The SelfDesign Learning Community leadership team consists of three very knowledgeable, skilled and experienced educators who are passionate about SelfDesign: Principal Nikki Kenyon, Vice-Principal Vanessa Kuran and Vice-Principal Catherine Dinim.
All three have led robust careers in education and have made incredible strides in enhancing different aspects of SelfDesign’s educational programs.
Nikki, who has been with SelfDesign for 11 years, has worked as an educator one-on-one with nearly 100 learners, helped to create the SelfDesign Learning Experiences Library, worked towards building an inclusive K-12 program and has shifted grades 10 to 12 to align with the Ministry’s new curriculum and SelfDesign’s model and philosophy.
Vanessa has been at SelfDesign since 2010 and has worked closely with the human resources team and educator services to ensure that SelfDesign Learning Community attracts and maintains a team of excellent educational contractors. Her other key projects include working on the development of the camps and events offerings, the newly formed learner council, and the B.C. School Sports opportunities for learners.
Catherine has led the creation of the SelfDesign Library of Learning Experiences, bringing accessible, curated resources to our learners. The last few years have included developing and implementing SelfDesign’s new grades 10-12, and coordinating our growth as an inclusive kindergarten to Grade 12 program. She’s been with SelfDesign since 2004.
One thing all three women have in common is their passion for supporting and providing unique opportunities to learners on their journey of lifelong personalized learning.
We sat down with the SelfDesign Learning Community leadership team to learn more about them.
What are you looking forward to most this learning year?
Nikki: Supporting and witnessing the growth of our learners!
Vanessa: Really exploring the ideas behind Universal Design for Learning for all areas of SelfDesign.
Catherine: I’m excited that we are finally offering one K-12 program, in one platform!
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Nikki: Teleportation: get from one place to the next with a snap of my fingers!
Vanessa: Super-human agility: the whole gamut from super-nimble banjo-pickin’ fingers, to super complex flips and aerials.
Catherine: Be able to fly. I’ve had flying dreams my whole life, which are usually more like swimming through the air. I’d love to be able to dip and dive like a swallow.
What is something people would never guess about you?
Nikki: I do not like cooking. At all.
Vanessa: That I can hypnotize a chicken.
Catherine: I try to make something every day: a row of knitting, a tiny doodle, or a larger-scale project. Being creative feeds me!
What is the most delightful thing you’ve experienced as an educator with SelfDesign?
Nikki: One of my favourite things is actually being given a tour of a learner’s space by the learner – often virtually and sometimes in person – where they have showed me their rooms, homes, and their favourite places to be in their space!
Vanessa: Winter camping in snow caves atop a mountain pass with the first group of “Gateways” learners (grade 8/9). We partnered with another school, snowshoed our way up to Ripple Ridge in Stagleap Provincial Park near Nelson, and proceeded to dig and sculpt our small group snow caves to sleep in for two nights! What an adventure (and exercise in resilience)!
Catherine: As a learning consultant, I worked with families for years at a time, as they had new children, moved towns, grew up. I think it’s delightful to be included as a family support and celebrating milestones through the years.
What do you love most about being part of the school leadership team?
Nikki: I love working with a group of passionate educators who hold learners at the centre of all they do. I have great respect for my colleagues in this group.
Vanessa: Being able to see the great work of so many creative and talented people in action, everyday, working to actualize our vision.
Catherine: I love connecting with this amazing team – educators with compassion, care, big vision and drive.
Under the SelfDesign Learning Community leadership team are approximately 185 B.C. certified educators who are thrilled to offer a personalized and flexible approach to education for nearly 2,000 learners from kindergarten to grade 12 each year.
