OUR TEAM

LWL stands for: learn with laughter, love, life, lumination, literature!

We approach teaching with a holistic & joyful perspective. Each student receives guidance that caters to their specific needs.

LWL Education was founded in 2018 and has grown into a beautiful community of teachers, students and parents. As our community has grown, so has the meaning of LWL.

Our dynamic teaching team is made of skilled educators with real-world expertise in business, science, performance and visual arts, public speaking, & more! Our diverse backgrounds help shape our curriculum, allowing us to introduce students to a wide range of ideas that will serve them throughout their lives.

MEET SOME TEAM MEMBERS

Parents can request teacher bios to keep you informed on who your child is learning with.

Meet Jenna

Meet Tatiana

Meet Natalie

Meet Tatiana

Meet Liann

Meet Johanna

LIANN

LIANN

I am a Vancouver-born girl with a passion for education.

Teaching runs in the family. My father spent 10 years teaching French at Vancouver high schools before directing programs at UBC. My grandfather was a biology university professor. Growing up, I distinctly remember trips to the local library. Every weekend, I would slip an armful of books into the “returns” slot and I would walk away with a fresh stack. The aisles of books conjured up my imagination and I lived vicariously through every character I read about. The impacts of childhood reading on the brain are undeniable and this is what inspired me to begin LWL.

I graduated from McGill University with a major in Anatomy and Cell Biology and a minor in East Asian Studies. I began my career in education working at the University of British Columbia, working as a program coordinator for their language institute and head monitor for their international summer camps. I gained interpersonal, instructional, and organizational skills while working with students in highly interactive environments.

In relation to my minor in East Asian Studies, I worked as an Education Marketing Consultant at the Canadian Consulate General in Chongqing. I supported Canadian delegations and the signing of MoUs, I observed that international exchanges were crucial steps to build on ideas and perspectives.

Teaching styles impact a student’s achievement and one of my areas of expertise is to train students to be highly conscientious. I aim to maintain high classroom standards while providing warmth and reason. Effective teachers are warm demanders. The ultimate goal is to raise engaged students who take initiative in their learning.

  • Meet Liann! She’s shaved her head twice— once because her mom thought her hair wasn’t growing and once for charity. What’s the fastest way to a man’s heart? Through the fourth and fifth rib. She knows this after working on cadavers in university.

  • “The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena…Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light.” — Carl Sagan

  • Mezze platters, burrito bowls, big bowl salads, and curries!

JOHANNA

JOHANNA

I am an all-Vancouver girl who believes in engaging the imagination through fun learning.

I was introduced to the world of education as a child, having both my mom and grandfather being university professors. Since I was young, I’ve known the importance of leadership and learning. I started out in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets program when I was in elementary school. Throughout my 6-year cadet career, I’ve taught my peer cadets while leading both classroom and drill-styled lessons. Through this program, I gained responsibility, strong communication and disciplinary skills while maintaining my belief that it’s most important to be happy in life or education.

I graduated from Simon Fraser University with my Bachelors in English literature. I love English because it is the most universal language in the world, and especially because it allows us to challenge our imagination as there are no right or wrong answers and therefore, like in Harry Potter, the most magical things can happen. I have worked with children, tutoring, editing and improving speech. I have had many mentors help me in the past, which has inspired me to help others excel in their education.

In university, I took a few courses regarding children’s literature, which introduced me to the books and reading styles geared towards our younger generations.

I was involved in theatre and drama for a number of years, starting in high school. I’ve always had a passion for the arts and am now leaning towards fine arts and drawing design. I also love to write in my free time, and I hope one day even to write some children’s books! I believe that no matter how old we are, we never stop learning!

  • Spirited Away

    Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

    Coraline

  • Scary Story Podcasts

    Fleetwood Mac

    Her mother (always)

  • Meet Johanna! She is an easygoing Vancouver born Chinese girl. She knows all of her family’s secret recipes and loves to cook and bake! Her fried rice is to die for. Johanna loves to spend her free time working on cars, drawing, and making her friends try her food. Most of the time they’re still friends afterwards. Most of the time.

TATIANA

TATIANA

I am a Vancouver based artist who is passionate about working with children and making education a positive, fun, and enjoyable experience! 

Growing up in England, Germany, and China allowed me to broaden my international perspective and understanding of different languages and cultures. I spent my middle school and high school years in Shanghai studying Mandarin, playing varsity basketball, and developing my artistic skills. Since I was little, art was always something I was passionate about. I love that in creating art, there’s no wrong answer. To this day, I am my happiest when I’m doodling away and experimenting with various mediums & techniques. I was very involved in drama throughout my middle and high school years which brought me out of my shell and became another creative outlet…which comes in handy for storytelling. I’ve always been a visual learner and am sensitive to understanding that everyone has a different way that they learn best. I’m grateful for our small class sizes of 3-4 students because it allows for the time and attention each student deserves in order to understand, progress and succeed.  

I moved to the United States to study Fine Art and Sociology at Skidmore College for 2 years before I transferred to the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, to pursue a degree in Graphic Design. I’m fortunate to have worked with some amazing design companies internationally, integrate illustration into my career, and pursue my love for working with children! I spent some time as an art teacher for children ages 5-11 while in school and knew I wanted to eventually find a way back to educating ever since.

Moving to Vancouver has been one of my favorite decisions. In my free time I can be found exploring a beach or forest, snacking, biking somewhere, making art, or playing tennis! I believe we should make the most of every day and every experience, learn as much as we can, and uplift, enhance, and brighten someone else’s day whenever possible!

  • Meet Tatiana! Aside from being a devoted educator, she’s our team’s talented graphic designer. The illustrations on our website? Done by yours truly. With an open-mind and optimistic outlook on life, she’s the one you can count on to laugh at all of your cheesiest jokes and find the silver lining in every situation.

  • Pizza

    Fajitas

    Sushi!

  • Shrek II

    The Imitation Game

    The 100 Foot Journey

JENNA

JENNA

I am a Canadian-born actor and teacher raised in the prairies of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

I have been acting on stage and on screen since my graduation from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Film in 2010. I have also been teaching in many subject areas and age groups since graduating with my Bachelor of Education from the UofW. I have taught in many programs, including the Engaging Fusion program through the Winnipeg School Division, which is a program that uses drama to teach the English curriculum.

I moved to Vancouver four years ago to continue following my passions of acting and teaching. The two go hand-in-hand, as storytelling is a form of acting! I believe storytelling is an important part of learning as it allows you to see the world through a creative lens.

I feel honored to be surrounded by such passionate educators as well as enthusiastic learners! I continue to learn from the students everyday and I look forward to being a part of their educational and artistic journey!

  • My favourite food is my mama’s lasagna; meatless because I am a vegetarian!

  • Jenna has been on the stage and on the screen! Catch her on Amazon Prime in her role as Loawen in the Indie Horror film, Jikirag. Have a blanket handy just in case you need to hide behind it!

  • My favourite childhood movie that has carried on into my adulthood, is Totoro by Studio Ghibli. The beautiful story of family never ceases to tug on my heartstrings.

NATALIE

NATALIE

I am a Vancouver-based actor and teacher, with a passion for theatre and storytelling. I am bilingual in English and French and I teach both subjects at LWL!

I didn’t find my love of performance until I was in high school, but once bitten by the acting-bug, I could not turn back. I graduated from the University of Lethbridge in 2013 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dramatic Arts), with distinction, and have worked as a professional actor for nearly a decade.

Since graduation, I have also worked as a teacher with thousands of students all over Alberta, creating original theatre plays based on school curriculum, which students then perform for their families and schoolmates.

My work as an actor and teacher have led me to discover a deep love of helping children and young people to build their confidence and find their voice. As a child, I was very shy, introverted and lacked confidence, so now, I am determined to provide my students with a safe, positive and joyful space to learn and grow. I want all of my students to walk away with a level of confidence that I struggled to have when I was young. 

Which is why I am so excited to be a part of the talented team at LWL. Nothing is more fulfilling to me than helping children to grow confident and develop a love of storytelling!

  • Natalie has performed in a number of TYA (theatre for young audiences) productions, but her favourite role was as Smee in Peter Pan!

  • Natalie’s favourite food is without a doubt her family’s spaghetti recipe! The best comfort food! Though she has also been known to eat a lot of chocolate.

  • Natalie’s favourite books are the Harry Potter series and Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine; a story about a young woman finding her voice!

Our Commitment

We are committed to creating a fun, positive educational experience that inspires a growth mindset and a lifelong love of learning. At the heart of our work is our pride in equipping our students with the confidence, knowledge and abilities they need to navigate a world of limitless possibilities successfully.