Celebrating our Outstanding Alumni
After a brief pause since 2022, we’re excited to resume celebrating the valued work and contributions of UBC Faculty of Education alumni. Between 2025 and 2026, we will be sharing new biographies and interviews with our illustrious alumni.
Stephanie Zantingh, BA’97, BEd’98, MET’16
Stephanie Zantingh is an accomplished international educational leader with over 25 years of experience in independent schools across Canada and around the world. After earning her BEd from UBC, she spent nearly two decades teaching in International Baccalaureate (IB) primary and middle years programs at international schools in Kyrgyzstan, Angola, Tanzania, Colombia, and Switzerland. Her global journey reflects a deep commitment to fostering empathy, social justice, and inclusive learning environments.
Now based in Oakville, Ontario, Stephanie serves as Assistant Head, Academics at MacLachlan College. She is passionate about empowering students to address inequities and take positive action in their communities. Her leadership philosophy centers on meeting students where they are, supporting educators as change-makers, and modeling lifelong learning.
Stephanie is also a dedicated volunteer with Classrooms Without Walls, where she coordinates the GED program for Afghan girls studying online—an initiative that provides meaningful educational access to young women banned from formal schooling in their home country. She hopes to connect this impactful work with UBC’s Faculty of Education in the future.
Outside of her professional and volunteer commitments, Stephanie is a proud mother of two children, ages 18 and 20, who remain the heart of her world.
Kabeer Panesar, BEd’20
Kabeer Panesar, BEd’20
Kabeer Panesar is a dedicated educator and cultural entrepreneur who brings creativity and community spirit to everything he does. He currently teaches high school business and dance in the Surrey School District, where he inspires students through both academic and artistic expression. Outside the classroom, Kabeer is the founder and owner of VanCity Dance, a vibrant Bhangra studio in Surrey, BC, that has grown to include over 200 members, with more than 50 competitive dancers.
VanCity Dance is more than just a studio—it’s a community built on the intersection of education and performance. Many of its instructors are trained teachers, allowing the team to design lessons that are developmentally responsive and inclusive for learners of all ages. Under Kabeer’s leadership, the studio has achieved remarkable milestones. Since opening its doors in February 2016, VanCity Dance has performed at major events including UBC’s Jumpstart program, and has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Diljit Dosanjh during his Dil-Luminati Tour, where 60 competitive dancers performed alongside him. The studio also appeared at the JUNO Awards with Jazzy B, Chani Nattan, and Inderpal Moga, and was featured in CBC’s Asian Heritage Month programming. In September 2023, VanCity Dance moved into a brand-new, spacious studio, marking another exciting chapter in its journey.
Several VanCity Dance instructors and members are UBC students and alumni, reflecting the studio’s strong ties to the university. Through both his teaching and artistic work, Kabeer continues to foster cultural pride, educational excellence, and community engagement.
If you are interested in possibly being featured submit your profile to Alumni Profile Submission | Faculty of Education – Faculty of Education.
