Staff Announcements
Senior Leadership Appointments (2)
Peter Neale | Secretary-Treasurer
Peter Neale brings more than two decades of leadership in school district finance and administration, having served as Secretary-Treasurer in several districts across Alberta and British Columbia for over 20 years. A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified School Business Official, he is widely respected for his strategic financial leadership, commitment to transparency, and collaborative approach to governance. His professional expertise spans budgeting, risk management, capital planning, and corporate services. He is known for his ability to strengthen financial systems and drive continuous improvement, always with a focus on supporting student success through responsible fiscal stewardship.
Having grown up in BC (including the lower mainland and Vancouver Island), he is enjoying the return to BC living with his wife and two sons, and enjoying being part of Abby Schools.
Pete Nuij | Assistant Superintendent
Pete has been an educator in the B.C. public education system for over 2O years. He has worked in three school districts in a variety of administrative positions, including seven (7) years in Human Resources with the Surrey and Vancouver school districts. Prior to coming to Abbotsford, Pete was an Associate Superintendent with the Vancouver School District responsible for portfolios including Elementary Schools, Indigenous Education, Athletics and Community Connections. Pete believes that all students can be successful and that we do our best work in support of students when we work together.
When not focused on work, Pete enjoys time with his family and spending time outdoors. He is an avid photographer with a passion for wildlife, a hiker, a skier and a guitar player. He is excited to be a part of the team in Abbotsford and is looking forward to an excellent year.
Operations Management Appointments (6)
Rino Di Antonio | Manager, Structural and Grounds
Rino joined Abby Schools as the Manager of Structural and Grounds in January 2025. He comes with extensive knowledge of the K‐12 school system after spending over 15 years with the Surrey School District. There, he oversaw staff and projects in many fields, including Carpentry, Roofing, and Plumbing. He also worked extensively with the Student Support team, coordinating accessibility upgrades to meet the needs of all staff and students in the district. Rino also has a background in project management and drafting. After completing the Building Engineering Technology program at BCIT, he spent many years working with local developers, builders and interior designers to design custom homes and interior design drawings.
Outside of work, Rino enjoys spending quality time with his wife and three kids.
Mona Liu | Communications Coordinator
Mona is a seasoned communications professional with over a decade of experience in strategic marketing, digital engagement, and project management for a variety of industries from education, healthcare, to business. Before joining the Abbotsford School District we worked in post-secondary education for over six (6) years in social media marketing where she ran successful campaigns for student recruitment, talent acquisition, and community engagement. She is passionate about storytelling and community engagement and is excited to contribute to the success of the district.
You can find Mona travelling, hiking, and watching movies outside of work.
Danielle Molina | Administrative Assistant, Secretary-Treasurer’s Office
Before joining the Abbotsford School District earlier this year, Danielle served as a School Coordinator in the School of Health Studies at the University of the Fraser Valley, where she provided support to both faculty and students. She also spent 8 years with the Langley School District, working as an Administrative Assistant at both the elementary and middle levels. Danielle is excited to support and give back to the community where she grew up and make new connections within the district.
She is married to a wonderful partner, has three grown-up kids, and a dog named Kevin. Danielle enjoys staying active and spending time outdoors. She loves yoga, pilates, weightlifting, biking, and hiking - and there’s no better place to do that than in beautiful BC! You can always find Danielle cheering on the Whitecaps, as she is an avid soccer fan.
Brenda Noda | Manager, Facilities Operations
Brenda joined the Abbotsford School District in February 2025, following 15 years of service as Operations Coordinator for the Maintenance and Facilities Department at Delta School District. With a strong background in K–12 operations, she brings extensive experience in managing work order systems and overseeing operating, capital, and annual facility grant budgets. Brenda looks forward to this new chapter in her career and is committed to making a positive impact in her work environment.
Outside of work, Brenda enjoys spending time with her family and friends, travelling, or enjoying a good mystery novel.
Tracey O’Hara | Manager, Transportation
With over 26 years in the Public Education system, Tracey has extensive experience in both enrolling and non-enrolling sites and has been deeply involved in labour relations, including OH&S, for nearly 18 years. This Management opportunity felt like a natural progression to round out her career within the K-12 sector. The dynamic work environment in Transportation brings many challenges and significant rewards. Tracey takes the safe conveyance of passengers on school buses seriously and ensures the safety of students using crosswalks. She engages in relevant learning opportunities and listens to her staff, ensuring they have the tools to succeed. She aspires to create a respectful and welcoming work environment where staff take pride in their work and feel responsible for the students they transport and the vehicles they operate.
You can find Tracey spending time with family and friends, enjoying warm waters in the summer and snowy slopes in the winter. She has a deep love for animals and has fostered over 30 abandoned or abused Chinese Shar-Peis, with many finding loving homes and a few spending their remaining days with her.
Tracey is excited to make Abbotsford School District her final stop and looks forward to this next chapter of her life.
Amar Samra | Manager, Occupational Health & Safety
Amar comes from a diverse background in Health and Safety, having previously worked in Public Health, Manufacturing, and Agriculture sectors. He holds a Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety from BCIT and a Bachelor's in Health Sciences from SFU. When he’s not working, you can find him coaching or participating in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or simply enjoying some time at the beach. Other fun facts are that Amar has a twin brother and is an avid sports fan (Go Steelers!).
Elementary Appointments (3)
Wendy Costello | Vice-Principal, Alexander Elementary
With 26 years of experience in education, Wendy has always been passionate about supporting students with diverse abilities. After graduating from the University of Victoria, she began her teaching career in London, England, where she taught for three years. Upon returning home, Wendy taught in a private school and served as a TTOC in Vancouver, Surrey, and Abbotsford.
Wendy received her first continuing contract in Abbotsford at Alexander Elementary, where she spent 15 wonderful years as a primary teacher and later as a Learning Support Services (LSS) teacher. After completing a Master’s Degree in Special Education, Wendy joined the CORE team as a District LSS Helping Teacher, supporting educators in meeting the needs of all learners.
This past year, Wendy had the privilege of serving as Acting Vice Principal at ASIA North Poplar. She is now thrilled to return “home” to Alexander Elementary as Vice Principal for the 2025–26 school year.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, camping, and watching baseball. She also adores her Schnoodle, Fern, and everything about summer!
Manveet Neger | Vice-Principal, Godson Elementary
Manveet is a dedicated primary educator with over 12 years of experience in the Abbotsford School District. Originally from Ontario, she’s made Abbotsford her home and is proud to be part of a vibrant and supportive school community. Manveet’s teaching philosophy centers on creating inclusive, engaging, and nurturing environments where every student feels valued and empowered to succeed.
As she steps into a new leadership role within the district, Manveet is committed to supporting both staff and students by fostering collaboration, growth, and a shared vision for educational excellence.
Outside of the classroom, she enjoys long-distance running and travelling—activities that keep her energized and inspired.
Dennis Tjernagel | Acting Principal, Aberdeen Elementary
Dennis is in his second year with the Abbotsford School District, bringing experience from two other districts and an independent school. He enjoys sports, spending time with his family (wife of 34 years and an adult son and daughter), and being outdoors—especially cycling with the Old Man Cycling Club. Much of his free time is spent renovating his daughter's 1912 heritage house, which should be finished this summer!
Middle Appointments (2)
Sue Boucher | Principal, Chief Dan George Middle
Sue began her teaching career in 1996, working with students from Grades 1 to 12 in drama and film, primarily at Langley Fine Arts School. She also taught in the IB film program at Mulgrave School in West Vancouver. She directed provincial events such as the BC Student Film Festival and the Zoom Film Festival, creating opportunities for students to share their creativity province-wide. Passionate about blending technology, creativity, and storytelling, Sue explored this intersection during her Master’s in Leadership at Simon Fraser University, co-directing a play and learning experience with Joseph Dandurand, Kwantlen First Nations writer/director and storyteller.
In 2019, Sue moved into administration as Vice Principal at LA Matheson Secondary in the Surrey School District, where she oversaw Intensive Intervention, inclusion, and the Nch’umut Indigenous initiative. She later joined the BC Principals’ and Vice Principals’ Association as Producer of Professional Learning, managing the BCPVPA Brightspace platform in partnership with the Ministry of Education. In 2023, she became Vice Principal at Grandview Heights Secondary, taking on the challenge of creating an extended-day timetable for a school over capacity. This fall, Sue will begin her Doctor of Education at Ontario Tech University, focusing on creativity, education, and technology.
She is a proud mother of three grown sons and enjoys spending time at her Shuswap property with her husband, where she can be found diving into the lake, paddleboarding, and listening to a good audiobook in the sun.
Joscelyn McAulay | Vice-Principal, Abbotsford Traditional School
Joscelyn (Josie for short) has spent the past 19 years teaching and counselling students across all grade levels. While she’s taught at the elementary level, most of her experience has been in middle and high school. Joscelyn is passionate about literacy and has had the privilege of supporting learners as they build foundational reading skills and guiding students through the challenges of AP English 12.
Joscelyn holds a Master’s in Counselling and has worked with youth both inside and outside the school system. This is her third year with the Abbotsford School District. She enjoyed her time at Howe Middle School working with Shawn, Nick, and Rebecca, and is excited to begin this new chapter at ATS alongside Jasbir and Ashley.
Secondary Appointments (3)
Leanne Fleming | Vice-Principal, Abbotsford Senior Secondary
Over the last two decades, Leanne has taken her passion for education on a global tour, spanning three continents and every grade level you can name (and a few you probably can’t). From teaching a five-year-old how to grip a pencil to coaching a Master’s student in how to hold space with compassion, she has worn many hats and loved them all! Whether she was teaching English in South Korea, reception in London, or counselling master's students here in B.C., one thing has always held true: relationships matter and nothing happens without connection. She believes that humour heals, structure supports, and every student deserves someone in their corner.
Leanne's professional journey has included classroom teaching, counselling, program development, and working alongside families and communities to support student well-being. She has also helped design provincial resources on mental health, co-facilitated therapeutic programs for youth and adults, and trained educators in strategies for anxiety and emotional regulation. She loves the complexity of this work and the incredible humans she gets to do it with.
When she’s not at work, Leanne is probably wandering through a garden centre, sanding down a vintage dresser, or rearranging furniture for no logical reason other than joy. She loves bold wallpaper, too many throw pillows, new passport stamps, and getting her hands dirty (regardless of whether it’s in the soil or in a tough conversation that leads to growth).
Laura Hoeppner | Vice-Principal, Bakerview Centre for Learning
In grade 3, Laura decided to become a teacher (as many 3rd graders do), and in 2008, the Abbotsford School District made that a reality. After a couple of brief stints at W.J. Mouat and Rick Hansen Secondary, Robert Bateman became home for the next decade. Finally, with the encouragement and support of the Bateman admin team, she was off into the world of administration with Bakerview as her next stop.
When she is not working, Laura is either park hopping with the family or trying to find a few minutes to do anything fitness-related. The current dream is to buy a tent trailer and convince her family that they are a camping family!
Victoria Kooner | Vice-Principal, Rick Hansen Senior Secondary
Over the years, working as a classroom and LSS teacher, Victoria has learned that helping students discover their strengths is the best kind of work. Whether it’s guiding students with diverse needs or cheering them on from the sidelines, she has always been passionate about supporting growth—in the classroom, on the court, and from the sidelines of every team (even if she doesn't understand the sport or it's raining!).
Coaching sports over the years, and supporting link crew and other initiatives, have taught her that leadership is about connection, resilience, and a good sense of humour. Now in administration, she is excited to support even more students—especially those who need a little extra encouragement to see their potential, or at least attend school more regularly.
When she’s not at school, you’ll find her getting creative, soaking up the sun, or laughing with friends and family. She believes in leading with heart, listening with intention, and always keeping snacks, stickers, coffee, and tea on hand—because you never know when someone needs a boost.