Our Faculty

David is a creative educator, writer, musician, and lover of all things outdoors and adventurous. His varied career has seen him teach in Bhutan, Kenya, England, Scotland and the DRC where he was a founding Principal of the British International School of Lubumbashi. A passionate advocate for progressive education, he believes that a radical evolution is necessary to better prepare the youth of today for the uncertain challenges of tomorrow. He’s released a few albums, written a few books and encourages everybody to dig deep into their creative side, get out into nature and become agents for positive change. David will also be working as Class Afloat Director of Curriculum Development, helping to design and deliver the experiential, place based curriculum. Along the way he hopes to learn with (and from) the Floaties about how education can best be used to inspire effective and impactful social change.

What’s something you’ve been meaning to try but just haven’t gotten around to it?

The Pacific Crest trail. I walked the Camino de Santiago in my twenties and have done a few other long distance hikes but the big one is always on my mind. Walking for that long through nature changes you. Also, sky-diving and learning to dance properly.

If you could have anyone as a dinner guest – living or deceased, who would you choose?

Is it too corny to say Alexander von Humboldt? What an inspiring legend. But he’d probably bore the pants off everybody because, bright and charismatic as he was, he never stopped talking. So maybe John Muir instead for the deceased and George Monbiot for the living.

What is one of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned to date?

Everything’s in constant motion, always changing, never staying the same (also known as ‘You never step in the same river twice’ or ‘I’d rather be a river than a puddle’).

What book impacted you the most?

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. It taught me three things:

1) You can make conscious decisions about how you perceive reality

2) Why just read and listen to music when you can write and play

3) Everything’s relative and very few things are ‘right’

Dr. Beth Warsof, PhD (she/her) is a licensed developmental psychologist, professional certified coach, and international experiential educator. In her work, Beth co-creates brave, compassionate spaces that empower individuals in their gifts, cultivate connection and community, and bring greater justice and belonging to our world. Beth is honored to return to Class Afloat (Gulden Leeuw, 2017-18) in her role supporting student and community wellness. Beth will work in person during Student and Faculty Orientation as well as remotely throughout the year.

Sarah Pierroz is an experienced international educator whose career spans over two decades and four continents: from Canada to Egypt, across Europe, Southeast Asia, and most recently, Bermuda. A graduate of McMaster University’s Integrated Arts & Science Program and Queen’s University’s Artist in the Community specialization, she has taught Visual Arts and Environmental Science in leading International Baccalaureate schools around the world, including the United World College of the Adriatic in Italy. From a young age, Sarah cultivated a deep connection to nature and experiential learning through canoe tripping, adventure-based education, meditation, yoga, and freediving. Her lifelong passion lies in fostering cross-cultural understanding and helping others discover peace, creativity, and connection through both art and the environment. 

What makes you most excited about teaching/working with Class Afloat?

The integration of experiential learning with global exploration is what excites me most. Class Afloat isn’t just about academics, it’s about forming a community that lives and learns together while immersed in adventure and explores cultures and natural wonders. That kind of environment fosters transformation in a way like no other.

If you could have anyone as a dinner guest – living or deceased, who would you choose?

I’d love to hold a conversation with Jane Goodall. She was one person with a grand obsession that led her across the world and to forge great impact. The simple art of observation and trusting her intuition to learn and communicate forged a new path and unprecedented understanding in the animal world. Her quiet strength, relentless spirit, humility, and lifelong commitment to conservation and understanding makes her a beacon of hope.

What is your best advice for having a great adventure?

Say yes more often. Be open to the unexpected, pack light,, and approach every new place and person with curiosity rather than expectation.

What is the best single day on the Calendar?

Today, It’s what you’ve got in hand, so make the most of it. 

Sydnie is a passionate and multilingual (English, French, Spanish) global studies educator with an M.Ed in Second Language Acquisition and experience teaching in Canada, Kenya, and Costa Rica. She is excited to guide students aboard Class Afloat, helping them connect classroom learning to the diverse cultures and communities they encounter around the world, and to the unique perspectives they each bring. Inspired by bell hooks’ philosophy of building vibrant classroom communities, she values curiosity, connection, and the power of hearing one another’s voices. Sydnie’s love of the mountains and respect for her partner’s love of the sea (who also serves as 2nd mate aboard) lead her to travel far and wide, enjoying all the adventuring life has to offer.

What’s something you’ve been meaning to try but just haven’t gotten around to it?

Wing foiling. As an avid snowboarder, I’ve always been curious to see if wing foiling really is the water equivalent everyone claims it to be. It requires some special equipment (and maybe a friend who knows what they’re doing!), so I’m hoping the right opportunity will come along someday.

What is your best advice for having a great adventure?

Choose your adventure for its ability to challenge you. Once you commit, stay the course. Even the most daunting mountains can be climbed with small, deliberate steps forward. The reward of tackling the harder or scarier path far outweighs the fleeting thrills of an easier one. Do this again and again, and you’ll find that great adventures have a way of finding you.

What is one of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned to date?

Pocket-chocolate! Some of you might already know what I mean. For everyone else: bring snacks. Fill your pockets with chocolate, granola bars, pretzels, whatever you like. Why? Because nothing says “I’m approachable” quite like offering someone a little treat when they need it most. Sharing snacks is the ultimate cross-cultural social currency and one of the easiest ways to make friends wherever you go. And if that’s the surface-level wisdom, the deeper lesson is this: life is fragile. It touches all of us in time. Until then, remind yourself often that life is happening right now. Learn to serve others in the unique ways only you can and be open to receiving their gifts in return. Ultimately, it’s those spontaneous moments of kindness and connection that make for a rich life.

What book impacted you the most?

Dove by Robin Lee Graham found me at just the right age. A friend gave it to me while I was on a solo cycle tour, wrestling with some of life’s bigger questions. On the surface, it’s the story of Robin’s solo sailing voyage at sixteen, but as a non-sailor, it spoke to me as a story of movement, curiosity, and quiet reflection. It was a book that recognized a part of me I hadn’t fully understood yet. I would easily recommend it to all students joining Class Afloat, given their natural pull toward adventure and the sea.

G’day! I’m Jacquie Lesser, an Aussie biology teacher with 17 years of experience and a deep curiosity for the natural world. I love exploring, socialising, and staying active—whether it’s diving into coral reefs, hiking through jungles, or simply soaking up the beauty of the outdoors. I’ve travelled to over 80 countries (and counting!), always finding ways to connect my adventures back to biology. I’m passionate about inspiring students to see biology not just as a subject, but as a lens to understand our planet and its incredible diversity. My favourite quote is “the world is a book and those who don’t travel, read only a page”.

What makes you most excited about teaching/working with Class Afloat?

Joining Class Afloat is an incredible opportunity to combine learning with adventure. I’ve always loved sharing my travel stories with my students, but this time I’m excited to  share the journey with them. I can’t wait to watch their curious minds light up as they absorb new cultures, ideas, and perspectives firsthand.

If you could have anyone as a dinner guest – living or deceased, who would you choose?

If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be two of my heroes: Charles Darwin, the pioneering mind behind evolutionary biology, and David Attenborough, a living legend whose storytelling brings nature to life. Their work has inspired me deeply, and I’d have a million questions for both.

What is your best advice for having a great adventure?

Adventures are the best! The key is going into any experience with curiosity, flexibility and an open mind. If you’re too set on expectations, it’s easy to feel disappointed. Embracing the unexpected is where the real magic happens.

Among your friends or family, what are you famous for?

Among my friends and family, I’m definitely known for my love of travel. As a teacher, I make the most of every school holiday by heading off on a new adventure. The usual comment I hear is, “Where are you off to next?”

I’m a mathematics and physical education teacher from Ireland. For the past four years I’ve been teaching in Dublin. I’m especially passionate about helping students see how learning can extend far beyond the walls of a traditional classroom.

Outside the classroom, I’ve always been drawn to the outdoors. I love exploring new countries through hiking and immersing myself in nature wherever I go. This year, I’m incredibly excited to combine my love of teaching with my love of adventure as I join the crew aboard the Alex-2. With the ocean as my classroom, I look forward to bringing mathematics to life in new and meaningful ways- showing students how it connects to the world around us in powerful and unexpected ways.

What makes you most excited about teaching/working with Class Afloat?

What excites me most about working here is the opportunity to have a classroom without walls. Living on a tall ship is already a once in a lifetime adventure, and getting to teach while doing it makes it even more special. I’m also really looking forward to learning how to sail. Embracing something completely new, alongside a community of curious and adventurous students, is an opportunity I’m incredibly grateful for.

If you could have anyone as a dinner guest – living or deceased, who would you choose?

I would choose Sir David Attenborough. His lifelong dedication to exploring and protecting the natural world is incredibly inspiring. I’d love to hear his stories firsthand – from remote expeditions to his reflections on how our relationship with nature has changed over time. His passion, curiosity, and wisdom would make for a fascinating and inspiring conversation

What is your best advice for having a great adventure?

Stay open to the unexpected. Embrace challenges, try new things, and be present in the moment. That’s where the best memories are made.

Among your friends or family, what are you famous for?

I’m known for my curiosity. I’m always asking questions and eager to learn more about the world around me. It’s something that has stayed with me throughout my life and keeps my passion for learning alive.

Emma has taught English, Social Science, and Drama in Ontario and Quebec. Originally from the Toronto region, she has found a new home in Montreal, where she enjoys biking, yoga, and long walks to the library. Emma is a lover of the arts, and you can often find her onstage singing and acting. One of her proudest teaching moments so far has been directing school musicals and watching a new passion ignite for the young cast and crew. She is a firm believer in the power of experiential learning and is excited to see what a school year aboard Class Afloat will bring.

Questions:

What’s something you’ve been meaning to try but haven’t gotten around to it?

I’ve always wanted to learn how to sail. In high school, I used to occasionally race on Lake Ontario with one of my friends on her family boat and I always enjoyed being out on the water—and flying the pirate flag when we won a race! I’m looking forward to being part of the crew and learning how a ship like the Alex II runs! 

If you could have anyone as a dinner guest, living or deceased, who would you choose?

For centuries, there has been controversy over who actually wrote Shakespeare’s plays. I’d like to put those debates to rest once and for all, plus, I’m certain that the Bard and I would get along! Just think of the puns! Maybe we could even brainstorm a few new words.

What book impacted you most?

The first book I ever truly loved was “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” by Thomas Hardy and it remains one of my favourites. The characters are so vivid and the themes still resonate. If you’ve never had that soaring feeling reading a book, that moment when it hits on something so real and true that it feels like the book is reading you for a moment, keep reading until you do!

Among your friends and family, what are you known for?

I’m definitely the songbird of my family. You’ll rarely catch me not humming a tune, but I will try to rein it in on board!

I’m an experienced chemistry teacher with a deep curiosity about the world and a passion for hands-on learning. I grew up in the UK and have called Australia home since 2011. Over the years, I’ve explored six of the seven continents. You’ll find me hiking active volcanoes, diving with Great Whites, skiing Olympic downhill runs, on my bike, or discovering ancient ruins. Along the way, I’ve immersed myself in diverse cultures and histories, always seeking new perspectives.

On board, I’m excited to connect chemistry concepts with real-world experiences: investigating seawater chemistry, exploring renewable energy at sea, and collaborating with students as we sail between remarkable destinations. I believe science is best understood through doing, and I look forward to sharing that approach with students—while learning from their insights and enthusiasm.

My advice for a great adventure? Get up early, catch the sunrise, and always say yes—you never know what you might discover.