School Support Staff
Vanessa Beaudoin
French Language Education Coordinator
Bonjour, Originally from Quebec, in 2013 I moved to Yellowknife. Since then, I've been working for Yellowknife Catholic Schools. I completed a bachelor degree in Psychology at the University of Montreal and a second bachelor degree in Education, specialized in teaching French Language Arts at the University of Quebec. I first worked as a Literacy Support Teacher at École Saint-Joseph School and since 2019, I am the French Language and Program Coordinator for our district. I appreciate how our students are motivated to learn a second language. Therefore, I care about our students' needs and my ultimate goal is to help them to grow as bilingual individuals. I believe that collaboration, partnerships and inclusion are the keys to realize our goals.
Seana Stewart
Principal of Student Services & Inclusive Schooling Coordinator
I love being part of Yellowknife Catholic Schools. I have been living and teaching in the north since 1998, minus one year when we went back to Halifax. My husband and I lived and taught in Behchoko for three years before moving to Yellowknife. I taught at Aurora College for one year then joined Yellowknife Catholic Schools in 2004. Since then I have been blessed with two children who have gone through Weledeh and St. Pat's. I started teaching at Ecole St. Joseph, then moved to Weledeh in 2006. I moved into program support in 2011 and worked at both Weledeh and St. Pat's. In 2018 I became Assistant Principal at Weledeh. I am now the Regional Inclusive Schooling Coordinator. I believe that school is an inclusive environment where relationships mean so much to a child and their ability to learn. Everyone should feel and be accepted as part of our school community, and participate in all of the activities that make our schools great. I believe that students are successful when they know that someone cares about them and supports their needs. I believe that YCS drives our students to have faith, believe in themselves, and directs them to follow their personal learning journey.
Debra McGee
Religious Education Coordinator
I am a born and raised Yellowknifer who attended Ecole St. Joseph School starting at Grade 5, and graduated from Ecole St. Patrick High School. I met my husband at ESPHS and our three children all attended YCS schools. Once I decided I wanted to be a teacher, I directed all my education towards my goal of returning North to teach. I have been blessed to be teaching at Yellowknife Catholic Schools for over 20 years and have worked at all three schools and central services in various capacities. This is my second time being in the position of Religious Education Coordinator and I am very excited to continue to support the faith development of our teachers, students and schools.
Sonja Hunt
Indigenous Language Education Coordinator
Sonja Hunt sı̀yeh. Sı̨ Ontario gots'ǫ aht'è eyıts’ǫ Sǫǫ̀mbak'è nadè. Sı̨ chekoa hoghàehtǫ dǫ̀. Sı̨ Tłı̨chǫ eyıts'ǫ Wılı̀ı̀deh yatı hoghàdehtǫ. I am Sonja Hunt. I grew up in Ontario and live in Yellowknife. I am a teacher. I am learning the Tłı̨chǫ and Wılı̀ı̀deh languages. I grew up on the Haldimand Tract, land promised to the Haudenosaunee people of Six Nations, the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabeg, and Haudenosaunee Peoples. For 17 years, I have humbly lived, learned, and played on the traditional lands of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, in the Akaitcho region in Chief Drygeese Territory. I am blessed to live among and learn the histories, languages, and cultures of First Nations, Metis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence, traditions, and knowledge make our community such a rich place to live. I have worked at Yellowknife Catholic Schools in a variety of roles during my entire time in the north. I am honoured and eager to move into a new role that allows me to support our whole district with embedding cultural beliefs and practices, Wılı̀ı̀deh Yatı, connection to land, reconciliation, and spiritual connection to God and Creator in our daily practices. Nexè nezı̨ hǫɂa nı̨de! Have a good day!
Brandon Pludwinski
Indigenous Language Education Coordinator
Brandon sı̀yeh. Sı̨ Toronto gots'ǫ aht'è eyıts’ǫ Sǫǫ̀mbak'è nadè. My name is Brandon. I was born and raised in Toronto and now live in Yellowknife. I grew up on the Don River watershed on the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit in Treaty 13 Territory. I have lived in Yellowknife since 2021. I enjoy running, reading, playing guitar, playing with my cat, Aloe, and spending time out on the land camping, canoeing, hiking, and roasting marshmallows over a bonfire. I am committed to supporting students in building meaningful relationships with the land through grounded, respectful, and relevant hands-on learning.