Meet the founder...
Susan Terry, Founder/Exec Director, B.Ed., B.A.,TEFL, E.C.E., Artist, Musician, Multimedia Specialist
Susan Terry is a graduate of Nipissing University: Bachelor of Arts, Fine Arts and Music majors, French Minor ~ Bachelor of Education – Visual Arts and Instrumental Music majors, International Teaching; TEFL degree; Canadore College: Developmental Social Work, Computer Technology Software; Radio & Television Broadcasting, and Early Childhood Education.
Susan is a visionary who, soon after entering grade one, became disillusioned with the militant industrial classroom environment. “We enter the world as creative beings with great imaginations to guide us, and that is the perspective we live and learn from … the inside out.” Every day she envisioned how, when she grew up, she would change the world of education to a creative, exploration and enjoyable journey. In high school, she was fascinated by the story of Maria Montessori and her work with mentally challenged children. Susan landed her first career to setup and supervise a Montessori style Child Enrichment Program with the North Bay Children’s Aid Society and later became a Child Care Worker with ‘at risk teens’ in the heart of Toronto. This was followed by a long career in the creative field of multi-media communications: film, television, radio (journalist, writer, producer, director and editor, employed by Crawley Films, International Cinemedia and all Canadian National networks. She later launched a multi-media Agency, in North Bay, Ontario, ICU Media, Marketing & Promotions – media production, communications, Public Relations, desktop publishing and web design. In tandem, she was a Professor at Canadore College (Project Management) and CTS Career Training (Business English; Computer Software, Marketing), a Public Relations Officer for Nipissing University, and ESL Instructor, while assisting in the coordination of the Regional and National Science Fairs for grade 7 to 12 students, over 13 years. In 2006, after watching her children go through an even more discouraging education experience, she was inspired to begin the school of her early visions … a joyful and enlightening experience for all children, to be nurtured to develop in their own design, to their fullest potentiality. “Like flowers in a garden, we all contain within the birth seed everything we need to blossom fully, given a wholesome, loving and nurturing environment.”
The PEACE School methodology is an organic creation founded on a conglomeration and collage of all the finest ancient and contemporary philosophies and methodologies to provide the tools and inspiration that will guide children to live an engaging, meaningful and purposeful life.
Susan is an advocate of cooperative community living and has volunteered in a variety of ways: playing flute in the North Bay Symphony and 22 Wing Military Band; acting as chaperone and public relations officer for a high school band during two European tours through Vienna, Prague, Salzburg, Weimer, Bath, London (UK) and Paris. She was active in her children’s education, as Chair of Parent-Teacher Association for their school and, through Children of Chernobyl Canada, as host of a Belarusian child for a summer respite in her home over 7 years. She has been inspired, and guided by great spirits and mentors along her journey, who have given her the courage and confidence to undertake the immense mission to manifest this Divine vision to re-enchant education and give the Earth back to the Arms of Love.