Join us in welcoming our new faculty and staff, who are joining our community for the 2026–2027 school year. Learn more about them below:
Taylor Danzig, Junior School Associate Teacher
Taylor grew up in West Vancouver before heading to Queen’s University to earn her Bachelor of Arts, majoring in sociology and minoring in health studies. She also holds a Bachelor of Education from Western University, and is currently pursuing her Masters of Professional Education in Teaching Students with Exceptionalities through Western University. Taylor is looking forward to building meaningful connections with faculty, students and families at SJS. When not working she enjoys being outdoors or finding a good book.
Simon Davies, Senior School Associate Teacher and Experiential Learning Coordinator
Simon is joining SJS after two years of teaching in Raglan, New Zealand. In addition to many years of canoe-guiding experience, Simon completed the Lakehead University’s Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism (ORPT) program. He is looking forward to facilitating unforgettable experiences for the students and getting to know the SJS community. When not teaching, Simon enjoys being outdoors in all seasons, from surfing to snowboarding, and playing basketball and soccer.
Bret Garef, Senior School English Teacher
Bret brings his many years of experience to SJS after previously teaching in Los Angeles, New York and at ISABC schools across the Lower Mainland. He holds a major in Early Childhood Education and Psychology, as well as minors in English, Drama, Philosophy, History, Sociology and Criminology. When not sharing his love for literature, you can find Bret staying active through recreational sports, teaching musical theatre, or writing his own works of fiction.
June Hayashi, Student Records and Enrolment Associate
June joins the Enrolment Management team after previously working as the Registrar at Fraser Academy. Originally from Calgary, June studied Linguistics at UBC. Outside of work, June enjoys running along the beach or finding a great new book. She is looking forward to meeting the team and getting to know current and prospective families.
Keith McCann, Senior School Teacher and Diploma Programme Coordinator
Keith is from Port Coquitlam and shares a similar education to Terry Fox, attending Terry Fox High School and Simon Fraser University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Art in Economics and a Bachelor of Education. He’s returning to Canada after 16 years working as a teacher and DP coordinator in China. Keith is also currently pursuing his Masters of Education in Advanced Teaching from the University of the People. When not teaching he enjoys playing team sports and practicing his Chinese. He looks forward to joining the team and collaborating with teachers, students and families across the school and DP programme.
Kayleigh McIntosh, Senior School MYP Math and Science Teacher
Kayleigh joins SJS with a robust background in inquiry-based learning and the IB programme. Holding a Bachelor of Sciences in Microbiology from the University of Victoria and a Master of Education from Thompson Rivers University, Kayleigh is also a certified IB Educator Network (IBEN) Workshop Leader. From BC, Kayleigh enjoys staying active and spending time with friends. She is looking forward to bringing her MYP Science and Math teaching experience to SJS and getting to know our welcoming community.
Katie McNamara, Senior School Learning Strategies Teacher
Originally from London, England, Katie moved to Vancouver four years ago for the beautiful nature, mountains and active outdoor lifestyle. She has taught all over the world including in Uganda, Australia and New Zealand. She brings this global experience, and her experience as a Social Studies Teacher at Fraser Academy, to SJS. She is excited to get to know our community and hopefully meet some fellow cat lovers (she has two, named Franci and Ember).
Sylvain Munier, Senior School French Teacher
Sylvain grew up in the French speaking part of Switzerland, where he completed his Masters of Arts. After teaching in the Switzerland public school system, he moved to Vancouver where he has been teaching Grades 7 to 12 French for the last eight years. Sylvain believes that learning a new language opens doorways to understanding cultures, perspectives and ways of seeing the world, and looks forward to sharing this approach with SJS students. During his free time he enjoys exploring the beautiful scenery of BC with his camera.
Negar Sedigh, Junior School Learning Strategies Teacher
Negar recently moved to Vancouver from Tehran, Iran, to complete her Masters of Arts in Educational Studies at Trinity Western University. Prior to SJS, she was an English Teacher in Iran, and a Literacy Instructor with the Learning Disabilities Society (LDS). When not working, Negar enjoys spending time outdoors and exploring all that BC has to offer. She is excited to collaborate with colleagues and support our students in our inclusive community.
Crystal Yee, Senior School MYP Math and Science Teacher
Crystal earned her Bachelor of Science at Hong Kong Baptist University, followed by her teaching certification at the University of Hong Kong. After teaching in both public and IB schools in Hong Kong, Crystal moved to Canada to teach math and sciences at Holy Trinity School, a fellow CAIS school in Toronto. She is looking forward to starting this new chapter with SJS in Vancouver. Crystal is passionate about sharing the connections between math and everyday life, and looks forward to meeting everyone. When not teaching she enjoys reading, hiking and trying new activities—most recently, pilates.
