Join us in welcoming and get to know some of our new Southridge faculty. If you see them around campus, be sure to say hello!
Jake Anderson
Math and Learning Strategies Teacher, Senior School
Jake moved from Alberta to BC about six years ago, and recently moved from Kelowna. He's a sporty individual who likes to stay active.
Jake completed his degree in Kinesiology at the University of Lethbridge, his teaching certification at D'Youville College (Buffalo, NY), and his Masters in Education at Michigan State University.
Jake will be taking on the roles of math and learning strategies teacher, and brings over ten years of experience teaching math from Grade 6 through to Grade 10 in both Canada and internationally. He is looking forward to developing relationships with both staff and students, and working together to achieve a common goal. He strives to make math fun and loves when he can convince students that they are capable mathematicians. He also has extensive experience in planning and implementing individual educational plans and takes pride in supporting the individual learning needs of students.
He is looking forward to getting to know the community, and seeing what contributions he can make to Southridge.
David Gibson
Physics Teacher, Senior School
David has always been open to participating in activities that are challenging, enlightening, or just plain entertaining. He loves sports and has competed at a high level in baseball, volleyball, and tennis. He also enjoys snowboarding, golfing, wakeboarding, table tennis and, if coerced, running (5km, 10km begrudgingly). He enjoys all music and has an eclectic playlist ranging from 70s rock to musical theatre songs. Don't be shocked if you hear Disney songs pumping from his office before school. He's a tinkerer who likes to take things apart, and hopefully, put them back together in working order. Jake also likes trivia, puzzles, and anything that makes him think. He has enjoyed renovating his house with the help of his parents George and Judy and have learned a lot about the wrong and right way to do things. But his most treasured activities are reading to his 20 month old daughter Charlotte before bed (while his cat Sylvester jealously circles them), and travelling with her and his wife, Mandy, to all sorts of interesting places.
David will be taking over the reins and stepping into the physics classroom. Over the past 12 years he has worked for Sentinel Secondary School in West Vancouver, where he has taught all levels of physics and math. He has an appreciation for volunteering and has participated in a variety of activities from building sets for the drama department, coaching sports teams, and working on public outreach initiatives. His high school teaching experience is supplemented by various educational experiences over the past 20 years, including being a university lecturer for astronomy/astrophysics and a teacher’s assistant. His academic accomplishments include a Bachelor of Science (in Physics and Applied Math) from Millikin University (Decatur, IL), a Masters in Science (in Astrophysics) from the University of Calgary, and a Bachelor of Education (in Secondary Science) from Simon Fraser University.
David looks forward to joining Southridge and becoming an active and productive leader while continuing his growth as an educator. He loves doing whatever he can to help make high school a positive, memorable experience for the students. He believes, "We are all universally connected by education, and there is not one person that doesn't have a story to tell about their time in school. It could be a meaningful lesson, something a teacher said, a class you enjoyed, a team that you were a part of, a club that you helped organize, or an event that you enjoyed. You won't even recognize the impact something has made on you until you experience the flood of unlocked memories when a life event occurs. I try my best to foster moments like these for my students."
He is especially looking forward to the unknown as he taught at his last high school for 12 years and it was the only high school he has ever taught at. He is excited for everything to feel new again and is looking forward to finding his place in the Southridge community as an educator and a volunteer.
Jennifer Nguyen
Counsellor, Senior School
Jennifer is an active nature lover who enjoys spending time with her dog Ace. One of her current interests in bouldering (which is a form of free climbing that is performed on small rock formations or artificial rock walls without the use of ropes or harnesses).
Jennifer is excited to be joining Southridge's Senior School counselling team after recently practicing as a Registered Clinical Counsellor at Liana Yip & Associates. While working towards her Master of Counselling Psychology, she completed her practicum at the University of British Columbia Counselling Services where she provided counselling services to a diverse student population with a variety of concerns. She has worked at the YMCA, where she facilitated psycho-education programs for teens, and has volunteered for a variety of organizations, including Mood Disorders Ottawa and Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland. Jennifer has completed various training programs and holds certifications with the Gottman Institute and the International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy. Jennifer has a genuine enjoyment of working with young individuals and a personal mission for balancing academia and wellness. She completed her Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University and Master of Counselling Psychology from Adler University.
Jennifer is looking forward to building relationships with students, collaborating with faculty and staff, and experiencing a sense of togetherness and community at Southridge.
Karen Schmelcher
Math Teacher, Senior School
Karen who is a Southridge Alumnus (Class of 2005) will be returning to Southridge and joining the math department as one of our new math teachers. She is proud and excited to be rejoining Southridge as part of the faculty as the school holds a special place in her heart. She reflects, "No one talks about their high school as favourably as Southridge alumni."
Karen attended UBC where she completed her Bachelor of Education with a major in physics and a minor in general science and math. She also completed an educational therapy certificate program at the University of California. Karen comes to us from the Surrey School District - Enver Creek Secondary, where she has been teaching math and science for the past 7 years. Karen is a lifelong learner and is currently completing her master's degree in education.
She's looking forward to making a difference to her students even if math isn't their favourite subject. In past roles, she has placed a large emphasis on building autonomy and confidence for her students. She says, "Yes, mathematics is interesting, useful, sometimes difficult, and often beautiful - but the transferable thinking skills and habits that I can help my learners build will benefit them in all their future endeavours."