Founding Member of SILAS
Founding Committee Member
Jennifer Maruno
SILAS CANADA（ Academic Advisor ）
Experience as an elementary school principal. Education consultant.
Holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and has 37 years of experience in elementary education.
She is also a picture book author, and all of Jennifer's historical children's novels have been nominated for several Canadian awards.
The Go-Between, set in 1927, was published by Red Deer Press in April 2024.
She co-authored Moose's Roof with Laurel Keating, published by Breakwater Books in 2017, and While You Sleep with Miko Sato, published by Pajama Press in 2022.
Jessica Rand
SILAS CANADA (Founding Committee Member)
I have been an elementary school teacher for 14 years with the York Region District School Board in Ontario.
I have taught all grade levels, but am particularly passionate about the Intermediate Grades.
Over the past few years, we have championed STEAM education in the classroom and found creative ways for students to learn intuitively.
Inquiry is an extremely important component of our STEAM learning.
By asking students questions and fostering dialogue, we are helping to build the foundation of our STEAM programs.
We strive to cultivate a safe space for students to ask tough questions and expand their learning and understanding.
Jun Maeno
Chairman of the Board, Mizuho Aiikukai Social Welfare Corporation
Drawing on the experience of managing multiple Certified Kodomoen and Nursery Schools throughout the Kanto region and raising many children for the benefit of society, we are embarking on a challenge to use STEAM educational methodologies as a new form of future education for an unpredictable age.
We are convinced that children's curiosity—their inherent "why?" and "how?"—is a powerful force that will shape the future, and that STEAM education holds the key to nurturing this power.
We hope that the knowledge and network of this Society will enrich the entire Japanese educational field and lead to an even brighter future for our children.
Leone Izzo
SILAS CANADA (Founding Committee Member)
My name is Leone Izzo and I have been teaching with the YRDSB for ten years.
I have enjoyed using technology to engage learners in problem solving skills and with the engineering design process.
Robotics, microcontrollers and coding challenges are some of the tools that I have used to engage students and spark their curiosity.
For many years I have also acted as a program lead designer and coach for an annual board wide LEGO robotics competition that merges all of the STEAM skills and also develops real-world transferable skills.
Sara Dart
SILAS CANADA(Founding Committee Member)
Sara Dart is an experienced educator and teacher librarian dedicated to fostering creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking in young learners.
As a leader of her school’s Library Makerspace, she integrates innovative ideas and hands-on learning experiences that build exploration and STEM skills.
Sara is passionate about creating inclusive spaces where students can experiment, collaborate, and discover the joy of learning.
When she’s not sparking imagination in the library, she’s a proud mother of two, always encouraging her own kids to explore, create, and dream big.
Rhonda Forno
SILAS CANADA (Founding Committee Member)
For the last 28 years, I have been an elementary teacher with the Durham District School Board in Ontario. Prior to this, I taught one year in an Ontario Montessori School. Most of my teaching career has been in the primary grades. Teaching the youngest learners is such a joy. Each day, they spark my interest to learn more about inquiry-based learning. STEM, inquiry learning, the arts, and the use of UDL (Universal Design of Learning) are key areas of interest for me. Growing up, I was very fortunate to have some excellent science and music teachers. Through their patience, creative teaching methods, and hands-on approaches, they inspired me to be better. I now challenge my young learners and encourage them to ask questions, be creative, explore, and learn.
Founding Partner School
As a founding partner, he played an important role in supporting the launch of the society.
Kazuko Maeno
Chairman of the Board, Mizuho Aiikukai Social Welfare Corporation
https://www.mizuho-aiikukai.com/
Drawing on the experience of managing multiple Certified Kodomoen and Nursery Schools throughout the Kanto region and raising many children for the benefit of society, we are embarking on a challenge to use STEAM educational methodologies as a new form of future education for an unpredictable age.
We are convinced that children's curiosity—their inherent "why?" and "how?"—is a powerful force that will shape the future, and that STEAM education holds the key to nurturing this power.
We hope that the knowledge and network of this Society will enrich the entire Japanese educational field and lead to an even brighter future for our children.
Jun Shimamura
Principal / Director of Iwa-tsuki Wakaba Kindergarten, School Juridical Person
https://www.iwatsukiwakaba.com/
We have evolved the core of our education to be “child-led learning,” while building upon the solid foundation of Japan’s traditional, time-tested system of whole-class and group education. We are actively introducing approaches that encourage children to discover their own interests and engage in learning autonomously.
Our current focus is on a reciprocal-oriented childcare style that incorporates both child-led and educator-led methods.
This style balances the social skills fostered in group settings with the individual, spontaneous spirit of inquiry.
Specifically, we have integrated STEAM education as a crucial pillar.
By incorporating scientific thinking and creative expression into play and daily life, we nurture children's ability to think for themselves and engage in problem-solving.