Our Instructors

Deborah van Hattem-Koff is an illustrator and artist from Sooke, born in the Netherlands. She is also a member of the Sooke Arts Council. Deborah has been drawing, painting and illustrating from a very young age and has been taking art history, drawing and painting classes since the age of 12.

Deborah is also a workshop teacher. She organizes "Sip and Paint” art classes at the Artisan's Garden in Sooke, and also hosts painting classes for children. Additionally, Deborah is a henna artist, creating temporary body art using henna leaf paste.

Deborah's artwork has been displayed and sold in several shows in Victoria, Sooke, the Netherlands and Fort Langley. She recently worked on designing 100 hand illustrated cards for the cast and film crew of the popular Hallmark Channel TV series, "When Calls the Heart". 

Deborah been teaching at Amber Academy since September, 2018 and enjoys passing on her artistic skills and sharing her creativity to the younger generation. She loves to inspire and enable others to have fun creating and discovering the artist within. 

Jill Warne was born and raised in Sooke BC. She attended Camosun College and Vancouver Island University. It was there that Jill studied Visual Arts, English Literature and History. She was able to explore and develop skills that continue to help her creative process today. After the birth of her first child, Jill returned to Sooke and resides there today with her family. She is a working artist and owner/creator of her own  jewelry line. 

Jill has been teaching at Amber Academy since September, 2019 and is thrilled to be working firsthand with all the talented professionals and amazing children whose passion create such an amazing organisation.

Nicole was born and raised on the west coast of British Columbia. Over the past 30 years she has mastered many artistic mediums such as stained and fused glass, bead work, collage, encaustic and silk screen printing. More recently she has designed and created her own line of women’s fashions.  

Nicole has been creating costumes for the Sooke Dance Studio since 2007 and has been costume designer for Sooke Harbour Players’ and the Sooke Skating Club since 2016.

Since 2009, Nicole has been involved in many youth art projects such as teaching art workshops, volunteering in the schools, co-facilitating youth art camps, and co-facilitating three whole school mural projects in Sooke, B.C. Nicole was a Girl Guide and Pathfinder Leader from 2013 - 2018 and has been teaching at Amber Academy since September, 2017.

Tamara Nemeth is an energetic and enthusiastic music educator. She works with elementary aged children with instrumental, choral, and musical theater content. Her focus on social justice and equity within education is prevalent in her curriculum and classroom. Tamara earned her bachelor of music at the University of Victoria (‘18) in percussion and her bachelor of education at the University of British Columbia (‘19) in order to pursue her passion of teaching music.

When not playing song games with children, she is often found with a book in hand, and cup of tea. Tamara is currently working at John Muir Elementary as a grade one and general music teacher. She also sits on the British Columbia Music Educators Association conference team. With a firm belief of accessibility to music in all forms and universally designed education, Tamara brings these values to the forefront of her teaching practice.  

Rowan has been involved in theatre for as long as he can remember, and has performed with a variety of companies including Pacific Opera Victoria and Sooke Harbour Players. He has been doing theatre tech since 2013. Growing up in a family of musicians (both parents are guitar teachers), Rowan has sought out a deep and thorough understanding of audio gear, which he puts to use as a keyboard player in various bands.

Rowan also volunteers as an instructor for the Robotics Club at EMCS, which regularly takes silver or bronze medal at the provincial Skills Canada competition.

Rowan loves working with youth, and hopes he makes a positive difference in the lives of those he works with. He plans to make teaching his career.