Our Team
We are a dedicated and experienced teaching team who are passionate about what we do. We recognize and bring forth the potential in every child through clear communication, role modeling, creative and stimulating teaching, and our own commitment to self-reflection and lifelong learning.
We envision an environment where students are nurtured by the guidance and support they receive from their families, teachers, and community.
We envision an environment where students are nurtured by the guidance and support they receive from their families, teachers, and community.
Ms Cathy Bertram
Ms Cathy Bertram is Beachcombers' Principal and Dolphin class teacher. She has twenty years’ experience in education as a teacher and in leadership positions. She is a BC Certified Teacher with a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Arts from Augustan University, with a major in Physical Education. She is exceptionally creative with diverse strengths in mathematics, language arts, visual arts and physical education. Her administrative strengths include health and safety; consultation processes; and policy and procedure. She has an active interest in hiking and camping; art, photography and pottery; meditation and poetry. Ms Bertram is an enthusiastic and warm professional. Her personal values strongly reflect the values we embrace at Beachcombers: kindness and respect for each other and our environment.
Ms Kathy Fredrickson
Ms Kathy Fredrickson is Beachcombers' Administrative and Preschool Manager, and manages admissions. She has a Masters in Workplace and Adult Education, a Bachelor of Applied Human Service Administration and holds an Early Childhood Educator Certificate. Ms Fredrickson has 9 years’ experience as a preschool teacher and manager; and has high-level administrative experience in government including Director of Corporate Planning and Risk Management for Yukon Health. Ms Fredrickson is kind, exceptionally well organized and always has a good sense of humour.
Mr Daniel Booker
Mr Daniel Booker is Beachcombers' Sea Star class teacher. He is a BC Certified Teacher and has 10 years teaching experience. He has a Teacher Certificate in Childhood Education from D’Youville College in Buffalo, New York, and a Bachelor of Arts, with a major in Physical Education from Brock University in Ontario. He was mentored by, and worked closely with, a senior teacher who won a Governor General’s award for excellence in teaching. Mr Booker is an energetic and enthusiastic teacher with a passion for project based learning and encouraging student engagement through inquiry-based learning. His daughter is a Beachcombers Sea Star student.
Ms Heather Wright
Ms Heather Wright is Beachcombers' Sea Otter class teacher. She is a warm, enthusiastic, and inspired teacher with a passion for outdoor education. She has worked as a sea kayak guide, canoe trip leader and wilderness dog-sled guide! She was educated in Scotland and has a Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours); a Masters of Science in Outdoor Education (with Distinction); a Higher National Certificate in Acting and Performance; as well as a BC Teaching Certificate. She has over 10 years teaching experience of which the last two-and-a-half years have been in BC. She is a also a keen musician and enjoys bringing her love of guitar and song into the classroom to share with her students.
Ms Jen Minter
Ms Jen Minter is a Beachcombers' Education Assistant. She is an experienced professional who brings thoughtfulness, care, and compassion to supporting student needs. She has Education Assistant certification, professional development in art therapy and inquiry-based learning, and brings over 10 years experience. She also holds a Class 1 Drivers Licence and has many years experience as a professional driver; she sometimes drives our school bus. We are fortunate to have her on staff. Her son is a graduate of Beachcombers.
Ms Beverley Anderson
Ms Beverley Anderson is a Beachcombers' Preschool Teacher. She is a certified Early Childhood Educator, holds an Infant Toddler and Special Needs Diploma, has United Kingdom National Nursery Examination Board Certification, and Emergency Child First Aid. She has training in the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy, which embraces experiential learning. Ms Anderson has 20 years’ experience in preschool and childcare, including many years as Assistant Director of Preschool and 3 years as Director. She is a kind and knowledgeable preschool teacher.
Ms Emily Martin
Ms Emily Martin is a Beachcombers’ Preschool Teacher. She has experience working with infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children; she has worked in both Reggio and Montessori childcare centres. She is a certified Early Childhood Educator Assistant and is currently completing her Early Childhood Educator Certification. She also has 6 years management experience. Emily is a lovely and warm teacher, beloved by children, and is raising a lovely family of her own. She is currently on leave until spring 2023.
Ms Janet Leblanc
Ms Janet Leblanc is an advisor and teacher-on-call for the Little Oysters Preschool. Janet has 25+ years experience working with children. She is the founding Director of Beachcombers Little Oyster's Preschool, and prior to that, Director of Stepping Stones Montessori in Comox. She also has many years experience working as an Education Assistant. She is a member of Early Childhood Educators of BC, BC Montessori Association, and the International Montessori Council. She has an Early Childhood Educator Certificate and an International Montessori Teaching Diploma. Ms Leblanc is known for her gentle, stimulating, and inspiring approach with children, and her consistently positive, supportive and peaceful outlook.
Ms Donna Walker
Ms Donna Walker is a Beachcombers Academy teacher-on-call and former Beachcombers classroom teacher. She is a BC Certified Teacher with 10 years teaching experience. Ms Walker has a Bachelor of Education in Elementary Curriculum (with Distinction) from the University of Victoria. Ms Walker exudes a warmth and friendliness that encourages children. She is a gifted teacher who is adored by our younger students. She loves gardening, being in nature and enjoys yoga. Her goal as a teacher is to provide a positive and supportive learning environment that encourages students to do their best.
Ms Julie Samson
Ms Julie Samson is a Beachcombers’ teacher-on-call and former Beachcombers classroom teacher. She has a lovely and kind approach with children. She is a BC Certified Teacher with 16+ years teaching experience. She has additional experience working with preschool-aged children and has helped to facilitate children’s art programs for the Comox Valley Art Gallery. She has a Bachelor of Education, a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Diploma in Special Education. Ms Samson has a passion for yoga, hiking, kayaking and gardening. In previous years, Ms Samson worked as a classroom teacher and teacher-on-call for Beachcombers.
Ms Kathleen Radford
Ms Kathleen Radford is a teacher-on-call for the Little Oysters Preschool. She is a trained student support teaching assistant and preschool assistant teacher. She holds an Educational Assistant/Community Support Worker Certificate, an Early Childhood Educator Assistant Certificate, and a Level 1 Early Childhood Education Certificate (Alberta). This talented woman has a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Arts Major. Ms Radford has 8+ years’ experience working with children in preschools and childhood development centres; and 2 years teaching visual arts to children. Kathleen brings a gentle, thoughtful and professional tone to her work.
Ms Zoe Lambert
Ms Zoe Lambert is President of Beachcombers Education Society, a non-profit society that operates Beachcombers Academy & Little Oysters Preschool. She has 20+ years’ experience in the non-profit, cooperative, and community development sectors. She has worked with multi-agency groups, including schools; for indigenous and cultural organizations; and on contract with municipal, provincial and federal agencies. Her strengths lie in team-building, operations management, evaluation, policy development, and consensus building. She has volunteered with Ground and Air Search And Rescue, and trained as a 'Municipal Coordinator' under the BC Provincial Emergency Program. She has been Site Manager in two disaster situations. She is a commercial pilot and formerly worked in the Polar Regions: this gave her exposure to polar environmental-science research and remote eco-tourism. Her son is a graduate of Beachcombers.
Ms Wendy Preston
Ms Wendy Preston is an education specialist and advisor to Beachcombers Academy. She is the founding Principal and former primary teacher at Beachcombers. Ms Preston holds a BC Teachers Certificate, has an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education, and an International Montessori Teaching Diploma. She completed the first part of her Masters in Educational Leadership, but took a break in order to dedicate herself to Beachcombers Academy. She has 18+ years’ experience teaching kindergarten and primary grades in independent schools in Canada and the U.K. Ms Preston has a deeply held belief in quality education. Her son is a graduate of Beachcombers.
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