De Esdoorn Staff

Director at De Esdoorn since 2022

Hi! My name is Marianne Cauwels, born and raised in East Flanders, Belgium close to the Dutch border. After some wandering, I ended up in Antwerp where I worked as a lawyer and subsequently specialized in international commercial law.

I have lived in Vancouver since late 2016 and have two daughters, Emily and Ines, who also live in Vancouver. Together with them I have set up an agency that represents Belgian companies.

Since July 2022, a new challenge knocked on my door… as School Director of De Esdoorn.

BEd (Bachelor of Education)
Teacher Training in Primary Education (PABO)
Hogeschool Utrecht

Head Teacher at De Esdoorn since 2022

My name is Bastiënne de Graaf and I have been living in Vancouver since July 2022. In primary school I discovered that I love to help others with learning. By High School, I knew then that I wanted to be a teacher. After my post-secondary studies I went to do my Teacher Training in Utrecht and graduated in 2022. During my training I also obtained my ‘Teaching English as a Foreign Language’ and my qualification to teach PE at primary school.

After completing my studies, I immediately left for Vancouver to teach at De Esdoorn. During my studies, I walked a number of times at schools with children who had little or no knowledge of the Dutch language. I enjoyed helping these children to learn Dutch.

I always enjoy the learning process of children. Every child learns in a different way and pace. I believe that children can also learn a lot from each other. You will also see in my less that I use cooperative working methods and ask children to help each other.

Working at De Esdoorn is a great fit for me. I find it fun and interesting to teach the children in Canada about the Dutch language and culture.

Teacher at De Esdoorn since 2020

I have been living in Canada for 23 years. My husband and I started in Ontario, where our two children were also born. After four years we moved to BC where we have been enjoying ourselves ever since. Our children are fully bilingual (and our daughter is even trilingual) and are now following further education in the Netherlands. The only thing that sometimes causes some problems is writing in Dutch (there was no “De Esdoorn” at the time). In the Netherlands I worked for a while as a speech therapist in special education, where I was mainly concerned with language development delays and disorders, articulation, alternative means of communication and eating-drinking problems. Here in BC I work as an education assistant at a school in North Delta. There I help both English and French immersion students with special needs. Two years ago I took the “Teaching English Abroad” course in Coquitlam together with our daughter, where I gained many ideas for teaching a second language to children. In my spare time I love to go out in beautiful BC: walking, cycling, kayaking. If the weather is not so nice, you can find me with a book, in the pool or in the kitchen to try out a new recipe and enjoy it with friends. A game after that makes the day complete!

Master Special Educational Needs
Fonty Hogeschool Rotterdam

World Teachers Training
ICLON

Bachelor English language and culture
University of Leiden

Teacher at De Esdoorn since 2021

Elise Hollaar comes from Numansdorp, South Holland. I have enjoyed living in Vancouver since 2017. After studying English Language and Culture at Leiden University in The Netherlands, I followed a Master’s degree in English Language and Literature, followed by a Master’s degree in Educational Sciences. During my Masters I also followed the World Teachers Training Program at the ICLON of Leiden University. I did an internship and then worked at The Rotterdam International Secondary School where I taught English, ICT and Enrichment to Grades 6-12. In 2016 I completed my part-time Master in Special Education at Fontys Hogeschool in Rotterdam. To gain more hands-on experience in the special education field, I accepted an opportunity to work in the Special Education KEY program at The Westside School in downtown Vancouver. I enjoy helping students reach their full potential in school, gain confidence and enjoy going to school. In my spare time I like to spend time with friends here in Vancouver or travel back to the Netherlands to see my family. I look forward to working at De Esdoorn and helping students with their Dutch!

Teacher Certification (PABO)

Teacher at De Esdoorn since 2022.

Hi everyone, my name is Eurydice Mac Donald. I am married and have two beautiful grown sons. Before I left for British Columbia I was a group teacher trained at the PABO (Dutch teacher training) for 23 years, teaching different groups. I have always taught with great pleasure and passion because, as a group teacher, I find it important to pay attention to each child and to ensure that every child develops optimally. As a team it is essential to look at the possibilities and learning needs of each child and connect to it. This school year I will start at De Esdoorn and I hope that together as a team, with the parents and with the children we will have a year of fun and learning.

BEd (Bachelor of Education)
Lerarenopleiding Basisonderwijs
Thomas More Hogeschool, Rotterdam

Teaching Assistant
ROC Mondriaan, Naaldwijk

Teacher at De Esdoorn since 2023

My name is Gioia van Hijkoop and I am 23 years old. I am from Naaldwijk, which is a village in South Holland (the Netherlands). In the school year 2022/2023 I graduated as an elementary school teacher at the Thomas More Hogeschool in Rotterdam. During my studies I followed a specialization in the young child. In addition, this past school year I was a teacher within unit 7/8 at the Joannesschool. This is a school that uses unit education where regular classes are replaced by groups with different age groups.

After college, I left almost immediately to Canada to live in Vancouver with my boyfriend. De Esdoorn quickly caught my attention because I believe that Dutch education is incredibly valuable and I would like to start passing on my enthusiasm in Dutch traditions.

As a teacher, I try to be involved with children and parents while building a good bond of trust. I find working at de Esdoorn a very nice challenge and I look forward to helping children and adults with the Dutch language and culture!

Human Sciences
Examination Committee

Teacher at De Esdoorn since 2022.

My name is Ines. I was born in Antwerp, Belgium where I also graduated. At the age of 18 with a Permanent Resident card in my pocket I moved to Vancouver. My first job in Vancouver was a receptionist and shop assistant, where I became manager of my location after a few months. Two years later I switched to the position of Office Manager. In 2019 I met my partner. Together we have a son, who is almost 1.5 years old. He will be a future student of De Esdoorn.

As a teenager, I worked with young children in horseback riding camps a lot and I also gave riding lessons. Now I still ride horses, but no longer compete and I enjoy walking with my family and our dog Harley.

Since my son’s birth I have become deeply involved in various educational techniques including Montessori which I find and study in books and online.
I grew up in a family where we valued bringing out the best of yourself and others.

I look forward to working with the other teachers to build the North Shore Vancouver location as a centre where it is fun and educational for the children.