Vijay Manuel

Guest Speaker

Head of Schools at MEI

Vijay is the fourth and youngest child of Reverend & Mrs. David and Stella Manuel of South Abbotsford Church. He has lived in Abbotsford since arriving in Gr. 2 from Alberta in 1980. Vijay attended South Poplar Elementary School and the Mennonite Educational Institute (MEI) before going on to the University-College of the Fraser Valley and Simon Fraser University. After completing his bachelors degree and teaching certification in 1996, Vijay began teaching in the Abbotsford school district as a Choral Instructor at Rick Hansen Secondary. Concurrently, Vijay led a local evangelistic worship ministry entitled Doxa which was focused on praise and worship and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the hundreds who attended weekly.

In 2003, Vijay completed his masters degree in Educational Leadership with a focus on Administration through San Diego State University and went on to serve as the vice principal at Robert Bateman Secondary, W.J. Mouat Secondary, and Abbotsford's Integrated Arts School before being awarded a principalship at Abbotsford Traditional Middle School.

Vijay accepted a position at MEI Schools as the Head of Schools effective February 2016 which involves leading all aspects of the organization including the learning experience from preschool to graduation. He has also helped establish Character Abbotsford and currently serves as the Board Chair. Vijay has been recognized twice as one of Abbotsford's Most Influential People by the Abbotsford News and has helped lead WJ Mouat Secondary and Character Abbotsford to being recognized for multiple Promising Practices Awards in Washington, DC by Character.Org

Vijay and his wife Sarah have been married for 17 years and have four children, 1 boy and 3 girls ages 14, 12, 6, and 2.