Our Faculty

Scott Morrison is co-founder and Ceannard Sgoile (Head of School) of Sgoil Gàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhóir. In the 2024 – 2025 academic year, Scott will be teaching New Beginner, Advanced Beginner, and Intermediate classes.

Scott has been studying Gaelic for over 20 years. His teachers have included: Nick Freer, Liam Cassidy, Michael MacKay, Angus MacLeod (of Cape Breton), Professor Richard Cox, Dr. Meg Bateman, Professor John MacTaylor (all of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Gaelic College), and traditional singer/teacher Gillebride MacMillan (of South Uist).

Mr. Morrison has been teaching his four children Gaelic since he started learning back in 2003. His teaching credits include: a two-week bodhràn course at the Gaelic College in Cape Breton Nova Scotia in 2006, Instructor/regional representative for the Atlantic Gaelic Academy 2011-2013, VP and President of An Comunn Gàidhealach Ameireaganach  (The American Scottish Gaelic Society) 2011-2014, workshop instructor/organizer for the Northern Arizona Celtic Society’s Immersion Weekend in Flagstaff (2013), and numerous private lessons on-line via Skype.  He earned a B.A. in Gaelic Language and Culture from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye in December 2018 through their distance learning program.

An accomplished musician, Mr. Morrison teaches percussion and Celtic Traditional music in his studio called Rimshots. In particular, he teaches the Bodhràn, the Tin Whistle, the Bones, and the Spoons. Mr. Morrison also sings many Gaelic songs (learned from Gillebride) and won the men’s traditional singing contest in the US National Mòd in 2011. Mr. Morrison has also won numerous awards at previous Mòds for Gaelic poetry writing, poetry recitation, and story telling including the coveted Argyll Cup for outstanding scholarship three times.

Òmar Bhochanan | Amber Buchanan is the director of EPIC Youth Peer Program, an after school program for youth across Cape Breton Regional Municipality. She has been teaching Gàidhlig language and culture for over 18 years across Nova Scotia and for 10 years worked at the Highland Village Museum in Iona, Cape Breton sharing language and culture with staff and visitors. Òmar is also a partner and consultant at Inside Out where she facilitates workshops and works 1:1 with people. Òmar has also been building connections with Gaels and Cape Breton’s Indigenous people, the Mi’kmaq, noticing similarities and celebrating uniqueness with the intention to forge peace, friendship and collective resilience. She has a 16 year old daughter, is a weaver, and a Spanish speaker, and lives in Sydney, NS.

Òmar teaches special courses. Currently, she teaches the school’s online immersion course, Cùrsa Bogaidh Samhraidh Ghàidhlig.

“ . . .  the reclamation of one’s ancestral language and culture has the power to transform and connect us to ourselves, one another, our ancestors, the earth and the greater web of life.” ~ Òmar Bhochanan

Susan Tougas started her Scottish Gaelic journey with Thomas Leigh at the Callanish School of Celtic Arts in 2016.  She made several summer trips to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye and, through their long-distance program, earned her Certificate of Higher Education (Honours) in 2021.  She has also studied online with Colaisde na Gàidhlig.  Currently, she is continuing her Gaelic studies at Sgoil Gàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhòir.

Susan is a Rhode Island native but has made her home in Vermont for almost thirty years where she enjoys hiking, genealogy, and writing.

Caroline Root is the newest member of the Sgoil Gàidhlig Bhaile an Taigh Mhóir faculty. In the 2025 – 2026 academic year, Caroline will be teaching New Beginner.Caroline is a passionate Gaelic language supporter. Caroline has a B.A. with first class honors in Celtic studies, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Gaelic medium) and more than 15 years teaching experience. She spent two years working in the Gaelic Medium Education System in Scotland and was trained by them as a school teacher. Caroline created the Daily Gaelic (Gàidhlig Gach Latha) learning program.

Dr. Jamie MacDonald is a North Carolina native, a descendant of the original Highland Scottish settlers that immigrated to the Cape Fear River Valley in the 18th and early 19th centuries. His education includes a PhD from the University of Edinburgh in Scottish Studies and a degree in Gaelic and Related Studies from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic college in Skye. Dr. MacDonald taught Celtic Studies at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia and has tutored many Gaelic learners individually. In addition, he has published a number of Gaelic learning materials and books. Jamie us the founder of the yearly Grandfather Mountain Gaelic Language and Song Week and the North Carolina Provincial Mòd. He was co-founder of the US National Mòd as well. Dr. MacDonald has served on the board of directors for the Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia, the Antigonish Highland Society, and the Highland Village Museum in Iona, Cape Breton.