Meet Our Team

The Block 8 Team is made up of a diverse group of members who all share a passion for guiding and supporting children. We hold degrees in Education, Psychology, Business and Early Childhood Education; some are also educated in Behavioural Intervention and Special Education. Our multicultural, multi-generational team combines experience and energy to ensure our students are ​engaged, educated.. and having fun!

 Each team member has a valid first aid certificate and has completed training in child development. 

Cindy Sepp

Owner,  Teacher

Cindy is a BC certified teacher who is known for her innovative techniques of combining games, field trips, music, stories and learning.  Cindy has led children on international trips while teaching about cultural differences and has delivered musical productions while instilling musical knowledge, leadership qualities and organizational skills in the students.  Currently pursuing her certificate in Intercultural Studies, Cindy has lived, worked, photographed and studied the local culture in 4 different countries.  Her stories keep children entertained while they gain an understanding of how vast the cultural differences can be within our city and our world.

​Miss Cindy's goal is to create opportunities for learning while the students play, do artwork, make and listen to music, and engage in physical activities. Cindy has her ARCT from the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music and uses Orff and Kodaly methodologies combined with folk songs in her teaching.  

Danita Sepp

Owner

After spending many years in the corporate world as a Business Analyst, only working with kids coaching swimming and rowing, Danita decided to switch to a career where she could spend more time with her kids as they grew up.  She joined forces with her sister Cindy, and started Block 8 Academy.  Block 8 provided her the opportunity to develop innovative programs, and have her kids attend at the same time.  

Danita has enjoyed working with other community organizations - from Port Moody Arts Centre (Block 8's first home) to Port Moody Museum,  to the Ribfest organizers.  Partnering with these groups has allowed the Block 8 leadership classes to run their own booth at Ribfest, create and sell artworks for Winter Treasures (Port Moody Arts Centre) and run a gigantic Lemon Aid Stand at Golden Spike Days!!  She looks forward to the future Block 8 programs, as they now expand more fully into the preschool age ranges.

Braeden

Supervisor, Driver &
School-Age Program Educator

Braeden’s career working with children began as a swim coach and lifeguard. At the age of 18, he moved to an isolated town called Norman Wells where he was head lifeguard and pool coordinator. He also appreciated the amazing opportunity to live in this isolated northern community that is accessible only by flying in, by boating in along the MacKenzie River, or by the winter highway once everything is frozen.

As a child living in Thailand, Braeden discovered his love of hip hop. Once back in Canada he began training semi professionally in all styles, going on to join Harbour Dance Centre’s Intensive Training Program after high school. This introduced him to the professional and commercial side of dance. He was accepted into a semi professional hip hop team – TwoFourSeven Company, where he has been training, competing and creating projects for the past three years.

Mr. Braeden enjoys being a child care worker with Block 8, as well as a hip hop instructor.

Katherine 

Manager, ​Program Administrator,
Supervisor, Preschool French Teacher
​& Youth Worker

While raising her own three children, Katherine is back at school, majoring in Education with a focus on working with kids with special needs. She's been on the Dean's List four semesters in a row! In 2016,  she graduated top of her class earning diplomas in Child and Youth Care and in Early Childhood Education Assistance. She is also trained in Behavioural Intervention, and non-violent crisis intervention. Katherine’s work in School District 41 gave her experience developing activity-based programs while mentoring individual students.

Though her schooling is integral to her capability of supporting children, her passion in raising her own children for over 25 years has been fundamental in hands-on experience.

Ms Katherine provides a supportive environment for children and youth and has been recognized for abundant patience and ability to maintain calm in the midst of crisis. She is compassionate and inclusive with personal experience being supportive of children and youth in the LGBTQ+ community.   

Zeynab

​Preschool- Daycare Supervisor
​& Educator

Miss Zeynab's career working with children began when she was a kindergarten teacher in Tehran. After a short time of amazing implementing multiple music and art-related activities that expanded her students' creativity, she was promoted to the administration position. She then managed training teachers and developed creative and fruitful curriculums.

Growing up, Ms Zeynab spoke English, Persian, and Arabic at home which made her familiar with teaching cultural differences. She is currently working on her MBA degree at Trinity Western University.

Ms. Zeynab enjoys being a childcare worker with Block 8 and creates a trusted atmosphere through sensitivity to students' strengths, weaknesses, and personal learning styles.

Jessica

School-Age Program Educator

​Ms Jessica is  attending SFU in the Faculty of Education, minoring in learning and developmental disabilities, and kinesiology. She's excited to become a teacher just like her dad! Jessica graduated high school in French Immersion. 

Ms Jessica loves working with children because their creativity and imagination is amazing. No two days are ever the same and she learns so much from them! 
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Growing up, Ms Jessica played soccer, basketball and volleyball and even now, she still coaches basketball at the high school she attended! She loves spending time in nature and exploring the outdoors and of course spending time with her cat, Luna! ​

Penn

Support Worker &
​School-Age Program Educator 

Ms Penn has a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Psychology, with a concentration in Counselling. In her studies, she focused in child development, disabilities, and supporting children and families' mental health. One day she hopes to be a Social Worker and Counsellor! 
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Ms Penn's superpower with children is her patience and excitability. She loves running around with kids, being imaginative, and supporting children in learning how to navigate big feelings and sensory needs! 
Though Ms Penn enjoys singing, playing guitar, and going for adventures in the rain, her biggest passion is reading! In fact, last year she read 47 books!

Vaishali

School-Age Program Educator

Ms Vaishali has been working with children for over 30 years! She has taught in high schools and as head teacher in elementary schools. She has a Masters Degree in Arts and a Bachelors Degree in Education, while working in an elementary school, she received best teacher awards three times!

While working with children, her goal is to motivate her students to be responsible citizens of our community. She enjoys encouraging children to develop their talents, strengths and overall growth.

Ms Vaishali loves arts and crafts, hiking and yoga. She loves to go for really long hikes all around our beautiful province!

Tatiana

School-Age Program Educator,
​Preschool PlayFit Teacher ​​& Driver

Children are positive, resilient and unique and Ms Tatiana values the special qualities of each child in her care. 
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Ms Tatiana has a passion for creating a safe space and supporting children who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences. After learning of the important role that high quality childhood educators can play in the support and enrichment of children experiencing ACES, Ms Tatiana has been pursuing an education in the field so she may use her own experiences to further aid children and families. ​

Ms Tatiana graduated with a double dogwood and is currently in her fourth year at Western University with plans to work in paediatric orthopaedics.

Jillian

School-Age Program Educator 
​& ECE Substitute Teacher

Ms Jillian discovered her passion for childcare when she began volunteering at community centers and elementary schools at age 14. This has led her to study Early Childhood Education. She is determined to learn new things and she is constantly finding ways to improve.  

Singing and music are other passions she’s always had and she hopes to share the joy of music with young children. Miss Jillian is excited to be working at Block 8 Academy! 

Maddy

School-Age Program Educator,
Driver & ECE Substitute Teacher

Ms Maddy is studying to become an elementary school teacher. At Block 8, she plans some really creative, fun and often very messy activities for the children. She loves to create an engaging fun environment for the children in her care. 

Competitive cheerleading has been one of Ms Maddy's hobbies for over 16 years! She also loves baking, cooking and dirt biking!




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Gagan

School- Age Program Educator
& Accounts Clerk

Ms Gagan's Bio is coming soon!

Montana

School-Age Program Educator
​& Support Worker

Ms Montana is on of our many dancers! She performs at basketball games with her school’s dance team and she's on a competitive dance team for hip hop!

When not on stage, Ms Montana is hard at work on a Bachelors of General Studies in Education with a minor in Educational Curriculum and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies.
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Ms Montana is so very patient and loves to be surrounded by happy chaos! Our students love her calm and empathetic nature and her super fun drama and music games!

Chase

School-Age Program Educator, Driver

Mr Chase grew up as a dancer, and spent a lot of time either assisting with kids' classes, or choreographing for recreational classes and camps. He's always enjoyed working with children, and is super excited to have more creative avenues to guide them!

Mr Chase is a big believer in the cycle of actions, consequences, lesson, repeat. He has seen growth, both in himself and others, in moments where there is space to make a mistake, deal with the outcome as it comes, and retroactively find ways to improve. He believes that guidance is the most effective when there is a tangible example provided for WHY something must be the way it is; "because I said so", is not a template for lessons.
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Inspired equally by fictional characters as from real people, Mr Chase believes that the empathy and leadership of Aragorn is a really positive example of what "positive masculinity" can look like, in ways that are lost in modern media heroes. In terms of reality, he is greatly inspired by the writing of Shane Koyczan, the philosophical comedy of Bo Burnham, George Carlin, and Daniel Sloss, and most of all his father, who in the same ways as Aragorn, has been a guiding light for what it means to be a man, without ever pushing his personal beliefs before supporting his own. 

Tannya

Early Childhood Educator

Ms Tannya's motivation for working with children comes from a deep belief that early childhood is a crucial stage of life, where emotional and relational experiences have a lasting impact. She strongly believes that every child has the right to feel safe, valued, and understood.

Ms Tannya connects most with child-centred pedagogies and learning through play; especially valuing play-based and open-ended activities, as they allow children to explore, experiment, and build their learning in meaningful and self-directed ways, while respecting their individual rhythms, interests, and ways of expression.

Outdoor activities are Ms Tannya's favourite! She has grown increasingly interested in the importance of outdoor learning with a nature-based focus as she believes connecting with the natural environment supports children’s curiosity, emotional well-being, and authentic learning.

With a strong interest in inclusion and supporting children with diverse abilities, communication styles, and cultural backgrounds, her practice is grounded in emotional connection, intentional observation, and collaborative work with families and educational teams.

Ms Tannya is inspired by children—their genuine way of seeing the world and their questions—as well as by educators who work with respect, reflection, and a true commitment to early childhood.

Kiara

School-Age Program Educator

Ms Kiara is completing a bachelors degree in linguistics, with a minor in learning and developmental disabilities. Her goals are to learn ASL and to become a paediatric speech pathologist!

Ms Kiara creates such a warm, caring, and fun environment while also creating an open, inclusive leaning environment for all kids to thrive in!

For fun, Ms Kiara loves to bake and spend lots of time outdoors going for walks, skiing, and spending quality time with her friends. You may see Ms Kiara next time you're at Rocky Point Ice Cream, she works there too!

Megan

School-Age Program Educator

When Ms Megan was 13 she began volunteering at her childhood overnight summer camp before becoming one of their full-time staff for three years. During that time, she discovered her passion for working with children, and since then has decided to become an elementary school teacher, hoping to teach kindergarten. Ms Megan is completing her Undergrad at the University of the Fraser Valley before starting a teaching program.

Ms Megan believes that children learn best through doing and through repetition. In her teaching she always wants children to experience tasks rather than just watching a teacher do things all the time, providing them opportunity to explore, figure things out for themselves, and strengthen their abilities. Repetition encourages kids to improve from the time before and feel more comfortable with whatever they are learning.

One unique philosophy she loves to embed throughout her teaching is Arts-based learning throughout the academics. She is a theatre major and strongly believes that incorporating acting and performance into classrooms creates stronger interpersonal skills, empathy, confidence, creativity, and freedom of expression in children. She also loves to use music as a way to engage young children and help them remember certain principles academics.

Ms Megan is inspired by her Mom who is a third grade teacher and absolutely adores her work. She is extremely creative and adventurous making learning a fun part of each day not only for her students but also for Ms Meagn and her siblings growing up. ​

Sahar

Early Childhood Educator

Cathy

Early Childhood Educator

Joanne

Early Childhood Educator