Meet Our Team

Mary is a seasoned educator andiron-profit leader who brings to Shambhala School a passion for non-profit leadership, business leadership, and education. Mary comes to us from the Halifax based family support organization Family SOS. Previously, Mary led Rural Support services in Ottawa. in both of these organizations, as the Executive Director, Mary guided professional leadership tams in dispensing crucial community support services in high pressure environments. As Executive Director of Bytown, Brigantine, Mary co-founded a shipboard independent high school. Mary’s academic background includes bachelor’s degrees in Outdoor recreation and geography from Lakehead University and a Master of Teaching from Griffiths University in Brisbane, Australia. Mary also attended the Telfer School of Business at Ottawa University where she earned certificates in change management, senior leadership, and Lean Yellow Belt. Already a well known member of our Shambhala School community. Mary has a child in elementary school and another child entering pre-primary. Mary’s partner Jason, is one of our many inspiring faculty members at Shambhala School. The entire family will be at Shambhala School this Fall!

B.Comm, Marketing and Accounting, Mount Allison University, and CPA

BA Religious Studies, Certified Mindfulness Instructor for 20 years, teacher at Shambhala since 2004. Author “Teaching With Bravery: Meditation and Heart Advice for Teachers.”

Learning in its fullest sense is a process of connection between teachers and students. It combines nurturing the heart and the intellect, as well as serious purpose and a sense of play. It’s a wonderful and mutual experience.
For me, Shambhala School is a place to help build a model for education infused with the philosophy of natural goodness. It’s deeply inspiring to see young people learn to trust themselves and relax into who they are. Small classes, mindfulness practices, and the whole school culture allow this to happen. The teachers spend a ton of time contemplating each student and how to support them.

I have two children at Shambhala School. I like tea, books, cookies, and tigers.

B.A. English and History, B. Ed., teaching for 16 years in both independent and public schools.

I get to spend my days with wonderful people. I like to present curriculum in a variety of ways to present each student with the opportunity to shine. I strongly support the pillars on which the school is built. I hope the work I do here helps foster kind and strong individuals who are stewards of the natural world.

I have one daughter who is a criminal defense lawyer working with a mainly indigenous population in Northern Manitoba. My husband is a fabulous cook and the kindest person I know.

Managed both nonprofit and for-profit businesses.

One of the things I have always loved about Shambhala is the continuity. The flow from grades PP to 12 is very well thought out. Shambhala offers a learning experience very different from other schools that I support whole-heartedly.

My two sons are Shambhala Graduates; one attended from Grade 2-12 and the other attended from Primary-12.

MA in Early Childhood Studies (Ryerson University) and BA in Child and Youth Studies (Mount St. Vincent University).

I began my career in early childhood education at the Shambhala school in 2008, as a Pre-Primary assistant teacher. I moved on to work in a variety of other roles, including family resource, early childhood research, and teaching post-secondary ECE students. I recently moved back to Halifax from Toronto and I am thrilled to be back at the Shambhala School Pre-Primary classroom, where a lot of magic takes place every day.

I have two children aged five and two. There isn’t much spare time these days, but if I had some you might find me reading, running, biking or baking.

Early Childhood Education at Nova Scotia Teachers College.

Working with young children is one of the most rewarding, fulfilling experiences. Fostering and encouraging children’s minds through daily activities brings me joy. I love Shambhala for its sense of community throughout the whole school from pre-primary to grade 12.

Our daughter has been at Shambhala starting in pre-primary and is now in grade 11. My hobbies include running, biking, and being with my family.

I have been in the Waldorf community and engaged in related work since 2009. I completed the Waldorf teacher training at Rudolph Steiner Centre in California, US and taught at several Waldorf schools. I had worked as an EC lead teacher in East Bay Waldorf School in California. I have also worked as a parenting consultant and teachers’ mentor for several kindergartens.

I am pleased to have found my clear career path and I am dedicated to using my strengths for early childhood education and to support families and children. I believe that a teacher should be full of initiate, enthusiasm and passion for what they do, interested in human beings and the world around them. A teacher should combine imagination, intuition and inspiration. A teacher should keep learning and keep things fresh. My personal interest are enjoying the outdoors, playing sports, crafting, cooking, meditating, reading and sharing ideas with others.

See background as noted under Executive Director

Jordan West

Primary Teacher

Queen’s University (History) degree, Ontario College of Art and Design (Visual Art), Early Childhood Education, Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Training at the Rudolf Steiner Center of Toronto.

I believe in creating a nurturing and supportive environment to foster children’s exploration of their world. Teachers at Shambhala School see and nurture the unique qualities in each child and help them to incorporate these qualities into a social group. The combination of seeing both forest AND trees encourages social and emotional growth and resilience.

My two children have been at the Shambhala School since pre-primary. I love reading, drawing and painting.

East Coast Institute for Studies in Anthroposophy – Early Years Program. Certified Children’s Yoga teacher. Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Training at the Rudolf Steiner College Canada.

I have a deep passion and respect for the magic of early childhood. A secure and healthy foundation is the key to a child flourishing through the rest of their educational journey. Being able to be a part of nurturing the younger members of the school community is a joy and an honour.

Shambhala School is truly a school like no other. Our unique offering of a play-based curriculum in the early years is what I truly believe to be the best support to the young child. Our school nurtures the child’s whole being. I deeply value the emphasis on time in nature, and the support of social and emotional aspects of growth.

I have been a parent and volunteer at the Shambhala School since 2011, when my oldest daughter started grade 7 at the school. My family chose Shambhala School in the hopes of finding a warm, supporting middle school experience for our daughters, and proceeded to fall deeply in love with all the school had to offer. My two oldest daughters went through their middle and high school years at Shambhala School, and I currently have two children in elementary grades at the school.

B.Ed Primary/Elementary specialization, B.A. Psychology and English.

I am continously inspired by young minds and consider it a privilege to help children recognize all that they are capable of achieving. I like to make learning fun and developmentally appropriate for my students – this involves including movement, play and social-emotional learning opportunities. I am grateful to be a part of a school community that places value on the uniqueness of every child and encourages a holistic approach to learning.

I am originally from Prince Edward Island. I enjoy playing games, making crafts and spending time with my loved ones.

B.A. English and History, B. Ed., teaching for 16 years in both independent and public schools.

I get to spend my days with wonderful people. I like to present curriculum in a variety of ways to present each student with the opportunity to shine. I strongly support the pillars on which the school is built. I hope the work I do here helps foster kind and strong individuals who are stewards of the natural world.

I have one daughter who is a criminal defense lawyer working with a mainly indigenous population in Northern Manitoba. My husband is a fabulous cook and the kindest person I know.

B.F.A. NSCAD University, Major in Photography and Art History and B. Ed. MSVU, Visual Arts and Social Studies

I attended Shambhala School for twelve years. I am deeply familiar with the Shambhala School experience as a student and I am honoured to come back as a teacher. Shambhala School encourages students to be fierce, compassionate, and inquisitive. I am excited to work with youth and foster their individual strength.

My interests include painting, crafting, playing, and spending time with my family.

Visual Arts, Lakehead University. B.Ed, Acadia University

I studied visual arts at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. After graduating I travelled, tree planted and worked on farms. My travels eventually led me to work as an English Instructor in Korea. It was a wonderful experience with delicious food and I found my love for teaching there. When I arrived back in Canada I knew I wanted to continue working in education and pursued by education at teacher’s college program at Acadia. I am now entering into my sixth year of teaching, with experience in both public and independent schools. I love that the Shambhala School can allow their talented teachers to be creative in their practice, offering a dynamic and unique learning experience.

I have a big beautiful dog named Ti’loup who shares my love of swimming, I also love to cook and have an extensive cookbook collection. My partner is a talented musician and brings out my musical side.

B. Ed, French Language Studies, elementary, Universite Sainte-Anne, B.A. in Sociology, York University

Shone has a background in French immersion and is excited to share the joys of language learning with others. His approach to teaching French is playful and creative with a lot of games and interactive activities. Using the neurolinguistic approach to language acquisition. He hopes to provide many opportunities for students to speak in French.

Shone was drawn to the Shambhala School by our student-centred approach and our commitment to supporting trans and gender non-conforming students.

B.Kin and B.Ed, Acadia University

I am a Physical Education specialist with a passion for well-being, nature and bringing back quality play through purposeful movement. I completed both my degrees here in Nova Scotia at Acadia University and began my career teaching Physical Education and Outdoor Education in Saskatoon followed by a year in New Brunswick. I am thrilled at the opportunity to bring what I’ve experienced back to Nova Scotia. In my learning space, I strive to create an openness and opportunities for students to confidently express themselves as movers. I’m looking forward to being a part of the Shambhala Suns community!

I spend a lot of my time completely immersed in nature searching for waterfalls, hiking, rock climbing, tree climbing or enjoying my garden.

Shambhala School Class of 1993, B. History with focus on Indigenous History of Atlantic Canada, Dalhousie University,

For over a decade Tyler worked with the band Arcade fire as primary technical and personal assistant. He played an integral role in focusing the band and in creating an environment for them to thrive as they rose to fame, with multiple Grammy awards and three multi-platinum records. After three world tours Tyler left the band in 2015 and returned to Halifax to focus on his own music career. He released his own album “Plain Sight” in 2018, which was nominated for an ECMA, in the folk and root category. Tyler plays many venues and festivals throughout Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada .

Beyond his passion for music, Tyler’s interest include researching ancestry, and attending online historical and academic lectures. He is an avid sports person and considers mindfulness and personal wellness a big part of his day to day life. Tyler is excited to be returning to Shambhala School.

Working towards Ph.D in Educational Studies, Acadia University, and holds a M.Ed in School and Clinical Child Psychology, B.Ed, and BA in Sociology and Psychology.

Amanda has experience working as a school psychologist, school counsellor, classroom teacher, and behaviour support teacher in public, private and charter schools in both Canada and the US. Her interests include intersectional feminism, anti-oppressive and inclusive education, critical pedagogy, social justice psychology, and meditative inquiry.

Amanda joined the Shambhala School community as a parent 6 years ago when her child started Pre-Primary. Over the past 5 years, Amanda has volunteered as co-chiar of the Board of Directors, class parent, member of the accessibility committee, provided counselling support to students, and co-created and taught a professional development workshop for our elementary teachers on the subject of student exceptionalities.

B.Sc in Biology, M.Sc in Biology, Dalhousie University. Teaching experience includes introductory biology labs, diversity of life, developmental biology, economic botany, and leadership in science. Conducted campus-wide workshops on pedagogy, including topics of educational leadership, and the importance of ethnic and gender diversity in the classroom at Dalhousie’s Centre for Learning and Teaching, After having served as a judge for the Halifax Sci-Tech Expo and the Canada Wide Science Fair, I am delighted to have begun establishing our Science Fair program here at Shambhala!

Shambhala is a school of embracement, compassion, exploration, and a wholesome appreciation for one’s self, those around us, and the universe in which we share. It is a place where I can contribute my love of knowledge and mentorship with our generations of the future, to embolden their individualities, to play an everlasting part in their limitless potential.

I really enjoy traveling and being immersed in other cultures. I have worked on nature conservation projects in Costa Rica and South Africa and studied Baroque culture in the Czech Republic. I love the performing arts. I’ve been in many musical productions, dinner theatres, and sing in a quartet. In my spare time, I enjoy reef keeping and playing musical instruments.

BA English Literature, BEd Secondary English and Social Studies. I have taught in Hong Kong and for the Province of Nova Scotia, and was Director of Big Cove YMCA Camp for 8 years.

Loved and nurtured youth will not only be successful and emotionally prepared for life, but will lead in their own way, loving and nurturing the world. This school encourages students to awaken, be mindful and enjoy each moment. The love of learning and school community are top priorities here.

I have two sons who are students at Shambhala School. I love going camping, canoeing, biking and everything outdoors! When I have quiet time I enjoy writing, reading and listening to my vinyl records.

As a fairly new teacher, I am fortunate to have a diverse background of teaching experience, having taught in China, Calgary, and Halifax.  In China, I taught ESL to students from grades 6-9 focusing on conversational english and speaking skills.  When I moved back to Canada, I took on the Calgary public school system teaching grade 7 math, science, history, and English to a group of students with diverse learning challenges and strengths.  I substituted in the Halifax public system before joining the Shambhala School team. One of my goals as a teacher is to instill compassion in the world around us, and give students opportunities to think critically, explore their curiosities, and embrace challenges with an open mind.  Learning should never be just about learning facts and memorizing information.  Youth, and adults for that matter, need to have chances to explore ideas and topics beyond the pages of worksheets and the screens of computers.  In my classroom, we try to achieve this through outdoor activities, experimentation and lab work, class discussions, documentaries, and whatever other ways I can think of or borrow from other teachers. I began teaching at Shambhala School because it seemed like the perfect fit for a teacher looking to join a community that is compassionate, caring and open-minded, which for me is the basis of being able to be happy in the classroom. I’m Nova Scotian, born and raised in the Annapolis Valley. I am a hopeful photographer, with publications in Canadian Geographic and other print media.

BA Religious Studies, Certified Mindfulness Instructor for 20 years, teacher at Shambhala since 2004. Author “Teaching With Bravery: Meditation and Heart Advice for Teachers.”

Learning in its fullest sense is a process of connection between teachers and students. It combines nurturing the heart and the intellect, as well as serious purpose and a sense of play. It’s a wonderful and mutual experience.
For me, Shambhala School is a place to help build a model for education infused with the philosophy of natural goodness. It’s deeply inspiring to see young people learn to trust themselves and relax into who they are. Small classes, mindfulness practices, and the whole school culture allow this to happen. The teachers spend a ton of time contemplating each student and how to support them.

I have two children at school. I like tea, books, cookies, and tigers.

Masters in Teaching, Griffith University. Developed multiple sailing programs dedicated to the development of leadership, confidence, and self-reliance in youth aged 12-18. Established the first independent high-school aboard a Canadian-registered tall ship.

I love identifying and nurturing the potential of young people while playing a role in helping them become the best versions of themselves. On a daily basis, I enjoy making their learning experience challenging, yet joyful. I want each and every student to feel safe and welcome in class and I want them to look forward to coming to school each day. The Shambhala School is a place of warmth, caring, and acceptance. Our students understand that, live, and practice it. I love Shambhala because at every staff meeting I can see how much teachers care about the students, how much time and thought they invest in providing exceptional learning experiences for each individual student.

I have two boys, age 7 and 18 months. We snowboard every weekend in the winter and this summer we look forward to sailing in the warmer months. I also enjoy writing, woodworking and making art.

B.Ed. with a focus in Mathematics and Science and a B.Sc Mathematics major, Biology Minor, Mount St. Vincent University.

My work experience prior to teaching was based in customer service and volunteering with children and youth programs here in Nova Scotia and back home in the Bahamas. I’ve found it easy to transfer the skills I’ve perfected in the customer service industry over to teaching. I look at each student as a client with certain requirements and needs and it is my duty to fulfill. I try my best to understand my students and find different ways I can help them so we’re all happy at the end of the day.

My outlook on teaching and life in general, is that something is better than nothing. I teach my students that daily small steps towards their goals will allow them to attain their ultimate goal.

As I continue my journey at the Shambhala School I appreciate their outlook on education. Here, we don’t just focus on the academics, but also focus on the emotional, physical and mental well being of our students. Being at an institution that focuses on teaching the whole student makes my heart smile.

B.ED, French Language Studies Elementary, University of Sainte-Anne, B.A. Sociology, York University.

Shone has a background in French immersion and is excited to share the joys of language learning with others. His approach to teaching French is playful and creative with a lot of games and interactive activities. Using the neurolinguistic approach to language acquisition. he hopes to provide many opportunities for students to speak in French.

Shone was drawn to the Shambhala School for our student-centred approach and our commitment to supporting trans and gender non-conforming students.

B. Kin and B. ED, Acadia University

I am a Physical Education specialist with a passion for well-being, nature and bringing back quality play through purposeful movement. I completed both of my degrees here in Nova Scotia at Acadia University. I began my career teaching Physical Education and Outdoor Education in Saskatoon, followed by a year in New Brunswick. I am thrilled at the opportunity to bring what I’ve experienced back to Nova Scotia. In my learning space I strive to create an openness and opportunities for students to confidently express themselves as movers. I’m looking forward to being a part of the Shambhala Suns community!

I spend a lot of my time copmpletely immersed in nature searching for waterfalls, hiking, rock climbing, tree climbing or enjoying my garden. .

Shambhala School Class of 1993, BA History with focus on Indigenous History of Atlantic Canada, Dalhousie University.

For over a decade, Tyler worked with the band Arcade Fire as primary technical and personal assistant. He played an integral role in focusing the band and in creating an environment for them to thrive as they rose to fame, with multiple Grammy awards and three multi-platinum records. After three world tours, Tyler left the band in 2015 and returned to Halifax to focus on his own music career. He released his own album “Plain Sight” in 2018, which was nominated for an ECMA, in the folk and root category. Tyler plays many venues and festivals throughout Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada.

Beyond his passion for music, Tyler’s interests include researching ancestry and attending online historical and academic lectures. He is an avid sports person and considers mindfulness and personal wellness a big part of his day to day life. Tyler is excited to be returning to Shambhala School.

Professional Artist – Social Sculptor, Educator, Certified Mindfulness Instructor, Facilitator and Community Maker for 25 years plus.

I love working with youth as they are perpetually blossoming, radiating with an openness and eagerness to see, understand, and embrace the world around them. I feel very fortunate to teach at Shambhala as its philosophy and practices are based on the true essence of open mind and kind heart, parallel to my own personal values.

I have a son and a daughter who give me lots of experience thinking outside the box, an awesome doggie Jojo and two silly kitties. I live between Halifax and rural N.S. where I work endless hours in my studio and on the land, and where I run a collective gallery, The Swan, in Lunenburg.