Our Teaching Team
Sandra Walton, B.Ed, M.Ed, ECE, UKAPTD – Principal, Executive Director
Born to be a teacher, Sandra has been working with children and youth of all ages since her early teens. In 1989, Sandra graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree as an Elementary Generalist specializing in Music, Movement and Physical Education. In 2006, she earned her Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction, graduating with honours, followed by her Early Childhood Educator certification in 2009. She holds teaching certificates in both British Columbia and Alberta. 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 (UKAPTD).
Sandra has taught Music, Dance, Drama, Leadership, and Career and Personal Planning in both the Edmonton and Greater Victoria Public School Districts. 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 outstanding musical productions for Oak Bay High, 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, B.Ed, ECE – Assistant Director, Lead Educator
We feel so fortunate to have Tara on our teaching team. Tara earned her Bachelor of Education Degree (Elementary Specialist) with honours at the University of Victoria in 2007. Prior to joining ArtsCalibre, she taught Kindergarten to Grade 5 with the Saanich School District, and filled her summers as an independent tutor, program assistant, and youth and camp leader. She is also a licensed Early Childhood Educator (ECE) 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 truly excellent and welcoming Kindergarten and Elementary environments at ArtsCalibre. Since the arrival of her daughter in 2009, Tara says that “motherhood has enriched my teaching abilities to lengths I’d never imagined”. We believe her.
Read Miss Tara’s lovely and inspiring commencement address at ArtsCalibre Academy’s 2011/2012 Kindergarten/Grade 1 Graduation ceremony — which we believe speaks volumes about the environment that we have created at the school.
Multi-Campus Faculty
Blair Campbell, Educational Assistant and Physical Education Instructor
Natalie Carr, B.CYC - Child and Youth Lead
Stacey Larche, Administrative Coordinator
Mark McAllister, B.Ed - Educator
Cara McCandless, Music Teacher
Elementary Campus
Birch Learning Group (Kindergarten/Grades 1 & 2):
Chris Bowen, M.Ed – Educator
Teresa Allen, Educational Assistant
Maple Learning Group (Grades 2 to 4):
Educator - TBD
Hannah Mann, Educational Assistant
Bonsai Learning Group (Grades 5 & 6):
Olivia Huybers, B.Ed - Educator
Bristol Hobson, Educational Assistant
Middle/Secondary Campus
Sequoia Learning Group (Grades 7 & 8):
Hannah Blumer, B.Ed - Educator
Blair Campbell, Educational Assistant
Alder Learning Group (Grades 9 to 12):
Trish Snowdon, B.Ed - Educator, Drama and Musical Theatre Instructor
Tracey Nolan, Educational Assistant