Our Team
Our Spark Team

Kate Dinis holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia and a Master’s in Counselling from Adler University, where she discovered her passion for supporting children’s growth and wellbeing.

Kate has been the Spark Program Manager since 2013 and has loved watching the program expand, evolve, and positively shape the lives of the students and families it serves. With a background rooted in child development and mental health, Kate is committed to creating supportive environments that nurture confidence, creativity, and strong foundations for lifelong wellbeing.

Beyond her work, Kate enjoys cooking, reading, and shopping. She believes deeply in the importance of building healthy mental health habits early in childhood, and brings that philosophy into her leadership, programming, and daily interactions with children and staff.

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. 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. 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.

Ceylon Coates is a visual artist with a strong passion for anime and manga–inspired art. She enjoys exploring a wide range of artistic mediums and creative writing, constantly finding new ways to bring imagination to life. In her work with students, Ceylon creates fun, art-integrated activities that build observation skills, creativity, and confidence. She is passionate about inspiring goodwill and helping students channel their emotions into their artwork, empowering them to use creativity as a meaningful life skill.

Clay joined SPARK’s art department to pursue her passion for teaching and creating art. She brings a strong educational background in contemporary art history and painting, along with formal training in classical 2D animation and digital illustration.

Outside of the classroom, Clay continues to deepen her craft through sketching and painting, drawing inspiration from the beauty she finds in the world around her. Her goal as an educator is to spark excitement and curiosity in her students, encouraging them to think creatively and explore what art can be. She loves challenging students to expand their understanding of art while discovering how each creation can be uniquely their own.

Miss Manmeet is an experienced educator with over 14 years of teaching and student engagement across diverse learning environments. She holds a Master of Arts in Education from Mumbai University, India, and a Master’s in Leadership with Business from Trinity Western University, Canada. Her expertise lies in creating inclusive, student-centered classrooms that foster both academic and personal growth. She is certified in TESOL/TEFL, First Aid, and Responsible Adult training, and actively contributes to community-based learning initiatives. She is committed to continuous professional development and empowering learners through innovative and compassionate teaching practices, guided by the belief that:

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela