Meet Our Executive Team
President
Shanee (She/Her)
Shanee is a first generation South Asian woman, living on the unceded territory of Musqueam, Coast Salish and Tseil-Tuth people. She has a bachelor's degree in Political Science, and Special Education degree from Simon Fraser University. Shanee has also completed a Master of Education degree in Equity Studies at SFU, with comprehensive work in anti-racist pedagogy. Shanee holds various local and provincial positions within the British Columbia Teachers Federation. Shanee identifies as a feminist, and has a passion for decolonizing public education.
Vice-President
Preet (She/Her)
Preet is a second-generation Punjabi settler of colour, currently living on unceded Coast Salish territory. She is a radical feminist, vegan, lover of hip hop, runner, math and science teacher and a fierce bhua/auntie to many little ones. Over the past 8 years, she has taught in several districts including the Stikine and Haida Gwaii. She is passionate about anti-oppression and is involved in union organizing and activism. Preet is a graduate of the Equity Studies in Education M.Ed program where her capstone project focused on surveillance and policing in BC public schools and its impacts on racialized students.
Member-At-Large
Amrit (She/Her)
Amrit is a second-generation Punjabi settler residing on the unceded territory of the Katzie Nation. Amrit completed her bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Education at the University of British Columbia. In 2019, Amrit graduated with a Master’s of Education in Equity Studies from Simon Fraser University where she studied Canadian neoliberal education policies and their impact on marginalized youth. As an educator and union activist, Amrit is committed to the life-long project of dismantling white supremacy and systemic oppression.
Member-At-Large
Ditta (She/Her)
Shé:kon sewakwekon, my name is Ditta. I am from the Kanien’keha:ka Nation the Mohawk people of Kahnawa:ke Quebec and the Innu Nation of Labrador. I am living on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish people. I have taught primarily Indigenous students and now I am sharing with teachers how to integrate Indigenous ways of knowing into the curriculum. I have completed a Master in Equity in Education with a focus on Indigenous curriculum development. As well, I am a union activist, a facilitator and a local rep and to the BCTF for the Burnaby local. My best accomplishment yet is being the mother of two strong Indigenous youth who will change this world! So be ready!
Member-At-Large
Ronak (They/Them)
Ronak is a queer, non-binary first-generation settler and child of political refugees. They live and work on the stolen lands of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation within the shared traditional territories of the Tsleil-Waututh (Slay-wa-tuth), Katzie (Kate-zee), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), Quay Quayt (Key-Kite) First Nation and Sto:lo Nation. After years of self-reflection, taking a deep dive into their internalized racism and how to bring anti-oppressive principles into their personal life and community, they are excited to bring these principles into their union activism and classroom and help other marginalized educators find their voice.
Member-At-Large
Talya (She/They)
Talya Florian (she/her) is a settler living on the unceded, stolen lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh, and səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ nations. Talya is a secondary Art, Media, and ELL Teacher as well as an artist, activist, and organizer in her community. Her practice uses art as a tool to investigate and challenge systems of oppression, as well as to spread knowledge and awareness in both her classroom and union spaces. Talya is honoured to be an executive member of AOEC where she is passionatea about anti- oppression, justice and equity in education.
Treasurer
Christine (She/Her)
Christine is a white, cisgender, settler who lives and works on the stolen and occupied lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She has worked as a TTOC in the Vancouver school district since 2017, and her subject areas include English and French, although she also loves to teach Foods classes as her previous career was in the culinary arts. For the past two years, Christine has been a member of the Executive Committee for the Vancouver Secondary Teachers’ Association as the TTOC Committee chair. She deeply values equity and justice; and through her work in her local union, through her organizing efforts with the Raising Educators’ Voices caucus, and through the mentorship, guidance, and support of some radical teacher-colleagues, she has managed to find her way to the AOEC.
Secretary
Denise (She/ Her)
Denise is a teacher of students and English and is an avid reader, writer, mother, and passionate educator, who believes that justice begins in our classrooms. She also believes that, when we educate students about POC’s complex identities and human experiences, and confront racism through the exploration of diverse texts and voices, we are taking the first steps towards truer equity. Mostly, she wants, little by little, to help dismantle oppressive systems. She is learning to be an ally to POC and the issues they face in and out of schools.
Member-At-Large
Kailey (She/Her)
Kailey (she/her) is a queer settler who lives, teaches and learns on the stolen territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (TsleilWaututh) Nations for the past seven years. Kailey first engaged in anti-oppression work through queer community organizing and continues to engage with anti-oppressive practice in educational spaces as a teacher and union member.
Sanctuary Schools Representative
Oliver (He/Him)
Oliver is biracial with family from Mexico and Hungary. Oliver is an ELL educator working with newcomer youth Metro Vancouver. He is committed to reconciliation and anti-racism. Oliver is executive member of the Anti-Oppression Educators Collective and BCTESOL. Oliver is an avid cyclist and loves spending time in nature.