ASPENGROVE SCHOOL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Early Learning Centre Director
As Aspengrove School's Early Learning Centre Director, Alison Strobl oversees the Early Learning Team and our Junior Kindergarten and Out of School Care Programs. Alison has been with Aspengrove School for 16 years-first serving in various educational roles specific to Early Childhood Education, including Lead Junior Kindergarten Teacher for five years, before assuming her role as Early Learning Centre Director in 2020.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Featured Faculty & Staff
- French Language Acquisition Teacher
Job Titles:
- Member of the Featured Faculty & Staff
- Primary Years Teacher
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Governance Committee
- Vice Chair of the Board
Job Titles:
- Facility Manager
- Member of the Featured Faculty & Staff
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Head of School, Ex Officio
We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Gary Kern to the role of Head of School at Aspengrove. Most recently, Gary was the Principal of the Senior School at St. George's School in Vancouver. During Gary's education career, he has worked both in public and independent schools and has been a teacher and principal at both the Elementary and Secondary level. Gary further served as the Director of Innovation and Learning at West Vancouver Schools, where he established leading programs that captured the fullness of a student's education.
Gary brings with him experience outside of education. For five years in the early 2000s, Gary was the Canadian General Manager for a global IT company. He also has numerous stories and scars from his time in athletics, representing UBC and Canada as a soccer player and completing numerous marathons including the Boston, New York and Berlin marathons. These experiences have taught Gary the value of dedication, desire and determination.
It has been a central mission to Gary's work that he finds ways to engage students and the community in a broad and relevant education. Through academics, co-curricular activities and community engagement, Gary has supported programs where every student is known, challenged and celebrated in their learning journey.
Gary holds a Bachelor of Education from UBC, a Bachelor of Physical Education from UBC, a Master of Science from the University of Oregon, and a Doctorate of Education from Kansas University. His thesis, "The Essence of School", examined the competing aims of education.
Gary and his wife, Megan, are thrilled to call Vancouver Island their home and look forward to connecting with the Aspengrove and broader Nanaimo community. When not working, you will find them on the trails walking their retriever, Alfie, or on the water kayaking and enjoying visits with their three "young" adult children.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Chairman Campus Development Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Featured Faculty & Staff
- MYP Teacher
Job Titles:
- Junior Kindergarten Teacher
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Risk Management Committee
- Member of the Board
- Secretary Board of Governors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Featured Faculty & Staff
- Physical Education Teacher
Luke has been a Physical Education teacher at Aspengrove for the past 2 years. In his role, Luke strives to help students learn how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable by trying new things and challenging themselves to be a better version of themselves each day.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Finance Committee
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- Member of the Featured Faculty & Staff
- Middle & Senior School Teacher & Grade 10 Adventure Program Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Middle & Senior School Principal
Rob Ohly is the Middle and Senior School Principal at Aspengrove School as well as the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Coordinator. Rob has over 20 years of educational experience, having worked in the United Kingdom, France, and Canada in public, international, and independent schools. He has been heavily involved with the International Baccalaureate for 17 years through teaching Chemistry, Physics and Theory of Knowledge in the IB Diploma Programme, and Science in the Middle Years Programme. He is also a member of the IB Educators Network as both an IB workshop leader and a DP Chemistry Examiner. Currently, Rob is also the Chair of the BC Association of IB World Schools advocating for IB issues across the province of BC.
As Principal of the Middle and Senior School, Rob understands the transformative power of education and works with teachers to ensure that Aspengrove's mission of creating compassionate, knowledgeable, and principled global citizens is delivered in an inspiring and thriving school. Rob's focus on building positive relationships helps foster the unique and special community that is Aspengrove School.
Rob completed his Masters of Chemistry at the University of East Anglia before completing his Post Graduate Certificate of Education at the University of Oxford. Before beginning his teaching career, Rob worked as a research scientist for the Health and Safety Laboratory for the United Kingdom's government. Rob has three children who keep him busy, mostly on the soccer field coaching! He is passionate about music, sports, and likes to read popular science books.
Job Titles:
- School Principal & PYP Coordinator
Susan Riordan started at Aspengrove School in the fall of 2012 as a Grade 2 teacher. She has since transitioned from the classroom to full-time Administrator, taking on the role of Primary Years Programme (PYP) Coordinator in 2015 and Principal of the Primary Year Programme/Junior School in 2017. Susan earned a B.A. in Psychology from Trent University, her B.Ed from the University of British Columbia, and an M.Ed (Educational Leadership) from the University of Victoria.
Before her time at Aspengrove School, Susan taught Grades 3 and 5 at Stratford Hall in Vancouver. It was here that she learned the inner workings of the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme. Susan trained to be an IB workshop leader and school evaluator and has been part of many teams working for the IB.
In her role at Aspengrove School, Susan leads the PYP staff in curriculum review and enhancement, ensures compliance with both the British Columbia Ministry of Education and the expectations of the International Baccalaureate programme, and provides support and guidance to the PYP teachers with their planning and implementation of the curriculum. She communicates regularly with students, parents, and teachers about school events, expectations, and the details of day-to-day school life.
Job Titles:
- Chairman Community Relations and Development Committee