Administration & Executive Offices

Suzanne Hoffman - CEO

Before joining BCSTA, Suzanne Hoffman held several positions in public education.

Her career started with Mission Public Schools before moving to the Langley School District, where she spent most of her career as a teacher, administrator, and superintendent. Suzanne was then seconded to the Ministry of Education as part of the curriculum outreach team. While working in the ministry, she also held the positions of chief educator and the superintendent of learning transformation. In January 2018, Suzanne became the first female superintendent at the Vancouver School Board. In 2021, Suzanne joined BCSTA, where she is excited and appreciative of the opportunity to take on the CEO role.

Suzanne is a wife, a mom to two grown children and a cairn terrier, and a passionate lifelong learner currently living on the unceded territory of the Katzie and Kwantlen Nations.

She is honoured and humbled to support BCSTA’s board of directors and boards of education across B.C.

  • Phone: 778-945-3299

Donna Depretto - Program Assistant - Administration

Donna Depretto is BCSTA’s receptionist and provides clerical support. She has an Administrative Assistant certificate.
  • Phone: 604-734-2721 (100)

Please contact Donna for matters regarding:

  • Updates to the BCSTA database
  • District policy updates

Zorica Jovic - Administrative Assistant

Zorica Jovic brings with her over seven years of experience in supporting senior-level executives, meetings, training/seminars, trade-shows and conferences. She has a diploma in Media Techniques in Business and Communications from BCIT Vancouver. She also has a background in project management, event management, written and oral communication skills, stakeholder engagement (internal and external), evaluation and measurement.
  • Phone: 604-235-2297

Please contact Zoirca for matters regarding:

  • General information and details regarding support of the CEO and board of directors
  • BCSTA event registration
  • General information

Communications

Mark Regier - Director - Communications

Mark Regier joined BCSTA in 2016, bringing with him years of communications experience from both the private and public sectors. He specializes in the areas of web/UI/UX design, public relations, member communications and marketing.

Mark oversees BCSTA’s communications and also works closely with the IT manager in support of member services, such as the BCSTA HUB (our members-only area). He also provides various forms of assistance to the association’s board and supports various branches and committees. 

  • Phone: 604-235-2291

Please contact Mark for matters regarding:

  • Branding and communications
  • The BCSTA HUB
  • Website comments and concerns

Rachel Garrick - Media Relations and Design Specialist

Rachel Garrick provides media relations, social media and graphic design support to the BCSTA. She has worked in advertising, the non-profit sector, with government and with labour. She has a degree in History and English from Simon Fraser University and a journalism diploma from Langara College.
  • Phone: 604-235-2293 (office) or 604-842-1167 (mobile)

Please contact Rachel for matters regarding:

  • Media relations
  • Social media
  • Graphic design 

Education Services

Gordon Li - Director - Education Services

Gordon Li has worked in various roles as an educator in British Columbia, including as a teacher, program consultant, vice-principal and principal in the Burnaby School District. Most recently, he was the director of learning technology at the BC Ministry of Education and president of BCPVPA. As part of this work, he has visited 54 school districts throughout this province, and has supported districts, schools and parents on a variety of subjects including building strong organizational relationships, expanding public profiles of educational leaders, providing background on educational matters, advocating for sectoral initiatives, leading committees for the Ministry and advising strategic planning for various institutions.

He completed his Bachelor of Applied Sciences (Civil Engineering) and his Masters of Education at the University of British Columbia. His work in a variety of settings; elementary and secondary, larger and smaller, suburban and inner-city schools has provided a well-rounded perspective of the needs of students, parents and education partners in BC. His focus is on building positive relationships and meeting the needs of all learners. His passion for sports and working with children drew him into education; he has coached at the high school and provincial elite levels in multiple sports. Gordon has an extensive history as a representative in regional and provincial organizations in educational and public forums and is an unwavering advocate for public education.

  • Phone: 604-235-2298

Please contact Gordon for matters regarding:

  • Trustee Academy and AGM professional development
  • Board Performance Reviews and other facilitation needs
  • Trustee education resources
  • The Professional Learning Committee 

Sara Hunter - Program Assistant - Education

Sara Hunter is responsible for planning, coordinating and the onsite operations of board of director and trustee professional development activities as well as BCSTA events and governance meetings. She coordinates services for events, such as contracting conference facilities and organizing meeting space, catering and audio-visual services. Prior to joining BCSTA, she worked in hotel sales and more recently meeting planning for a small association. Sara has a diploma in Tourism Management from Capilano University.
  • Phone: 604-235-2294

Please contact Sara for matters regarding:

  • BCSTA meetings & events, including event logistics and general inquiries
  • Conference registration for BCSTA AGM and trustee academy
  • The Professional Learning Committee

Finance

Elaine Teng - Director - Finance

Elaine Teng holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia and is a designated Chartered Accountant. She has accounting experience in both public practice and private industry. Prior to joining BCSTA, she served as controller for a financial investment company for over ten years.
  • Phone: 604-235-2295

Please contact Elaine for matters regarding:

  • Accounts payable and accounts receivable
  • BCSTA’s finances and budgets
  • The Finance and Audit Committee

Information & Education Technology

Matthew Taylor - Manager - Information Technology

Matt Taylor comes to BCSTA with a wide range of experience and training as an information technology professional. Prior to joining BCSTA, Matt invested 18 years in a variety of senior technical and service roles within local school board settings. A graduate of BCIT and Kwantlen Polytechnic, he continues to challenge himself academically by taking advanced courses at Thompson Rivers University.

Charged with maintaining and improving BCSTA’s overall IT infrastructure and services, his areas of focus include managing document management systems, supporting web development and providing administrative oversight to BCSTA on-line learning technologies.

  • Phone: 604-235-2292

Please contact Matt for matters regarding:

  • The BCSTA HUB
  • The Indigenous Education Committee
  • General BCSTA related IT service concerns

Legal

Audrey Ackah - Legal Counsel

Audrey Ackah obtained Honours Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Political Science from UBC. She was a BC legislative intern and had the opportunity to work in a government ministry and to work with members of the Legislative Assembly. She then obtained a law degree from the University of Toronto. Audrey practiced law at law firms and at a regulatory agency where she gained experience in the areas of school, employment, human rights, labour, litigation and information and privacy law. Audrey is BCSTA’s privacy officer and provides staff support to the Legislative Committee and the BCTF/BCSTA Group Life Insurance Committee. Please note that Audrey is currently on leave. Contact Maryke or Suzanne in her absence.
  • Phone: 604-235-2290

Please contact Audrey for matters regarding:

  • Legal and board of education policy advice
  • The Legislative Committee (including Provincial Council and AGM motions)
  • BCTF/BCSTA Group Life Insurance Plan
  • BCSTA’s privacy policies

Maryke Peter - Program Assistant - Legal Services

Maryke Peter holds a Bachelor of Legal Studies (Paralegal) degree from Capilano University. Maryke gained experience working in England as a legal administrative assistant for a firm that offers employment law, HR, health and safety and employee well-being consultancy services. Prior to joining BCSTA, Maryke worked as a paralegal at a boutique law firm in British Columbia. 
  • Phone: 604-235-2299

Please contact Maryke for matters regarding:

  • Legal services