Our Purpose

Sherry Rissling

Executive Director - North Calgary Campuses

Sherry Rissling is a seasoned educator with a deep commitment to supporting early learners and fostering inclusive, innovative educational environments. While earning her Bachelor of Education degree, she also completed an Early Childhood Diploma and a Special Education specialization. Following a decade of being a classroom teacher, she served as Coordinator of Student Services, where she managed the assessment, support and programming for children (aged 2-6) with identified disabilities or delays.

Sherry later earned her Master of Education from the University of Lethbridge and accumulated over 15 years of experience as a public school principal. Her leadership spanned across diverse school settings, including a Grade 4-6 school, a Junior Kindergarten to Grade 9 school, and an alternative education program offering home and online learning. Throughout her career, she has consistently focused on research-driven, data-informed approaches to create supportive, collaborative environments that benefit all students.

Now, Sherry is an Executive Director at Fueling Brains Academy. In this role, she oversees operations at multiple FBA campuses, providing leadership and support to center directors and staff to help them develop students’ executive function skills for success in both school and life!

Christine Gregoire-Lauzon

Executive Director - South Calgary Campuses

Beenum Junaid

Executive Director - FBA McKnight

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

Executive Director - Saskatchewan Campuses

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 Fullmer

Director of Student Services

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.

Mounir El Kurdi

Director of Admissions

Mounir El Kurdi is a seasoned professional with extensive expertise in retention, operational excellence, and strategic growth. With over a decade of experience optimizing enrollment processes and driving measurable results, Mounir is passionate about building systems that enhance efficiency and create sustainable growth. Starting his career as an elementary school teacher and certified basketball coach, Mounir’s journey into leadership reflects his deep commitment to education and community. As the Director of Admissions at Fueling Brains Academy, he oversees admissions and registration operations across all campuses, ensuring seamless processes that align with organizational goals. Driven by a passion for making a difference, Mounir views education as a powerful tool to transform lives and uplift communities. He considers it a noble responsibility to create opportunities for families and children to thrive through access to high-quality early learning. His focus on improving enrollment, retention, and customer experience underscores his dedication to providing the best possible environment for families and staff alike.