Who We Are

Our Mission

To teach and promote English language and literacy skills needed by adults for daily life in Southeastern Manitoba.

We strive to provide relevant, student-centered, and life-enriching education through inclusive and quality literacy & numeracy instruction.

Amanda Rose Piché
Program Coordinator / Reading and Writing Instructor

(Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings)

From a young age, teaching others has always been Amanda’s passion. She graduated from the University of Manitoba in 2013 with her Bachelor of Arts and Education degrees. Eager to try everything, she has taught in a variety of different environments, including high school, middle years, and adult education. Volunteering has always been a joy for Amanda as well, especially her time as a Black-Belt Karate instructor, organizing school theater productions, Canadian Citizenship tutoring, and more. In her spare time, she also enjoys arts and crafts, cooking, playing video games, travelling, reading, and of course spending time with her loved ones. She strongly believes in supportive student-centered teaching and community building. Her students often find her dramatically acting out her explanations, and making nerdy jokes.

Erma Kroeker
Reading and Writing Instructor

(Friday mornings)

Erma grew up on a farm in the Interlake with eight siblings. She enjoyed her little country school and for years dreamed of being a teacher. After university she began her dream career: teaching children. Erma loves seeing people develop their skills. She also loves learning and trying new things, so after a number of good years with children, Erma moved on to teaching adults. She began with teaching English as a language and then moved to teaching Reading and Writing. Her teaching career has taken her to Germany, Russia, Lithuania, and Ukraine. Yes, Erma loves travelling and getting to know people from different cultures, as well as picking up other languages. Other activities she enjoys are gardening, reading, going for walks, singing, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

Nalini Ranganath
Math and Computer Instructor

(Monday evenings & Tuesday and Friday afternoons)

Nalini came to Steinbach more than fourteen years ago from New Jersey, shortly after moving from Bangalore, India. She strongly believes that knowledge and education can change one’s life for the better. She has encountered countless amazing and thought-provoking teachers in her school/university days who inspired her to be the teacher she is now. Nalini saw how a teacher can impact a student’s life and help them succeed in their goals. Being a teacher herself now, she wants to teach personalized lessons to help her students succeed. She is keen in learning and understanding different cultures, languages, and loves trying traditional foods from around the world. Nalini enjoys travelling, cooking, baking and loves watching movies on Netflix. 

Valerie Zacharias
Family Literacy Coordinator/Family Literacy Instructor

Val has been working with SEELS for many years. Even in retirement, her love for teaching carries on! She continues to run the “Family Literacy” classes for parents and children that take place in Kleefeld, MB.