Meet Our Team

I was an Executive leader for non-profits and the public education system for over 25 years; and I hold an international certificate in fundraising (CFRE).

My son graduated from the Shambhala School due to the care, skill and kindness of the school’s teachers and the learning environment they create. I am very committed to helping the school grow so we can offer this amazing educational experience to many other students!”

I have an Advanced Diploma in Event Management and a dipolma in Human Services. I’ve held various leadership positions, including Executive Director, Program Manager and Event Coordinator in the non-profit sector. I’ve also worked in social services with at-risk youth, and in mental health. I have a certification in Heart and Mind Conflict Transformation, and I’m a meditation instructor.

My two children attend the Shambhala School, in both the Elementary and Upper School. My husband is a Shambhala School alumnus, who attended the school from it’s very first year through to grade twelve. Appreciation for the school runs deep in our family. The school culture and curriculum inspires confidence and enjoyment of learning where students feel comfortable to take risks, and engage with their curiosity. Whether that’s exploration of fine art, applied science, or contemplating and discussing complex social issues. Children are not simply taught to reiterate facts, but how to make meaning and explore possibilities.

Managed both nonprofit and for-profit businesses.

One of the things I have always loved about Shambhala is the continuity. The flow from grades PP to 12 is very well thought out. Shambhala offers a learning experience very different from other schools that I support whole-heartedly.

My two sons are Shambhala Grads; Trey attended from Grade 2-12 and John attended from Primary-12.

I hold an MA in Early Childhood Studies (Ryerson University), and a BA in Child and Youth Studies (Mount St. Vincent University).

I began my career in early childhood education at the Shambhala School in 2008, as a pre-primary assistant teacher. I moved on to work in a variety of other roles, including family resource, early childhood research, and teaching post-secondary ECE students. I recently moved back to Halifax from Toronto and I am thrilled to be back in the Shambhala pre-primary classroom, where a lot of magic takes place every day.

I have two children aged five and two. There isn’t much spare time these days, but if I had some, you might find me reading, running, biking, or baking.

Early Childhood Education at Nova Scotia Teachers College.

Working with young children is one of the most rewarding, fulfilling experiences. Fostering and encouraging children’s minds through daily activities brings me joy. I love Shambhala for its sense of community throughout the whole school from pre-primary to grade 12.

Our daughter has been at Shambhala starting in pre-primary and is now in grade 9. My hobbies include running, biking, and being with my family.

Queen’s University (History) degree, Ontario College of Art and Design (Visual Art), Early Childhood education, currently studying Waldorf education.

I believe in creating a nurturing and supportive environment to foster children’s exploration of their world. Teachers at Shambhala School see and nurture the unique qualities in each child and help them to incorporate these qualities into a social group. The combination of seeing both forest AND trees encourages social and emotional growth and resilience.

My 2 children have been at Shambhala school since pre-primary. I love reading, drawing, and painting.

BA Music Therapy, Enki Contemplative Teacher Training Program, Founding teacher Elementary school, Certified Mindfulness Instructor.

I love educating children to become well-rounded adults, intelligent with their minds and hearts. Keeping open capacities by learning through the arts is something I believe we do really well! I love making sure children have time to play outside and have opportunities to experience wilderness.

I have two adult children, both of whom attended Shambhala School, and one grandchild. I sing in the Kings Chorus and enjoy hiking and kayaking.

BA at Trent University, Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Training at the Rudolf Steiner Center of Toronto.

I teach from a place of trust in the journey of each child. I love how as I get to know each child, they teach me what they need and how to meet that need. I strive to create opportunities for children to develop their capacities of imagination, compassion, emotional awareness, and physical development.

I find the parents and faculty at the Shambhala school to be very
supportive and I enjoy the community that we all build together. I love watching the children grow up as they move on through the grades.

I grew up in Nova Scotia and attended the Shambhala school myself from grades 5-9. I have a daily meditation practice, connect very deeply with the natural world, engage in water protection and indigenous solidarity work in my free time, am in the process of painting my own Tarot deck, and love to dance.

Amanda also teaches yoga and is a Shambhala School parent.

Bachelor of Education (Primary/Elementary specialization), Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and English)

I am continuously inspired by young minds and consider it a privilege to help children recognize all that they are capable of achieving. I like to make learning fun and developmentally appropriate for my students – this involves including movement, play and social-emotional learning opportunities. I am grateful to be a part of a school community that places value on the uniqueness of every child and encourages a holistic approach to learning.

I am originally from Prince Edward Island. I enjoy playing games, making crafts and spending time with my loved ones.

B.A. English and History, B. Ed., teaching for 16 years in both independent and public schools.

I get to spend my days with wonderful people. I like to present curriculum in a variety of ways to present each student with the opportunity to shine. I strongly support the pillars on which the school is built. I hope the work I do here helps foster kind and strong individuals who are stewards of the natural world.

I have one daughter who is a criminal defense lawyer working with a mainly indigenous population in Northern Manitoba. My husband is a fabulous cook and the kindest person I know.

BFA NSCAD University (Major in Photography and Art History), BEd MSVU (Visual Arts and Social Studies), Student of twelve years at the Shambhala School.

I am deeply familiar with the Shambhala School experience as a student and am honoured to come back as a teacher.

Shambhala School encourages students to be fierce, compassionate, and inquisitive. I am excited to work with youth and foster their individual strength.

My interests include painting, crafting, playing, and spending time with my family!

I studied visual arts at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay Ontario. After graduating I travelled, tree planted and worked on farms. My travels eventually led me to work as an English instructor in Korea. It was a wonderful experience with delicious food and I found a love for teaching there.

When I arrived back in Canada I knew I wanted to continue working in education. I worked briefly as an educational assistant here in Nova Scotia. The following year I started the teachers college program at Acadia University.

I am now entering six years teaching experience in both public and independent schools. I love that the shambhala school can allow their talented teachers to be creative in their practice. Offering a dynamic and unique learning experience.

I have a big beautiful dog named Ti’loup who shares my love of swimming. I also love to cook and have an extensive cookbook collection. My partner is a talented musician and brings out my musical side.

Jazz voice & piano, Mohawk College. Taught Basic Keyboard and first-year Jazz Harmony.

I have been a touring musician since age 15 and have performed all over the world. I am lead vocalist, piano, mandolin and 12 string guitar player for the band Signal Hill., as well as a drummer, and a songwriter and big band arranger with several top 10 east coast countdown singles as a solo artist.

I enjoy hiking, swimming, kayaking and biking and snowmobiling with my two children, both Shambhala students. On vacation, I enjoy taking part of the Via Rail Artist on Board program to travel and perform across the country by train.

BFA Ceramics. 24 years of teaching experience; 21 at the Shambhala School.

I love the students. I approach each student as an artist and encourage them to trust themselves, open to the materials they are using and be creative. I love the school. Both of my sons attended grades 7-12 and graduated from here. All of our graduates are leaders when they walk out of our doors after graduation, with great confidence to follow their interests and passions. I like being an influence on their development and in their lives.

I am a studio potter and a long-time student of Chado (Japanese Tea Ceremony). I have 2 sons and a wonderful husband who is a professional photographer.

BA Religious Studies, Certified Mindfulness Instructor for 20 years, teacher at Shambhala since 2004. Author “Teaching With Bravery: Meditation and Heart Advice for Teachers.”

Learning in its fullest sense is a process of connection between teachers and students. It combines nurturing the heart and the intellect, as well as serious purpose and a sense of play. It’s a wonderful and mutual experience.
For me, Shambhala School is a place to help build a model for education infused with the philosophy of natural goodness. It’s deeply inspiring to see young people learn to trust themselves and relax into who they are. Small classes, mindfulness practices, and the whole school culture allow this to happen. The teachers spend a ton of time contemplating each student and how to support them.

I have two children at school. I like tea, books, cookies, and tigers.

B.Sc in Biology, M.Sc in Biology, Dalhousie University. Teaching experience includes introductory biology labs, diversity of life, developmental biology, economic botany, and leadership in science. Conducted campus-wide workshops on pedagogy, including topics of educational leadership, and the importance of ethnic and gender diversity in the classroom at Dalhousie’s Centre for Learning and Teaching, After having served as a judge for the Halifax Sci-Tech Expo and the Canada Wide Science Fair, I am delighted to have begun establishing our Science Fair program here at Shambhala!

Shambhala is a school of embracement, compassion, exploration, and a wholesome appreciation for one’s self, those around us, and the universe in which we share. It is a place where I can contribute my love of knowledge and mentorship with our generations of the future, to embolden their individualities, to play an everlasting part in their limitless potential.

I really enjoy traveling and being immersed in other cultures. I have worked on nature conservation projects in Costa Rica and South Africa and studied Baroque culture in the Czech Republic. I love the performing arts. I’ve been in many musical productions, dinner theatres, and sing in a quartet. In my spare time, I enjoy reef keeping and playing musical instruments.

BA English Literature, BEd Secondary English and Social Studies. I have taught in Hong Kong and for the Province of Nova Scotia, and was Director of Big Cove YMCA Camp for 8 years.

Loved and nurtured youth will not only be successful and emotionally prepared for life, but will lead in their own way, loving and nurturing the world. This school encourages students to awaken, be mindful and enjoy each moment. The love of learning and school community are top priorities here.

I have two sons who are students at Shambhala School. I love going camping, canoeing, biking and everything outdoors! When I have quiet time I enjoy writing, reading and listening to my vinyl records.

As a fairly new teacher, I am fortunate to have a diverse background of teaching experience, having taught in China, Calgary, and Halifax.  In China, I taught ESL to students from grades 6-9 focusing on conversational english and speaking skills.  When I moved back to Canada, I took on the Calgary public school system teaching grade 7 math, science, history, and English to a group of students with diverse learning challenges and strengths.  I substituted in the Halifax public system before joining the Shambhala School team

One of my goals as a teacher is to instill compassion in the world around us, and give students opportunities to think critically, explore their curiosities, and embrace challenges with an open mind.  Learning should never be just about learning facts and memorizing information.  Youth, and adults for that matter, need to have chances to explore ideas and topics beyond the pages of worksheets and the screens of computers.  In my classroom, we try to achieve this through outdoor activities, experimentation and lab work, class discussions, documentaries, and whatever other ways I can think of or borrow from other teachers.

I began teaching at Shambhala School because it seemed like the perfect fit for a teacher looking to join a community that is compassionate, caring and open-minded, which for me is the basis of being able to be happy in the classroom.

I’m Nova Scotian, born and raised in the Annapolis Valley. I am a hopeful photographer, with publications in Canadian Geographic and other print media.

Masters in Teaching, Griffith University. Developed multiple sailing programs dedicated to the development of leadership, confidence, and self-reliance in youth aged 12-18. Established the first independent high-school aboard a Canadian-registered tall ship.

I love identifying and nurturing the potential of young people while playing a role in helping them become the best versions of themselves. On a daily basis, I enjoy making their learning experience challenging, yet joyful. I want each and every student to feel safe and welcome in class and I want them to look forward to coming to school each day. The Shambhala School is a place of warmth, caring, and acceptance. Our students understand that, live, and practice it. I love Shambhala because at every staff meeting I can see how much teachers care about the students, how much time and thought they invest in providing exceptional learning experiences for each individual student.

I have two boys, age 7 and 18 months. We snowboard every weekend in the winter and this summer we look forward to sailing in the warmer months. I also enjoy writing, woodworking and making art.

Professional Artist – Social Sculptor, Educator, Certified Mindfulness Instructor, Facilitator and Community Maker for 25 years plus.

I love working with youth as they are perpetually blossoming, radiating with an openness and eagerness to see, understand, and embrace the world around them. I feel very fortunate to teach at Shambhala as its philosophy and practices are based on the true essence of open mind and kind heart, parallel to my own personal values.

I have a son and a daughter who give me lots of experience thinking outside the box, an awesome doggie Jojo and two silly kitties. I live between Halifax and rural N.S. where I work endless hours in my studio and on the land, and where I run a collective gallery, The Swan, in Lunenburg.

Jazz voice & piano, Mohawk College. Taught Basic Keyboard and first-year Jazz Harmony.

I have been a touring musician since age 15 and have performed all over the world. I am lead vocalist, piano, mandolin and 12 string guitar player for the band Signal Hill., as well as a drummer, and a songwriter and big band arranger with several top 10 east coast countdown singles as a solo artist.

I enjoy hiking, swimming, kayaking and biking and snowmobiling with my two children, both Shambhala students. On vacation, I enjoy taking part of the Via Rail Artist on Board program to travel and perform across the country by train.

B.A. in English and Medieval Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University, M.A. in Child Study and Education from the Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study at the University of Toronto.

I am a native French speaker and have lived, attended school, and worked in French my entire life, here in Canada as well as in Poitiers, France. I am fascinated with the human experience and am a lifelong learner.

I moved to Halifax in August 2019 from Toronto and worked primarily at Halifax Grammar School and Armbrae Academy. In my first year as a substitute teacher and teaching assistant and most recently as a grade 3, 5, and 8 French teacher at HGS.

I love history, literature, creative writing, historic homes, cooking, and spending time in the natural world. I live on Little Albro Lake in Dartmouth with my partner and our two dogs, Ruby and Chevy.

I am excited to be joining the Shambhala team, whose values and commitment to equity are so closely aligned with my own

A physical education specialist with a passion for well being, nature and bringing back quality play through purposeful movement! I completed both my B.Kin and B.ed at Acadia University and began my career teaching Physical education and Outdoor education in Saskatoon followed by a year in New Brunswick. I am thrilled at the opportunity to bring what I’ve experienced back to NS.

I spend a lot of my time completely immersed in nature searching for waterfalls, hiking, rock climbing and I can also usually be found climbing trees or in my garden! In my learning space I hope to create an openness and opportunities for students to confidently express themselves as movers. I’m looking forward to being a part of the Shambhala Suns community!