. My focus has been creating the environment and relationship for the children to be able to flourish as themselves. I would like children including my own to have the least rules possible. Instead of telling them to be nice, I would like to show them what kindness is and what kindness can do. Instead of telling them how to behave, I would like to create the environment which captures their interest and keeps them entertained. Being an ECE has given me the opportunities to be a part of children's lives and create a strong connection with them as well as the families and the community as a whole. I am excited to be a part of the Nanaimo Innovation Academy community.

Sarah Bingham - HEAD CHEF & NUTRITIONIST

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Hi, my name is Sarah and I am so honoured to be cooking for your children while they attend Nananimo Innovation Academy. My daughter, Juniper, is in the 3-5 program and we live only a short walk from the daycare. Downtown/South Nanaimo has been my home for over 10 years.

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As a long-time Nanaimo resident, I am still in awe of the bounty this island provides us. We truly live in one of the most beautiful places in the world! I believe that what we put in our body can either hinder or help us reach our full potential and help us live our happiest life.

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I have been a Red Seal Chef for over 15 years and recently graduated from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition (CSNN) as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. I've done everything from manage restaurants, to creating cooking shows, to running my own Meal Prep/Buddha Bowl business.

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I am very passionate about sharing my knowledge of food and the importance of fueling our body and feeding our soul. I look forward to working with the community in providing as much locally grown and sourced ingredients as possible. Not only will this give us high quality, nutrient dense meals but it also creates a strong community and local economy.

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When I'm not in the kitchen, I am either exploring the outdoors with Juniper, at the gym, or in our garden. I love learning. Subjects close to my heart include Indigenous Culture, sustainable food, and spiritual growth. I'm so excited to start this new chapter and use this meal program as a way to educate others and continue learning myself.

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                                                                                    Jamie Levin - ECEA TEACHER

 

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Hi! I’m Jamie and I am excited to write this bio so you can get the chance to know me a little bit more.  With my degree in social work, I have a strong joy helping and connecting with individuals, bringing forth empathy, acceptance, kindness, and calmness.  I graduated in 2015 from Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, in Burnaby.  Through my education, I was lucky enough to obtain my ECEA as well.  I originally began my career in the downtown eastside of Vancouver, working at a women’s centre and shelter, supporting women struggling with mental health and addictions.  This position taught me a lot about boundaries, patience, and compassion, all great skills I was able to transfer over to my childcare work. 

I began working with children when I moved to Nanaimo in 2016 from Vancouver, where I was lucky enough to begin a job with the Nanaimo Child Development Centre, supporting children one on one.   Through this position, I got to work with a diverse range of children. I have since worked at Haven Society, as the childcare worker and a women’s support worker. 

I love the way children look at the world, with imagination, hope, honesty, and creativity.  With the proper guidance, support, and engagement, it’s remarkable what children are capable of.  I love seeing children grow and progress in their education and development.

In my personal time, I spend it with my partner, where we love to explore Nanaimo and bring our ferret, Gus, for walks.  I spend a lot of time reading and writing, as I have a passion for words.  I am most content when I am near the ocean, sitting amongst trees, drinking coffee on my deck, and people watching.  

 

Steve Wood - ECEA TEACHER

 

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Hello! I’m Steve and am a parent of a four-year-old who attended Nanaimo Innovation Academy (which we immediately fell in love with!) and who has recently started Kindergarten. I have developed my teaching skills in varied work settings, as a facilitator of children’s learning in museums and schools, and as both a conscientious parent and babysitter to friends’ children. Practicing curiosity before judgement, honesty, modelling appropriate behaviour, and appreciating the perspective of others will continue to aid me in helping children to learn and grow in a supportive, caring and mutually respectful environment.

 

My pedagogical interests are in outdoor play, immersion in nature, and mindfulness, in addition to helping ignite life-long interest in reading. Children’s brains are like sponges and accumulate information so fast. At Nanaimo Innovation Academy, I will provide a solid foundation from which children can indulge their natural curiosity, and will encourage free play with its numerous developmental attributes.

 

In my spare time, I love trail running, hill walking, reading, photography and meditation and, most of all, spending time on the beach in rain or shine with my wife and daughter.

 

                                                   Vanessa Pearson - ACADEMIC COORDINATOR

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Bio coming soon!!! Stay tuned. 

 

Larissa Gedlaman - ECE TEACHER

 

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Hi, my name is Larissa. I am currently in my second year of the Early Childhood Education and Care program at the Vancouver Island University. I'm on track to graduate 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 really discovered that this was the right program for me when I began my work experience at the local Strong Start program in Gold River in my last year of high school.

 

I started my Infant/Toddler practicum at Nanaimo Innovation Academy in the beginning of January 2020 and immediately fell in love with the centre. I am very excited to be staying here after my practicum is finished and go get to know all of you better!

 

                                                                              Aurora Jepson - ECEA TEACHER

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Hello everyone, my name is Aurora Jepson and I am an Early Childhood Educator Assistant at NIA. I am thrilled to be a part of such an amazing group of educators and children. I chose the childcare field as it’s always been a passion for me. I have family who have been in this field for many years and I have lived through them and shared their same passion and love for the job. I find early childhood education very rewarding because I get to have a part in each child’s development and growth. I look forward to working with all the unique personalities of the children.

 

Justine Cochrane - ECEA TEACHER

 

 

Hello, my name is Justine Cochrane. I'm very excited to be a part of Nanaimo Innovation Academy. I believe that all children have the natural instincts inside them to play. It is important that they develop at their own pace. We just need to provide the time, space and appropriate guidance. I also strongly believe that developing positive relationships with each child will help them grow as individuals.

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I have a variety of experience with children of all ages. I have worked in daycare centers for 3 years, and I have learned many things by being a big sister to both my younger siblings. I'm an Early Childhood Education Assistant through Pacific Rim Early Childhood Institute. My goal is to finish my full ECE training by September 2020. I am also in the Bachelor of Education program at VIU graduating in 2022. 

 

In my free time,  I enjoy reading, baking and painting. Creating and experiencing is an amazing part of life that I value very much. I am looking forward to meeting all of your children and your families.

 

 

                                                                            Kaleigh McGinnis - ECE TEACHER

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Hello, my name is Kaleigh and I moved to Nanaimo in summer of 2019 from Ontario.

The last 5 years before I moved here, I worked for the school board in various kindergarten settings running outdoor classroom kindergarten programs. I've been in the field of child care since 2010 before I started my education at Loyalist College. Since then I have worked in a variety of different aged programs as well as had my own in-home daycare. Since I moved here I have been involved in an outdoor education program in town. I've always loved being outdoors and I feel that it is very important for children to spend time in nature. 

 

In my free time I like to go hiking and exploring the island with my husband. I have three cats at home. I enjoy yoga and reading. 

 

I'm excited to start this new adventure at Nanaimo Innovation Academy! Looking forward to meeting everyone!

 

Naomi Hendershot - ECE TEACHER

 

 

Hello, my name is Naomi! My collective work experience illustrates the passion I have of caring for people at nearly every stage of life. I have worked as a care aide, a labour/birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, pregnancy outreach worker, and as an early childhood educator.

 

I graduated the ECE program from VIU in 2013, and have since worked in both infant / toddler, and 3-5 preschool programs. I had the privilege of working at Nanaimo Innovation Academy for the first 6 months or so after they first opened. This was truly an amazing and unique experience, which I loved every aspect of, however I made the decision to take a year off and pursue work as a doula in the fall of 2018.

 

The reality of the on-call lifestyle of working as a doula proved difficult in balancing other life commitments, including my own three children, my husband, and other work. I will continue to teach childbirth education classes, but have otherwise happily decided to move forward and return to my childcare roots. In doing so, I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to once again be a part of the team at Nanaimo Innovation Academy as an early childhood educator. I am inspired by, and passionate about teaching children about the world around them through their play, art, books, and life experiences. .