TEAL Executive
Marion Hutchings-Reimer
President
Marion Hutchings-Reimer (TEAL MB President) teaches EAL (English as an Additional Language) in the Pembina Trails School Division. She works with international and newcomer students from Grades K-6 and hosts a Newcomer Club. Her education includes degrees from the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg with majors in Psychology, Developmental Studies as well as an After-Degree in Education.
Samantha Ursel
Vice President & MTS PD Conference Co-Chair
Samantha Ursel is currently an EAL (English as an Additional Language) classroom and support teacher at a high school in Winnipeg. She has worked as a general learning support teacher and ELA (English Language Arts) teacher at various high schools in Winnipeg and rural Manitoba over the past 25 years. The farthest away she has taught is Churchill, Manitoba, and the closest is her return to teach at her former high school. Students are often in awe of her 80s hair when they find her grad picture on the wall in the school hallway. In her work with multilingual learners, she appreciates the chance to better understand Canada and the world through her students' eyes, and is always learning more about both the complexities and rewards of teaching newcomers.
Lisa Desmarais
Communications Co-Chair
Lisa has completed her B.A., B. Ed, and her CTESL at the University of Manitoba. In 2017, she completed her Masters in Education with a focus on English as an Additional Language. The focus of her studies was on acculturation, cultural identity and social empathy within the school system. She has taught overseas in France, South Korea and Egypt for many years. She is currently working in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division as an EAL teacher.
Luisa Igne
Treasusrer
Luisa was born in the Philippines and immigrated to Canada in 1980. She’s been teaching EAL formerly ESL at DMCI (Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute) since 1998. For the last eleven years she’s been in charged of the EAL./LAL centre at DMCI where she teaches newcomer students with interrupted education. She teaches them basic English, Math, and Science before they enter the regular EAL courses.
Ariel Fernando
Communications Co-Chair
Ariel has been an educator for 20 years. He was a high school English teacher in the Philippines before coming to Canada in 2014. He completed his B. Ed. and CTESL at the University of Winnipeg. Since then, he has been working with both youth and adult multilingual learners in Winnipeg. He is currently working as a LAL/EAL teacher in River East Transcona School Division. He is also involved in community events as the Director for Production of the MUSICA Singers of Manitoba, Inc., a Filipino community-based vocal ensemble.
Jayesh Maniar
Mini-PD Chair
Jayesh Maniar retired after 46 years in education where he was a classroom teacher, school administrator, Divisional EAL Consultant, and Department of Education EAL Consultant. His M.Ed. thesis was on teacher expectations of EAL learners. Throughout his education career as well in retirement, Jayesh believes in building a community. Along with being on the Executive of TEAL Manitoba, he serves as the President of Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM) and as a Director on the Board of LiteracyWorks.
Ian Lindal
Membership Chair
Ian started his teaching career with EAL learners at an international school in Thailand, before joining Fort Richmond Collegiate. Over the 6 years as a teacher, he taught E-courses in English, Science, Computers, History, and Geography
Diana Turner
MTS PD Conference Co-Chair
Alison Giasson
Secretary
Dave Hacault
SAGE Council Rep
Lisa Goolcharan
Member at Large