De Esdoorn Board of Directors
Are you looking to get more involved in our school? Do you have a passion for Dutch and Flemish language and culture? Join our Board of committed, motivated and fun Dutch, Belgians and Canadians!
We are an ambitious school with lots of opportunities for creativity and growth, and several of our Board members will be transitioning at the end of this school year. Bring your knowledge, ideas and energy to our school! It’s so rewarding to connect and be part of such a great community. Contact [email protected]
De Esdoorn operates under the ‘Dutch Language and Culture School Society’ and is led by a Board of Directors, consisting of the following people:
Harri de Wijze – Chair
Harri has been a member of the Board since 2018, first as Secretary and taking over as Chair in 2019. Harri has experience in managing schools in the Netherlands and we are very pleased that he is sharing his experience with De Esdoorn.
Mark Cossement – Secretary
Mark has been a member of the Board since 2022. He was Secretary and a founding Board member for a youth club in his hometown in Belgium, and serves on the Board of Directors of the BC General Aviation Association. His two children also attend the school.
Treasurer (Sandra van Ark)
We are looking for a new treasurer! Do you have experience with finance and want to be part of The Maple? We would love to hear from you!
Sandra van Ark – Board Member
Sandra is one of the two founders of the school. Sandra served as Secretary from 2019-2022. Her daughter is one of De Esdoorn’s first students.
Maria Paula Murad – Marketing and Communication
Maria Paula joined the Board in 2024 and looks forward to contributing to the growth and reputation of De Esdoorn online. Maria Paula has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Portuguese is her native language, and she started Dutch lessons for adults, experiencing the school classes firsthand.
Angelique Bikkers – van Nugteren – Human Resources
Angelique joined the Board in 2023 to focus on Human Resources. Angelique lives with her husband and two sons in Vancouver since 2019 and has a background in Human Resources, Education and Coaching. Her youngest son attends high school lessons at De Esdoorn.
What we do
The Board of Directors is responsible for the policies, budget and overall operations of the school. We work with the School Director, Marianne Cauwels, who joins most Board meetings and is responsible for the daily management and implementation of policy. We also work with the Head Teacher and the Cultural Events Committee to organize Dutch Cultural Days and special days, such as opening and closing the school year.
Once a year we hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) to approve the budget for the upcoming year and to vote for new Board members. All Board members and teachers of De Esdoorn attend the AGM.
We are always looking for new Board members to get involved. If you are interested in helping us grow our Dutch community, please contact us or speak to any of our Board members — there are lots of opportunities.