Our Faculty and Staff

Ummehani Shakir

Marketing and Admissions Officer

Ummehani Shakir is a seasoned public relations and communication specialist with expertise in digital marketing and content creation. Originally from India, she has lived in various countries, including Singapore, England, and Canada, which have contributed to her diverse academic and personal growth experiences. She is thrilled to be part of Alexander Academy’s multicultural environment, where she enjoys learning from and engaging with individuals from all walks of life.

Ummehani holds a postgraduate degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from London, UK. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Psychology, further expanding her academic and professional scope. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with prominent corporate giants such as Procter & Gamble, Marico Ltd, Skechers, Sony Pictures Network, and Starbucks Ltd.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Ummehani is a certified Holistic Healthcare practitioner, trained in over 7 different healing modalities over the span of eight years. She continues to expand her knowledge and skills in this field as well.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, content creation, and traveling.

Spencer Todd

Head Teacher

Spencer Todd has enjoyed the challenge of making class content relevant to the lives of his students since 1998 when he first became a Humanities teacher.

Initially, he started as an English teacher in the public system in Victoria where he stayed for several years before moving back to his hometown of Vancouver. Soon thereafter, he became involved with working with international students in a number of different roles to help them prepare for success in the British Columbia high school system and beyond.

He especially relishes the challenge of aiding international students in their senior English classes and on their Provincial exams. Spencer has a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies and a Post Degree Professional Program in Education from the University of Victoria, as well as a Post Degree Diploma in Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia.

In his spare time, he enjoys reading about history, listening to music, following the Miami Dolphins, and spending as much time as possible with his wife and two daughters.

Berenice Lewis

Admissions & Business Development Director

Berenice Lewis is a graduate of the University of Calgary where she received her Bachelor of Education. She also holds a Master of Arts from the University of Phoenix with a specialization in Leadership and Administration.

Berenice oversees all enrolment activities at Alexander Academy and works closely with the Head Teacher and administrative team to bring students to Alexander Academy. Berenice is committed to ensuring that students can access all that Alexander Academy has to offer.

Berenice has extensive experience in independent schools, working as a former educator, principal, Head of School, and now Director of Admissions. Her diverse experiences in the field of education confirm her belief in the power of education to drive positive change within her community and beyond.

Carol Wang

Marketing and Admissions Officer

Carol Wang had 8 years of management and 16 years of work experience in the international education industry in China prior to joining Alexander Academy as a Marketing and Admissions Officer. Helping students appreciate what Canadian education has to offer has been the focus of her career.

Carol has a Diploma in Business and recently completed a Bachelor of Arts at Trinity Western University majoring in Leadership. Carol intends to promote Alexander Academy and British Columbia independent high school education to overseas families. With an inclusive mindset, she focuses on showcasing the school’s academic excellence to the global community and helping international students grow and succeed.

In her free time, Carol enjoys travelling, reading, and meditation.

Bilguun Ganbaatar

Educational Counsellor and Finance Officer

Bilguun (Beku) Ganbaatar is a distinguished alumna of Alexander Academy, where she now serves as an Educational Counsellor and Finance Officer in the finance and admissions office.

Bilguun graduated from Alexander Academy in 2018 and subsequently attended Alexander College, where she studied Business Management. During her college years, she mastered business fundamentals such as market research, marketing campaigns, and strategic planning. In June 2023, she earned her Bachelor of Management with Honours from the University of British Columbia.

Having moved to Canada six years ago to pursue her education at Alexander Academy, Bilguun has overcome numerous challenges, demonstrating resilience and determination. She firmly believes that investing in one’s dreams is an endeavor worth pursuing. This journey of personal and professional growth has allowed her to reflect on her past and define her future aspirations.

Javier Garcia

Mathematics and Physics Teacher

Javier Garcia holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science. He has many years of teaching experience with university level courses such as Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probabilities and Statistics. He has also taught Mathematics and Physics at secondary schools in Cuba, Bolivia and Canada.

Mr. Garcia received his bachelor’s degree and completed a Master’s degree from the Havana Pedagogical University Enrique Jose Varona, and he completed his certification as a British Columbia certified teacher at Simon Fraser University.

Mr. Garcia is a fan of all sports and plays volleyball, tennis and chess in his spare time. He has also enjoyed coaching and personal training in the past. He enjoys music, salsa dancing, getting involved in community activities, and spending time with family and friends.

Jenny Guan

Head of School

Jenny Guan is the Head of School at Alexander Academy. She holds a Master of Education in Administration and Leadership, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia.

Raised in British Columbia, Jenny has been an educator since 2006 and has taught Mathematics and Science at the secondary level. Prior to becoming Head of School, she served for 10 years as Student Services Manager at Alexander Academy, where she led student support systems and played a key role in strengthening academic advising, post-secondary planning, and student well-being. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to student success, academic growth, and achievement, working closely with students and families to support their educational and post-secondary goals.

Jenny believes that strong relationships are at the heart of a thriving school community. She builds meaningful connections with students, families, colleagues, and the Board, and leads with a commitment to understanding and supporting each student’s individual needs, strengths, and aspirations.

With extensive experience working with students from diverse cultural backgrounds, Jenny values the richness that diversity brings to the Alexander Academy community. As Head of School, she leads with purpose and vision, fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment where students are empowered to succeed.

Clifford Hildebrand

Physical Health Education, Business, and Mathematics Teacher

Clifford Hildebrand is a teacher with a wealth of experience. After graduating from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor’s degree in Education, he moved to Taiwan where he spent 15 years teaching English and experiencing a new culture.

While in Taiwan, Cliff earned a Master’s degree in Education, focusing on Curriculum and Instructional Development. He taught at a variety of institutes including high schools and a university, where he was the course coordinator for the third-year writing course for the English department.

Cliff then returned to Canada where he has been teaching since 2013. During his time in Canada, he has taught a variety of subjects including Economics, Physical Education, Social Studies, Math, Environmental Science and more. Cliff enjoys many things including sports, music, and reading. What he loves the most, however, is helping students understand new things. He hopes he can be a help to you while you are at Alexander Academy.

Rachel Tremblay-Côté

Fine Arts, French, and Entrepreneurship Teacher

Rachel Tremblay-Côté taught and facilitated various projects with the Montreal School Board for 9 years prior to moving to British Columbia where she taught in the public school system. Rachel is from Montreal, Quebec. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts & Media from the University of Quebec in Montreal and is currently pursuing studies in Psychology. Rachel is passionate about empowering students through creative, growth-focused learning experiences and has also led workshops on mental health, sexuality, and diversity as an interventionist at Tel-Jeune, an organization dedicated to supporting the well-being of teenagers.

Outside of education, Rachel co-founded GHAM & DAFE, a nonprofit in Montreal focused on visual and media arts and recently contributed to marketing for an e-commerce business specializing in unique designer shoes.

In her personal time, she enjoys hiking, is an animal lover, practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and finds inspiration in crafting and costume design.

Allison Esau

Counsellor

Allison holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia and brings diverse experience from across the mental health field, most recently supporting individuals in private practice. She is passionate about creating a supportive and empowering space for clients, grounded in trauma-informed and anti-oppressive approaches.

Originally from the prairies, Allison has a deep appreciation for the outdoors and the restorative power of nature. She enjoys travelling to new places, learning from different perspectives and ways of life, and, when she has the chance, relaxing with a good book in the sun.

Alan Boudaghi

English, ELL, and Career Life Education Teacher

Alan Boudaghi has 17 years experience working in education. Prior to joining Alexander Academy, Alan has worked with renowned institutions like International House London, RMIT University in Australia, and Maple Leaf Educational Systems in Malaysia. In 2023, Alan moved to Canada, bringing his extensive experience and love for education to his new home.

Throughout his career, Alan has taken on many roles, including Academic Director, Professional Development Manager, English Enhancement Coordinator, Learning Center Manager, and ESL/ELL teacher. He has played a significant role as an academic leader and mentor, training more than 1,500 teachers. Alan has also worked as a school inspector for Cognia Canada. As a frequent speaker at ELT conferences, he is dedicated to staying updated on new teaching and testing methods.

Alan is a PhD candidate in TESOL and holds a Master in TESOL degree from the University of Malaya, and a Bachelor of Education degree from the UCNA. He also has several Cambridge ESOL certificates and has served as a Cambridge Examiner for Writing and Speaking. Recently, he completed his TESOL Canada certification.

In his free time, Alan enjoys outdoor activities like swimming, camping, and cycling. He loves attending concerts and reading about literature, history, and sociology. A passionate traveler, Alan has visited 28 countries.

Mark Lappan

Humanities and Film and TV Teacher

Mark Lappan graduated from the University of Victoria with a degree in History and a minor in Medieval Studies. He then went on to enroll in Simon Fraser University’s Professional Development Program where he specialized in Social Studies. Soon after, he earned his MSc in History through the School of History, Classics, and Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh.

Mark’s time as both student and teacher has taken him across the globe. Highlights include teaching English and organizing culture fairs in Japan, working as part of the excavation team at the necropolis of ancient Pronnoi, and delivering lectures on Canadian military history, including Canada’s ongoing NATO and UN commitments, as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces.

In his down time Mark is an avid outdoorsman, something he attributes to being born and raised on the North Shore. Rain or shine you can find him on the trails of the Pacific Ranges, or organizing an impromptu overnight on Crown land.

Ines Kim

Administrative Assistant

Ines Kim holds a bachelor’s degree in media studies from Chosun University in South Korea. She is certified in Google Analytics and experienced in data analysis. During her post-secondary studies, she received awards in advertising competitions and was active as a student journalist.

Prior to moving to Vancouver in 2025, she worked as a coordinator and instructor at a mathematics and English academy, managing administrative tasks, educational programs, and direct instruction. She also directed the planning, development, and operation of an educational gamification app promoting environmental awareness for students and teachers, leading the project from customer journey mapping to MVP launch.

Ines believes that experiencing the world’s diversity and learning effective communication are the most important aspects of education.

Grace Chen

Librarian and Career Life Connections Teacher

Grace Chen (she/her) is a librarian from Vancouver. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of British Columbia.

Grace previously worked as the Library Collections Manager for the Royal BC Museum and Archives in Victoria. She is passionate about improving the accessibility and discoverability of resources and research materials for all audiences, and is excited to contribute to the development of the Alexander Academy library collection and services.

Outside of Alexander Academy, Grace competes in Olympic Weightlifting and qualified for her first Canadian National Championships in 2025. As an ex-figure skater, Grace continues to be an avid fan of the sport and her preferred winter activity involves virtually watching the International Skating Union Grand Prix series and cheering very loudly from her couch.

Stacey Franklin

English and ELL Teacher

Stacey Franklin is passionate about both teaching and her subject area, English.

Ms. Franklin has completed her Honours Bachelor of Arts in English and Women and Gender Studies at the University of Toronto, where she graduated with high distinction; she also has a Master’s degree in teaching (MT), which she earned from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto; and she has a Master of Arts in English, also from the University of Toronto.

Outside the classroom, Ms. Franklin’s hobbies include rock climbing and yoga–she is even an experienced and certified climbing wall instructor and yoga teacher. She also enjoys camping, hiking, and spending time outdoors.

Jiemin Zhang

Computer Science and Mathematics Teacher

Jiemin Zhang brings a unique blend of real-world software engineering experience and classroom teaching expertise to Alexander Academy. Having grown up in China, Jiemin holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Shanghai and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University, where he was honoured with the Outstanding Teaching Award for excellence in instruction.

Before transitioning into education, Jiemin spent four years as a software engineer in Los Angeles, developing desktop software and full-stack web applications for companies in the display technology and SaaS industries. This hands-on industry background allows him to bring authentic, real-world perspective to his computer science and technology classes, helping students connect what they learn in the classroom to meaningful careers and applications.

Jiemin has taught mathematics and science across Grades 6–12 in Vancouver and Shanghai, and has designed and delivered project-based STEM programs on autonomous driving and aerodynamics. He has a genuine passion for supporting local and international students in achieving their academic goals.

In his spare time, Jiemin enjoys playing guitar, reading, hiking and camping in the mountains with his dog Rudy, and exploring his interests in scuba diving and aviation.