Originally from Karachi, Pakistan, Beenum Junaid graduated from post-secondary with a Bachelor’s degree in Science. She then started her ECE journey as a Montessori Assistant Teacher after moving to Calgary in 2012. Since then, her passion for Montessori education grew stronger, prompting her to obtain a Montessori Diploma in 2017 and then Early Childhood Development Diploma in 2020. With a decade of experience in the Early Childhood Education field, Beenum has become a valued member of the Fueling Brains Academy family, first as a Lead Teacher in the Senior Preschool Left Brain classroom, then moving on to a leadership position as the Junior Preschool Centre Director at our McKnight campus. Beenum is a strong leader with a extensive knowledge in field of child development. Her dedication to supporting families to provide the best early learning experiences for her students has allowed her to take on the role of Executive Director at the McKnight campus. When she is not actively facilitating the learning of her beloved students, Beenum enjoys painting in her spare time, and spending quality time with her three children.

Kate Blackburn has led the FBA Saskatoon team since it first opened as Building Brains in the summer of 2019. She has over 35 years of experience in the field of child care, and loves working with families and getting to know their children. Her passion for early learning and building relationships with her students has made her a constant source of love and encouragement within the campus walls of FBA Saskatoon. Kate spent the first five years of her journey with Fueling Brains as the Centre Director for the Junior Preschool program. With her expertise and vast knowledge, Kate is now the Executive Director for both the Junior Preschool and Preschool campuses.

Emily brings over 15 years of expertise in early childhood intervention to our team, complemented by an academic background in Psychology at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Her approach is guided by evidence-based practices, placing significant emphasis on nurturing positive teacher-child relationships to enhance children’s development and learning outcomes. Driven by her dedication to inclusivity, Emily led the development of FBA Education Services, laying the groundwork for the organization’s accreditation by Alberta Education as an ECE provider. Now, as the Director of Student Services, she pioneers innovative programs tailored to meet the diverse needs of FBA students, extending her influence beyond program development to uplifting and empowering staff, optimizing classrooms, refining curriculum delivery, and spearheading leadership initiatives.