ADMINISTRATION
Mary Acton-Bond (she/her), Executive Director, Upper School Director
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Mary’s academic background includes a HBOR in Outdoor Education and a BA in Geography from Lakehead University, and a MT (Masters 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 and senior leadership.
Mary has two children attending Shambhala School and her partner, Jason, is one of our many inspiring faculty members.
Margot Louise (she/her), Associate Director
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Margot’s qualifications include a BA degree in English and History, as well as a BEd degree from Mount St. Vincent University. She is a two time winner of the Senate Award for highest marks of any graduate in the BA and BEd programs. Margot also has education in Music Composition and Arranging from Humber College in Toronto, and post grad work in writing music for TV and film from the University of Southern California.
Margot has been teaching for over 16 years in both independent and public schools.
Susan Marsh (she/her), Head of Administration
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Susan has many years experience in business administration of for profit and nonprofit businesses. She has been involved with Shambhala School as a parent and volunteer since 1998, and has 2 children who graduated from the school.
Stephanie Misener (she/her), Bookkeeper
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Stephanie earned a BA from St. Mary’s University, and received the Grant Thornton Accounting Award of Achievement from NSCC. She has experience as an accounting coordinator with private businesses, and as an accounts payable processor with a major bank.
Stephanie has one child at the Shambhala School.
FACULTY
Music
Andrew MacKelvie (he/him), Grade Primary – 12 Music
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Andrew has his BA in Jazz Studies (saxophone) from St. Francis Xavier University, and a BEd in Music Education from University of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Andrew has been active in the local improvised music community for the last 10 years, performing with his own ensembles. He has also taught music at NSCC. He is an ECMA winner and has been nominated for a Juno award.
Art
Leah Benetti (she/her), High School Art, Ceramic Tech
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Leah has a BFA from Ontario College of Art & Design, Toronto with a focus on publications. She also holds a BFA from York University, Toronto, in Studio Arts: Printmaking.
Along with her classes at Shambhala School, Leah is also a teaching assistant and studio tech at Thrown Together Pottery in Truro. In the past, Leah was an administrator of the Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark, and has extensive experience in library media.
Meaghan LeMoine (she/her), Middle School Art, High School Theatre Tech
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Meaghan holds a BFA- Interdisciplinary in Media Arts and Textiles from NSCAD. Her BEd in Secondary Visual Arts and Social Studies is from Mount St. Vincent University.
Meaghan has worked as a Visual Arts Specialist for HRCE, and as an instructor at Art Teachers Association of Nova Scotia. She also designed and delivered a professional development event on Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and Trauma Informed Schools.
Miro Davis (she/her), currently on leave
Miro is a professional artist and educator with over 25 years experience, and a certified Mindfulness instructor. Miro also runs a collective gallery, The Swan, in Lunenburg.
French
Mayssane El Azzaoui (she/her), Grade 1 – 12 French
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Mayssane received her BA in French Language and Literature from University Reims, Champagne-Ardennes, and her MA in Didactics of French as a Second and Foreign Language from University Paul Valéry, Montpellier.
Mayssane has a wealth of teaching experience, and has taught in Bangkok, Thailand and Batumi, Georgia. She has most currently been a French language instructor with Alliance Française in Halifax.
Physical Education
Ross Burns (he/him), Grade Primary – 12 Physical Education
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Ross has his BA in Philosophy from University of King’s College. He has studied the art of Capoeira extensively in Brazil, and is also an accomplished musician and linguist.
Ross is a multi-disciplinary educator and performer with extensive experience in capoeira, music, and circus. He is part of the core faculty of Halifax’s Creative Music Workshop, has taught in NSCC’s Music Arts and Music Business programs, and has been the principal teacher of Mestre Azeitona’s Capoeira Group Dendê – Halifax for more than 16 years.
Ashley Whynot (she/her), Grade Primary – 12 Physical Education/Outdoor Education
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Ashley holds a BA in Psychology from Carleton University, and has a level 3 ECE. Ashley is also a certified Forest and Nature Practitioner through Child and Nature Alliance Canada. Currently, she is working towards her certificate in Therapeutic Skills for Outdoor Leaders.
Ashley has been an educator with the Wild Child Forest School, and is currently their Program Coordinator.
ELEMENTARY
Maggie MacNevin (she/her), Pre Primary Director and Teacher
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Maggie holds a BA degree in Child and Youth Studies from Mount St. Vincent University, and a MA degree in Early Childhood Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University).
Maggie came to the Shambhala School as a Pre Primary assistant teacher in 2008 before continuing her education in Toronto. She has two children attending the school.
Nicole Worobec (she/her), Pre Primary Teacher
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Nicole has her diploma in Early Childhood Education from Nova Scotia Teachers College in Truro.
She has been a much loved teacher of many Pre Primary students since 2009. Nicole has one child who attended Shambhala School from grade Pre Primary through 12.
Binbin Ma (she/her), Pre Primary Teacher
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Binbin completed Waldorf Teacher Training at the Rudolph Steiner Centre in California, USA.
She taught at several Waldorf schools, and worked as a parenting consultant and teachers’ mentor for several kindergartens. Binbin has one child attending Shambhala School.
Abbey Thornhill (she/her), Elementary Education Assistant, Before and After School Program Coordinator
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Abbey has completed her work for Entry Level ECE, and has been involved with the Shambhala School for many years.
Abbey is a graduate of the Shambhala School and has one child attending the school.
Jordan West (she/they), Primary Teacher
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Jordan holds a BA degree in History from Queen’s University, and studied Visual Arts at Ontario College of Art and Design. They studied Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Training at the Rudolf Steiner Center of Toronto, and received their certification in Early Childhood Development.
Jordan has one child attending, and one child who has graduated from Shambhala School.
Amanda Smith (she/her), Primary Teacher
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Amanda received Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher training at Rudolf Steiner College Canada, and through The East Coast Institute for Studies in Anthroposophy. She is also a certified children’s yoga teacher, and has led an after school yoga program as well as teaching yoga within many grades of the school.
Amanda has been involved with the school in different capacities since 2011. She has two children in the school currently, and two children who have graduated.
Madison Peters (she/her), Teacher
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Madison has a BA in Psychology and English, and a BEd degree with Primary/Elementary Specialization from University of Prince Edward Island.
Before beginning her elementary teaching career, Madison worked with children in a variety of capacities, such as through volunteering with the Canadian Mental Health Association, leading summer camps and afterschool programs, as well as teaching students English as an Additional language through online programming.
Judith Morris (she/her), Teacher
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Judith holds a BFA from NSCAD University, and a BEd, Dean’s List, from Mount Saint Vincent University. She is currently writing a thesis for the Master of Arts in Art Education program at NSCAD University.
In addition to teaching at Shambhala School, Judith works at NSCAD University as the Art Factory Program Coordinator, which provides art education opportunities for organizations across the HRM.
Rachel Lebowitz (she/her), Teacher
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Rachel holds a BA in English and Women’s Studies from Simon Fraser University, an MA in English and Creative Writing from Concordia University, and received her teaching certificate from BC College of Teachers.
Rachel is a published author whose books include: Hannus, Anything But Hank!, Cottonopolis, and The Year of No Summer.
Keisha Lent (she/her), Teacher
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Keisha has her BA in English and Theatre, and a BEd in English, Fine Art, and Outdoor Education from Acadia University.
Keisha has experience teaching English and History at HRCE Middle Schools, and has taught Art classes for children through Art Gallery Nova Scotia.
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL (UPPER SCHOOL)
Jacob Fletcher (he/him), Registrar and Teacher
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Jacob has a BSc and MSc in Biology from Dalhousie University. His teaching experience includes labs in Intro Biology, Diversity of Life, Developmental Biology, and Leadership in Science in the Dalhousie Biology Department. As a teaching associate in Dalhousie’s Centre for Learning and Teaching, he also conducted campus-wide workshops on pedagogy, including topics of educational leadership, and the importance of ethnic and gender diversity in the classroom.
Jacob has worked on nature conservation projects in Costa Rica and South Africa, and studied Baroque art in Czechia. He enjoys performing in musical productions and dinner theatres in his spare time.
Mike LeDuc (he/him), Outdoor Education Director and Teacher
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Mike holds a BA in English Literature from St. Mary’s University, and a BEd in Secondary English and Social Studies from Acadia University. Mike has taught in both Nova Scotia and Hong Kong.
Mike was the Director of the Big Cove YMCA Camp for 8 years and has extensive practical experience with outdoor education. He has 2 children at the Shambhala School.
Noel McLellan (he/him), Upper School Associate Director and Teacher
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Noel has a BA degree in Religious Studies from University of Colorado, Boulder, and has been a mindfulness instructor since 1995. He has been a teacher at Shambhala School since 2004.
Noel is the author of Teaching With Bravery, and collaborated with his daughter, a Shambhala student, on their book Emily and the Deepest Memory.
Jason McNaught (he/him), Teacher
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Jason’s academic background includes a BA in Geography from Lakehead University, a MT Masters of Teaching) from Griffiths University in Brisbane, Australia, and a Diploma in Professional Writing from Algonquin College.
Jason taught Elementary school in Brisbane, and was a Shipboard Director for Class Afloat, where students sail a tall ship while exploring new cultures and earning academic credits. During his time with Class Afloat, he established the first independent school on a Canadian-registered sailing vessel. Jason has 2 children at Shambhala School.
Wesley Pitts (he/him), Teacher
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Wesley received a BSc with honours in Biology and a BEd focusing on Secondary Education from Acadia University. He also received his TESOL certification.
Wesley used his TESOL certification to teach English in Shanghai for a time. He also taught core subjects in Calgary Middle Schools.
Joyce Wright (she/her), Teacher
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Joyce has her BSc majoring in Mathematics with a minor in Biology, and her BEd with a focus in Mathematics and Science from Mount St. Vincent University.
Before coming to the Shambhala School, Joyce worked with children and youth programs both here in Nova Scotia, and in her native Bahamas.