Our Team - Leadership

 

Cherilyn Orr

Founder of The Stoplight Approach

Cherilyn Orr, E.C.E., B.R.E. M.A. is an educational consultant, trainer, coach, and resource developer. She has been an educator from pre-school to university level for 35 years. She was a teaching professor at Vanguard College in Canada for 14 years and has worked with families and educators in Canada, Uganda, Greece, and England to help build safe schools, safe homes, safe communities, and resilient children.  The Stoplight Approach that she developed synthesizes the latest research in brain science as well as her years of experience as a teacher (early childhood, primary, special needs), as a mom to 7 children through birth and adoption, and as a foster mom.  Her practical, simple, hands-on approach to understanding the emotional health and relational needs of children has helped hundreds of parents, care-givers, and teachers build strong, healthy relationships with their children and their students.

Trisha Okenge

President of The Stoplight Approach

Trisha is a Canadian who has lived and worked in Rwanda, Uganda, and Ethiopia. Her background is as a classroom teacher but she has most recently been the head of various NGOs. where her passion for strategic leadership, organisational health, and maximising programmatic impact has led to their increased growth and health.

Trisha has moved back to Ottawa, Canada to care for her son who recently became a quadriplegic and her teenage daughter while also taking on a position as CEO of Tearfund Canada. In May 2024 the Stoplight Board gratefully and unanimously voted to have Trisha step into the role of president. We are excited to see what new directions and opportunities await Stoplight as we begin a new season in the life of Stoplight with Trisha at the head.


Anne Jones

Vice President of The Stoplight Approach

As a pediatric nurse, Anne has always had a heart for hurting children. She has collaborated with Cherilyn since 2004 helping to create and edit resources for those who work with children, particularly children at risk. Anne grew up in Zambia and has lived in Kenya, Canada and the US as well. She, and her husband Craig, have three children and are also foster parents in Baltimore county, where they have lived since 2009.

Doug Whitelaw

Director of Operations

Doug met Cherilyn, The Stoplight Approach founder more than 30 years ago, when she went to Nairobi, Kenya to study for her MA and where he was serving as Academic Dean of Pan Africa Christian College (now University). Having retired following 40 years of ministry, leading several charities and not for profit organizations, Doug joined The Stoplight Approach to help the organization grow and most importantly, help people around the world grow emotional health and resilience in themselves and their children by understanding and using the tools that Cherilyn has developed. Doug has been married to Gloria for 44 years and they have 3 children and 3 grandchildren.

Board of Directors

Rob Aukema - Canada - Treasurer
Barbara Chettle - UK
Corinne Patterson - Canada
Lucas Gairns - Canada

 

Our Team - Staff, Resources

Dapheen Kemigisha

Uganda Staff

We have been dreaming for years of having a Stoplight base and Communications Coordinator in Uganda who has dedicated time to devote to helping the work of Stoplight. As the birth place of Stoplight, Uganda has been blessed with hundreds of individuals implementing The Stoplight Approach faithfully in their classrooms, churches, and communities.

Stoplight has grown in impact in Uganda thanks to the outstanding trainers and dedicated team members. Yet despite widespread work throughout the country we have not had someone to help manage the logistics, to be a point of contact, and be the face of Stoplight in Uganda - until now. With a BA in social work & social administration and experience in program management and youth work, Dapheen is a wonderful addition to the already amazing Ugandan Stoplight team. Dapheen works at Refuge and Hope and this has helped to facilitate our new partnership with them whereby we will now have a physical space to promote Stoplight materials and trainings.

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Annabel Bowerman

Uganda

Annabel is a passionate advocate for the program's potential to transform the lives of children, families and communities across the globe. She has been involved in education and student welfare for decades, working as a teacher, teacher trainer, school counsellor, Director of Student Support Services, and latterly as Head of School of Heritage International School in Kampala, Uganda. Annabel comes from the UK and was educated in England, France, Belgium and Italy. She trained initially as a graduate nurse following a Bachelor's degree from London University in Social Sciences and Administration. She also has a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and Management from Bath University in the UK. Annabel is a mother of four grown-up children, and wife to Kim for over 37 years.

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Olivia Ekayu

Uganda

Olivia, a Ugandan mother of 4 and the wife to Peter, is the CEO of Amani Domestics, an organization devoted to protecting the rights and safety of houseworkers in Uganda. Olivia has a passion for positive change in her country. Being Ugandan, she understands the local culture and gives the team vital perspective on what will be effective and what won't be. Using her ability to create connections, Olivia is the reason behind the Stoplight Approach's every prospective relationship in Uganda. Helping to direct and organize meetings and trainings, Olivia provides oversight to the local Stoplight team in Uganda as well as working on insights for future Stoplight developments .

 

Lynn Owens

Graphic Designer

Lynn has been working with Cherilyn Orr, illustrating and laying out books and other curriculum materials, since 2003. She has worked from nine countries during that time: Greece, the U.S., Italy, China, Canada, England, Russia, and Brazil as she travels with her family. Her husband, Jim, is a college Professor who teaches seminars overseas. Making books for children has been her lifelong dream. She has an Art degree from Asbury University.

 

Our Team - Faciliators

We have several experienced people in various places able to assist individuals and groups to learn and implement The Stoplight Approach.
Contact us to inquire and to make arrangements.


 

Mugisha Nuruh

Facilitator - Uganda

Mugisha Nuruh has a bachelor’s degree in Education and post-graduate diploma in Management. Her 25-year teaching career includes ten years in administration. Currently, Nuruh is a director at the Mwangaza Initiative which empowers communities in harmonious living, psychosocial competency, mental health, and improving household livelihoods using The Stoplight Approach. Nuruh is a Stoplight international representative in Uganda and a regular presenter for Stoplight trainings. She is a mother of three and lives in Kampala, Uganda.

Imekedet Cathie Kitagenda

Facilitator - Uganda

Catherine Imekedet has taught in Ugandan high schools for more than 20 years. She holds a B.A. degree in Social Sciences and a Post-Graduate diploma in Education. She is a director at the Mwangaza Initiative which conducts training in hard and soft skills. Catherince believes that The Stoplight Approach goes a long way in correcting the inadequacies of the traditional, fear-based approach to parenting and teaching. She is married to Godfrey and has four children.

Melissa Strike

Facilitator - Canada

Melissa Strike lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Melissa has been part of the Stoplight team for 5 years, currently serving as an online facilitator as well as the regional trainer for Alberta and Manitoba. She is the proud mom of 7 amazing kids and considers her home to be a Stoplight home . She is very excited to teach and help people create a Stoplight home of their own

Kathleen McMillan

Facilitator - Canada

Kathleen McMillan lives in Langley, B.C., Canada where she is the director of Brave Spaces Early Learning Commons at SouthRidge Fellowship Baptist Church. She studied ECE at Northwest Baptist Theological College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from Briercrest College. She has been working in the ECE field for 32 years. Kathleen and her team started the Early Learning Commons at SouthRidge in 2013. Teacher by day, writer by night, Kathleen has been teaching and telling artful stories for three decades. She has written 4 children’s books and is a speaker at schools and ECE conferences. Kathleen teaches in the ECE program at Delta Continuing Education and is a facilitator for The Stoplight Approach, teaching brain science and the bible using a common, accessible language for parents, people with diverse abilities and those in cross-cultural contexts. Kathleen is committed to living curiously and exploring innovative educational theories.

Dr. Deborah DeFrieze

Facilitator - USA

Christina Nett

Facilitator - UK

Crystal Henderson

Facilitator - Canada

Deborah DeFrieze has a Doctorate of Education, massage license and is a licensed clinical social worker. She works not only with The Stoplight Approach but also a nonprofit called Celebrate Life Ya ‘Un Mission in Tennessee. She retired after 30 years in public schools and now does private counseling along with Stoplight presentations for children and adults.

Christina Nett is originally from Germany where she was trained as a special needs teacher, and has lived in London, Ireland and for over ten years in Uganda. She has been with The Stoplight Approach from its beginnings at Heritage International School in Kampala, Uganda, where she also taught several of Cherilyn’s children. Christina is passionate about community development, disability and inclusion and has been involved with a wide variety of organisations and communities. She has worked as a teacher, coordinator, project officer and ran her own therapy business in Uganda. Her experience in NGOs allows her to contribute to strategic planning and the systemic development of projects, while her expertise in disability issues, international development and her cultural awareness add to the diversity of The Stoplight Approach. Christina holds a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Studies from the University of Cologne, Germany and a Master’s degree in Disability Studies from Liverpool Hope University in England. Her research about disability activism in Uganda was published and she continues to work both on the ground as well as on the systemic level in Uganda and England. She now lives in Manchester, England.

 

Crystal Henderson is a kids’ life coach and mom of two little girls.  She partners with parents to create an online space for children (ages 0-16) to feel supported, understood and cared for amidst life challenges and everyday stressors such as a breakdown/ change in the family unit, school relationships, managing/ regulating emotions, confidence, grief and loss, change & transitions to name a few! She is passionate about unlocking a child’s potential by connecting with their heart, first and foremost. Over the years Crystal has received educator certification through flourishing coaching, "Kids have stress too" certification by the Psychology foundation of Canada, Stoplight approach facilitator certification along with 3 years of child development/ children at risk post secondary studies at Vanguard college.