ANTI-OPPRESSION
EDUCATORS COLLECTIVE
EXECUTIVE
SHANEE PRASAD
President
Shanee Prasad is a first generation South Asian woman, living on the unceded territory of Musqueam, Coast Salish and Tseil-Tuth people. Shanee teaches at Byrne Creek Community School, in Senior Alternative Education (Burnaby). She has a bachelor's degree in Political Science, and Special Education degree from Simon Fraser University. Shanee has also completed a Master of Education degree in Equity Studies at SFU, with comprehensive work in anti-racist pedagogy. Shanee holds various local and provincial positions within the British Columbia Teachers Federation, as well she is the representative for workers of colour at BC Federation of Labour. Shanee identifies as a feminist, and has a passion for decolonizing public educaiton.
HEATHER KELLEY
Vice-President
Heather Kelley is a queer mother and settler currently living and teaching on the unceeded territories of the Coast Salish peoples. She is a high school educator in Surrey. She currently chairs the Committee for Action on Social Justice at the BCTF, is the VP of the PAGE PSA and sits on the LGBTQ+ Committee. She is a highly skilled facilitator and develops workshops for the BCTF. She works at the local and provincial level on LGBTQ+ issues, curriculum and resource development, facilitation and capacity building. She is a founder of Surrey Pride Prom, the first school district wide queer event in BC. She actively participates in anti-racist work in her daily life and has spent the last 20 years doing learning and unlearning about what it means to be a white person in a white supremacist society. With a background in Climate Justice work she brings together intersectional understandings and urgency to this work because all oppression is connected. She is honoured and humbled to be asked to participate in this work and acknowledges that POC and particularly women and queer people of colour, have been doing this work for generations and their (often unrecognized) labour is what allows for all of us to be having these very important conversations now.
GREG VAN VUGT
Past President
Greg van Vugt is a settler on this land. A Richmond teacher and long time PAGE member. Working for justice and compassion. Lifelong Learner realizing there is so much more to learn.
KIRAN SIDHU
Treasurer
Kiran Sidhu is a Punjabi settler residing on unceded Katzie territory and has been teaching in Richmond for fourteen years. She is currently the Welcome Centre Assessment Teacher at SD 38 and enjoys meeting families and students new to the district. Kiran is actively involved in her local's Social Justice Committee and is a proud member of the Anti-Oppression Educators’ Collective. A lover of melanin, sleeping (cue melatonin), books, trivia, Sudoku and her niblings, Kiran is committed to dismantling systems of privilege in education.
KARINE NG
Secretary
I have been dreaming of a more just and liberated society since the age of 4 or 5. Emerging from many years of colonial oppression and capitalism-induced depression, I reach out to all those who share the same dream. My work is anchored in education, spanning across diverse ages and socio-cultural settings in the ancestral lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and the Tseil-Waututh people, and elsewhere. I work through the lens of critical inquiry and with a keen interest in participatory democracy. I hope to contribute by helping to build a collective of agitators and organizers who together, will dream up and materialize radical alternatives to the status quo.
AVNEET
Member-At-Large
avneet is a second generation punjabi settler born on QayQayt First Nation land and lives on unceded Coast Salish territories. As an interdisciplinary artist/educator she merges, writing, sound, somatic exploration, research, material study and various artistic practices. dedicated to social justice and autonomy for all, she is interested in the ways colonial & structural violence permeates into the lived experiences of fellow BIPOC, LGBTQ2+ and disabled lives. mining from her own trauma as a survivor of sexual violence and a person with disabilities her focus remains steady on those struggling and fighting in the margins. through dismantling and healing avneet is committed to relearning and sharing ways that joy can thrive at the center of the work we do. avneet holds a BFA from Emily Carr University of Art & Design, an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, yoga certification from Prana Yoga College and is currently navigating the BEd program at UBC.
PREET LIDDER
Member-At-Large
Preet is a second-generation Punjabi settler of colour, currently living on unceded Coast Salish territory. She is a radical feminist, vegan, lover of hip hop, runner, math and science teacher and a fierce bhua/auntie to many little ones. Over the past 8 years, she has taught in several districts including the Stikine and Haida Gwaii. She is passionate about anti-oppression and is involved in union organizing and activism. She is a local representative for Vancouver Secondary and sits on BCTF’s provincial Working Learning Conditions / Bargaining committee. Preet is a recent graduate of the Equity Studies in Education M.Ed program where her capstone project focused on surveillance and policing in BC public schools and its impacts on racialized students.
DITA CROSS
Member-At-Large
Shé:kon sewakwekon, my name is Ditta Cross I am from the Kanien’keha:ka Nation the Mohawk people of Kahnawa:ke Quebec and the Innu Nation of Labrador. I am living on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish people. I feel honoured to be here among them. I am an Indigenous educator in the k to 7 public schools in Burnaby where I have taught primarily Indigenous students and now I am sharing with teachers how to integrate Indigenous ways of knowing into the curriculum. I have completed a master in Equity in Education with a focus on Indigenous curriculum development. As well, I am a union activist, a facilitator and a local rep and to the BCTF for the Burnaby local. My best accomplishment yet is being the mother of two strong Indigenous youth who will change this world! So be ready!
OLIVER KOLLAR
Member-At-Large & Communications
Oliver was born on the unceded traditional territory of the Tsimshian people. Oliver is bi-racial with family from Mexico and Hungary. Oliver is an ELL educator working with newcomer youth in Vancouver, BC. He is committed to reconciliation and anti-racism. Oliver is executive member of the Anti-Oppression Educators Collective and BCTESOL. Oliver is an avid cyclist and loves spending time in nature.
DENISE FERREIRA
Member-At-Large
Denise Ferreira is a teacher of students and English at Byrne Creek Community School in Burnaby, BC. She is an avid reader, writer, mother, and passionate educator, who believes that justice begins in our classrooms. She also believes that, when we educate students about POC’s complex identities and human experiences, and confront racism through the exploration of diverse texts and voices, we are taking the first steps towards truer equity. Mostly, she wants, little by little, to help dismantle oppressive systems. She is learning to be an ally to POC and the issues they face in and out of schools.
SHANEE PRASAD
President
Shanee Prasad is a first generation South Asian woman, living on the unceded territory of Musqueam, Coast Salish and Tseil-Tuth people. Shanee teaches at Byrne Creek Community School, in Senior Alternative Education (Burnaby). She has a bachelor's degree in Political Science, and Special Education degree from Simon Fraser University. Shanee has also completed a Master of Education degree in Equity Studies at SFU, with comprehensive work in anti-racist pedagogy. Shanee holds various local and provincial positions within the British Columbia Teachers Federation, as well she is the representative for workers of colour at BC Federation of Labour. Shanee identifies as a feminist, and has a passion for decolonizing public educaiton.
HEATHER KELLEY
Vice-President
Heather Kelley is a queer mother and settler currently living and teaching on the unceeded territories of the Coast Salish peoples. She is a high school educator in Surrey. She currently chairs the Committee for Action on Social Justice at the BCTF, is the VP of the PAGE PSA and sits on the LGBTQ+ Committee. She is a highly skilled facilitator and develops workshops for the BCTF. She works at the local and provincial level on LGBTQ+ issues, curriculum and resource development, facilitation and capacity building. She is a founder of Surrey Pride Prom, the first school district wide queer event in BC. She actively participates in anti-racist work in her daily life and has spent the last 20 years doing learning and unlearning about what it means to be a white person in a white supremacist society. With a background in Climate Justice work she brings together intersectional understandings and urgency to this work because all oppression is connected. She is honoured and humbled to be asked to participate in this work and acknowledges that POC and particularly women and queer people of colour, have been doing this work for generations and their (often unrecognized) labour is what allows for all of us to be having these very important conversations now.
GREG VAN VUGT
Past President
Greg van Vugt is a settler on this land. A Richmond teacher and long time PAGE member. Working for justice and compassion. Lifelong Learner realizing there is so much more to learn.
KIRAN SIDHU
Treasurer
Kiran Sidhu is a Punjabi settler residing on unceded Katzie territory and has been teaching in Richmond for fourteen years. She is currently the Welcome Centre Assessment Teacher at SD 38 and enjoys meeting families and students new to the district. Kiran is actively involved in her local's Social Justice Committee and is a proud member of the Anti-Oppression Educators’ Collective. A lover of melanin, sleeping (cue melatonin), books, trivia, Sudoku and her niblings, Kiran is committed to dismantling systems of privilege in education.
KARINE NG
Secretary
I have been dreaming of a more just and liberated society since the age of 4 or 5. Emerging from many years of colonial oppression and capitalism-induced depression, I reach out to all those who share the same dream. My work is anchored in education, spanning across diverse ages and socio-cultural settings in the ancestral lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and the Tseil-Waututh people, and elsewhere. I work through the lens of critical inquiry and with a keen interest in participatory democracy. I hope to contribute by helping to build a collective of agitators and organizers who together, will dream up and materialize radical alternatives to the status quo.
AVNEET PANNU
Member-At-Large
avneet is a second generation punjabi settler born on QayQayt First Nation land and lives on unceded Coast Salish territories. As an interdisciplinary artist/educator she merges, writing, sound, somatic exploration, research, material study and various artistic practices. dedicated to social justice and autonomy for all, she is interested in the ways colonial & structural violence permeates into the lived experiences of fellow BIPOC, LGBTQ2+ and disabled lives. mining from her own trauma as a survivor of sexual violence and a person with disabilities her focus remains steady on those struggling and fighting in the margins. through dismantling and healing avneet is committed to relearning and sharing ways that joy can thrive at the center of the work we do. avneet holds a BFA from Emily Carr University of Art & Design, an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, yoga certification from Prana Yoga College and is currently navigating the BEd program at UBC.
PREET LIDDER
Member-At-Large
Preet is a second-generation Punjabi settler of colour, currently living on unceded Coast Salish territory. She is a radical feminist, vegan, lover of hip hop, runner, math and science teacher and a fierce bhua/auntie to many little ones. Over the past 8 years, she has taught in several districts including the Stikine and Haida Gwaii. She is passionate about anti-oppression and is involved in union organizing and activism. She is a local representative for Vancouver Secondary and sits on BCTF’s provincial Working Learning Conditions / Bargaining committee. Preet is a recent graduate of the Equity Studies in Education M.Ed program where her capstone project focused on surveillance and policing in BC public schools and its impacts on racialized students.
DITA CROSS
Member-At-Large
Shé:kon sewakwekon, my name is Ditta Cross I am from the Kanien’keha:ka Nation the Mohawk people of Kahnawa:ke Quebec and the Innu Nation of Labrador. I am living on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish people. I feel honoured to be here among them. I am an Indigenous educator in the k to 7 public schools in Burnaby where I have taught primarily Indigenous students and now I am sharing with teachers how to integrate Indigenous ways of knowing into the curriculum. I have completed a master in Equity in Education with a focus on Indigenous curriculum development. As well, I am a union activist, a facilitator and a local rep and to the BCTF for the Burnaby local. My best accomplishment yet is being the mother of two strong Indigenous youth who will change this world! So be ready!
OLIVER KOLLAR
Member-At-Large & Communications
Oliver was born on the unceded traditional territory of the Tsimshian people. Oliver is bi-racial with family from Mexico and Hungary. Oliver is an ELL educator working with newcomer youth in Vancouver, BC. He is committed to reconciliation and anti-racism. Oliver is executive member of the Anti-Oppression Educators Collective and BCTESOL. Oliver is an avid cyclist and loves spending time in nature.
DENISE FERREIRA
Member-At-Large
Denise Ferreira is a teacher of students and English at Byrne Creek Community School in Burnaby, BC. She is an avid reader, writer, mother, and passionate educator, who believes that justice begins in our classrooms. She also believes that, when we educate students about POC’s complex identities and human experiences, and confront racism through the exploration of diverse texts and voices, we are taking the first steps towards truer equity. Mostly, she wants, little by little, to help dismantle oppressive systems. She is learning to be an ally to POC and the issues they face in and out of schools.