Sunnybrook has a dedicated and highly qualified faculty. We take pride in creating a nurturing and stimulating learning environment for our students. Our talented teachers have received extensive training in the IB PYP. 70% of our dedicated staff members have been at Sunnybrook for more than ten years. Our faculty is a devoted group of professionals for whom student learning and success are the primary motivators. Five members of our staff are members of the IB Educators Network as workshop leaders and evaluators who conduct visits at other IB schools.

Rachelle Smith, BSc BEd
Junior Kindergarten, with SBS since 2011
Ms Smith taught Grade 2 for five years, was JR and SR Classroom Support and is now going into her third year teaching JK at SBS. She has a BSc from the University of Guelph and a BEd from the University of Ottawa. She gained experience teaching abroad in Italy at a bilingual IB school and in the UK. She is also a snowboard instructor and loves playing a variety of sports. She is a proud mother of two boys. She is honored to work with the youngest learners, helping them progress in all areas of their development.

Katherine Nguyen, BA, BEd
Senior Kindergarten, with SBS since 2021
Ms Nguyen obtained her undergrad at York University and received her BEd from the University of Ottawa. Before coming to SBS, she had the pleasure of teaching GR 1-3 in the UK. In her free time, she enjoys travelling and exploring new places, cultures and trying new food.

Patricia Colomvakos, BA, BEd
Senior Kindergarten, with SBS since 2022
Ms Colomvakos has recently joined the Sunnybrook community and is ecstatic to be returning back for another year of teaching in SK. She has obtained both her BA, and BEd from Ontario Tech University. Ms Colomvakos enjoys spending time with loved ones, her puppy and creating memories to last a lifetime with her students.

Elora Camplin, BA, BEd
Grade One, with SBS since 2011
Ms Camplin earned her BA as a graduate of Ryerson’s (now Toronto Metropolitan University’s) four-year Early Childhood Studies and then completed her teaching degree at OISE of the University of Toronto. Her experience in Early Childhood placed her in the Junior Kindergarten program at SBS for several years before she moved on to teach Grade One. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, her family and friends, riding horses, practicing yoga and spending time outdoors. Mostly, she enjoys sharing her interests with her class, encouraging them to discover their interests, joys in life and learning.

Sarah Power-Smith, BA, MEd
Grade Two, with SBS since 2012
Mrs Power-Smith taught Senior Kindergarten for 7 years and is now starting her third year teaching Grade 2. Although she has a Combined Honours of Music and Theatre from Dalhousie University and a Masters in Education from Daeman College, the best education she has received is from having two sons of her own. Luckily, she is a person with a great deal of energy who loves to swim, bike and run, which is how she successfully finished three Ironman races so far.

Adam Lem, BA, BEd
Grade Three, with SBS since 2012
Mr Lem started his post-secondary studies with German studies and fine art history at the University of Toronto before obtaining his teaching degree at the University of Ottawa in 2009 and starting his career in Berlin. In 2012, he moved back to Toronto and began his life at Sunnybrook School, where his two daughters are currently students. He has been teaching Grade Three ever since, and outside of school enjoys the great outdoors, playing guitar, and exploring new hobbies.

Jayne Hamilton, BA, BEd
Grade Four, with SBS since 2010
Ms Hamilton began her time at SBS teaching Junior Kindergarten. She then moved on to teach Grade One, Grade Two, and is now going into her fourth year teaching Grade Four. She is also the school’s Literacy Coordinator. Ms Hamilton obtained her BA in Psychology and BEd from York University, and is originally from Wales, UK where she obtained her NNEB. She is an avid hiker, loves kayaking, and enjoys travelling to discover new places.

Farah Chandani, BA, BEd, MEd (candidate)
Grade Five, with SBS since 2013
Ms Chandani joined SBS in 2013 and taught SK for four years. She has two children, one of whom will be starting JK this fall at SBS. Ms. Chandani obtained her Honours BA from the University of Toronto, a BEd from University of Windsor and is currently working on obtaining her Masters in Education through Western University. Ms Chandani speaks three languages. Aside from teaching, she loves to watch movies, read books, eat and cook, dance and do mud runs.

Michael Rossiter, BA, BEd, MEd
Grade Six, with SBS since 2002
Mr Rossiter has been teaching Grade Six at Sunnybrook for 20 years. His educational background is a Masters in the Philosophy of Education from OISE at the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Philosophy and Literature from McGill University. Prior to Sunnybrook, he was an early childhood music educator and a professional musician. Mr. Rossiter’s two daughters are Sunnybrook alumni. Mr Rossiter still plays guitar and in the summer can be found sailing his boat on Lake Ontario.

Shilpa Wadhwan, BA, BEd, Btech, MEd, PGDip
Grade 4-6 Studio Support, with SBS since 2022
Ms Wadhwan has recently joined SBS as a classroom support teacher for Grades Four to Six. She has acquired a Masters in Education from UofT, B. Tech in Software, BA in English, B ED and PGDip in Special Education and TESOL. Ms Wadhwan has taught in Thailand for 5 years and a MYP school in India for 1 year. She enjoys swimming, Korean dramas, is a foodie and loves exploring new places.

Jessalyn Lam, LLB
Studio Support, with SBS since 2022
Arriving from Hong Kong, Ms Lam is joining SBS this year as a classroom support teacher for Grades One to Three. Graduating from the PYP, MYP, and DP program, she went on to study law in university. For the past two years, she has been co-teaching in Grades 2 and 3 at an IB school in Hong Kong. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and eating foods from all over the world! She also loves learning different languages. She is excited to continue her journey as an educator here in Toronto!

Reese Barkhuizen, BMus, PGDip, MMus
Music, with SBS since 2018
Originating from South Africa, Mr Barkhuizen enjoys critical acclaim as a concert pianist, collaborative artist and teacher. As well as competing in several international piano competitions, his performances and studies have taken him from Cape Town to Finland, China, Estonia, the USA and the United Kingdom. As an educator, Mr Barkhuizen has taught students at some of South Africa’s most prestigious institutions. He is currently the director of music at SBS. Mr Barkhuizen continues to inspire and motivate students while maintaining a busy performance schedule. He also loves his two cats, Pepper and Kitty, very much.

Andrew Cyrus BA, MEd
Phys Ed, with SBS since 2019
Mr Cyrus obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Health and Physical Education from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Shortly after, he received his Master of Education in Kinesiology from Auburn University in Alabama, with a focus on motor development and sports psychology. He has taught at all levels from special education and high school youth detention centers, to elementary and university level courses. Mr Cyrus is originally from the US but has been in Canada since 2018. He was a professional acrobat and placed 2nd in the world as an athlete and 1st and 3rd as a coach in his area of expertise. He enjoys most active sports, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Katrina Romanowich, BA
Junior French, with SBS since 2021
Mlle Romanowich is returning to SBS as the Junior French teacher for JK, SK, and Grade One. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Langues Modernes from Laurentian University, and remains a lover of literature and languages. Mlle Romanowich takes pleasure in the quiet spaces where she can write, spending much of her downtime working on her first science fiction novel in the company of her two cats.

Samia Lahmar, BA, CAPEFLE
Senior French, with SBS since 2010
Mme Lahmar is a mother of three who joined SBS in 2010, teaching French from Grade 2 to Grade 6. She obtained a BA in Science du Languages and her CAPEFLE (professional certificate to teach French) from the University of Rouen, France. She also took part in two BELC intensive training sessions, which are widely renowned and respected. She loves teaching French through games and to create her own resources which led her to write a game-based French program while working for Alliance Francaise, as well as to collaborate in the making of an Inuktitut second language curriculum. She enjoys hiking, gardening, baking and sewing.

Jen Mactaggart, BA, MSc, BEd
Teacher-Librarian, with SBS since 2012
Ms Mactaggart started as Teacher Librarian at SBS in January 2012. A lifelong lover of all things books and research, she started her career in book publishing, moved overseas and became a high school (IB DP) literature teacher – and then was able to join her passion for the book world and the teaching world together in the library! Across the education part of her career, she has taught and/or coordinated at all grade levels, JK – GR 12, as well as served as an IB Language A1 Examiner. When she’s not reading, she loves running, writing, and spending time outdoors with her family.
