Presenters

Keynote

Dr. Shelley Moore

Based in British Columbia, Canada, Dr. Shelley Moore is a highly sought-after inclusive education researcher, teacher, consultant and storyteller. She has worked with school districts and community organizations around the world. Her research explores how to support teachers to design for all learners in grade level academic classrooms that include students with intellectual disabilities using strength based and responsive approaches. Shelley completed her undergraduate degree in Special Education at the University of Alberta, her Masters at Simon Fraser University, and her Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia.

Workshop Presenters

Marcus Down & Maureen Codispodi

Marcus is a vice principal at Mayne Island School. He is an elementary trained PHE specialist teacher who has lead workshops for IB educators and schools to support PHE curriculum development. You can access his resources at DownwithPE.ca.

Maureen is a counsellor on our Outer Islands. She is a therapist who focuses on neurodiversity and educators and has been worked between mental health, education and inclusive education. You can find her and her organization at HelpClinic.ca.

You can find them both in real life on Mayne Island.

Sarah Kerrigan

Sarah Kerrigan is an experienced and dedicated primary educator with over 22 years of classroom teaching experience. Driven by a strong passion for early literacy, she earned her Orton-Gillingham Practitioner’s Certificate in 2018 and recently completed a Graduate Diploma in Learning, Language, and Literacy from Vancouver Island University.

Donal Duncan

Donal Duncan has been teaching mathematics and physics at GISS for almost 15 years and has been a nerd for about 42 years. He regularly loses board games to his son.

Robin Jenkinson

With a background in field biology and botany (and school gardens), Robin Jenkinson is a WildBC Facilitator with the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF, https://hctf.ca/education/), which invests in healthy wildlife habitat and stewardship through conservation, restoration, and education. Galiano, Fulford, Fernwood, and Penelakut Schools are currently enrolled in the HCTF Wild Schools Program, which provides a modicum of support for teachers and staff with outdoor learning activities.

Darrell Watson & Dean Crouse

In the world of disc golf, one name in our region that immediately comes to mind for the most local wins, longest drives, sensational putting and a huge advocate for the sport of disc golf is the one and only - Darrell Watson (PDGA #65501) otherwise known as @disc_n_d

Hailing from the Vesuvius area of Salt Spring Island, Watson’s disc golf journey is unparalleled. As a Professional disc golfer, Darrell continues to dominate local, regional and international tournaments. As Club President, Darrell has dedicated countless volunteer hours to the community to continue to grow the sport. He is also an avid course designer (Mayne Island Disc Golf course) and has assisted in the redesign of many other local courses (Mansell Farm and Hart Memorial).

Among his various accomplishments and talents, Darrell is a sponsored player by various companies past and present (Gateway Discs, Prodigy Discs, Daredevil Discs, Tombstone Disc Supply). Darrell is also the captain of Team Gulf Islands for the BC Club Championships and is a long-standing player for Team Vancouver Island in the prestigious JB Cup. He is also a Tournament Director for countless local tournaments.

"Disc Golf Dean" Crouse is a local legend and a forefather of disc golf on Saltspring, from his humble beginnings of selling discs from the trunk of his car to being one of the highest rated players for his age in the nation. Dean has a deep understanding of proper form, disc flight and an unmatched passion for the game. Come learn from the best in the game!

Teaghan O'Brian

Teaghan is an Engineer at Playlab and a former math and science teacher from SD 64. He is passionate about education and loves to build practical tools.

Teaghan’s primary concern with AI is the risk of over-reliance, which could undermine students' ability to think critically and independently. At the same time, he is extremely optimistic about how AI can be leveraged to improve learning outcomes. What he is most encouraged by is AI's potential to make learning significantly more accessible for all students.

Jason Donaldson

Jason Donaldson has been a Practitioner of Theatre Arts for more than two decades in Room N208 at GISS. Winner of the Association of British Columbia Drama Educators (ABCDE) Teacher-of-the-Year (2019) and program founder and coach of the GISS Improv Team— the winningest franchise in our school’s history—Jason espouses the credo ‘Every Child, Every Chance, Every Day.’ Jason would like to know if he can count on your support for the Netherlands in their next football match.

Jess Willows & Johnny Aitken

Jess Willows is a teacher in the Gulf Islands School District and a program coordinator for the Gulf Islands Centre for Ecological Learning. With a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in education, Jess is currently pursuing a PhD in Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies at the University of Victoria. She has been involved with Professional Development (PD) for teachers, offering workshops and serving as the PD Chair. She lives and teaches on Mayne Island.

Elder JOHNNY AITKEN is an interdisciplinary artist, actor, writer, carver, filmmaker, activist and educator. Johnny’s mixed ancestry includes Coast Salish, Scottish and Haida and he self-identifies as a 2Spirit First Nations individual. Johnny’s twenty-foot-tall carving of an Honouring Figure stands in the Emma and Felix Jack Park on Mayne Island—a park named after his grandparents from the Cowichan Tribes. As a self-proclaimed “cross-cultural bridge builder,” Johnny enjoys collaborating with members of both Indigenous and Settler communities and has dedicated himself to a lifetime career in creating stories that lead to a place of healing. He lives on Mayne Island, British Columbia.

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