We are passionate about creating nourishing experiences and environments for children to learn and to grow.

Meet the Team

Erin Houston

Deep Cove Program Manager & Certified Yoga Instructor

Erin was born and raised in Victoria, BC and shares a strong love for yoga and the outdoors. She started practising yoga at a young age and has always had a desire to work with children. After entering into the Early Learning and Care Program at Camosun College in 2012, Erin had the opportunity to student teach at Storyoga Preschool as a third practicum placement. It was a natural fit for Erin having grown up exposed to a yogic lifestyle and she was quick to call Storyoga home.

After graduating with a Diploma in Early Learning and Care and completing her Infant and Toddler as well as Special Needs Certifications, Erin was offered a position at Storyoga and has become an integral part of the teaching team.

Erin is passionate about creating meaningful relationships between children, teachers, and families and understands the importance of doing so. Erin finds joy in making connections and setting the stage for a love of learning to take place.

Erin recently completed her Iyengar Yoga Teacher Training and has taken the lead on our Goddess Girls camps, classes and retreats. These opportunities to work with young girls holds a special place in her heart and she is grateful to be part part of their journey as they grow into strong, capable young women.

Erin feels blessed to be part of the Storyoga community and looks forward to being part of it for many years to come.

Sandra Buyze

McTavish Academy Program Manager

Sandy lives in North Saanich and moved from Salt Spring Island where she raised her children and taught preschool in the oldest one-room schoolhouse in BC. Her philosophy of early learning is influenced by both the Montessori and Reggio Emilia approaches with a strong emphasis on the natural outdoor environment and all that it has to offer to support children’s wellbeing and development.

Sandy is passionate about connecting children with nature and viewing the forest as an outdoor classroom. Every Wednesday and Friday mornings you’ll find her, as well as her forest teaching partner, in the forest with a small group of Storyoga children for Wilderness Wednesday and Forest Friday – it is in the woodlands that children can move, explore and discover at their own pace, connecting to the natural world.

Sandy loves children’s books, storytelling and songs; she is also passionate about creating aesthetically inviting setups in the classroom that invite children into play in a peaceful and mindful way. She is inspired by young children’s inherent love of learning and trusts in their strong and infinite capabilities.

Sandy loves spending time with her family; she loves being outdoors hiking in the woods, cycling, playing in her garden and being out on the water in her kayak. She is passionate about reading and taking the time to enjoy the every day. moments that life offers us.

Sandy first met Vanessa when she came over to Salt Spring Island several years ago to offer Storyoga with the preschool children that she taught there. She is grateful each day to be a part of the Storyoga teaching team.

Cheyenne Hinds

Deep Cove Assistant Manager

Originally from North Eastern British Columbia Cheyenne relocated to Victoria in 2008

then settled on the Saanich Peninsula in 2010 where she currently lives with her husband and two sons. Much of Cheyenne’s youth was spent on a large ranch in the rugged wilderness and she spent much of her time immersed in nature which was ignited her love of nature and greatly influences her philosophy.

Cheyenne also spent time living on Northern Vancouver Island and felt deeply connected to the west coast of BC. Cheyenne began her career in childcare as a support worker in early learning environments while completing her Social Work Diploma but her roots in caring for children began at age 11 when she worked as a mother’s helper and quickly became enthralled with children and supporting their holistic development.

After moving to Victoria Cheyenne continued to work as a support worker and began to take on more educator duties within that role.

In 2013 Cheyenne began her Early childhood educator certification with Northern Lights College. She was granted recognition for much of her previous education and experience in early learning environments and completed some course work and practicum traditionally. This program introduced Cheyenne to Reggio Emilia philosophy and pedagogy which continues to influence her practice today.

After completing her ECE certification in early 2014 she actively sought a childcare program that was both nature and Reggio based and that would give her an opportunity to delve into her philosophy. She spent the next two years managing a nature daycare in Royal Oak investigating mud, mushroom, indigenous and invasive plants, entanglements in nature, and colonialism in her childcare program in the Blenkinsop Valley. This was supported by a research project she participated in with the University of Victoria.

After the birth of her sons Cheyenne has juggled the role of mother and part-time educator on the Peninsula but nowhere felt quite like home. After connecting with Vanessa and viewing Storyoga Cheyenne realized what that missing piece was. Cheyenne is thrilled to have an opportunity to work in such a beautiful environment with such a strong focus on nature and influenced by Reggio. Cheyenne is even more excited for her youngest son joining her at Storyoga while her oldest attends Sidney school.

Brynn Jones

Director of Administration

Brynn has deep roots on the Peninsula, being a 5th generation resident, and considers herself profoundly grounded in her community. In 2010, her family purchased a 1925 home in North Saanich that they named “Sundrop Cottage”. It was later discovered that the land and home were Brynn’s great-great grandparents’. Brynn adores her heritage home and spends every chance she can dreaming about, designing, creating, and tending Sundrop’s garden.

Brynn’s two children, now young adults, started with Storyoga at its inception. Her family have been strong supporters of Storyoga’s offerings for over a decade. In addition to Storyoga, her children were heavily involved in local art and sports programs for their entire lives. Brynn had the pleasure of supporting her daughters’ pursuits by volunteering as a manager, safety person, and treasurer for their sports teams for many seasons and gained valuable insight into the inner workings of children and youth organizations.

Brynn’s administration background is founded in the construction industry, with an emphasis on exceptional management, clear policy, and refined procedures; a skill set that translates well with Storyoga’s expectation to create meaningful and quality relationships. Brynn was drawn to work with Vanessa and her team based on shared core values that contribute to creating a positive, enlightened, nourishing, and nurturing environment.

When not supporting the Storyoga community, Brynn can be found in her garden, at a gym or yoga studio, or exploring the beauty that is Vancouver Island, all in effort to pursue the joy of heart-minded living.

Marisa Amato

Early Childhood Educator

Born and raised in the small costal town of Powell River, Marisa has grown up surrounded by nature. Her love of nature and natural materials fit in with the Storyoga philosophy and centre. Marisa is passionate about supporting and scaffolding children’s ideas and interests.

Marisa is very excited to bring her love and appreciation for nature into the Storyoga classroom as this centre fits so well with her personal philosophy. Marisa has always had a love for children and knew that she wanted work with children from a young age.

Marisa completed the ECE program at Camosun College in 2019. Marisa completed her first practicum at Storyoga in 2018 and fell in love with the centre and the philosophy. She is very excited to back at this centre.

In her spare time Marisa enjoys hiking, camping and exploring this beautiful island.

Susi McMillan

Early Childhood Educator & Certified Forest School Practitioner

Born and raised in Germany, Susi has had an artistic flair since childhood. She entered the workforce in Germany with a BA in Economics and Marketing as an events manager and remained in this field for 10 years. Sensing that there was more to life than working in the corporate world for a mega-company she took a trip around the world to see what she could see. The result of the trip was, she met her future Canadian husband and moved to Canada. Starting in Vancouver, Susi was a very active member of the German Children’s Playgroup and created unforgettable family events for the community’s families. She also helped create a weekly German Kindergarten.

After her move to the Island she initiated environmental activities at her daughter’s elementary and middle schools, which still run to this day.

Now, with 2 teenagers, Susi searched for the perfect fit to share her energy and enthusiasm for nature, art and children. This led into working as an Early Childhood Educator assistant and has recently embarked on the adventure of becoming a Forest School practitioner.

Susi has worked with infant toddlers, pre-school aged children, elementary and middle school children. Her passion to support the child’s connection to nature, sense of wonder and imagination is her magic touch.

Susi met Vanessa when she signed up her youngest daughter at the age of 4 to Vanessa’s Storyoga classes. Now her daughter is 14 and participates in Teenage yoga retreats.

Through the years it became clear that Susi and Vanessa’s path will cross one day. When Susi started working as an Early Childhood Educator Assistant, it was just a matter of time.. that Vanessa and her worked together.

Lisa McGrath

Early Childhood Educator

Lisa was born in Northern Ireland, where she grew up helping her parents at their horticultural centre, surrounded by plants and flowers, riding her pony, and playing outside in the green Irish Countryside. She was a young teen when her family immigrated to Canada and settled on the Saanich Peninsula. After graduating from Stelly’s Secondary School, Lisa returned to the UK before settling in Vancouver for 15 years. She pursued her passion for music and photography, completing Bachelor of Fine Art courses at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Her love of music led to her playing and recording as a solo artist in the Vancouver music scene. She met her music partner husband in 2010, and they moved to the peninsula with their two young children in 2015.

Lisa became interested in working with families in 2009, and this initially led her to pursue certification as a birth and postpartum doula. Her strengths were relationshipbuilding and providing emotional and physical support for her clients. Her yoga practice also led her to complete 200hr Yoga Teacher Training in 2012.

Lisa’s passion for working with young children came from a personal place, as one of her children received an Autism diagnosis during their preschool years. Inspired by that journey and the deep appreciation for the individuals who supported her son and her family, she recognized that early childhood educators play an essential role in supporting young children and their families. Lisa decided to enter into the Early Learning and Care diploma program at Camosun College in 2019 on a part-time basis and is close to completion.

Lisa loves working and learning alongside children and finds the preschool environment uplifting and rewarding. She has extensive experience advocating for her child in government and private organizations and feels this experience will help support families with diverse abilities. Lisa feels passionate about sharing music and art with children, spending time in the natural environment, supporting children’s social and emotional development and values the importance of learning through play.

Both Lisa’s children attended Storyoga. Lisa loved the Storyoga environment and philosophy and is now grateful to be part of the teaching team

Tess Gaunt

Early Childhood Educator

Tess was born and raised in the Fernwood area of Victoria B.C., where she fell in love with childcare through years of nannying for this supportive, tight-knit community.

As she entered into Camosun College’s Early Learning & Care program, she became fascinated by the connection between children’s health & outdoor programs, leading her to Storyoga Deep Cove for her very first practicum. Here, her respect for nature-based childcare grew, and she came to love the slow, mindful philosophy Storyoga programs are born from.

She is passionate about working with children through strong, attachment-based theories such as the Neufeld approach, putting compassion at the forefront of all child- educator interactions. She gives great gratitude to Victoria Nature School for hosting her for her final practicum, where her love for forest-education and heart-based developmental approaches have been fostered and enriched. Also, to the child-care team at Victoria’s Inter-Cultural Association, who guided her onto this path very early on.

Tess enjoys art, dance, and everything outdoors, and looks forward to integrating these creative passions into her work with children and families at Storyoga McTavish.

Jenna Pfeifle

Early Childhood Educator

Jenna was born and raised in Victoria spending the majority of her life out on the Peninsula. At 4 years old she moved to Central Saanich with her family and has remained living there ever since. Her roots are strong in the community having gone through the local schools and having worked in her previous job in childcare on the Saanich Peninsula since 2011.

Jenna loves to see how the community has grown, seeing familiar faces of people she’s grown up with and connecting with their families as they grow.

Jenna began her journey as an Early Childhood Educator in 2007 through Camosun College and then in 2012 continued school working towards her Infant Toddler and Special Needs diploma through Northern Lights College.

Her heart has always been drawn to the preschool age as she enjoys the dialogue and curiosity that develops at this stage. Jenna actively watches and listens as children communicate and work together cohesively to find answers and/or problem solve, knowing how capable children can be.

When not working Jenna is spending time with family and friends. Jenna and her husband have a son who attends Keating in the French Immersion program. They like to get out for walks and hikes in the community. She can often be seen out in her neighbourhood walking the family dog with her mum.

One of Jenna’s great passions is food and spends a lot of time in the kitchen. She enjoys making elaborate meals and appetizers full of flavour and aroma. She does her best to make meals from scratch and is always curious at trying new things.

It didn’t take long for Jenna to feel connected to the Storyoga family after starting in the program April 2022. Jenna is excited to bring her enthusiasm, passion and experience of working with children to the Storyoga family along with her joy of laughter and free style dancing.