Educational Staff

  • Administration

    • Mrs. Julie Lee
      Principal

      Mrs. Julie Lee

      Principal

      Mrs. Lee received her Bachelor of Education degree and her Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Inquiry-Based Learning from the University of British Columbia. She has been an educator for over 25 years in the CISVA. Her experience ranges from teaching Kindergarten to Grade 5, Learning Support, high school French and Administration. Mrs. Lee’s leadership philosophy is rooted in her strong Catholic faith and her dedication to Catholic education. With a keen understanding of the importance of nurturing young hearts and minds, she is passionate about guiding students on a journey of intellectual discovery and moral development. She is honoured to be a proud member of the St. James & St. Ann’s School Community.

    • Miss Sheena Lewis
      Vice Principal & Learning Resources Coordinator

      Miss Sheena Lewis

      Vice Principal & Learning Resources Coordinator

      Miss Lewis received her Bachelor of Arts degree at Simon Fraser University and her Bachelor of Education degree at UBC. In addition, Miss Lewis has received specific training in a number of areas including early intervention, assessment, autism, behaviour, learning disabilities, multiple intelligences, and multi-sensory teaching. Miss Lewis has worked both as a classroom teacher and a learning resource specialist first at Brighouse School and then at Queen of All Saints Elementary. For the next 10 years, she worked as an Educational Consultant at the Superintendent’s Office of the CISVA, with a special focus on learning resource, literacy and early intervention. Miss Lewis is a long-term member of the BC Council for Exceptional Children, and has served on the Executive Board for the last 10 years. She joined the staff of St. James & St. Ann’s School in September 2017.

    • Mrs. Marilyn Dlugan
      School Secretary

      Mrs. Marilyn Dlugan

      School Secretary

      Mrs. Dlugan has her diploma as a Professional Administrative Assistant, graduating in 1993. Mrs. Dlugan has over 19 years professional experience in office management, clerical, and customer service roles. Mrs. Dlugan is a product of our Catholic school system and a proud parent of a child enrolled in the CISVA school system. She has been a member of the St. James & St. Ann’s School staff since August of 2013.

    • Mrs. Brigette Wimmer
      Bookkeeper

      Mrs. Brigette Wimmer

      Bookkeeper

      Mrs. Wimmer received her certificate in Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation in 2002.  She has over 25 years of experience in accounting and in the financial industry.  Mrs. Wimmer has been involved with St. James & St. Ann’s School since its inception in 1985.  She first was a volunteer for many years, became a parent at the school in 2011 when her oldest child entered Kindergarten, and now as a member of the staff since August 2018.

  • Classroom Teachers

    • Mrs. Brenda Di Palma
      Kindergarten

      Mrs. Brenda Di Palma

      Kindergarten

      Mrs. Di Palma received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University with a major in English and a minor in Kinesiology before going into Education. Mrs. Di Palma has over 5 years of experience in the CISVA with a variety of assignments and most recently Kindergarten. Mrs. Di Palma has completed the Google For Education Fundamentals Training and is an OG Classroom Educator.

    • Ms. Sophia Bouwman
      K/1

      Ms. Sophia Bouwman

      K/1
      Ms. Bouwman received her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from Trinity Western University, specializing in Human Kinetics and Catholic Studies. She is very excited to join the St. James and St. Ann’s team this year!
    • Mrs. Rita Wakely
      Grade 2 & 7 Teacher

      Mrs. Rita Wakely

      Grade 2 & 7 Teacher

      Mrs. Wakely received her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of British Columbia. Mrs. Wakely has taught a variety of grades from Kindergarten to Grade 10 in such locations as Prince Rupert, Nanaimo and Abbotsford. Mrs. Wakely has gained a wealth of experience in her more than 25 years of teaching. Mrs. Wakely has completed the Google For Education Fundamentals Training.

    • Mrs. Tara Gaudet
      Grade 2 Teacher

      Mrs. Tara Gaudet

      Grade 2 Teacher

      Mrs. Tara Gaudet received her Bachelor of Music – Major in Oboe Performance and Education from the University of Victoria. In addition she studied musical theatre at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario. Prior to St. James she taught in the Integrated Fine Arts School for Abbotsford School District as a music teacher and Grade One classroom teacher. Mrs Gaudet has been teaching at St. James Elementary for 6 years and thoroughly enjoys being a part of this community. Mrs. Gaudet has her Orton Gillingham classroom certification.

    • Mrs. Caroline Winship
      Grade 3 Teacher

      Mrs. Caroline Winship

      Grade 3 Teacher

      Mrs. Caroline Winship received her Bachelor of General Studies from the university of the Fraser Valley. She received her Bachelor of Education from Trinity Western University. She has over 10 years of teaching experience and has taught grades K through 7. She is excited to be teaching grade 3 at St. James & St. Ann’s school.

    • Mrs. Laura Hunger
      Grade 4 Teacher

      Mrs. Laura Hunger

      Grade 4 Teacher

      Mrs. Hunger received both her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of British Columbia. Mrs. Hunger has been teaching at St. James & St. Ann’s School since 1998, and during that time she has taught Grades 2, 3 and 4, as well as Grade 1 French. Mrs. Hunger has completed the Google For Education Fundamentals Training and is an OG Classroom Educator.

    • Mrs. Zuzana Lavrikova
      Grade 5 Teacher

      Mrs. Zuzana Lavrikova

      Grade 5 Teacher

      Mrs. Lavrikova received her Master’s degree in Education from John Amos Comenius University in Slovakia. She also studied in Sheffield, England. She has been teaching a variety of grades from Grade 1 to Grade 10 for more than 20 years. Within CISVA she started at St. John Brebeuf and she is very excited to be part of our team as the Grade Five teacher. Mrs. Lavrikova has completed the Google For Education Fundamentals Training.

    • Mrs. Lauren Schwagele
      Grade 6 Teacher

      Mrs. Lauren Schwagele

      Grade 6 Teacher

      Mrs. Schwagele received her Bachelor of Music- Major in Vocal Performance and Education from Kwantlen University. She then studied at the University of British Columbia attaining her Bachelor of Education. Mrs. Schwagele has taught in the Catholic School System for Three years and before classroom teaching was an Educational Assistant for Two years. She is very excited to join the St. James and St. Ann’s team and is looking forward to teaching Grade Six again!

    • Mrs. Christy Dos Santos
      Grade 7 Teacher

      Mrs. Christy Dos Santos

      Grade 7 Teacher

      Mrs. Christy Dos Santos received her Bachelor of Education from UBC and her Masters in Educational Leadership from Trinity Western University. She has taught students from Grades Kindergarten to Grade 11 and she loves the community here at St. James School. Mrs. Dos Santos loves the learning and the fun that happens in the Grade 7 classroom and she cherishes all of the joy that comes from being a part of this school community.

  • Specialist Teachers

    • Mrs. Rebecca Baker
      Physical Education

      Mrs. Rebecca Baker

      Physical Education

      Mrs. Baker received her Bachelor of Kinesiology with a minor in Biology from University College of the Fraser Valley and her Bachelor of Education from Simon Fraser University. She has taught Physical Education and Science to grades 8-12 at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, as well as, Physical Education to Grades K-7 at St. James & St. Ann’s Elementary. After taking a break from teaching to stay at home with her children, Mrs. Baker is excited to be back teaching Physical Education at St. James and St. Ann’s school.

    • Mr. Michael Sorley
      French/ADST/Library

      Mr. Michael Sorley

      French/ADST/Library

      Mr. Sorley received his Bachelor of Education from Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor of Arts from Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California. Prior to teaching, Mr. Sorley worked for 11 years as an Educational Assistant in the CISVA. He has been teaching at St. James and St. Ann’s School since 2020. He is grateful to be a part of this wonderful community and is excited to be teaching French and Applied Design, Skills and Technologies (ADST). Mr. Sorley is also running the library this year.

  • Learning Resources Department

    • Miss Sheena Lewis
      Vice Principal & Learning Resources Coordinator

      Miss Sheena Lewis

      Vice Principal & Learning Resources Coordinator

      Miss Lewis received her Bachelor of Arts degree at Simon Fraser University and her Bachelor of Education degree at UBC. In addition, Miss Lewis has received specific training in a number of areas including early intervention, assessment, autism, behaviour, learning disabilities, multiple intelligences, and multi-sensory teaching. Miss Lewis has worked both as a classroom teacher and a learning resource specialist first at Brighouse School and then at Queen of All Saints Elementary. For the next 10 years, she worked as an Educational Consultant at the Superintendent’s Office of the CISVA, with a special focus on learning resource, literacy and early intervention. Miss Lewis is a long-term member of the BC Council for Exceptional Children, and has served on the Executive Board for the last 10 years. She joined the staff of St. James & St. Ann’s School in September 2017.

    • Mrs. Larissa Cobo
      Learning Resources Teacher

      Mrs. Larissa Cobo

      Learning Resources Teacher

      Mrs. Cobo received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Latin American Studies, before moving on to receive her Bachelor of Education at UBC.  She then went on to complete an integrated Diploma at UBC with a focus on teaching Learning Resource and English Language Learning (ELL).  Mrs. Cobo has taught both Learning Resource and ELL in elementary, as well as high school settings while in the Burnaby School District for several years.  She is very excited to be part of the educational team at St. James & St. Ann’s School, after deciding to join the CISVA.

    • Mrs. Marie Doyle
      Learning Resource Teacher

      Mrs. Marie Doyle

      Learning Resource Teacher

      Mrs. Doyle received her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of British Columbia. She has taught for 25 years at St. James & St. Ann’s School. As an experienced teacher, Mrs. Doyle has taught a variety of grades from Kindergarten to Grade 3. Mrs. Doyle has completed the Google For Education Fundamentals Training and is an OG Classroom Educator.

  • Special Education Assistants

    At St. James & St. Ann’s School we are blessed to have a number of Educational Assistants (EAs) who work to support students to meet their full potential. Whether working one-on-one with a student, with a small group, or helping to support students in a class, the EAs are an integral part of the educational team at our school. Under the direction of the Learning Resources Coordinator, and working with the teachers, the EAs enable students to meet curricular goals in a variety of creative ways, and help students acquire life skills as they move on in the grades and towards independence.