Board Memebers

Board of Directors

Craig Wrotniak - North Surrey Secondary

Chapter Director
Craig is a teacher for the Surrey School District and a member of IATSE Local 118. Craig has won numerous awards for his work directing and designing youth theatre productions. He has been the President for the Surrey Drama Teachers' Association and the ABCDE Surrey Zone Representative for the past 10 years. He has been a member of the Educational Theatre Association since 2009. Craig holds an undergraduate degree in Theatre Education from The University of British Columbia and a Master of Arts Degree in Theatre Production from Central Washington University. He is also the troupe director of troupe #8854 at North Surrey Secondary.

Dana Ebtekar - Guilford Park Secondary

Operations Assistance & PTO Coordinator
Dana is currently a teacher for the Surrey School District and a technician for IATSE Local 118. He also serves as a member of Vancouver Opera's Educational Advisor Committee and a Director at Large for B.C's Chapter of the Canadian Institute of Theatre Technology. Theatre has been a major part of his life since he joined his high school's theatre tech team in the 10th grade and instantly fell in love with it. Dana holds a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University with a double minor in Fine & Performing Arts and Kinesiology and a Bachelor of Education from The University of British Columbia.

Frederick Wong, CPA

CFO and Tax Advice
Fred is an accountant by profession, with a deep love and passion for theatre. He specializes in sales/indirect tax issues at BDO Canada LLP, particularly with respect to advisory and operational reviews for charities and not for profits in Greater Vancouver. Fred was heavily involved in youth arts in the Tri-Cities and considers theatre as a major influence and formative experience. Fred holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Hans Weichhart - EdTA USA

Educational Theatre Association - International Rep.
Hans provides strategic and operational oversight for all external relations and partnerships through membership, chapters, alumni and business development. Hans also serves as the producer for special events for the Education Theatre Foundation. the fundraising arm of the EdTA.

BC Provincial Working Board

Glen Pope - Frank Hurt Secondary

BC PTF Theatre Manager
Glen Pope is currently a teacher for the Surrey School District and he has taught drama and stagecraft for over 20 years. He has taught in both the public and private system and he is a former International Baccalaureate DP theatre teacher. He is currently the education representative for the BC section of the Canadian Institute of Theatre Technology. He has his MA in theatre from WWU and a BEd in Drama from UofA.

Joan Maclean - Moscrop Secondary

Secretary & Adjudicator Facilitator
Joan MacLean is a teacher, musician and actor living in Vancouver. She has degrees in Education, Music and Theatre. After appearing on stage all over North America for many years with Kim Leard's Story Theatre Company, she also performed for years in Vancouver. When she first moved to Vancouver, she built and ran a theatre training program for "at risk" youth in the Downtown Eastside at Station Street Arts Centre. Shortly after becoming a mom, Joan played several roles over many years in the long running hit comedy Mom's The Word. She wrote some of the music for and performed in an original clown musical called Thirty Nine and Ticking by Sharon Heath. Joan teaches Drama at Moscrop Secondary in Burnaby, troupe #9002.

Mark Rossiter - Fleetwood Park Secondary

Event Registration System Manager
Mark Rossiter is currently in his 8th year teaching in the Surrey School District. He is the Arts Department Head for Fleetwood Park Secondary, and the Theater Company Director for the Dragon Tales Theater Company - Thespian Troupe #8999. In their first 3 years of existence, the Theater Company has successfully produced Game of Tiaras, The Lonely Hearts Club, Into The Woods (Musical), The Outsiders, and Pride and Prejudice. Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of British Columbia with a Major in English and a Minor in Psychology. He also holds a Bachelor of Education Degree from Simon Fraser University.

Nikki Hockey - Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary

Canada Wide Student Zoom Playwriting Competition Coordinator
Nikki teaches for the Surrey School District and is also a member of the Association of British Columbia Drama Educators and Educational Theatre Association.

Benjamin Bram Pilger - New Westminster Secondary

Teachers Conference Co-Coordinator & Social Media Manager
Ben is an interdisciplinary artist and arts educator based out of New Westminster. He is a traditionally trained actor for stage and screen and a performance artist in the traditions of movement and light. You can catch more of Ben at the AptPop gallery.

Braeden Saucy - Tamanawis Secondary

Graphic Designer for Special Event Posters
A graduate of Capilano University's Acting for the Stage & Screen program, Braeden also has his Bachelor of Education degree from UBC specializing in secondary drama/theatre. Braeden runs the drama program at Tamanawis Secondary. He excited in be involved in the BC Thespians programing offered and make some awesome special event posters.

April Allan - Westview Secondary

Event Hospitality / Member at Large
April is a recent SFU grad from the teaching program but has been a teacher with international academies for the last 10 years. She has a degree in English literature with a passion for arts and theatre. April is the drama teacher at Westview Secondary in Maple Ridge (SD42) and has been given the opportunity to rebuild the theatre program. Everyone calls her Ms. A and she tries to create every opportunity she can for students, especially those in fine arts. She is excited to be a part of the BC Thespians and is happy to help in whatever means necessary. When April isn't at school or busy with activities in the theatre, she can be found either hiking, running, bike riding, paddling boarding, kayaking, along the dykes in Maple Ridge or snowboarding the local mountains in winter.

Alicia Tobin - Delta Secondary

Event Hospitality / Member at Large
A recent graduate of SFU's PDP program for Secondary Drama/Theatre teaching. Alicia runs the theatre program at Delta Secondary School.

Ineke Lievens - Gladstone Secondary

Event Hospitality / Member at Large

Ineke is a professional actress and drama teacher at Gladstone Secondary School in Vancouver BC. We are excited to have her involved in our community of educational theatre leaders in BC.

BC REGIONAL DIRECTORS

Caroljoy Green - Cedars Christian School (Prince George)

BC North - Regional Coordinator
Caroljoy has taught drama at Cedars Christian School in Prince George, BC for several years and feels passionately about helping people of all ages be empowered to find their voice and "shine" through drama. Caroljoy also owns SHINE! Speech Arts & Drama where she teaches students from pre-schoolers to teens. Her students perform monologues, duologues, poetry, prose, and mime in the local festival, and her students have gone on to compete in Provincial competition with Performing Arts BC. She also serves as an adjudicator at Speech Arts & Drama festivals and prepares students for RCM practical and theory exams in Speech Arts & Drama. She has a BA in Philosophy Cum Laude with a minor in the Social Sciences from Wheaton College.

Tara Fairbrother

BC Central & Southern Interior - Regional Coordinator
Tara Fairbrother has been a Drama Educator in School District 73 Kamloops Thompson for 15 years in both Secondary and Middle Schools. In that time, her favourite thing about it is seeing the pride of young artists as they perform their work for their communities and peers. Tara also loves directing and creating devised theatre which has been one of the cornerstones of her program at Brock Middle School for the last 5 years. Tara is happy to be the regional coordinator for the Interior Region alongside her colleague Marietta Magliocchi. This is the time for educators in the performance realm to rise like the phoenix out of this worldwide pandemic, and allow student performances to take place in new ways and with renewed vigor. Let’s break some legs!

Noel Bullock - Sparwood Secondary

The Kooteneays - Regional Coordinator
I teach in the Southeast Kootenays at Sparwood Secondary School. I am an amateur, doing theatre for the love of the art. Once upon a time I wanted to be a historian. However, after working with a terrific team to perform Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, I was hooked. One student pushed me, and we ended up performing a ridiculous dance on stage. I was terrified. And I grew. Since them I haven’t looked back. Each year I am inspired again by students who commit to being their best, step out of their comfort zones, work hard, and then succeed beyond their wildest dreams. The connections and the laughter make the effort all worthwhile. See you onstage!

Shannon Parker-Bruno - Abbotsford Sr. Secondary

Fraser Valley - Regional Co-Coordinator (Currently on Mat. Leave)
Shannon has been performing her entire life being cast in a variety of productions from a young age and into high school. Shannon took the Acting program at Douglas college, receiving an associate degree with a Major in Theatre. This is where she deepened her love of the Arts and knew she wanted to use this passion in her future. She continued in Acting at Trinity Western University (TWU), receiving a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Theatre. It was at TWU that she directed her first production under the instruction of Angela Conrad. She completed her Bachelor of Education at Simon Fraser University with a Major in Curriculum and Instruction.

Shannon has taught for over nine years in a variety of teaching positions but has always come back to her love of the Arts and worked to incorporate this into her work. Most recently she is working as a Drama teacher at Abbotsford Senior Secondary School where she has directed student self-written productions for the district festivals as well as worked on dinner theatre for their schools' main stage production, most recently Cage Birds by David Campton. Shannon is excited to be joining the BC Thespians and to see how it can continue to grow a passion for the arts in young people in our region.

Alayne Cheny - Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts

Fraser Valley - Regional Co-Coordinator
Alayne is a drama teacher at ASIA and she is passionate about educational theatre and provides a middle school perspective on our BC Thespians leadership team.

Nette Martin - Lambrick Park Secondary (Victoria)

Island - Regional Coordinator
Nette Martin holds a Masters of Education in Theatre Pedagogy, a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts (with distinction) in Theatre specializing in Directing and a Bachelor’s of Education (with distinction) majoring in Theatre with concentrations in both English and Choir. Nette has been heavily involved in theatre since she was a teenager: Performing, Stage Managing and Directing in both professional and amateur theatres. Nette fell in love with working with teens while in New York directing children’s musicals and returned to Uvic to become a teacher. She has taught in both the Boundary School District and Greater Victoria School District and is thrilled to be building a theatrical program here at Lambrick Park. She believes that the skills taught in the theatre are ones that build confidence, develop communication skills, incorporate problem solving, cultivate creativity, encourage teamwork and inclusion, and will transfer to any workforce students may pursue beyond high school.

Mark Rossiter - Fleetwood Park Secondary (Surrey)

Metro Vancouver - Regional Coordinator
Mark Rossiter is currently in his 8th year teaching in the Surrey School District. He is the Arts Department Head for Fleetwood Park Secondary, and the Theater Company Director for the Dragon Tales Theater Company - Thespian Troupe #8999. In their first 3 years of existence, the Theater Company has successfully produced Game of Tiaras, The Lonely Hearts Club, Into The Woods (Musical), The Outsiders, and Pride and Prejudice. Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of British Columbia with a Major in English and a Minor in Psychology. He also holds a Bachelor of Education Degree from Simon Fraser University.