Mr. Slinger stepped into the role of Head of School at Urban Academy in August 2020, bringing with him a wealth of experience as an educator of more than two decades. Prior to joining the team at UA, Mr. Slinger was Head of School at Coast Mountain Academy in Squamish and has experience as an administrator in the Coquitlam School District where he worked at both the middle and high school levels. Having completed his undergraduate studies and teacher certification at Simon Fraser University, Mr. Slinger completed his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at the University of Oregon. Mr. Slinger is passionate about teaching and learning and thrives on working with students, staff and parents.

In his spare time, Mr. Slinger loves staying active in the great outdoors of beautiful BC with his wife and family. He can often be found hiking, skiing, golfing, or playing an occasional game of basketball. He is also a diehard Vancouver Canucks fan and a regular visitor to local live theatre and music events. Mr. Slinger has always been involved in his community taking on numerous roles coaching in soccer and swimming, as well as serving on different boards, from swim clubs to the NYIT Master of Science in Instructional Technology Advisory Board.

Mr. Slinger is passionate about the opportunity to impact the learning environment at UA for all students, families and staff.

Ms. Dadar has a BA in English Literature and a Masters in Media and Communication studies. She got her teaching degree from Lancaster University in 2005 and has worked as a homeroom teacher, Digital Learning Leader, Educational Coach, Learning Resource Teacher, and French Teacher throughout her teaching career. Ms. Dadar’s main focus has been early primary, mostly in IB PYP schools. She is passionate about learning and strives to put student agency at the core of teaching and learning.

In her free time, Ms. Dadar enjoys travelling, loves reading, is a movie buff, goes to the theatre and art galleries, as well as spending time out in nature.

Mr. Hayden received a Bachelor of Applied Science with honours from the University of Waterloo; he also holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Ottawa. Mr. Hayden has a passion for robotics and programming. He believes that robotics provides students with dynamic challenges that allow them to develop new understanding while being creative and unique. In class, students will be given opportunities to extend their learning and differentiate their outcomes. In life outside of UA, Mr. Hayden appreciates music and plays the guitar. He enjoys staying active and learning about personal fitness.

Ms. Kennedy brings with her years of experience in the communications, marketing and management fields in the not-for-profit industry. With both a Communications Degree and Certificate of Non-Profit Management from Simon Fraser University, she began her career in trade and technology education for youth and then moved on to leading one of Western Canada’s major trade associations. Leading strategic growth initiatives, empowering volunteers, building community and sharing the message of what Urban Academy is all about are elements that she brings to UA’s Senior Leadership Team.

Above all else, Ms. Kennedy has a passion for working with people, growing organizations and sharing her enthusiasm about the value of quality education. She is passionate about supporting children and has spent many years volunteering in various initiatives that serve families.

Mr. Hamid Zamani is a seasoned financial professional with a CPA designation and more than 25 years of experience in the private and education sectors. He holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting and has worked in a range of financial management roles, most recently as financial controller at an independent IB World School in Vancouver.

Passionate about supporting educational communities through strategic financial management, Hamid is excited to contribute to Urban Academy’s continued growth and innovation.

Outside of work, he enjoys playing soccer, swimming, hiking, attending cultural events and reading about history, economics and finance. Originally from Iran and now a proud Canadian citizen, Hamid values integrity, diversity, inclusion and lifelong learning.

Ms. Ball has been an educator and curriculum developer for over 30 years in both public and independent schools, locally and overseas. She focuses on student engagement: supporting courageous choices, nurturing curiosity, and helping students take ownership of their learning to become active, engaged citizens. Her educational interests include curriculum innovation, intercultural understanding, culturally responsive schools, and pluralism. Holding a BA, BEd, MEd, and certification in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Ms. Ball has made education a lifelong journey

Outside school, she enjoys hiking, biking, swimming or sharing coffee with family and friends. At Urban Academy, she loves supporting students and families in fostering growth mindsets, resilience, compassionate communication, and independent learning.

Ms. Manifold earned her Bachelor of Education at UBC and her Master’s in Education from the University of Ottawa. Prior to teaching at Urban Academy, Ms. Manifold worked for several years at an independent IB World School in BC, leading their Diploma Programme. As an educator, Ms. Manifold’s goal is to bring the real world into the classroom and prepare students for life as leading global citizens. When she is not in the classroom, Ms. Manifold can be found riding her bike around the Lower Mainland, skiing at Whistler, or cheering on her favourite sports teams.

Mr. Twaites graduated with a Bachelor of Physical Education and Coaching from Douglas College, and completed his teacher training at Simon Fraser University. Most recently, he earned his Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Gonzaga University. His experience includes teaching at an IB-accredited school. Mr. Twaites believes that students should learn to lead a healthy life while also experiencing new sports, which drew him to a career in education. When he is not teaching, Mr. Twaites is playing with his son, Noah. Playing sports himself, going on adventures with his family or spending downtime with family and friends. Mr. Twaites’ hopes for his students are that they develop an interest in various sports and outdoor education pursuits that help them to grow in confidence and courage.