Lisa VanderKuip, BEd, OCT
Student Support Services Coordinator
 

Creating schools that are communities of belonging, where students feel they are an integral and valued part of their community regardless of their level of ability, is what inspired Lisa to the area of Student Support Services. 

After graduating from Beacon Christian elementary and secondary schools in St. Catharines, Lisa pursued a diploma from Niagara College in Educational Assistance and Adult Support. While working as an Educational Assistant in a variety of settings in the publicly funded school system, Lisa continued her education at Brock University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education and became an Ontario Certified Teacher. Lisa also holds Special Education Specialist and Reading Specialist certifications.

Upon graduation, by then a parent herself, taking a teaching job at Beacon Christian School was the perfect fit. For over 15 years, Lisa taught primarily in Grade 2 before moving to Student Support Services as a Learning Resource teacher in 2019. Her love for literacy and ensuring its accessibility for all students continues to be a driving passion of Lisa’s. In addition to her role in Student Support Services in the JK-3 division at Beacon, she is also the Vice Principal of JK-3 Learning.

Lisa joined the Edvance team in 2023 as the Student Support Services Coordinator. Lisa’s role includes providing coaching advice to Edvance affiliate schools in their vision for belonging and student support, facilitating the Student Support Services Peer Support Network (PSN), and collaborating with the Christian School Foundation on behalf of Edvance in administering the Christian School Foundation Belonging Bursary.