OUR GUIDES

MEET OUR CO-FOUNDERS AND INFINITY ACADEMY GUIDES

Co-Founder, Curriculum & Instructional Lead, and Guide

Gillian is an Ontario Certified Teacher, Forest and Nature School Practitioner, and Private Alternative/Nature School Math Coach.

Over the past decade she has been teaching in the public school system in French Immersion classrooms & has experience as a Math Coach with Primary, Junior & Intermediate children. She has a specialist in elementary Mathematics, Reading, French as a Second Language, and Special Education. Gillian uses her expertise in curriculum and assessment, through a Holistic approach and an inquiry-based learning lens to nurture the natural curiosity and gifts of each child. She has shared her expertise in inquiry-based learning at symposiums across Ontario and workshops virtually across North America.

When Gillian isn’t at work you can find her playing with her two boys, at the beach or playing sports. Gillian played women’s soccer in the NCAA and CIS, was University of Ottawa’s Female Athlete of the Year, and Canada’s Women’s Soccer Player of the Year.

GILLIAN

Co-Founder, Homestead School Operator, and Wellness Director

Jenna is a Registered Nurse BScN, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Childbirth Coach, and Ayurvedic Nutritionist.

She has spent many years in her nursing career caring for newborns in a tertiary level Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Ottawa. Her career has been fuelled by her passion for all things health and wellbeing, and a deep curiosity around how to create the conditions for human thriving. As her own two children approached school age her career shifted from bedside to the classroom, again with the lens of creating an educational environment that nurtures and promotes thriving children.

She then worked as an occasional teacher at the Ottawa School Board in French Immersion classrooms where her deep understanding around health and wellbeing intersected with childhood education and a passion for Holistic Education was sparked.

When she is not in the classroom she is learning about regenerative agriculture, homesteading, herbalism and physical fitness.

JENNA

testimonials

  • As a Professor at the University level and as a parent, my daughter had the pleasure and good fortune of being taught by Mrs. Berard for 3 years. As an educator myself, her learning methods and pedagogy has simply been the most innovative and refreshing that I have ever seen at the Elementary Level. As a teacher she is truly inspirational, has great attention to detail for her students, and is extremely thorough. I witnessed first hand a transformation in my daughter to transition to the next level of learning in problem solving and critical thinking. This will serve her well for the rest of her life especially in high school and also University. Her teaching is pragmatic and highly motivating to foster lifelong and a joy of learning. Without question she is one of the most innovative and best teachers in the region.
    Brian T - Parent