Our Team | CCCSchool Victoria

Jake Humphries — Interim Head of School

Mr. Humphries comes from a family of educators. His grandfather started his career as a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse on the Saskatchewan prairie in 1912. His father was the principal of a small K-12 school on the Kootenay Lake for 30 years. Jake taught and worked as an administrator in both public and independent schools in BC for 39 years before retiring briefly. He returns to the world of education as the Interim Head of School at Christ Church Cathedral School. Having worked in several regions of BC, Jake has a wide experience in educational settings. Generally, he says he endorses the "smaller is better" approach to elementary schooling. Jake's spouse, Dr. Joan Humphries is a professor in the UVic Nursing program. His three adult children are all trained musicians and all have performed in the Cathedral.

"Christ Church Cathedral School offers its students a unique opportunity to study and learn in a supportive and inspiring environment. The feeling of community in the school is abundantly obvious in every teaching space and in every extra-curricular activity. The connection to the Cathedral is an essential element in a student's experience and the quality of teaching is excellent. Lucky are the students who are privileged to attend Christ Church Cathedral School."

Tobi Blue — Deputy Head of School

Working with kids is Tobi's favourite thing to do! She has a deep appreciation for watching students actively engage in their own growth and development, finding excitement in learning through inquiry and hands-on experiences. Tobi has been a part of the Cathedral School community for more than 20 years and loves teaching in the classroom. As she steps into a full-time role as Assistant Head of School, she will continue to seize those opportunities to collaborate with a talented and experienced team of teachers in various classes.

The Assistant Head of School role is a demanding position but Tobi embraces the challenge, and opportunity to work closely with every student, family, and teacher in the school community. Throughout her tenure at the school, Tobi has witnessed and actively been a part of numerous changes. However, one constant theme remains - the unwavering focus on the students as the top priority and a strong sense of community that feels like an extension of family.

Cindy Hayley — Director of Finance and Operations

Cindy M. Hayley is a professional accountant, educator, former business owner, and consultant. She has a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) from Wycliffe College, Toronto and Bachelor of Science degrees in both Accounting and Business Education from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, USA (formerly the Oklahoma Teacher’s College). Cindy holds a US accounting designation as a Certified Public Accountant and formerly taught university-level accounting and business-related courses in the United States. Over the years, Cindy’s career has focused on implementing, training, and developing policies and procedures for the accounting systems of a variety of industries.

Cindy’s personal interests include a passion for life-long learning (she is a voracious reader), developing and leading adult faith formation courses and workshops, and being a retreat speaker.

Kate Cook — Executive Administrative Assistant / Admissions Coordinator

Kate is originally from Toronto, and has over 10+ years of administrative and recruitment experience, primarily within the healthcare sector. Her role at the school involves working closely with the Head of School and the Director of Finance to support the realization of the school's strategic goals.

As a dependable and efficient professional, she leads and oversees the operation of the school office, quickly becoming the go-to person for various needs. Kate's dynamic energy allows her to handle multiple responsibilities with ease, embracing the challenges that arise while ensuring the smooth operation of CCCS.

Kate has been transitioning to Island life from the bustling cosmopolitan of Toronto and has been enjoying exploring Victoria’s natural beauty and cultural flair with her husband, now stationed at CFB Esquimalt.

Todd Fitzsimmons — Lux Mundi (Out-of-School Care Program) Coordinator & Facilities Manager

Todd has worked at Cathedral School since 1994 when there were only 46 students.

He runs the Out-of-School Care Program, which keeps him busy all year round. He loves sports and keeping active and enjoys teaching children about how sports and fitness are important in all our lives. Working with children keeps him young at heart, as he has been doing it since he was 18 years old, starting in Winnipeg, MB.

“My biggest joy is watching the students at Cathedral School grow up and accomplish new things. If you can’t find me at School, I’m usually playing some sport or limping around.”

Richard Crellin — Administrative Assistant

Richard joined our administrative team in November 2022. After graduating from the University of Victoria, he spent 11 years overseas working in various roles in various learning environments with students of all ages. Since returning to Canada, he has worked as an administrator in hospitality and outbound travel.

He is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful community here at Cathedral School. He looks forward to supporting teachers, families, and students in their educational endeavours.

Caitlin Wynne — Childcare Director (ECE/ITE)

Caitlin has been working in the field of Early Childhood Education for the past 15 years. She firmly believes that building meaningful connections through positive communication is essential to the growth and development of happy, healthy children. Caitlin is passionate about supporting the children she works with, the JK Educators, and her community. She enjoys spending time with her husband and children at different neighbourhood parks when not working.

FAIRFIELD JK STAFF:

Tana Thomas – Early Childhood Educator

Tana has worked with children and families as an ECE for the past 11 years. During this time, she has worked with various ages and settled into the preschool age. Tana enjoys anything to do with nature and enjoys teaching the children about plants and gardening. You can most likely find her at the beach when Tana is not at the centre.

Lanna Duffy – Early Childhood Educator

Lanna has been working in the childcare field for 20 years. She loves working with preschool-aged children. She enjoys reading stories and doing circle time. She loves taking the children for walks to the beach and to our neighbourhood parks. Lanna enjoys spending time outside of the JK with her two children and friends.

Cindy Potts — Early Childhood Educator

Cindy has been working with the JK children since finishing her practicum in the summer of 2014. She has always been passionate about working with children and helping them learn and grow. She is particularly passionate about supporting children with diverse needs and children who are Neurodievrse. She enjoys being outside, walking the beach, hiking, and camping with her family in her free time.

Claudine Grimminger – Early Childhood Educator Assistant

Claudine first joined the JK as a substitute educator. She then moved into a contract position with the school and is now a full-time member of the Fairfield JK team. Claudine enjoys watching the children learn and grow and planning activities to support their development.

Assistant Aimee Lamarre - Early Childhood Educator Assistant

Bio coming soon!

GORDON HEAD JK STAFF:

Jane Seo – Early Childhood Educator/ITE/SNE – Team Lead

Jane joined our centre in October of 2021. Since joining us, she has shown tremendous leadership in supporting our Gordon Head centre's children, families and staff. She is deeply passionate about caring for children, which is evident through her practice.

Sean Solberg — Early Childhood Educator Assistant

Sean has been working with children and families in one form or another for over twenty years. He has supported and worked with infants all the way up to teenagers. Sean enjoys doing art, music, movement and anything creative with children. Sean has won awards for his dedication and community service to children and their families. Sean enjoys spending time with his two children.

Jenny Li – Early Childhood Educator

Jenny joined our team in January 2020 when the Gordon Head centre opened. She has tremendously supported the children and their families at the centre. Jenny cares deeply about the healthy growth and development of children. She is a dedicated educator who is skilled in her practice. Jenny enjoys spending time on the weekends with her three children.

Joy Liang – Early Childhood Educator Assistant

Bio coming soon!

Kindergarten — Jean Hollingworth

Kindergarten really is the best grade! Each day holds awe and wonders about the surrounding world. I am so lucky to witness special discoveries from our little learners every day. I started teaching at Cathedral School in 2005 as the grade 4 teacher and then moved on to manage the Junior Kindergarten. I am ecstatic to be in the happiest grade on earth: Kindergarten! I believe that creative learning is key to my program. In our classroom, we try to be creative in all that we do and use nature as our motivation. Come and learn with us!

Grade 1 — Micaela Winter

I continue to enjoy teaching at CCCS! I have been teaching for 11 years, and for 10 of these years, I’ve spent teaching at CCCS. I’ve taught various grades, including grades 5, 6 and 7, at a Montessori school in Prince George; at Christ Church, I’ve worked at the Junior Kindergarten school, taught Primary French, Religious Studies, Grade 1 and Kindergarten. I enjoy being active and being outside. When I am not teaching in the classroom, I can often be found hiking or backpacking.

As a teacher, I believe I am responsible for infusing outdoor and indoor teaching methods so that students can connect to the natural world. In addition, I believe that the more opportunities students have to experience nature in a positive setting, the more they will learn to respect nature and foster environmental awareness. The primary age program nurtures and supports the development of children’s social and emotional growth and instills a love of learning. I especially enjoy teaching primary-age students!

Grade 1/2 – Jade Perks

Ms. Perks joined Cathedral School in February 2022 as a TOC after moving to Victoria from Edinburgh, Scotland. She now teaches Grade 1/2 here at CCCS. Before moving, Ms. Perks taught in several elementary schools around Edinburgh and Glasgow, having graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2015. She is keenly interested in literacy development and enjoys running and hiking in her spare time.

Grade 2 – Michelle Kennedy

I have been teaching at Christ Church Cathedral School since 2000. I grew up on Newfoundland's east coast and moved west after graduating from university. Throughout my time at CCCS, there has been a lot of growth and development, but it is still a wonderful, caring and supportive learning community. This is why I love teaching here so much! I enjoyed teaching Kindergarten for many years and am happy working in grade 2. I feel young children bring so much enthusiasm and creativity to every situation. Every day presents new adventures and opportunities for learning!

Grade 3 – Sarah Fryer

I am thrilled to continue being part of the Christ Church Cathedral School community teaching Grade 3. I worked for many years as an opera and concert soloist (mezzo-soprano), overlapping my singing for the past ten years with various supporting roles at three different Independent schools, one in England and two here in Victoria. I attended an Anglican cathedral school from age 10-18 and was also associated with the Winchester Cathedral community in the UK for many years before moving to Canada in 2001. I hold a degree in Theology from Exeter University and a B.Ed from UVic. I look forward to another year of sharing my love of books, music, and nature with my students.

Grade 4 – Anne-Marie O'Donnell

Anne-Marie O’Donnell comes to CCCS after teaching Kindergarten – Gr. 2 for many years. She is excited to be the Grade 4 teacher and looks forward to connecting with her students and providing them with a welcoming environment where they feel safe to take risks in their learning. She has a passion for literacy and building community in her classroom. An avid animal lover, Anne-Marie also enjoys cooking and reading in her spare time.

The true strength in our classroom lies in the collaboration of learners, not in the knowledge of one expert. ~ Author unknown.

Grade 5 – Heather Branscombe & Kristin Meissner

Kristin Meissner: “15 years and counting! I am blessed to work at such a gem of a school — the staff, students and parent community are the heart of what makes CCCS so special. One of my highlights every year is the much-anticipated bike trip. I look forward to keeping this tradition rolling in grade 5!”

Heather Branscombe: Coming Soon!

Grade 6 Homeroom - Kirsten Salmon
Language Arts and Social Studies 6, Science/Tech/Careers 6–7, Tech 8

Kirsten Salmon has taught in the middle school with CCCS for over 12 years. She enjoys her role as the grade 6 homeroom teacher and strives to make her classroom a welcoming and calm place for learning. She loves books, creative projects, and incorporating STEAM into lessons. She continues to lead our community club in many fundraisers and events, helping support those in need in our community. She also helps ensure our school year is well documented by designing the annual yearbook.

Grade 7 Homeroom – Ann Chow
Social Studies and Language Arts 7 and 8

Born in Bogota, Colombia, and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Ann started her first career in parish work/youth ministry while earning an M.A. in Biblical Studies from the University of Toronto. Luckily, she realized that education was her real passion. After obtaining a Postgraduate Degree in Education, Ann taught English, religion, and history in middle and high schools in Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Singapore. She is elated to now be the CCCS Grade 7 homeroom teacher and strives to create a caring learning environment where students feel they are significant and belong. Go, go, Grade 7!

Grade 8 – Lara Salchert

Bio coming soon!

French K – 8 and Librarian - Josie Gair

Bonjour! I am a born and raised Calgarian, but I came to the coast in 2010 and have yet to leave! After graduating from the University of Victoria in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Education, I was hired on as the French teacher at CCCS. I love working with kids of all ages and colleagues who inspire, teach me and make me laugh every day. I come from a background in French immersion and know how valuable a second language can be. I am passionate about helping students realize their true potential in French class and life. I love my position teaching across so many grades because I get to collaborate and connect with so many teachers, EAs, children, and families.

Art Teacher – Sandi Henrich

Sandi Henrich has been teaching art classes and developing art programs throughout the community for many years, and she is delighted to be the art teacher at CCCS. Her educational background is in visual art and art history, and her teaching approach is centred on encouraging creative thinking and self-expression through process-based art exploration.

Music Specialists – Kathy Stacey Music K-5 & Ryan Oliver Band 6-8

Kathy has been the primary music specialist at CCCS since 2008 and also the Choir Director for the Primary choirs. In addition to her music degree, Kathy studied cello and piano at the Royal College of Music in London, England.

Kathy has always been passionate about teaching music to children, owning her own full-service children’s music school in Nanaimo for fifteen years. There she was the assistant principal cellist in the Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra for nine years and the Education Consultant for the Symphony for five years, compiling the educational materials for the Children’s Education Concert Series.

Ryan Oliver is a Juno-nominated saxophonist and music educator who has performed and taught worldwide. He has appeared as a clinician and adjudicator for numerous music festivals, including the West Coast Jazz Festival and the BC Music Educators Association. Ryan worked professionally as a saxophonist for over 20 years in Toronto and New York City before returning to the West Coast. He has toured throughout the world with the legendary Canadian jazz group the Shuffle Demons and has been featured on CBC and JazzFM. He was a nominee for the Prix De Jazz Award at the Montreal Jazz Festival and for the 2022 Western Canadian Music Awards Jazz Musician of the Year. Ryan holds a Masters Degree in Music from Rutgers University and is delighted to be a faculty member at CCCS and to have the opportunity to encourage his students to have fun making music.

Head of Student Support - Kyla Kopperud

Being one of the newer recruits to the Cathedral School, it still amazes me each and every day how warm, welcoming and supportive this community is towards one another! After spending 20+ years coordinating support programs for students with special educational needs in Europe and Southeast Asia, I am excited to bring my perspective on inclusive education to CCCS. I hold a B.Ed in Special Needs from the University of Saskatchewan and an M.Ed from the Freie Universitaet Berlin. I am passionate about multi-tiered support systems, particularly the relationship between well-being and academic achievement. From collaborating with colleagues, families and community agencies to providing 1:1 assistance in helping to remove barriers to learning, my job is as diverse as our learning community and my family, and I are very happy to be part of it!

Physical Education Specialist/ Social Studies 6 – James Rhodes

James has lived in Victoria his whole life and attended Oak Bay High School. He then went on to the University of Victoria, where he graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Education degree. James played for UVic’s varsity soccer team for five years, ending with winning a national championship. He has a passion for sports and physical activity, which is evident through his years of playing and coaching soccer, basketball, track and field, and baseball. When James isn’t involved with playing or coaching sports, he can be found walking the beaches and many trails with his wife Mikaila, kids Niah and Tayla, and dog Giggs. He is also an advocate of outdoor activities and takes every opportunity to go camping, skiing, and fishing. James is currently completing his Masters in Educational Leadership and Management.

Head of Teaching & Learning– Jessica Beloded

Jess is originally from Victoria, British Columbia. She is a proud Peruvian/Canadian who has made it her life’s mission to travel the world and work in diverse and inspirational educational contexts. Jessica has spent the last two decades working in Canada, Australia, Germany, and Thailand. She strives to individualize her approaches to teaching and learning in order to meet the needs of whomever she is working with. Additionally, sprinkling social-emotional learning and mindfulness into each day is a priority, so those around her can learn tools and strategies to support their own development. Jess has worked in both Primary and Secondary contexts throughout the years, successfully tackling various roles as a teacher, leader and board member. She has a BA in Education from the University of Victoria, and a MA in Educational Leadership & Management from Royal Roads University in Victoria. She is here with her husband Zhenya, and her two children Mia and Ellie. Jessica’s passions are cooking (without a recipe), outdoor activities such as rock climbing and paddle boarding, personal fitness, swimming and travelling the world. Her personal goal in life is to strive for a healthy body, a balanced mind, and a good heart.

Religious Education / Faith Development – Ms. Kate Newman

Kate Newman has been teaching faith and arts to children for 20 years. She is the principal developer for the Anglican Church of Canada’s Sunday School curriculum, Compendium of the Church Mice. Kate was baptized and confirmed at Christ Church Cathedral. Kate has her Bachelor of Fine Arts, Masters of Special Education, Master of Arts in Theological Studies,

and is currently a PhD Candidate in Curriculum and Instruction at UVIC.

Juliet Beckwith

Joining us for her second year at the Cathedral School, Juliet works in the Kindergarten and Grade 6 classes, as well as teaching Grade 4 social-emotional learning. With a background in classical music, Juliet has been a part of the Cathedral community for five years as a member of the Cathedral Choir. Her interests and skills are in music, language arts, and social-emotional learning. Juliet is currently also beginning a career as a birth doula! Outside of school and work, you will find her playing the cello and guitar, out cycling, or curled up with a book and a warm drink.

Brenda Morie

Brenda’s work with children has spanned several decades and multiple continents. She has a joyful spirit and brings many gifts to work with children, including her certification in two leading International music programs and her experiences as a professional multi-instrumentalist musician. Brenda’s work experience in Montessori Pedagogy, International Baccalaureate schools, and Christ Church Cathedral School demonstrates her love and commitment for children wherever she goes.

She was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and has raised a daughter and regularly volunteered throughout her education. Raising a younger brother with special needs lends well to her work with special needs children and those with disabilities, including Paralympic skiers. She has also produced a CD 12 school and church choirs to raise funds for New Life Homes, an orphanage which took her to Kenya.

Aisha Mullen

I have been a member of the Cathedral School community, on and off, for almost 20 years. I am a school alumni, having attended middle school at Cathedral School. I volunteered at Lux Mundi Summer Camp as a teenager and became an after-school care worker when I was 18. A few years later, I was hired as an Educational Assistant and have worked in that role for many years. My passion for educating and nurturing has grown immensely over the years. While I like working with all ages, I particularly enjoy working with the early primary years. I value social-emotional learning and educational approaches that embrace diversity and inclusivity. I believe in education based on connection and strive to individualize and differentiate based on the needs of each student. I greatly enjoy working in Special Education and pride myself in my ability to support all children in their educational journeys.

Allie Szwender

I attended CCCS as a child and now have been working at the school for nine years, starting with the summer program before moving into an EA role. I enjoy the social-emotional aspect of working with kids and helping them develop not only academically but personally, which has led me to complete my Masters of Education Counselling Psychology. I consider myself a light-hearted individual who enjoys the outdoors, sports and fostering an inclusive, diverse and safe environment for all.

Katie (Hyunwoo) Kim

Katie was born in Seoul, South Korea where she studied and grew up. She moved from Korea to Canada in 2007. Before coming to Victoria, Kaite most recently worked in the Greater Saskatoon Catholic School District. She has a creative mindset and likes to share her creativity with the students. She has a bachelor's degree in fine arts and chemical engineering. She loves working with students and children and helping them learn to their fullest potential. She enjoys exploring new places and learning. She’s also willing to try new things and try her best to do so. She is ecstatic to be working at CCCS!

Adrien Leduc

Originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Adrien Leduc holds a Bachelor of Arts in History degree from Carleton University and is currently pursuing his Education Assistant certificate. With more than five years of experience working and volunteering with numerous community service organizations and more than ten years of experience working as an educator in various capacities (from private tutor to youth soccer coach), Adrien brings positivity, dedication, and enthusiasm to the CCCS team.

Sarah Dillon

Sarah grew up in the Northwest Territories and went to the University of Victoria where she obtained bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Education. She moved to Beijing as part of a 1-year teaching contract and loved it so much that she stayed for 17 years. She taught in a private Kindergarten before she and some of her friends opened a school of their own.

When she moved back to Canada, she chose to settle in Victoria to be near her family. Her oldest nephew is currently a student at CCCS. She has two pets and she loves to read.

Leone Leighton

Leone comes to us from ON., where she graduated with a double major, and then earned an honours degree in Education from
U of T. After working as a high school English teacher in Calgary for a few years, Leone was drawn West to Victoria, where she started a family and a tutoring business. Helping students with learning challenges to succeed was extremely rewarding, and she found she was particularly good at engaging the most reluctant of learners. Leone is passionate about our STEM programming and works part-time every morning in our MS with the most dedicated education team. In her spare time, Leone enjoys daily walks in nature with her two dogs, singing and creating music with talented musicians including her daughter, and drawing comical autobiographical cartoons, some of which she has published.

Trevor Zonneveld

Trevor is enjoying his third year at CCCS as an Education Assistant. Trevor enjoys playing games, teaching students, and helping kids realize their full potential. Trevor holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Kinesiology and brings years of experience working with children in various settings. You can find him outside on the playground after school in Lux Mundi most days.

Patricio Espinoza

Patricio joined CCCS in September 2010 as an EA. He holds a Education Assistant and Community Support certificate.

Patricio has worked with all age groups at the school as well as the Lux Mundi out of school program.

Patricio provides one-on-one support for children to enhance learning skills and he also organizes group activities through music and sports.

Coordinator of the Out of School Care Program "Lux Mundi" – Todd Fitzsimmons

Todd has worked at Cathedral School since 1994.

“My biggest joy is watching the students at Cathedral School grow up and accomplish new things. If you can’t find me at School, I’m usually playing some kind of sports or limping around.”

Assistants

Haley Lamont, Lara Hollingworth, Patricio Espinoza, Trevor Zonneveld, Momoko Sakamoto and other school staff as needed