Educators
Who We Are
Saplings educators have shifted their practice toward an ongoing, constantly evolving model of knowledge creation through intentionally attending to the conversations, interests, and needs of students. By paying attention to these emergent moments and the multiple ways in which students can explore their learning, educators welcome multiple perspectives, complexity, and diversity by creating a program that is flexible, responsive, and relevant to our local community. By engaging with the complexities of their practice in a spirit of experimentation, children and adults think and learn together, ultimately guiding one another toward thinking deeply, responding respectfully, and building communities.
Saplings believes that clear communication between educators, parents, and students is an integral part of an educational experience. Educators celebrate, document, and display student work to make learning visible so families may share in the learning journey, and students may gain the skills of self and peer evaluation.Through collaborating to create an evolving student gallery as the year progresses, students can begin to understand the connections between projects, revisit their ideas, and learn to remain open to renovating their thoughts and responses as they go.
HEATHER FRASER
BA, BCYC, RECE, MEd
Program Director & Forest School Educator
A mother of two, I am passionate about working with children and have a love for the outdoors. I have taught in a number of early childhood settings including toddler, preschool, and school-aged programs. I have a passion for nature and I am excited to share that passion with others around me. I spend my time gardening with my two children and exploring the beautiful trails and beaches around our home. I feel that it is so important to get outside whatever the weather and connect with the world around us.
My academic background includes a BA in Child and Youth Care from the University of Victoria, as well as an Early Childhood Certificate. I continue to take many professional development courses in Early Childhood Education to keep up with current information in the field.
My passion for outdoor play and the importance of connecting our children with nature inspired me to build Saplings Outdoor Program. Through our nature based school, I hope to further share my appreciation for nature and a compassion for all living things.
Pronouns: she/her.
CECILY HERAS
BA, BEd, MEd
Head of School, BC Certified Teacher & Forest Educator
In my work as an educator and a mother of three, I draw upon strong personal relationships with both the people and the places around me. Having completed undergraduate studies at UBC and a graduate degree at SFU, I have developed a particular interest in critical and visual literacy, ecological sustainability and education, imaginative educational practices, formative assessment techniques, and in-depth learning and thinking skills. I strive to support students in becoming aware of their own knowledge, thoughts, and motivations in order to share their ideas and creativity with confidence.
I passionately believe that education should help students gain a sense about the goings on in our world, how it is, and how it came to be this way. I also believe that establishing a connection to nature is one way to help humanity to realize a sustainable future for all. I hope to cultivate a love of learning, based in freedom and intellectual security to give students a feeling of accomplishment and a sense of the interconnectedness of everything.
Now rooted in the beautiful North Shore, in my spare time, I can be found in the garden.
Pronouns: she/her.
ABBIE MEMBERY
BA, BEd
BC Certified Teacher & Forest Educator
Hello! I'm Abbie Membery, and I'm thrilled to be a teacher at Saplings Nature School. Teaching in a natural setting combines my passion for education and the great outdoors, and I couldn't be more excited about it.
I believe that nature is a limitless classroom for learning and growth. With a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Education, I'm equipped with the knowledge and skills to foster curiosity, hands-on experiences, and a love for lifelong learning in my students.
When I'm not teaching, you'll find me hiking with my dog, training for marathons, or enjoying a refreshing iced coffee. Time in nature energizes and inspires me, running teaches me discipline and goal-setting, and a good cup of iced coffee keeps me refreshed.
I am excited to bring my passion for connecting children with nature and nurturing young minds at Saplings Nature School.
Pronouns: she/her.
KATHERINE DJACIC
BA, BEd, MEd
BC Certified Teacher & Forest Educator
Growing up in a busy city like Toronto, my nature-loving parents tried to get us outside of the city as much as possible on weekends. It wasn't until a summer of working in Jasper National Park, however, that my love and passion for the mountains began. I completed my Bachelor of Arts with a major in French and Bachelor of Education at Queen's University before moving to Vancouver to start my career.
My time at Queen's and later in the mountains has shown me the value of spending time with like-minded people in outdoor spaces. I foster a sense of community within my classes, ensuring that all voices are heard and that students feel safe and free to take risks and ask questions.
I want to use my role as an educator to encourage more people to learn with and from the land and hope to give people a sense of belonging in these spaces. I can't wait to work at Saplings and to combine my love of working with children and the outdoors.
Pronouns: she/her.
ALLEGRA KING
Educational Assistant & Forest Educator
Pronouns: she/her.
Cailey Armstrong
BBA in Business Administration and MPH
Educational Assistant & Forest Educator
It took me many years of searching, several career switches, and a move to Spain before I finally landed in the field of education. In Spain, I worked as an Auxiliar de Conversación (Education Assistant) at a bilingual pre-school/elementary school and from the very first day in the classroom I was hooked! I held this position for 3 school years, working with students of diverse educational needs and English as additional language learners.
Since that fated first day in the classroom, I have also worked as a private tutor to pre-school/elementary students for 4 school years, as a teacher at a learning centre in Reading, Math and Writing for nearly a year and as a drop-in instructor of a bike education course at local elementary schools (as part of my last position).
Prior to my life as an educator, I earned an undergraduate degree in Business Administration (Accounting), with a minor in Music Performance, and a Master of Public Health degree, with a concentration on climate change policy. I also spent many years working in business administration, accounting and at several environmental and public health organizations in Canada, the United States, New Zealand and Australia.
I'm thrilled for the opportunity to work at Saplings, as it combines several of my passions: teaching and nature / our environment. I look forward to continuing to grow as an educator, and I am grateful for the privilege of being part of our students' young lives.
Pronouns: she/her.
ELLIE LUMSDEN
Educational Assistant & Forest Educator
Pronouns: she/her.
JULIA MILLS
BFA in Visual Arts, Expressive Arts Therapist
Educational Assistant & Forest Educator
I grew up on Quadra Island where trees, rocks, creeks and fields were my playgrounds. Whether alone or with friends they provided the landscape of my play and learning. My love of the natural world only grew as the adults around me shared their knowledge and love of plants, animals, ecology, and farming. Four days a week we’d take our speed boat over to Read Island where I attended a Surge Narrows Elementary school from grades 2-6. On these commutes we met all sorts of ocean residents, such as porpoises, jelly fish and sea lions. Just second to the ocean and the forest was the fact that my school had only 13 kids, one teacher, and a few community volunteers. The experiences I had during this time are still vivid in memory.
Thinking back on my childhood full of nature and free-spirited knowledgable adults I am filled with gratitude. I know I wouldn’t be the person I am today if they hadn’t been there for me.
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I now have a BFA in Visual Art from UBC, and a certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy (EXAT) from Langara College. During my EXAT training I did a practicum in the North Vancouver School district doing therapy with students from K-7. I strongly believe that space to explore and engage with imagination is integral to children’s growth and development. Art therapy for kids is not just painting and drawing it’s all presentations of imaginative play, and what better place to engage with our imagination than the forest?
This is why I am so excited to be a teacher at Saplings. I’ve been working as an EA and forest educator since October 2021, and I can’t wait to see what adventures the forest and the Saplings community will share with me in our next school year.
Pronouns: she/her.
LUPITA AVELAR
Educational Assistant & Forest Educator
Pronouns: she/her.
SAM KIRK
Educational Assistant & Forest Educator
TREVOR FUNK
Educational Assistant & Forest Educator
Written works by our Educators:
All of the below links are clickable.
By Heather Fraser and Nancy van Groll
Our Board Members.
Heather Fraser
President
Belva Stone
Vice-President
