OUR TEAM
Christina Kitchen
Executive Director
Christina Kitchen is honoured to serve as Executive Director and is excited to be part of the school community.
With a background in education, leadership, and business, Christina has supported students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 in both public and independent schools. She is passionate about creating a caring, connected school community where students, families, and staff feel valued and supported. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership from Trinity Western University and believes in leading with compassion, collaboration, and purpose.
Christina lives in Qualicum Beach with her husband, Dave, and their two daughters, Grace and Annalise. Outside of school, she enjoys cheering on her daughters at the softball field and volleyball court, walking her three dogs, and spending time in her garden.
Leslie Bremner
Principal & Teacher, Grades 4 & 5
Leslie is our Principal and Class 4/5 Teacher and the mother of two of our students. She holds a BC Teachers Certificate, a Bachelor of Education from Vancouver Island University, a BA in Journalism and Communication from the University of Regina, and has completed training in Waldorf Education.
After teaching for several years in Japan and Ireland, Leslie and her family moved to Vancouver Island where she has taught a Waldorf-inspired, nature based curriculum since 2012. She believes in a balanced approach to learning that provides children with quality academics, life skills, nature studies and an appreciation of art and music.
Leslie is also a certified Yoga teacher and spends her free time camping, gardening, and exploring with her two young sons. She is an avid runner and you might even see her competing in local events!
Kristen Smith
K/1 Teacher
Kristen Smith began her elementary teaching career in 2007 after working for six years as a music therapist with people of various backgrounds and ages. Ten years into her work as a K-2 classroom teacher, Kristen was invited to take over the music program at her K-6 school. She loved helping the 600 students she saw every week, experience the power of making music together and seeing themselves as capable musicians. Kristen said goodbye to that school last June when she relocated to Qualicum Beach with her family.
When she's not sharing her love of music, you can find her walking the dog and exploring the area with her husband Jason, and daughter Isla.
Michaela Miller
Teacher, Grades 6/7
Michaela joined team Arrowsmith 2023. Michaela graduated from VIU with her Bachelor of Education in 2021. Since kindergarten, when they asked what do you want to be when you grown up, Michaela had always said she wanted to be a teacher. Now getting to live her dream, she believes that some of the most meaningful learning happens when students are given the opportunity to take an active role in their education. She is passionate about hands-on, project-based learning because it allows students to bring their own personalities, strengths, creativity, and interests into their work. Michaela loves seeing students take a concept and put their own spin on it.
In her classroom, she strives to create a space where students feel empowered to ask questions, share their ideas, and helps guide their learning through meaningful conversations and connections. Michaela believes her role is not simply to teach, but to listen, guide, and create opportunities for students to discover and make connections for themselves.
Michaela is also passionate about taking learning beyond the classroom. Outdoor learning and real-world experiences provide students with opportunities to develop practical life skills while making learning meaningful and memorable. She believes that education should extend beyond textbooks and worksheets and encourages students to understand how their learning connects to the world around them.
Above all, one of her biggest values is relationships. Building strong, trusting relationships with students and families is an important part of creating a safe and welcoming learning environment. Michaela strives to create a classroom where every student feels seen, valued, and comfortable being their authentic self. Her greatest hope is that students leave her classroom not only having learned something new, but feeling confident in who they are and excited about what they can accomplish going forward.
When she’s not in the classroom, Michaela values spending her time with friends and family. Going for a walk, a hike, or a coffee by the beach not only recharges her soul, but allows her to connect with her people and nature.
.jpeg)
Melissa Hood
Education Assistant
Melissa joined the Arrowsmith team in 2024, serving as a full-time Education Assistant and part-time Admin Assistant. She has a lifetime of experience supporting and working with children and adults in professional, volunteer, and caregiving capacities. Her educational background includes nursing and care-aide, birth doula, peer counselling, bookkeeping and payroll, First Aid, various certifications in the field of Autism support and Positive Behaviour Support, an Education Assistant and Community Support Worker Diploma through VIU, and a National Coaching Certification (NCCP) with Special Olympics. She is a proud member of an amazing neurodivergent family, and as a parent of children with extra support needs, she understands how challenging the school years can be for some (students and parents alike), and how important it is to have a compassionate and creative school-based-team who work alongside families to support their children’s holistic growth. She is honoured to be part of the Arrowsmith family and endeavours to create a positive, equitable environment for all who work and learn here.