Meet Our Specialist Teachers

Now in his second year at Pear Tree, Sean is a fully qualified physical education teacher with a strong blend of classroom and pastoral leadership. He completed a PGCE in Secondary Physical Education through the Southampton University Partnership Alliance and holds a BSc (Hons) in Exercise & Sport Sciences from the University of Exeter. Before moving to Vancouver, Sean taught GCSE PE (and Business) at Aldworth School, served as Head of House, organised inter-house sport, and ran after-school clubs across basketball, football, rugby, athletics, and cricket—experience that shows in his calm, organised approach and ability to engage diverse learners.

Beyond school, Sean brings serious competitive and coaching experience. He’s played in England’s National Basketball League (including a Division 2 playoff run) and holds a Level 2 Basketball Coach qualification. That background informs his PE expertise in physical literacy, multi-sport skill progressions, teamwork, and student wellbeing. It also adds a motivating presence for students—someone who models goal-setting, resilience, and the joy of moving every day.

Mahi joins our Yaletown team with hands-on experience leading active, language-rich learning for children ages 8–12. She taught English in South Korea at Daejeon Doan Elementary, designing game-based lessons, roleplay, and small-group activities that strengthened participation, teamwork, and confidence. Earlier, as an ESL activity leader in Vancouver, she guided visiting students through recreational excursions and skill-building sessions. Multilingual in Amharic, Korean, French, and English, Mahi brings strong cross-cultural communication and inclusive supervision—great assets for a P.E. and associate teacher role.

Her strengths include youth engagement, behavior support and de-escalation, clear routines, and safety-first practice (Standard First Aid/CPR-C). She aligns naturally with the Pear Tree Method, using structured, playful activities to build physical literacy, cooperation, and social-emotional skills while supporting classroom learning as an associate teacher. Mahi is currently completing prerequisite coursework toward a future in social work, reflecting her ongoing commitment to student wellbeing and community.

Betti joins Pear Tree with a decade of experience teaching French across primary and secondary levels. She spent nine years at a school affiliated with Sharif University of Technology, designing engaging lessons, monitoring progress, and fostering a positive language-learning culture. Earlier, she taught French in kindergarten and preschool settings, giving her a rare K–12 perspective on how early oral language, play, and routines evolve into confident reading, writing, and cultural understanding.

Academically, Betti pairs deep French-language training with graduate study in language education. She holds a master’s in French Language Translation and a bachelor’s in French (translation/interpretation), and is completing a postgraduate diploma in education with a language-teaching focus at Université de Montréal. Bilingual in French and English, she brings strong classroom management, thoughtful assessment, and age-appropriate use of educational technology—all well aligned with the Pear Tree Method’s theme-based, hands-on approach to language learning.

JR has led Pear Tree’s music program since our first year in 2016. A working songwriter, producer, and live performer, he brings real-world musicianship to K–8 music education. His teaching spans early singing and percussion in Kindergarten, ukulele foundations in Grades 1–3, and guitar studies in Grades 4–8, alongside song composition, vocal work, and concert preparation. Beyond Pear Tree, JR teaches across Metro Vancouver (K–12), serves as Head Instructor at Deep Cove Music, and leads group guitar/voice programs with community partners including the Squamish Nation and the North Shore Neighbourhood House.

JR’s practice fits tightly with the Pear Tree Method: theme-based, hands-on, and authentic. He threads classroom themes into repertoire and original songwriting so students connect music to meaningful ideas and real audiences. His blend of professional artistry and long-standing school experience has shaped a consistent, high-quality program that grows musical skill, collaboration, and confidence year after year.

Heather brings more than a decade of early-learning and student-support experience to Pear Tree’s Learning Resources team. AMI-trained in Montessori education with an ECE diploma, she has led preschool programs, tutored multilingual learners, and managed children’s services at The Arbutus Club—work that combined curriculum design, parent partnerships, and staff coaching. Earlier, as Head Teacher at Discovery Montessori, she supported primarily ESL students through targeted language development, progress monitoring, and close collaboration with families.

This background anchors Heather’s strengths in early literacy (phonological awareness, phonics, oral language), foundational numeracy and fine-motor development, and inclusive supports for diverse learning needs. She is known for calm, encouraging guidance and clear, organized systems that help students build confidence and independence—fully aligned with the Pear Tree Method and our evidence-driven approach to growth.

Amanda Marques is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and has been an integral part of our team for the past three years. She holds a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology, which she completed in 2007.

With a wealth of experience working as a therapist for Child & Youth Mental Health at both the Ministry of Children and Families and Vancouver Coastal Health, Amanda brings a deep commitment to supporting the well-being of our students. She specializes in evidence-based treatments for anxiety and depression in children and adolescents, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy for Depressed Adolescents (IPT-A). Additionally, Amanda has served as an IPT-A trainer and consultant for Child & Youth Mental Health teams across the province.

Amanda’s approach to counselling is rooted in positive psychology, with a focus on mindfulness, kindness, self-compassion, gratitude, and connection. She is passionate about working with children, youth, and their families, and believes strongly in the resilience of individuals. With the right support, she believes that everyone has the capacity to overcome obstacles, experience personal growth, and achieve lasting change.