Faculty
The Glenfir School teaching faculty are specialists who create an inspiring and imaginative learning environment for their students. They strive to understand the uniqueness of each student so that he/she may become a true partner in her/his own learning, both within and outside of the classroom. By coaching or mentoring students in co-curricular activities, teachers acquire an enhanced understanding of their students. Bonds of trust and caring arise between students and their teachers, allowing teachers to support each student as he/she overcomes daily challenges.
Faculty members also recognize the importance of a strong partnership between home and school. Teachers promptly share concerns and successes with parents through a number of channels including: written notes in the students' agendas, interim report cards, term report cards, parent-teacher conferences, via e-mail, and over the telephone. The Glenfir School invites parents to communicate information affecting their son's/daughter's learning, or other matters of concern, directly to the appropriate teacher.
Ms. T. Bootsma:
Jr. Kindergarten Coordinator
Ms. Bootsma earned her Early Childhood Educators certificate and received training in Child Care Counseling in 1990 in Burnaby, B.C. She has extensive experience working in and managing early childhood programs in public and private schools in Vancouver, Naramata, and Penticton, B.C. She loves working with all children and has taken many special needs courses and recently completed the T.E.S.O.L. course. Miss B (as she is known to the children) will be overseeing the Junior Kindergarten program this September and is very enthusiastic and eager to join the team at Glenfir. She enjoys gardening, decorating, pets, health & fitness activities and loves to travel.
Ms. L. Smith: B.A., B.Ed.
Junior Kindergarten
Ms. Smith has a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in English which she completed at OUC in 2005. She just earned her Bachelor of Elementary Education from UBC O in April of 2007. In her Bachelor of Ed she had to do two practicums, one in Kindergarten and the other in Grade one where she taught almost 100% of the class for 2 months. While earning both of her degrees Ms. Smith has worked as an Assistant Manager at Famous Players in Kelowna, BC for 7 years. At the theatre she was the projectionist, in charge of health and safety and had a staff of over 20 people. Her personal interests include curling, fitness, film and reading.
Mrs. Ogbes: B. Ed., ECE Certificate, CYC Degree
Kindergarten
Mrs. Ogbes earned her Education Degree at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver. She also holds a degree in Child and Youth Care Counselling from the University of Victoria. She has been teaching for thirteen years in the Early Childhood Education field. She joined The Glenfir School in 2005. She was the driving force behind the creation of the Junior Kindergarten program at the school. She also works with the secondary school Leadership program. Her personal interests include badminton, reading, film, and traveling.
Ms. Webb: B. Ed., Sp. Ed. Bac.
Grade 1, Director of Junior School
Ms. Jindalee Webb is an institution at The Glenfir School, having joined the staff at the school's inception, and as a result, she is a fountain of knowledge for all staff members who have joined the school latterly. Ms. Webb has a Bachelor of Education Degree specializing in Early Childhood. As well, she has completed a Baccalaureate Diploma in Special Education specializing in diagnostic evaluation and assessment. She is the Primary School Coordinator.
Mrs. Ogg: B.A.
Homeroom 2 - On Maternity Leave
Ms. Ogg has worked in education in Quebec, Ontario, and BC since 2001. She holds a B.A. with Specialization in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Concordia University in Montreal, QC. She has shared her passion for life-long learning with a wide spectrum of children including multilingual, multicultural, gifted, and those with special needs. This is Ms. Ogg's second year as the grade two Homeroom teacher and primary French teacher at the Glenfir School. She is an active learner and is currently studying to earn her Inclusive Education Diploma from Athabasca, University. Outside of the classroom she enjoys volleyball, hiking, camping, learning, and travelling.
Ms. Corkin: B.Ed.
Homeroom 2
Ms. Corkin grew up in Ontario, but has spent most of her adult life in B.C. She has been teaching since 1999 in areas such as: Kindergarten, Grades 5-7, and Leaning Assistance.
Ms. Corkin has just recently moved to the Okanagan from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, where she has taught for the last three years. She loves most sports, but especially volleyball, basketball, and baseball.
She is glad to be back in a warmer climate where she can enjoy her outdoor pursuits of hiking, biking, and camping - bug free!
Mrs. Ducharme:
Homeroom 3
Mrs. Ducharme has enjoyed a diverse range of teaching posts since graduating from the University of Alberta in 1988. She started in the remote community of Little Buffalo, Alberta teaching Grades 2/3 and occasionally driving the students home on the bus when needed. The majority of her experience was in Japan teaching at three international schools. Her most interesting years were running a K-9 school with her husband which accommodated children of nuclear fusion scientists. Even though life overseas was exciting and rewarding, Mrs. Ducharme is very happy to be back in Canada and to start a new chapter at Glenfir School with her husband and two sons. Mrs. Ducharme enjoys spending time in the garden and being with her family and friends.
Mrs. Orme: B. A., B.Ed.
Homeroom 4
Mrs. Orme was born in Murrayville, British Columbia and grew up in both Celista and Golden. She graduated from Simon Fraser University, completing her final year at UNBC in Prince George. Mrs. Orme has traveled extensively in, and lived in many different towns in British Columbia. These travels have given her a good opportunity to teach all levels of school in a variety of settings. Her husband is a career banker and his transfers kept the family moving. Mrs. Orme is the mother of three boys 16, 18 and 20. She is the grade four home room teacher and truly enjoying this responsibility. Outside of the classroom she enjoys downhill skiing, canoeing, camping, reading and hiking the Queen Charlotte Islands.
Mrs. O'Sullivan: B.Ed, Dip. Ed.,
Homeroom 5/6: Director of Middle School, Languages
Mrs. O'Sullivan is a founding teacher of the school. Originally from England, she came to Canada in 1978 where she worked part time as a freelance journalist. Mrs.O'Sullivan has a Certificate of Education and a Bachelor of Education Degree from England. Before embarking upon a full-time teaching career, which has now spanned over fifteen years, she traveled extensively and spent two years in South America, where she acted as interpreter for her mountaineering companions. Once an avid rock climber, she now involves herself in less aggressive sports and enjoys running, mountain biking, skiing, and hiking. Her son, Liam, attended the school from 1994 until he graduated in 2005. Mrs. O'Sullivan loves Glenfir and deems herself fortunate indeed to be working with such a talented and delightful group of students.
Ms. Grahame: B.Ed.
Homeroom 6, French
Ms. Grahame grew up in Mississauga, Ontario. For nine years, she has taught French, P.E., and coached rowing, track, and cross-country running in both the public and private systems. She and her fiance Dave Bell moved from Toronto to Penticton last summer to concentrate on triathlon training, and to enjoy the slower-paced lifestyle of the Okanagan. She is an avid marathoner, former rower, and adventure racer. She is preparing for her third Ironman Canada this August with sights on qualifying for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.
Mr. Johnson: B. A., B. Ed.
Homeroom 7/8, Humanities, Director of Senior School
Mr. Johnson has worked in education in British Columbia and in England since he graduated in 2001. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in History, and a Minor in English from the University of British Columbia, Kelowna. During his Bachelor of Education training at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Mr. Johnson began exploring the role of new media technologies in education as a member of the Fine Arts and New Media in Education cohort. Since joining Mrs. Johnson at the school in 2005 as the Director of Technology, he has worked to promote technology in all subject areas. In addition to computer technologies, Mr. Johnson's personal interests include athletics, travel, and European history.
Ms. M. Baird: B.Sc., B.Ed.
Homeroom 9, Mathematics
Ms. Baird taught senior math in Fort St. John, B.C. as well as, math and junior science in Prince Rupert. She earned a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics from Okanagan University College and a Bachelors of Education from UBC. Ms. Baird studied actuarial mathematics at the University of Calgary. She was born and raised in Kelowna and graduated from the French Immersion program at Kelowna Secondary School. Her hobbies include downhill skiing, hiking, biking and reading.
Mrs. Nelson: B.F.A., B. Ed.
Homeroom 10, Fine Arts, Media Arts
Mrs. Nelson holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from UBC Okanagan and she completed her Bachelor of Education through the UBC West Kootenay Teacher Education programme in Castlegar. Currently, Mrs. Nelson is teaching Art grades 4 through 10, Planning 10, CAPP 9 and Library. Outside of school, Mrs. Nelson enjoys a variety of creative pursuits such as photography, painting, and especially printmaking.
Mr. Bakx: M. Sc., M. Ed.
Homeroom 11/12, Senior Sciences
Mr. Bakx has taught Sciences since 2000 in the Netherlands and in Canada. He holds a Master of Science degree (cum laude) in Chemical Engineering, from Delft University of Technology (Netherlands), with a major in Physical Chemistry. As well, he holds a Master of Education, specializing in Chemistry, from Delft UT.
This is Mr. Bakx's third year at Glenfir, teaching middle and high school sciences. He believes that the main goal of science education is to develop scientific literacy. Through his courses students develop scientific skills and learn about the natural world. Moreover, they develop an awareness and understanding of the major impact that science and technology have on society and the environment. His ongoing environmental projects include the habitat restoration on the east side of the school building, and the promotion of efficiency and conservation at the school.
Mr. Bakx's academic interests include literature and philosophy, as well as science. Outside the classroom he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, being outdoors, reading, and playing sports.
Ms. Cardin: M. A., B.Ed., B.A.
English
Ms. Cardin has taught English, the Humanities, the Visual Arts, Drama, French, and even Choir in places as varied as Papua New Guinea and Fort St. John, B.C. She and her husband Bernie have three young adult children who bring joy to their lives but who no longer live at home, as they are pursuing adventures of their own. Ms. Cardin has taught every grade from Kindergarten through Adult Education, but specializes in English and the Humanities in the senior grades, and enjoys bringing creativity to the classroom experience. She holds a Masters in English literature and is a published writer in addition to her eclectic teaching career. She is a reader, a cook, and loves travelling, and for physical activity chooses daily swimming. She is enthusiastic about both new adventures and old friends, enjoys spending time with a large extended family, and is excited about the possibilities at The Glenfir School.
Mr. Gass: Independent Teaching Certificate, Diploma in Music
Music/Band
Mr. Gass has studied trumpet with Leonard Whitely (BBC Orchestra, London), Bobby Herriot, Stewart Carpenter (Eastman), Boyd Hood (Los Angeles Symphony), and Bobby Hilton (Norad Command Band). Mr. Gass studied at Douglas College, Vancouver City College, and at the University of Victoria. He has over 30 years of professional experience in the commercial jazz field having worked with such notables as James Brown, Bozz Scaggs, Rosemary Clooney, Al Martino, Frankie Stevens, Frankie Lane, Red Skeleton, The Platters, Stephen Stills and more. He taught at St. George's School for Boys for a decade before moving to Kelowna where he taught clinics at many local schools. He has been musical director for theatre productions such as: South Pacific, The Gondoliers, Pirates of Penzance, Guys & Dolls, A Funny Thing On The Way To Forum. Mr. Gass taught at the Central Okanagan Academy for five years, and is currently in his fourth year at Glenfir School. He has also directed summer jazz school for 15 years. When not teaching, Mr. Gass still actively plays and records music with the Michael Garding Big Band. His son James attends Glenfir and also plays the trumpet.
Mrs. Webb: R. C. M. Associate
Music/Drama
Mrs. Janet Webb is one of the original teachers to The Glenfir School as this is her 14th year at our school. Prior to Glenfir, she taught music and drama at the Penticton Community Christian School. She studied piano, theory and band in North Battleford and attended the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. As an associate member of the Royal Conservatory she has been a private music teacher for over 35 years and a general Fine Arts teacher for 18 years in the school system. She has been involved in community choirs, drama groups, church music, and accompanying soloists since attending high school and currently belongs to the Bethal Family Players drama group. Her interests are in drama as she loves to act and direct, especially in musical theatre. Mrs. Webb has recently guided students through the production of Fiddler on the Roof, and Wizard of Oz, and plans to continue similar productions at Glenfir. Mrs. Webb's hobbies include sewing, knitting, crafts, reading, music and travel, as well as fitting in time at the gym. In the past 13 years she has been able to travel to many parts of the UK, Europe, Canada, USA, and Mexico and plans to visit Australia, New Zealand and Asia on the next journeys.
The love of her life, besides her husband Ralph (a realtor) would be her 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren.
Mr. Korvin:
Athletic Director/Physical Education
Mr. Nick Korvin comes to us from Calgary where he spent five years teaching PE, Science, and Online Courses. He joined Glenfir after traveling through Australia and New Zealand on a six month rock climbing trip. He has also rock climbed in India, Thailand, Malaysia and Korea in the last few years, not to mention his ongoing pursuit of ice and rock climbing in western Canada.
Mr. Korvin not only brings an obvious enthusiasm for outdoor recreation and active living but also has a wide array of experience, accomplishments, and qualifications in a plethora of sporting and recreation activities ranging from Martial Arts to Hockey!
Mrs. Bonten
Secretary
Mrs. Beth Bonten has worked at The Glenfir School since November, 2000. She is the school secretary. Mrs. Bonten was born and brought up in Nova Scotia but traveled extensively with her husband, Maarten, who worked in the oil industry. She has two sons, one living in Kelowna and the other in the Lake of the Woods area in Ontario and one grandchild in Kelowna. Her family has lived in Borneo, Scotland, South Africa and many more countries. Mrs. Bonten says "she should have come to work at the school many years before she did - she loves working with the children and the staff. It gives her great joy, on every occasion, when the children are showcased. They are her pride and joy!
Mr. Steffler: Intermediate Hockey Coaching Cert., Lvl. 2 Soccer Coaching Cert., Lvl. 1 First Aid
Plant Manager
Mr. Steffler moved to the Okanagan from Ontario with his wife. He has two children.