Our Teaching Team
Sandra Walton - Owner/Director, M.Ed, B.Ed, ECE
Born to be a teacher, Sandra has been working with children and youth of all ages since her early teens. She has a 1989 Bachelor of Education degree as an Elementary Generalist specializing in Music, Movement and Physical Education. In 2006 she earned with honours her Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction, followed by her Early Childhood Educator certification in 2009. She holds both BC and Alberta teaching certificates. Sandra also completed her Royal Conservatory of Music program in piano, and received her teaching certificate in dance from the United Kingdom Alliance of Professional Teachers of Dancing. She has taught in both the Edmonton and Greater Victoria Public School Districts in the areas of Music, Dance, Drama, Leadership and Career and Personal Planning. For ten years she taught these subjects at Victoria’s Oak Bay High School, where she also served as Fine Arts Department Head from 2001 to 2007. In 2008 she joined the Fine Arts staff at Reynolds High School in Saanich. In recent years she has choreographed many musical productions for Oak Bay, the Victoria Operatic Society, Langham Court Theatre and other organizations — shows including West Side Story, Crazy for You, Anything Goes, Oklahoma!, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys and Dolls, Me and My Girl and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Finally, Sandra is a proud and loving mother of two young children, who were her divine inspiration for creating ArtsCalibre Academy.
Tara Robertson - Kindergarten/Grade 1 Teacher, B.Ed
We feel so fortunate to welcome Tara to our teaching team. Tara earned with honours her Bachelor of Education Degree (Elementary Specialist) at the University of Victoria in 2007. Since that time she has been teaching Kindergarten to Grade 5 with the Saanich School District, and filling her summers in the roles of independent tutor, program assistant and youth and camp leader. She is also a licensed Early Childhood Educator Assistant, and is specially certified to teach environmental awareness in the BC curriculum. Tara has literally lived the Arts her entire life, with remarkable talents in visual arts, dance, poetry and writing. Combined with her extraordinary teaching skills and warm, nurturing personality, she has created a truly excellent and welcoming Kindergarten and Grade 1 environment at ArtsCalibre. Since the arrival of her daughter in 2009, Tara tells us that "motherhood has enriched my teaching abilities to lengths I'd never imagined". We believe her.
Michelle Woods - ECE
In addition to her years of experience as a certified Early Childhood Educator in Victoria, Michelle brings her extraordinary talents in the Visual Arts to ArtsCalibre. Her creative contributions are evident everywhere on our walls and shelves, and in so many of the projects in which the children engage. Michelle completed her ECE certification at Camosun College in 2006, and since 2005 has been teaching continuously at daycare centres and preschools for infants/toddlers through to age 5. She is thrilled to be working with others who share her passion for the Arts in education, in an environment where she can fully apply her skills and interests in the Arts, sciences and countless other areas.
Zara Hillert - ECE Assistant
When it comes to early childhood care and education — Zara is, as they say, "a natural". She relates wonderfully with children and is empathetic, supportive, personable and energetic. Is it any wonder, then, that she has chosen this as a profession? Zara is diligently working toward her ECE certification at the Pacific Rim Institute, and is bilingual thanks to graduating high school with dual diplomas in English and French immersion. Zara further compliments the ArtsCalibre team with her background in music and dance, as well as her passion for travel, foreign cultures and similar new experiences.