Since 2002, TVOKids has been working with a council of people made up of teachers and parents. At its inception, it was labelled the Internet Council, and at the time, really only dealt with matters pertaining to TVOKids.com. Now, 5 years later, we consult with our TVOKids Council, on all areas related to parents and kids. So we focus on The Space, Gisele's Big Backyard, TVOKids.com and TVOParents.com.
We recently met, and chatted about some upcoming projects and new ideas over some sandwiches and beverages. We take the suggestions from our council members very seriously, and integrate what they tell us into our projects. If you have anything that you would like to suggest, please let us know! We want to hear what you have to say!
TVOKids Council Members
Allyson Payne
Allyson has a masters in Art Education from Harvard University and currently teaches art at a public elementary school in Toronto.
Marla Askenasi
Marla has been working with children for 32 years, and is the mother of 2 grown children. She taught ECE at Seneca for 15 years, and as a Liberal Studies Coordinator at Seneca for 7 years. This is the first year where she is delivering Career Development Workshops (a special project) with Seneca, Mohawk and Confederation.
Tamara Darchville
Tamara is a stay-at-home involved parent of 3 children under 5 years old.
Sarah Fewson
Sarah is a consultant for the High/Scope foundation, an educational research foundation. She teaches the High/Scope philosophy to post grad students at Sheridan College, and implements High/Scope into her grade 2/3 class in Toronto.
Tracy Vaillancourt
Tracy Vaillancourt is a parent and Associate Professor of Psychology at McMaster University. Very involved in research, Tracy heads up many research projects, including Peer Abuse and its link to psychological and physiological Functioning and Executive Functioning, Language Development, and Behaviour among Preschool Children.
Rochelle Alexandroff
Rochelle is a registered Art Therapis. She has been working in education and social services for more than 35 years both in Canada and overseas. Rochelle was an advisor in the creation of the "Children's Own Museum" (1993-2001), and sat on the board of directors for 2 years. She is presently serving on the Race Relations Advisory Committee to the York Region District School Board, and has just started a healthy chocolate business.
Suganja Sinnathamby
Suganja has her Engineering degree from McMaster and received her Intermediate/Senior teaching degree from UofT in Physics. She is currently with the York Region District School Board as a community liaison teacher. She is presently serving on the Race Relations Advisory Committee to the York Region District School Board.
Pat Ellingson
Creative Head for Children's Media TVO
Marney Malabar
Executive Producer of TVOKids The Space
Caroline Soucy
Manager TVOKids.com
Kathilee Porter
Series Producer of Gisele's Big Backyard
Stacie Goldin
Educator/Research Advisor TVOKids
