Ms. Deanna Colgan
Ms. Colgan is beginning her twentieth year of teaching, her fifteenth at Rotherglen. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from Ryerson University, a Bachelor of Education degree in primary/junior education from York University, and a Master of Education degree in Administration and Leadership from Brock University. Throughout her career, Ms. Colgan has enjoyed teaching all grade levels, from junior and senior kindergarten through to Grade 8. Ms. Colgan has been teaching in the Upper School division since 2006, focusing her efforts toward programming pertaining to Language and Drama.
Ms. Serena Bruyns
Ms. Bruyns has played soccer since she was 3 years old. At the Rep and High School level she has played as both a goalkeeper and an outfield player for the Oakville, Burlington and North Mississauga Soccer Clubs. Ms. Bruyns has played on and captained teams ranked #1 in Ontario and competed at some of the top showcases across North America. Her high school teams have won OFSAA twice. Ms. Bruyns is continuing her soccer career during her post secondary studies, currently playing on the Georgian Grizzlies Women’s soccer team while going to school for Nursing. At the age of 14, she began to volunteer as a coach/camp counsellor during PA days and at the OSC summer camps. She also started coaching for BYSC during their March Break camps and coached her own U6 Boys’ House League team. Last summer, at Rotherglen Summer Camp was her 5th year of being a camp leader for a soccer camp.
Mr. Rick Racioppo
Mr. Racioppo is in his twentieth year at Rotherglen. Prior to joining us, Mr. Racioppo taught science at Upper Canada College and was an instructor at the Royal Ontario Museum. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto, majoring in Psychology and Biology. Mr. Racioppo received his Graduate Diploma in Child Study, and Certificate of Qualification in primary/junior/intermediate education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto. He also completed a Master of Science in Biology. He is the lead teacher in digital technology and science education within Rotherglen School. Mr. Racioppo coordinates Rotherglen’s robotics clubs, Science Fair, and designs our graduation video presentation each year.
Ms. Bonnie Irwin
Ms. Irwin is beginning her second year at the Rotherglen Oakville Elementary Campus as the Grade 4-8 Visual Arts teacher. Prior to joining us, Ms. Irwin taught Visual Arts at Rowntree Montessori Schools and worked with Ryerson University to develop curriculum for education-based business start-ups. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree from the Trent University, majoring in Child Psychology. Ms. Irwin received her Bachelor of Education from Queens University, specializing in Arts-Based Education. She is passionate about helping students think creatively and create thoughtfully!
Mrs. Lisa Crawford
Mrs. Crawford has been a member of the Rotherglen community, as a supply teacher and Aftercare supervisor, since 2014 and is a familiar face around the school. Mrs. Crawford earned her Bachelor of Engineering from McMaster University and holds a Montessori Teaching Certificate from the North American Montessori Centre. She is excited to share her love of mathematics and the S.T.E.M. fields with her students. Outside of school hours, she enjoys cooking, hiking and getting lost in a good book.
Ms. Jennifer Ralph
Ms. Ralph joined Rotherglen School in December of 2009. Ms. Ralph holds a 4-year Bachelor of Education degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and she completed her Bachelor of Special Education degree through Memorial University’s UK campus in England, which included an extensive practicum as a SERT (Special Education Resource Teacher) in the Essex public board. A believer in life-long learning, she completed Part 2 and Part 3 Additional Qualifications in Special Education from York University, and she is now qualified as a Specialist. Ms. Ralph began her teaching career in Newfoundland in 1996 as a special education teacher. After moving to Ontario, Ms. Ralph was a Special Education Department Head for a private school in Toronto. She then taught in the Toronto District School Board in both a mixed Grade 5/6 class and a Grade 6 class. Ms. Ralph enjoys teaching drama and for several years she wrote and performed educational dramas for a local enrichment program, located in Oakville. In April of 2013 Ms. Ralph was the proud recipient of the Golden Apple Award. Ms. Ralph was honoured to be a participant in Rotherglen’s Free the Children service trip to Nicaragua. She also loves to cook, and has several years of experience working in a cooking school, and assisting chefs. In her free time she enjoys reading, kayaking, and hiking through the beautiful trails of Oakville.
Ms. Vicky Meakings
Ms. Meakings is a grade 4 teacher here at Rotherglen School. She began working at Rotherglen in 2014 as a supply teacher and has been a homeroom teacher for the past 3 years. She holds an honours degree in psychology from Nipissing University and has her bachelor of education through the Schulich School of Education with a focus on history. She is passionate about art and likes to show her creativity through painting and DIY activities.
Ms. Shannon Kelly
Ms. Kelly began as an After School Program supervisor at our campus in 2013, and then became a frequent supply teacher, beginning in 2014. Ms. Kelly earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario, and her Bachelor of Education degree from Charles Sturt University. Ms. Kelly also spent a year of study at Florida Gulf Coast University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology. She holds an additional qualification in Intermediate Mathematics.
Ms. Kelly is an accomplished dancer and began working as a dance instructor at the age of 16. Over the years, she has worked for some of the most celebrated talent, including Michael Jackson.
Ms. Holly Bozzer-Cole
Ms. Bozzer-Cole is a Grade 5 teacher within the Rotherglen community. She joined Rotherglen in April 2017 as a regular supply teacher and taught grade 6 last year. Ms. Bozzer-Cole holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Arts degree in Child Study and Education from OISE at the University of Toronto. She was also a Recreation Program Instructor for the Town of Milton and delivered classes based on the Canadian Sport for Life Model, which teaches active play through a variety of games and activities.
Ms. Jamie Glover
Ms. Glover is currently a Grade 5 teacher here at Rotherglen. Ms. Glover attended Laurentian University for Concurrent Education with a major in Psychology and a teachable in English Literature. After completing her degrees, Ms. Glover continued her education at Brock University. Throughout her M.Ed, Ms. Glover focussed her degree in Teaching and Learning. Ms. Glover began at Rotherglen in the Learning Success Centre, mid-year she moved to teach in a Grade 4 classroom. Last year, she moved to Grade 5. She has participated in a number of extra-curricular activities including reading groups, track and field, cross-country, graduation committee, leading fundamental skills workshops, creative writing club, anti-bullying committee and bingo night. Outside of school, Ms. Glover loves to read, paint, and spend time with family.
Mrs. Nancy Prpic
Mrs. Prpic is beginning her nineteenth year of teaching, all of which have been at Rotherglen School. She holds a Master’s of Education degree with a focus on Contemporary Literacy from Charles Sturt University. She is currently completing her second Masters degree in Counselling Psychology. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (Honours) in Philosophy and Religion from McMaster University, as well as a teaching diploma in elementary (ages 6-12) Montessori education from the Toronto Montessori Institute. In addition, she earned a certificate in Montessori Applied to Children at Risk, as well as ‘All Kinds of Minds’ training and approach, which embraces Differentiated Learning. She has taught Grades 1, 2 and 3 and she is the proud mother of twin girls who both graduated from Rotherglen School. Her involvement in the Rotherglen school community has included helping with the school musical production, Readers’ Theatre and running clubs such as the Gardening club, Nature and Science club, SmartBoard club, Art club and Dance and Movement club.
Mrs. Ann Marshall
Mrs. Marshall is in her eighteenth year of teaching music at Rotherglen School. Mrs. Marshall received her Bachelor of Music degree (Hons) in Voice Performance from Queen’s University. She then became a member of the Elmer Iseler Singers, a professional touring chamber choir based in Toronto. In 1992, Mrs. Marshall completed an Arts Administration course and later became the General Manager of the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus. Mrs. Marshall is a certified Orff Music Specialist and enjoys teaching Casa to Grade 6 Music at the Elementary Campus and Grade 1 Music at the Primary Campus. Mrs. Marshall directs all Choirs (Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5 and Grade 6). She is also the Bucket Drumming and Orff Ensemble Director, and the Production Manager and Music Director for the annual Rotherglen musical.
Ms. Amy Cicchillo
Ms. Cicchillo is entering her 8th year of teaching and has been a homeroom teacher at Rotherglen for the past two years. She graduated from Brock University in 2009 with an Honours BA in Theatre in Education. She received her Bachelors of Education from Trent University with her specialty in History and Drama teachables. She has had a love of theatre since she was a young child and spent two years travelling as a Stand up Comedian/Motivational Speaking on Bullying Prevention. Ms. Cicchillo was a camp counsellor in a Theatre Arts Camp two years before and is thrilled to host an Improvisational Camp this summer at Rotherglen.
Mrs. Tara O’Neill
Mrs. O’Neill joined the Rotherglen faculty in 2018 as a Grade 4 teacher. Mrs. O’Neill is an experienced and passionate teacher, who has worked with hundreds of students in primary/junior education, curriculum development, and community involvement. As a lifelong learner, Mrs. O’Neill has a personal interest in mathematics, and she has spent many years coordinating national and global math competitions. In addition, Mrs. O’Neill loves incorporating imagination and creativity in her classroom! Mrs. O’Neill has overseen the production of multiple art and dance festivals. She enjoys sharing her experience and enthusiasm with her students, while further embracing the spirit of the school.
Ms. Rebecca Simpson
Ms. Rebecca Simpson is in her sixth year of teaching at Oakville Primary, and her eighth year within the Rotherglen community. Ms. Simpson was inspired by her time at Rotherglen’s Meadowvale Campus to pursue Montessori teaching, and she earned her Early Childhood Education Montessori diploma at the Toronto Montessori Institute. Ms. Simpson has been actively involved in the Summer Fun Camps at both the Meadowvale and Primary Campuses. She also has past experience working in various other summer camps, including a specialty camp for children on the Autism Spectrum. In her spare time, Ms. Simpson enjoys playing and coaching softball, which she has been doing for many years. Ms. Simpson believes in instilling the love of learning at a young age, and that every child has something valuable to contribute to their classroom community. In 2018, Ms. Simpson earned a diploma in “Special Needs in the Montessori Classroom” and attended a “Coping with Transitions” workshop, to learn new ways to support children of all abilities. Ms. Simpson is looking forward to joining the camp staff at the Oakville Elementary campus this summer!
Ms. Donna Charles
Ms. Donna Charles has recently joined Rotherglen school and comes from a background in the Arts and Health and Wellness Industry. Donna received her BSc Psychology from Bath University in the UK (one year of which she spent in at University California Santa Barbara in the Communications Dept studying the effects of the media on children. After which she went on to work in Television as a researcher/producer. Her love of the Arts and learning sent her back to study for her MA/PG Dip Textile Design from Central St Martin’s School of Art, London and looked at how colour, light and form in our environment affects our mood and behaviour. From there she went on to work in the magazine industry as a stylist and writer. It wasn’t until having her own children that she realised the importance of starting health & wellness in children from a young age. This was when she decided to become a certified Advanced Personal Trainer. Ms. Charles is also a keen photographer in her spare time.
