Our Board is comprised of dedicated members who volunteer their time to provide oversight and governance to Oak Bridge Academy.
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Kathie Shaw MSW, RSW, BCBA
(School Principal) |
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Chair : Dr Karen Backway (Pediatrician, Retired)
After many years working with children with special needs and their families, Dr Karen retired from pediatric practice in 2017. Dr Karen tried to help parents be heard as they navigated the delicate (and often confusing) web of school advocacy. She believes developing a love of learning is central to the health and well-being of all children, including those children who don’t quite fit in the typical student ‘box’. Dr Karen is delighted to be on the Oak Bridge Academy Board of Directors. |
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Vice-Chair : Laura Martin (Parent Representative)
Laura is a parent rep and one of the founding board members of Oak Bridge Academy. Her son was diagnosed with autism at 4, and has been receiving intensive behaviour therapy ever since. The family has found this therapy to be absolutely transformative. The innovative structure at OBA, which includes both behaviour therapists and teachers within the classroom, has been essential for his social, emotional and academic development. Laura grew up in Petrolia, Ontario and attended the University of Waterloo. She worked for 10 years in the field of occupational health as an ergonomist and she is now at home full time. |
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Secretary : Tara Botsford (Parent Representative)
Tara feels very privileged to be the Secretary on the Oak Bridge Academy Board of Directors and to work with a group of wonderful individuals. She worked in IT at Blackberry for almost 12 years until 2012 and now works at Sun Life part time. She has 2 fantastic boys: Dylan and Jack. Jack has been attending Oak Bridge Academy since September 2019. Tara is very appreciative to have the opportunity to send Jack to this wonderful school and she has no doubt the sky's the limit for Jack because of Oak Bridge. |
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Treasurer : Bill McPhee (Retired CA, B Com)
Bill McPhee is a retired finance executive who is thankful to be a part of the Oak Bridge Academy community. Having seen the benefits the Oak Bridge Academy staff bring to their students and the support they receive from the parents, Bill is honored to be a part of this group. He hopes that his financial management experience helps Oak Bridge Academy achieve its goals. Bill obtained his Bachelor of Commerce Degree in 1976 and his Chartered Accountant's designation in 1978 while articling for Deloittes, in Toronto. In 1986 he assumed the Treasurer's position with Prudential in Kitchener and was promoted to V.P. Corporate Services in 1995. Subsequently, Bill worked as a consultant or as V.P. Finance for various financial service companies including Manulife, Co-operators and Transamerica. He now spends his winters in Florida and summers entertaining his granddaughter. |
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Fundraising Chair : Monica Small (Parent Representative)
Monica is so excited to be the Fundraising Chair on the Oak Bridge Academy Board of Directors. She currently works as the Field Marketing Manager at Royal Canin Canada where she plans and executes national/regional and community events. She has been blown away by what the team and teachers at Oak Bridge Academy have accomplished and is inspired by the opportunity to share the wonderful success stories with our community and beyond through fundraising initiatives. Monica is so grateful that their son Rory is able to attend this truly amazing school. She has loved watching him grow and make amazing friendships since the school opened in the fall 2019. |
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Jason Hynes LL.B. (Lawyer, Partner at Bereskin & Parr)
Jason Hynes is a partner lawyer, patent agent, and trademark agent with Bereskin & Parr LLP, and serves on the firm’s Executive Committee. He works for clients of all sizes, with a particular emphasis on small and medium sized enterprises who need innovative strategies for developing and protecting their innovations. Jason is the Chair of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada's (IPIC) Trade Policy Committee, and he speaks and writes regularly on issues such as NAFTA and global trade as it affects IP; he is also a member of the IPIC Council. Jason is the Secretary and a Trustee of the Waterloo Region Law Association where he helps manage issues relevant to local lawyers and is an Adjunct Professor at Western University (also known as UWO), in the Faculty of Law where he teaches Advanced Intellectual Property. He has won multiple teaching awards, most recently in 2016-17. Jason and his wife Karyn are the proud parents of three wonderful and energetic boys. When he is not playing LEGO with his kids, you can find Jason on the golf course or playing hockey. |
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Dr. Heather Henderson (UW Professor)
Dr. Henderson is a community representative on the Oak Bridge Academy Board of Directors. She is a Developmental Psychologist and Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Henderson teaches and conducts research in the areas of social and emotional development in childhood and adolescence with a special interest in social withdrawal and peer relationships. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Maryland and was on faculty at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL before returning to Waterloo in 2014 with her husband and two children, Will and Sammy. |
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Mark Ross
Mark Ross is President and CEO of SEH Computer Systems Inc, a company that specializes in creating and supporting their Titan software for Mutual Insurance clients in Canada. In addition to his Computer Engineering degree from the University of Waterloo he also has a Masters of Education from D’Youville College in Buffalo and has taught software and electrical engineering courses at Conestoga College. In his downtime you will find Mark playing hockey or riding a bike. He feels privileged to be part of the board at Oak Bridge Academy. |
