Julia is the proud mom of a Centre School student and a professional Librarian. She is connected to the school through the shared experiences of many community members, including local Library staff, who have sent their children to the Centre School over the years. She values education and loves to see children excited and engaged in their learning – so the Centre School is a fit.

Julia’s background includes fundraising, data management, and assorted research experience. She is a McGill MLIS graduate who loves supporting literacies of all kind, and is proud to have initiated Salt Spring Library’s FabLab, which has blossomed into many connected programs, events and workshops. Julia is a part of the Gulf Island’s Early Years Table and regularly partners with local community and education groups in her Public Librarian role. Together, they make great things happen in our community!

Sharada is one of the founding members of the Salt Spring Centre of Yoga, and has a very long history with the Salt Spring Centre School, beginning in 1983 as a mom when her daughter was in Usha’s class the year the school began. She taught at the school for about 10 years (mostly Grades 4-6), after which she served on the GES Board of Directors for several years. She taught art to all the students over the years, and became very involved in theatre productions at the school, including a number of Shakespeare plays. After stepping back from being a classroom teacher, she continued teaching nonviolent communication at the school. Sharada lives right next door to the school and loves watching the kids play outside. She has recently stepped back on to the GES Board to support the continuing evolution of our wonderful school.

Mark has been involved with the Salt Spring Centre since its inception in 1981. He taught intermediate grades at the school in the 1990s and became a school principal in 2001, retiring in 2017. Mark enjoys international music, adventure travel (especially by boat), Indigenous culture, technology, using tools and problem-solving, and interaction with the natural world. He has a degree in Art, but hasn’t practiced for decades— someday he will again.

Since 1976, Usha has been a member of the group who bought the land on which the Salt Spring Centre operates (Dharma Sara Satsang Society). In September 1983, Usha started the Salt Spring Centre School with one multi-aged class taught by one teacher, with an aim of teaching ways to learn to live and learn in peace, through non-harming. Usha taught full-time in the classroom, having discovered this was to be her life’s joy and passion, and also served as Principal while the school grew into further multi-age classes with more teachers. She retired in 1997, but has remained involved ever since, leading ceremonies. She is now delighted to be part of keeping the vision, by serving on the GES Board.

Serena is a Salt Spring Centre School alumni, as well as a current SSCS parent. Seeing the positive impact that attending SSCS has had on her own education and growth, as well as that of her child’s, she felt compelled to be involved and contribute to the school in a more meaningful way. Serena is a Chartered Professional Accountant with a background in non-profit financial management and public practice. Over the years, she has supported and served on a number of boards on and off Salt Spring, and looks forward to contributing to the future of SSCS.