Amanda is originally from the Niagara Region and has also lived in Montreal and Halifax, but Toronto has been home for the past 20 years, where she lives with her husband and two teenagers.

With a B.Ed from McGill University specializing in TESL, along with studies in psychology and linguistics, Amanda has spent over 25 years in education, developing expertise in assessments, specialized program development, curriculum design, and teacher training. She has extensive experience working with neurodivergent students and designing individualized learning experiences to support diverse learners.

Along with being the founder and principal of Summit Micro School, Amanda is also the Executive Director of the Ontario Federation of Independent Schools (OFIS), where she has developed school accreditation and review processes and trained school administrators, including principals and vice principals. She brings a Futures Thinking perspective to education, contributing to the development of the Futures Consciousness Scale with Teach the Future. Summit Micro School is the first elementary school to fully integrate Futures Thinking into its curriculum, and Amanda has mentored and consulted with schools worldwide on program development and implementation.

For Amanda, the heart of this school is its community. Building strong relationships with students, families, and a close-knit staff is what makes it such a special place to be.

Outside of education, she enjoys gardening, cooking, refinishing furniture, and knitting.

Amanda believes that education should teach students how to think while embracing the reality that everyone thinks differently. Learning should celebrate individual strengths, diverse abilities, and unique perspectives—because the world needs outside-the-box thinkers to create the positive future we all want and need.

The values she hopes to instill in students? Respect, understanding, and an appreciation for differences—both in ourselves and in others.