“Be kind,  for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” — Plato

Peace is one of the Renaissance Academy of Learning Before and After School Program coordinators. Before she joined Renaissance Academy at The Arts Connection, she worked as an academic counsellor and client support officer at Distance Learning Centre, University of Ibadan. She was also a Freelance Proofreader of edited course materials at Distance Learning Centre, University of Ibadan. Peace has also worked as an administrative/support officer with the Association of West African Book Editors. During her time with the Nigerian Youth Service Corp, she served at Irewole Local Government Ikire, Osun State, Nigeria as Social Development officer.

Peace thrives on building relationships with the students and families in the SPARK program. She has not only served as a role model but has also mentored students to become more helpful, responsible, creative and resourceful.

Peace completed her training in Nigeria at the University of Ibadan where she got her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in psychology and counselling respectively. In Canada, she also completed the Early Childhood Education Assistant program at Douglas College in 2012, and she completed her Early Childhood Basic Certificate at Burnaby Community & Continuing Education.

Ms. Aaliyah joined the SPARK team in 2022 after traveling from Ontario to British Columbia to pursue her goal of working in a child care setting. Prior to working with SPARK, Aaliyah was involved in multiple theatre performances such as The Greatest Showman and Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Aaliyah plans to introduce theatre classes to the students as she believes expression is shown through many different mediums. Aaliyah teaches with the mindset that children of any age can find the most creative ways to express themselves. She says making an impact is her purpose and a child feeling safe and happy in an environment will always be her number one goal. Aaliyah strives to grow and learn and relate with the students every day to create a positive environment and a safe space.

Ms. Shakila has worked as a cooking and cultural studies teacher since joining the SPARK team in 2020. Shakila has worked in child care since 2014 and spends much of her time volunteering with children in the community and at schools. She loves children and strives to create a fun learning environment for her students.

Ms. Veronica joined the SPARK team in 2020 as a science and cultural studies teacher. Veronica was born in Mexico and has a Bachelor of Communication degree from the University Valle de Mexico and a Master of Marketing degree from the University of Communications. She worked as a director of marketing at Santander bank in Mexico until moving to Canada in 2013. Veronica started working in child care in 2015.

Ms. Veronica says working with kids brings her spirit to life. She has uncovered many talents and passions while working with children. Working with children doesn’t feel like a job: it is pure joy. A fun fact about Veronica is that she had one of her photographs selected to be in National Geographic.

Ms. Jashan (or Ms. Jass as kids love to call her) joined the SPARK team in summer 2022 as an administrative and After Care teacher.  She grew up in India and moved to Canada in 2014, and attended Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where she studied business.  Jas loves kids and says that working with them is something she looks forward to every day.  She feels strongly that every child should be given the opportunity to express themselves. In her free time, she enjoys reading books and listening to music.

Fara completed both her undergraduate and postgraduate studies in English Literature in Iran. Upon graduation, she immediately started her career as an English teacher teaching adults and kids as well. Having worked as a full-time instructor and a tutor in some of the most reputable English institutes, Fara achieved enough experience in applying the most efficient teaching methodologies to improve the language skills of the students. It was only then that Fara realized she had a deep passion for teaching kids and a desire to help them thrive. In 2023, Fara was honored to be a part of the Spark team, where she hopes to create engaging, enriching, and educational experiences for the Spark young learners.

Ruqqaya Anjum has an academic background with a B.Sc. in Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science as well as a B.Ed. Degree in Mathematics and English from Osmania University Hyderabad, India. She is pursuing an MBA from the University of Canada West. Her extensive experience includes teaching as a primary school teacher in India, excelling in lesson planning and classroom management. In Canada, she has worked as a CYF staff member at Tong Louie Family YMCA and as an ECEA at a daycare, focusing on supervision, health, and developmental progress.

Ruqqaya is a Licensed Early Childhood Education Educator in both Saskatchewan and British Columbia. She is responsible adult certified, and she possesses skills in child development, classroom management, and educational technology, She also holds certifications in First Aid, CPR, and AED. She is proficient in various software skills that enhance capabilities and  foster children’s growth and learning.

Olayemi Kolade is a passionate educator and child development specialist with over
15 years of experience supporting children across various stages of educational,
behavioural, and mental growth. Recently joining the Renaissance Academy of
Learning as a teacher, she brings a wealth of experience in nurturing children’s
development through personalized mentorship, positive behaviour support, and a deep
understanding of each child’s individual needs.

With a background that includes a B.Sc. in Economics and an MBA in Business
Analytics, she blends analytical insight with a compassionate, child-centered teaching
style. Known for excellent communication, patience, adaptability, and her ability to
foster strong relationships with both children and families, she is committed to
creating inclusive and supportive learning environments.

She is excited and honoured to be part of the Renaissance Academy of Learning, a
community that values each child as unique and full of potential. Being part of an
organization that shares this belief aligns deeply with her lifelong mission to empower
children to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.“Every child is a different
kind of flower, and all together, they make this world a beautiful garden.”

Ms. Minha joined the spark team as spark teacher in 2025 after working 2 years in BC independent school as homeroom teacher and 3 years as a tutor for special needs ( ADHD and Autism) in British Columbia. Before that time period, she also worked as a camp teacher and ECE on call teacher for Arts Connection for a couple of months. Minha has a bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from India and a diploma in Bioinformatics from Langara College. She has a BC independent teaching certificate in STEM ( Biology, Chemistry, and Computer Science) from the Teacher Regulation Branch, Ministry of Education, Vancouver. Moreover, she holds certifications in first aid, CPR, and AED. Finally, she is proficient in computer skills in scratch, C++, Java and various educational online websites.

Sophia joined the Spark team in 2025 as a visual arts teacher. She is skilled in a variety of mediums including watercolour painting and ceramics. She currently holds a B.C. teaching Certificate of Qualification and a Utah Professional Educator License. With over four years of teaching experience, she has taught elementary and secondary students across Canada, the U.S., and China. She has a MA in Art Education from Brigham Young University, where she completed research in using art education to help students develop problem-solving skills.

Beyond her passion for teaching art, Sophia enjoys reading and exploring new places, especially art museums and restaurants.