Teachers
Karen Cameron, Director
Karen has been working with children in the Glebe since 1994. She started her career in child care as a caregiver for two young girls and her love of Early Childhood Education has grown from that special time. Karen has been working as a teacher at Good Morning since 2002 but her relationship with the school started in 2000, as a supply teacher, while she was care giving for a Glebe family and taking ECE courses through continuing education at Algonquin College.
In February of 2010, Karen stepped into the role of Director and has been happy leading the school since then. She was very excited for that opportunity in her career and after years of building relationships in this community she is confident in her role as Director of our beloved Good Morning.
Karen has worked in all of the school’s programs and she spearheaded the development of the Creative Arts program for school aged children. After having her beautiful daughter Molly in 2005, Karen has remained a constant in all other programs at Good Morning. Karen currently teaches the 2’s and 3’s Preschool Programs.
Outside of Good Morning, Karen coaches soccer and ringette and loves scrap-booking. Karen looks forward to every school year and can’t wait to work with your children at Good Morning.
In February of 2010, Karen stepped into the role of Director and has been happy leading the school since then. She was very excited for that opportunity in her career and after years of building relationships in this community she is confident in her role as Director of our beloved Good Morning.
Karen has worked in all of the school’s programs and she spearheaded the development of the Creative Arts program for school aged children. After having her beautiful daughter Molly in 2005, Karen has remained a constant in all other programs at Good Morning. Karen currently teaches the 2’s and 3’s Preschool Programs.
Outside of Good Morning, Karen coaches soccer and ringette and loves scrap-booking. Karen looks forward to every school year and can’t wait to work with your children at Good Morning.
Alex Fichera, Teacher
Alex Fichera began working at the Ottawa School of Art in 2003 in the children's department. While there she completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2009 at the University of Ottawa and returned in 2011 to complete a Bachelor of Education degree.
In 2011, Alex held the first solo show of her career entitled ‘Shifting Identities’ at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orleans. Alex has been employed as a freelance art teacher with the Ottawa School of Art for close to 10 years, and also worked as an art teacher in an Ottawa private school for six years. In September 2017, she joined the Good Morning team. She teaches 3's Preschool, Storyscapes, and all the Creative Arts After School (CAAS) art classes. She is also offering Art Workshops for children JK+ on select PD Days in 2018-19. See our Calendar for details.
Alex has always enjoyed exploring new mediums in her work and recently completed a certificate in Welding and Fabrication from Algonquin College to further her sculpture and metalwork skills. In her free time, Alex is a practicing artist and printmaker.
In 2011, Alex held the first solo show of her career entitled ‘Shifting Identities’ at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orleans. Alex has been employed as a freelance art teacher with the Ottawa School of Art for close to 10 years, and also worked as an art teacher in an Ottawa private school for six years. In September 2017, she joined the Good Morning team. She teaches 3's Preschool, Storyscapes, and all the Creative Arts After School (CAAS) art classes. She is also offering Art Workshops for children JK+ on select PD Days in 2018-19. See our Calendar for details.
Alex has always enjoyed exploring new mediums in her work and recently completed a certificate in Welding and Fabrication from Algonquin College to further her sculpture and metalwork skills. In her free time, Alex is a practicing artist and printmaker.
Ernest Blais, Teacher
Ernest received his Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta (a long time ago). Over the many years that followed, he has lived many experiences related to both education and art. He began teaching in elementary schools, and has worked in day cares and preschools in Edmonton and Ottawa. He has worked in an inner-city program for high school students, and volunteered in adult literacy programs. He studied Fine Arts at university, and has taken numerous painting, drawing, and sculpture classes and workshops over the years.
In 2007, Ernest travelled to Reggio Emilia, Italy, for a study week where his interests in art and early childhood education came together. He first came to Good Morning Creative Arts and Preschool in 2012, and stayed for a happy two years. In 2018, he returned to Good Morning.
Ernest grew up in North Eastern Ontario. He lived in Edmonton for 30 years, and now resides in Aylmer with his lovely wife, Louise. They have three adult children.
Ernest received his Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta (a long time ago). Over the many years that followed, he has lived many experiences related to both education and art. He began teaching in elementary schools, and has worked in day cares and preschools in Edmonton and Ottawa. He has worked in an inner-city program for high school students, and volunteered in adult literacy programs. He studied Fine Arts at university, and has taken numerous painting, drawing, and sculpture classes and workshops over the years.
In 2007, Ernest travelled to Reggio Emilia, Italy, for a study week where his interests in art and early childhood education came together. He first came to Good Morning Creative Arts and Preschool in 2012, and stayed for a happy two years. In 2018, he returned to Good Morning.
Ernest grew up in North Eastern Ontario. He lived in Edmonton for 30 years, and now resides in Aylmer with his lovely wife, Louise. They have three adult children.
Gerrian MacKinnon, Teacher
Gerrian MacKinnon was born in The Netherlands. There she obtained a diploma in Social Pedagogy with specialization in early childhood education. As an adult she emigrated to Canada and in her early years here she volunteered as an inclusion facilitator for the Canadian Mental Health Association. Later started working as a preschool teacher at a cooperative preschool in Guelph.
She has been working at Good Morning since 2006, teaching in the creative arts programs. After her second child was born she decided to take a break of teaching and focus on her home life. While at home she did relief care for foster children and attended workshops on parenting and early childhood. She has had the pleasure of taking part in many children’s programs throughout the city and both her children have attended programs at Good Morning.
She is passionate about outdoor education and has been involved in starting up two after-school programs in her east end community that gets kids outside and learning about the natural world. She also enjoys exploring different kinds of arts and media with children as well as by herself.
Gerrian is delighted to teach the 2’s Preschool program and will help out with the Storyscapes Lunch Club. Watching children become critical thinkers by questioning, exploring and experiencing the world around them is something that she will never get tired of facilitating.
She has been working at Good Morning since 2006, teaching in the creative arts programs. After her second child was born she decided to take a break of teaching and focus on her home life. While at home she did relief care for foster children and attended workshops on parenting and early childhood. She has had the pleasure of taking part in many children’s programs throughout the city and both her children have attended programs at Good Morning.
She is passionate about outdoor education and has been involved in starting up two after-school programs in her east end community that gets kids outside and learning about the natural world. She also enjoys exploring different kinds of arts and media with children as well as by herself.
Gerrian is delighted to teach the 2’s Preschool program and will help out with the Storyscapes Lunch Club. Watching children become critical thinkers by questioning, exploring and experiencing the world around them is something that she will never get tired of facilitating.