WHO ARE LEADING THE LEADERS?

DANIEL JOHNSON - djohnson@swlauriersb.qc.ca

Daniel is a behaviour specialist who is overseeing the development of the Advanced Student Leadership program in the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board in Laval, Quebec. He has a background enabling the growth of dynamic teams and leaders through his work with schools and NGOs dedicated to youth work in educational communities in Alberta and Quebec. Daniel works to engage young people in active volunteerism in their communities at home and around the world. In five short years students recorded over 150 000 hours of meaningful volunteer work that bridges the learning in the classroom with real world experiences. He has worked for different television and media outlets throughout North America gaining skills in communication and he severs as a reservist in the Canadian Armed Forces.

DAVID ROSSI

David is a history and citizenship teacher at Laval Senior Academy who has developed ASL leadership training and active community involvement since the program's inception. His experience as a teacher and community leader has given him unique skills to reach young people in their world and help them to develop a healthy, engaged and positive self and worldview as they become life-long contributing members to our community.

ANDREW GUARNA - Community Recreation and Leadership Training - Dawson College Stage Student 2018

Andrew is an ASL Alumni who is currently studying at Dawson College developing leadership, management, and group dynamics skills. He is charismatic and self motivated with a desire to help others reach their full potential. He prides himself with his soft business skills and energizing social skills. Andrew's goal is to help strengthen and grow community for the individual and team as they work to reach new heights.

LAVAL SENIOR ACADEMY TEAM

ELAINE THOMAS

Elaine understands and orchestrates teams that engage students through her work in our Music Concentration program. Using her passion, Elaine elevates a student's understanding of their individual role and their responsibility to the team in pursuit of unified excellence through musical expression. She has led different formats of the band and ensemble groups and has achieved a Gold standard both at the provincial and national level with the Concert Band.

Elaine is a leader who helped found the Quebec Band Association where she served on the Executive in different roles from president to treasurer for many years.

Elaine is a long-standing member of the Ensemble Sinfonia de Montreal in which she plays Principal Clarinet.

SEAN EVANS

Sean teaches multiple disciplines and works closely with disenfranchised students in an effort to draw them into a positive position to discover their purpose. Sean has traveled through different regions of the world extensively and uses his appreciation and understanding of culture diversity to include, engage and empower the next generation.

PAUL LAGOPOULOS

Paul is a Social Sciences teacher who not only works to transfers his love of history and politics to the next generation but to position students to effectively take on the responsibility for the world around them.

MAX GREVE

Max is a French language teacher that understands that the team's power and dynamic is rooted in good communication. In class Max fosters cooperative learning. Out of class Max works to build bridges between students to help them develop a broad understanding of their world with the ability to speak to it through a multitude of platforms.

LAVAL JUNIOR ACADEMY TEAM

LEE-ANN SACKS

Lee-Ann is a GHC (Geography and History) teacher at Laval Junior Academy. She has been developing community involvement in her students and preparing leading engagements for young people within the community and school. Ms. Sacks is head of the student council at Laval Junior Academy.

ANGELO VIRONE

Angelo is an E.R.C. teacher at Laval Junior Academy. He has been helping students develop a greater sense of self through his many roles as a mentor, spiritual animator, counselor for the air cadets, community youth group leader. Angelo has been overseeing and working to implement the active volunteerism and citizenship program at the junior high school level.

JAMES VANDERHOVEN

James is a physical education teacher at Laval Junior Academy. He has been building teams and helping students develop their talents, skills and interests through sport and community engagement. James understand the team and helps our young people build effective teams that impact the world around them. From coaching football and soccer he instills a sense of pride in the team you play for and reminds students how important it is to be a team player and a leader.

JOE RICCI

Mr. Ricci is a leadership concentration specialist at Laval Junior Academy. He has traveled in various regions of Africa with different organizations such as Scouts Canada to help impoverished communities by building sanitary stations, playground equipment and schools. He is able to articulate and impart his unique experiences and perspective on our world to students with the ultimate mission of making the world a better place, one person at a time.

Mr. Ricci strives to create a safe environment to allow students to possess the confidence and motivation to grow to their fullest potential. As a positive role model, he hopes to instill his students with the power to make the right decisions which will better themselves and the people around them.

Mr. Ricci believes that every great accomplishment in life starts with an idea through the eyes of a true leader; every one of these ideas being achievable with sufficient amounts of dedication. However to achieve these goals, we need to comprehend the essential steps involved to turn these ideas into realities. Mr. Ricci uses a variety of techniques to teach his students foundational leadership skills in hopes of providing his students with the tools necessary in order to achieve their dreams.

He is also a track and field specialist, as well as a multi instrumental musician who loves to create and compose his own tracks.

LAVAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARTNERS

CHERYL SMITH & HELEN MORRISON

Cheryl is a Spiritual Animator for the SWLSB and she works with young people as they pursue their academic and personal journey. Currently, Cheryl works with our elementary students at all our SWLSB schools in an effort to help students adjust to school life, develop healthy relationships, foster the development of a balanced well-being for success.

Helen is a CSSS consultant with SWLSB. Helen's focus is to promote and foster healthy movement and eating habits, as well as healthy relationships.

Together, Cheryl and Helen promote and lead many different student leadership initiatives, healthy lifestyle habits, anti-bullying, and prevention programs for our students.