Mrs. Cristina McAllister (she/her) Cristina.Mcallister@burnabyschools.ca
Mrs. McAllister has had the joy of teaching at Alpha for the past three years. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in English Literature and minoring in Theatre, only six credits short of the double-major because she couldn’t very well stage manage at the same time she was contracted to perform in a show. Her BA and subsequent Bachelor of Education were both acquired at UBC. Before heading to UBC, she was also in the Theatre Diploma Program at what is now Capilano University. Theatre has been a great part of her life, working through University starring in Vancouver’s longest running theatre show “Tony ‘n’ Tina’s Wedding”. She also developed the Drama program at Saint Thomas Aquinas for 14 years before finding her home in Burnaby. When not running the Drama program here at Alpha or teaching English, Mrs. McAllister is a married mama to boys and a Labradoodle and is an avid crafter. She also loves planning a good theme birthday party!
Cristina is the Department Head of Visual and Performing Arts and teaches Drama and Theatre.
Mx. D Shrumm (he/they) Dee.shrumm@burnabyschools.ca
Mx. D has been a jack of all trades in education for 15 years, with concentrations in social studies, theatre, and visual arts. D finished his undergrad in 20th Century History with a minor in Film Studies at University of Victoria, then completed their education PDP in 2009. D has had a long history with the performing arts, working largely in the non-profit and community theatre world. D worked as a stage manager, emcee, and producer throughout his time living in Vancouver, specializing in variety shows that promoted performing artists from within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Over the last five years, D has fallen back in love with the textile arts, creating cross stitch patterns that that celebrate his community and identity. D recently completed an artist residency at Vancouver’s SUM Gallery, which prepared him for his first group exhibition, titled “Gender Mutual” (Jan 2025). Outside of education and the arts, D enjoys power-lifting, hiking through national parks, watching motor racing, and visiting local coffee shops with his partner, Colin, and little dog, Timbit.
D teaches Photography.
Ms. Kendra Fehr (she/her) Kendra.Fehr@burnabyschools.ca
Ms. Fehr was born and grew up in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and completed her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education at the University of Saskatchewan and her TESOL diploma at UBC. Kendra spent nine years teaching Visual Arts at an international school in Beijing, China and has now taught art with the Burnaby district for four years. Kendra also has her Master’s of Museum Education from UBC and has worked at the Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon, the Alberta Art Gallery in Edmonton and the Museum of Surrey in British Columbia. Kendra is passionate about teaching art and creating a space for the enjoyment of culture and moving to new places and studying has been a way to ensure she has always had a career that allows her to be an educator in these areas. When living overseas, Kendra was an avid traveler and back-packer and has visited 48 different countries. Before meeting her 5 star hotel/foodie husband, Kendra was a champ at finding $20 hostels and cheap street food, trusting in her ear plugs and iron stomach. Kendra is now a new mom and is passionate about sleep and spends her free time doing laundry and cleaning food off of the floor.
Kendra teaches Visual Art.
Ms. Marlene Lawrence (she/her) Marlene.Lawrence@burnabyschools.ca
Ms. Lawrence studied studio art at Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design and has a Bachelor of Fine Art, a Diploma in Graphic Design, and a Teaching Certificate from SFU. She has a great love for art and loves to inspire creativity in her students by teaching a variety of skills using many different materials while exploring a wide range of subject matter. When she isn’t teaching, she’s busy with her family, enjoying the outdoors, painting, or taking an art class for fun in her spare time.
Marlene teaches Visual Art.
Ms. Stella Teng-Davis (she/her) Stella.Teng-Davis@burnabyschools.ca
Ms. Teng-Davis teaches yearbook design and media arts/digital literacy. She has a Bachelor of Commerce degree as well as a Bachelor of Education degree, both from the University of British Columbia. She also has a graduate diploma from Simon Fraser University. Ms. Teng-Davis loves all thing design, spending time with her family, hot yoga, and her golden doodle.
Stella teaches Yearbook 11/12.
Ms. Ella Batten (she/her) Ella.batten@burnabyschools.ca
Ms. Batten earned her teaching certificate from SFU and teaches Dance and Drama at Alpha. She applies culturally sustaining pedagogies to position students’ identities at the centre of every learning experience. Ms. Batten grew up dancing on the North Shore and studied Theatre, Arts Management, and English at the University of Toronto. She spent a decade in PR, marketing, producing, and communications for arts companies across Canada, but her work choreographing for high schools and lecturing at Toronto Metropolitan (formerly Ryerson) University’s Performance, Production and Design program led her back to the classroom. Outside of the classroom you can find her on the North Shore mountains, practicing violin, or volunteering with arts organizations.
Ella teaches Dance and Drama
Ms. Alana Worsely (she/her) alana.worsely@burnabyschools.ca
Ms. Worsely started her career path, like many students, playing in a Burnaby School Grade 7 Band. From there, she went onto high school and got super involved in all aspects of the program. After having multiple TOC’s who couldn’t conduct, her classmates encouraged her to lead the band… it was then she discovered a deep passion for facilitating musicians in all sorts of creative endeavours and exploration. From producing a children’s album, to playing onstage at the Commodore and providing soundscapes for meditative labrinth walks, she values the opportunities she continues to have, outside of the classroom to incorporate musical play into her life. To this day, supporting others in musical exploration and expression is her life’s mission. Few things bring her greater joy. She feels honoured and excited to be among such a vibrant, enthusiastic and welcoming community where music creation is celebrated and appreciated.
Alana teaches Band and Choir
Ms. Sofia Avelino (she/her) Sofia.Avelino@burnabyschools.ca
Ms. Avelino
Sofia teaches Jazz Band