Our team

AQED is run almost entirely by volunteers. Its management is divided between a board of directors and an administrative director. The people who work within the association are part of committees overseeing various projects and mandates.

Board of directors

Marine Dumond-Després, chair

Marine is first and foremost a mother of two homeschooled children. For her, learning as a family is a logical decision allowing her to spend quality time with her children and to follow their pace and interests.

In 2017, she completed her master's degree in educational administration focusing on social norms in family learning support groups,  and she is currently preparing a doctorate on the socialization of family-educated youths at the Université de Montréal. She is also co-founder of an activity group for out-of-school children in the Montreal area.

Marine has served as chair of AQED’s board of directors since March 2020. Among her many responsibilities, she is in charge of relations with the Direction de l'enseignement à la maison.

Nadia Mercier, secretary

At a young age, she pictured herself at home with her children, letting them live in nature and learn freely. Life led her to become a special education teacher in school and at the CLSC, working with children and adults in need. For her, it was a revelation: she wanted to offer another path to her own children than that of traditional school. So, she left her career and never returned to work after her pregnancies, enjoying these tender moments with them, continuing on to today, realizing along the way this childhood dream of a whole life, calmer and based on their needs.

For her family, it is a big accomplishment, and for herself it was important to join the ranks of AQED to help all the families across Quebec that also wish to live more slowly and especially more healthily!

Tanya Gagné, treasurer

As a mother of three homeschooled children who have never attended school, Tanya enjoys getting involved in causes that are dear to her heart. For her, family education is an important right that needs to be protected. This way, all families can choose to live this adventure together, an experience to which Tanya believes few things can compare.

Tanya began her involvement with the association by volunteering with the team providing support to members. In May 2019, she became a member of the AQED board of directors. She serves as treasurer.

Adèle Dufour, administrator

A lawyer by training, Ms. Adèle Dufour LL.L, practised law for four years before devoting herself full-time to her role as owner of the Adèle Dufour Music Studio, which opened in 1984. She specialises in teaching violin and piano, as well as music education in elementary school. Her main role is to direct her student's musical studies towards specialized studies in music at Cégep or at the University.

At the same time, she developed an expertise in home education by educating her four children from kindergarten to the end of high school. Her four children are currently studying at post-secondary institutions.

She was also a member of AQED's board of directors from 2001 to 2011, including four years as president. During her tenure, she developed legal expertise in the area of home education by meeting representatives of school boards, making legal representations to the Ministry of Education, and working with researchers, child protection officials, families, groups of parent educators, and many others in this field.

Sinead Roy, administrator

Sinead is a mother of three, homeschooling for 20 years. She has accreditation and professional teaching experience in Ireland and in many Canadian provinces. Two of her children have been to Cégep and her teenager continues to be homeschooled. Sinead is a member of The Learning Tree Co-op in Dorval.

Sinead founded a co-op at her church in LaSalle, in 1998. Having been reported as an illegal school, members had to register as a private school. As a principal, Sinead acquired a political knowledge of formal education in Quebec and has established important relationships with distance learning leaders in Quebec and all over Canada. In 2013, the school closed its doors and families returned to homeschooling.

Sinead works with families living all over Canada. She supports parents homeschooling their children and offers online classes.

Her objective in joining AQED’s board of directors is to continue establishing relationships between new and old members, putting together experience and a desire for mentorship, as well as bringing together a strong Quebec homeschooling community.

Administrative management

Noémi Berlus, executive director

Mother of two elementary-aged children, Noémi and her husband have been homeschooling since 2013. In 2015 they discovered the joys of independent learning. Founder of two companies and management consultant for multinational companies, Noémi helps large companies solve their problems and better organize themselves.

Noémi has been on AQED's board of directors since May 2016 and was president from November 2016 to November 2018.  She has been the director of the association since January 2019.

Committees

Welcome to new members

Member support

Recruitment and volunteer recognition

Public relations

Political action

Content creation and communications

Research, studies, and statistics

Administration