WHO WE ARE
All Kelowna Arts Academy teachers are certified by the BC Teacher Regulation Branch.
Many of our faculty members not only share an interest in academics but are also involved in the arts outside of class time. From home-made costumes to acting in local theatre productions to playing in bands after hours, our teachers live for the arts.
At Kelowna Arts Academy, we embrace our uniqueness. We believe our strength lies in our differences, and our faculty is made up of a diverse team individuals, however, we share one common passion: our students!
Our small classroom sizes offer our students a more focused educational environment where their unique needs will not go unnoticed and their strengths can be properly nurtured. Our teachers are dedicated to supporting creativity and growth in the classroom while focusing on building respectful, inclusive learning environments.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Patricia Rockwell
Patricia fell in love with the arts as a very small child. After many years practicing her love of the visual arts, through painting and drawing, she turned her talents to the stage. It was there, she spent countless hours honing her skills in set painting, prop & set building, stage managing & lighting. Patricia also created a successful 25 year business operating a daycare before moving on to teaching visual art to young students during the afternoons and weekends. Having trained at Okanagan College for Web Design, she fell in love with the graphic design elements of the web. In her free time, she enjoys visual art, walking, biking, and baking.
PRINCIPAL
Cadence Trites
Cadence started painting, sculpting, drawing, and crafting at a very young age. She won the only visual arts bursary at OKM upon graduation and went on to study drawing and art history in university. Cadence graduated from UBC with a BA in Psychology and from UVic with a BEd Distinction prior to teaching visual arts courses to students from three to eighteen years old. Cadence previously held the positions of Art Adventures and Preschool Arts Coordinator/Teacher at the Kelowna Art Gallery from 2001-2006 and Head of the Visual Art Department at the Glenfir School from 2001-2003 prior to joining the Vedanta Academy/Studio 9 team in 2004. She continues to do acrylic painting, sketching, and crafts in her leisure time.
BEHIND THE SCENES
