Meet Our Staff
Admin
Picture coming soon
I have a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a double major in Marketing and Finance and a minor in Economics. I am the board designate and business manager for Group ABA Children’s Society, which includes Fawkes Academy and the GABA Vancouver program. My role includes full cycle accounting and human resources management for the society, as well as transfer of information between the board of directors, personnel, and Fawkes’ Parent Advisory Council.
John McGregor
Executive Director
Leslie Van Dusen
Principal
In my role as Principal, I strive to create an inclusive, joyful, and engaging learning environment that supports the strengths and needs of all students. I began teaching in 1991 and quickly realized the importance of individualizing learning. As a parent of three grown children, with several neurodiverse family members, I understand the critical need to collaborate with parents and caregivers on each child’s educational journey.
Vancouver Campus
Amanda Marsden
Vice Principal
Hi folks! Amanda here. I’m thrilled to be a part of the incredible and supportive team at Fawkes Academy to provide inclusive education that is accessible for all students. I have a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, a Bachelor of Education, and a passion for learning with and from students and their families. My 22-year teaching career is all over the map — literally – from South Korea, Spain, Saskatchewan, and now British Columbia, where I am currently in the Vice Principal role at our Vancouver location and learning how to be the best leader and mentor possible.
Name
Position
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Name
Position
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Charlotte Franco
Teacher
My passion in education comes from supporting young learners with diverse learning needs. I have been working in a variety of educational settings since 2020 and hold a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Education. My experience as a Behavioural Interventionist sparked my journey as an educator and shaped my commitment to creating inclusive, supportive, and hands-on learning environments. My priority is to lead with empathy, meeting students where they are, and creating a space where every student feels valued, understood, and confident in their ability to learn and grow.
Kaitlin Mohr
Teacher
I have a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with an advanced coursework in education and inclusive education. Over the years at Fawkes Academy, I have worked with students across elementary and high school settings, as well as in online learning environments. My priority is to create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment where all students feel supported, respected, and encouraged to thrive.
Kevin Lee
Teacher
Since 2018, I have supported children with diverse learning needs as a Behaviour Interventionist and later a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA), holding a Master’s in Special Education from Western University. Having spent several years as part of the Fawkes Academy community, I am looking forward to bring my expertise back into the classroom as a teacher. I am deeply committed to providing meaningful, individualized learning that helps each student build the skills they need to become as independent and confident as as possible.
Charlotte Franco
Teacher
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Name
Position
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Chantel Medeiros
Teacher
Coming soon.
Name
Position
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Position
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Jessie Furlong
Teacher
I have a Professional Masters of Education, and 5+ years experience teaching at home in Ireland. Throughout my teaching career, I have always had a desire to focus on Special Education and I am very excited to continue this journey here at Fawkes. My priority as an educator has always been to provide a safe, respectful, and stimulating learning environment which can adapt where necessary, in order to adhere to the needs of the learners.
Kelsey Ogilvy
Administrative Assistant
Since 2012, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity of supporting our school community in a variety of roles, beginning as a Behaviour Interventionist and then transitioning to Classroom Teacher. While I’ve since moved away from classroom instruction, I feel fortunate to be able to continue to support our students, staff, and families as Administrative Assistant.
Sana Agha
Position
Coming soon.
Richmond Campus
Edil Issa
Program Coordinator
I graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. My journey with Fawkes Academy started in 2022 in the Richmond Intermediate/Secondary classroom as a BI then Program Coordinator. What I love about our school is the sense of community, collaboration, and the opportunity to create and environment where our students can grow! I am excited for the year ahead!
Lynn Service
Vice Principal & Teacher
I have a B.A. in Psychology from UVic, an Advanced Citation in Disability and Applied Behavior Analysis from Douglas College, and an M.A. in Special Education from UBC. For the past 20 years I have worked with children and youth with diverse learning needs and continue to develop and expand my knowledge every day with the help of my most important teachers, my students! I believe in a collaborative approach and that parents and caregivers know their child best and are key members in their child’s educational journey.
Picture coming soon
Kim Sarmiento
Program Coordinator
I started working with the Richmond team as a Behaviour Interventionists in 2018 and transitioned to lead BI shortly after and was recently Program Coordinator. One of my favourite parts of working at Fawkes is being able to be witness to a student’s growth and progress throughout their time with our team.
Online Learning
Anna Levy
Teacher
I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, a Bachelor of Education, and additional qualifications in Special Education. I am a certified teacher in both Ontario and British Columbia and have worked with children and youth with a variety of learning needs since 2012.
Cynthia Sham
Teacher
I am dedicated to building a welcoming, accessible classroom where every student can grow emotionally and academically. My background as a Behaviour Interventionist inspired my career in inclusive education, where I now use differentiated instruction and collaborative support to meet the unique needs of every learner. By partnering with families and advocates, I strive to ensure each student feels safe, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential.
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Jill Fergus
Teacher & Counsellor
With many years of experience in special education and counselling, I am dedicated to creating family-centred, inclusive environments that support students and families. My approach focuses on meeting children and youth where they are, while collaborating with their support networks to help them move forward.
I have extensive experience in alternate settings and supporting individuals with unique needs and mental health concerns. I recognize that additional supports may be needed before learning can take place and am committed to ensuring those needs are met.
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Tanja Zurkovic
Teacher
I have been working in special education and mental health field since 2002 supporting children and young adults with variety of developmental disabilities in both community and school setting. Last 10 years I have spent working in learning support for Vancouver and West Vancouver School Districts providing curriculum adaptations and modifications as well as executive and social skills training for elementary and high school students. I have a BA in Psychology with a minor in Special Education from Simon Fraser University and Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western University.
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Bonnie Belan
Teacher
As an online educator, I support families in creating meaningful and engaging learning opportunities for their children. I have worked in inclusive education since 2010 and believe in a holistic approach that considers both the child’s unique needs and the family system.
By collaborating with families, support teams, and students, I aim to create realistic, supportive, and engaging educational programs that empower children and families to thrive together.
Jane Hamilton
Teacher
I completed my Bachelor of Honours and Concurrent Education at Queen’s University, where my passion for alternative approaches to teaching grew through Outdoor and Experiential Education. I later completed Special Education Teacher Training at Vancouver Island University.
Over the past 20 years, I have worked as a behavioural interventionist, tutor, learning consultant, and distributed learning teacher. I value collaborating with students, families, and support teams to create individualized education programs that support each learner’s success.
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Nikki Webber
Vice Principal
I joined Fawkes Academy in 2021, bringing experience in alternate education with at-risk youth and as a Learning Assistance Resource Teacher. I hold a Master’s degree in Education, with a practice grounded in Universal Design for Learning and neurodiversity-affirming IEPs. Guided by a child- and family-centered philosophy, I draw on both professional expertise and lived experience as a neurodivergent person and parent. I strive to support students and families with empathy, creativity, and advocacy while creating inclusive learning environments where every student can thrive.
Counsellors
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Annabelle Picard
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
I joined Fawkes Academy in 2017 while pursuing my education in counselling psychology, where working with our students inspired me to specialize in supporting children and youth. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Professional Diploma in Counselling Psychology, and a Master’s in Counselling Psychology.
With experience in behavioural intervention, ABA principles, and Child & Youth Mental Health, I now work as a counsellor using a cognitive-behavioural approach and mindfulness practices to support self-regulation and well-being.
Vanessa Hercun
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. I have been part of the Fawkes Academy community since 2020 and hold a master’s degree in counselling psychology from Adler University. I am also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP).
My approach is warm, trauma-informed, and tailored to each student’s unique needs. I draw from CBT, REBT, DBT, attachment theory, and mindfulness-based practices to support students experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship concerns, and other challenges.
I look forward to getting to know each student and creating a welcoming space where they feel safe, supported, and comfortable expressing themselves while working toward their personal goals.
Our programs are supported by Behaviour Analysts through ABA Learning Centre. Please see the list of service providers from their website here.