Private Tutoring in Downtown & East Toronto

Adrian is a seasoned executive with more than 18 years experience building, leading and motivating teams in a diversity of industries: Waste Management, Capital Markets, Manufacturing, Interactive Gaming and Equipment Rental Solutions.

His strengths include developing and executing on strategy, growing revenues, fine-tuning operational efficiencies to produce consistently profitable revenue and cross-enterprise collaboration to devise and implement initiatives that impact bottom and top-line results

I am the founder and CEO of Prep Academy Tutors (formerly Write at Home Tutoring ) where we bring qualified teachers into your home and provide thorough weekly reports based on our collaborative goals for your child.

Upon completion of my undergraduate degree at Western, I completed a M.DPE from OISE, U of T and was employed for 3 years at OISE running an infant developmental lab, before embarking on my tutoring business.

SPECIALITIES: CHILD PSYCHOLOGY | EDUCATION | PSYCHOMETRICS | INTERPRETATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL TESTING | EDUCATIONAL GOAL SETTING AND MEASUREMENT |SPECIAL EDUCATION

Our mission at Prep Academy Tutors is to attract and build a network of franchises made up of people who recognize the importance of community, and share a passion for education and business. We strive to deliver the educational tools required for students to not only build self confidence, but achieve higher levels of academic excellence and success.

Raemyn is excited to be joining the Prep Academy Tutors team in the role of Franchise Support Manager. She has been working with Prep Academy for over two years. Raemyn is a certified teacher who is familiar with the curriculum guidelines and expectations over various grade levels, and she specializes in teaching English and Social Sciences. Raemyn majored in Educational Studies and graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Education degree. Raemyn is passionate about creating a safe, inclusive, and better educational experience for students. In her free time, Raemyn enjoys watching hockey, traveling, and spending time with her family

Abbi has a Bachelor from the University of Toronto, majoring in Cognitive Science, with minors in English and Philosophy. She then went on to complete her Bachelors in Education at Queens University. Since graduating, Abbi has been part of the Toronto District School Board, where she has worked in a variety of K-6 classrooms for the past 4 years. Specialising in Educational Technology, Abbi’s teaching centres around special education, and cross-curricular connections. Currently, Abbi is a Grade 2/3 teacher.

Abdulahi has been quite the globetrotter from an early age. He was born in Mogadishu, Somalia; raised in Chicago, America; socialized and educated in Toronto-Windsor, Canada, which he now refers to as home. To date, Abdulahi has lived in five different countries (America, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates) and traveled to 55 others.

Abdulahi received an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Science and Environmental Science, and also a Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor. Additionally, he completed many international language certificates. Prior to making the transition back to Canada, Abdulahi taught internationally at prestigious private schools for nearly a decade. These schools followed the Ontario, Alberta and IB curricula and framework.

As an extremely passionate educator, Abdulahi’s teaching experiences have helped him refine a personal teaching philosophy and pedagogy in education that combines the importance of inclusion within the classroom, ongoing feedback, respect, and creating meaningful student-centered lessons. Abdulahi’s defining characteristic as an educator revolves around the joy, pleasure and passion that he receives from teaching beyond the required curriculum. He branches off into various learning atmospheres by becoming actively involved in the development of the whole child. The ‘light bulb!’ moment in students and seeing everything begin to click for them provides him with an immense pleasure and continuously drives his passion and pedagogy as an educator. It is important to nurture a child’s creative abilities to develop a sense of themselves, understand others and the world around them, and navigate information so that they can confidently take risks and solve problems. Reflection and introspection are fundamental components of Abdulahi’s pedagogy and also his own personal growth and commitment to lifelong learning.

Abdullah is a student at the Schulich School of Business at York University where he is working towards a Bachelors in Business Administration. Having been raised in multiple countries, he is interested in learning about different cultures and languages. Besides English, he speaks Urdu and Arabic and is learning French. With past experience as a tutor, he not only offers personalized lessons, but also develops a close bond with his students. He leads sessions following custom plans and explains difficult concepts in a clear and effective way using diagrams, step-by-step methods, and other educational techniques. In his free time, Abdullah enjoys running and cycling.

Abigail has a passion for education and has been a tutor for two years now, specifically teaching French, English, and Math. She is a University of Toronto graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (with Distinction) and is now pursuing her Masters of Teaching (Junior/Intermediate) at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, also at the University of Toronto. In addition to tutoring, Abigail has many other teaching experiences. She has worked as an Emergency Supply Teacher, a Summer School teaching assistant, and an administrative support with the Upper Grand District School Board. She is also a swim instructor and loves teaching all age groups in and out of the pool. Abigail now lives in Toronto and enjoys running, hiking, camping, and exploring the city.

Adil has a bachelor’s degree in Financial Economics from McGill University. Since completing his degree, he has gone on to manage marketing and financial planning divisions at a number of well known institutions in the US and Canada.

Aishwarya is a Master’s in Education holder with a passion for teaching and a drive to make a positive impact on her students. She received her Bachelor of Education from Osmania University, India and completed her teaching internship in Mathematics and Physical Sciences. She was the college topper during Graduation. After graduation, Aishwarya was offered a teaching position for Grade-6 to Grade-10, and eagerly accepted. Later, she pursued Master’s in education from the very same University and scored first class distinction.

Aishwarya has extensive tutoring experience and prides herself on creating personalized and engaging one-on-one lessons that cater to each student’s individual needs and interests. She strongly believes in fostering a curious and confident mindset in her students. She indulges in her artistic side through painting, writing poetry, and exploring and keeping up with the latest fashion trends. She loves to travel and immerse herself in new cultures and finds great joy in guiding her students to reach their full potential.

She strongly believes that learning should be a fun and interactive experience and goes the extra mile to make her students feel comfortable and engaged. With her expertise and personable approach, Aishwarya inspires students to reach their full potential and develop a love for learning.

Alex has been teaching and tutoring for over ten years in the Toronto area. He has developed extensive experience in a large range of High School math courses (including Advanced Functions and Calculus & Vectors) and University math courses (such as first Calculus courses from the University of Toronto and York University). During this time, Alex completed his undergraduate work in Astrophysics at U of T, and a Master’s degree in Astrophysics from McMaster University; these degrees are in addition to a degree in Engineering from McGill

Allie is an Ontario Certified Teacher with a Masters Degree in Developmental Psychology and Education. With over 10 years of experience in the field of education, Allie has taught Grades 1, 2 and 5 and currently teaches Grade 3 in Toronto. Alongside teaching her own class, she is also a Special Education Resource Teacher for students in kindergarten to Grade 8. Allie strongly believes that every child is capable of success. She works closely with each student to provide individualized support and active encouragement which is reinforced by establishing and maintaining close communication with families. Allie is dedicated to teaching the holistic student and creates engaging lessons that are centred around students’ interests and experiences. In her free time, Allie enjoys travelling, painting, dancing, and reading as many books as she possibly can. Though during the school year, she can usually be found on the couch with Netflix and her dog, Charlie.

Alexandra graduated from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care and a minor in sociology. While at Ryerson, she had the opportunity to complete two full year practicums that allowed her to work as a child and youth worker in schools and residential home care facilities. This opportunity allowed her to gain skills in designing and implementing developmental, preventative, and therapeutic activities to meet the needs of children and youth facing adversity. Alexandra then went on to complete her Masters of Teaching in the primary/junior levels from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. Alexandra is currently working as a supply teacher for the Toronto Districts School Board which has provided her with an abundance of knowledge and experiences. Furthermore, Alexandra has additional qualifications (AQ) in Special Education Part 1 and Reading Part 1. Alexandra believes in creating a learning environment that reflects, celebrates, and validates the diversity and complexity of all children. In her spare time, Alexandra enjoys being active and adventurous, and spending time with her family and friends. Alexandra loves to travel to experience new cultures and create memories with loved ones. One of her favorite countries she has travelled to is Croatia.

Alyssa is currently a second-year master’s student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at University of Toronto. She grew up in Ajax, Ontario. She moved to Ottawa to complete an Undergraduate Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a Minor in French at Carleton University. It was during the COVID pandemic lockdown, when Alyssa began tutoring that she decided to pursue a career in education. Alyssa grew up with a deep love of travel and would like to continue teaching abroad as she explores the world. Alyssa enjoys spending time with friends and family. She spends the majority of her free time reading books from her overflowing bookshelf or wandering around Indigo looking for more. Alyssa believes that by building a strong relationship with her students she is better able to meet their needs and grow their learning. That said, she often uses the student’s personal interest to help keep them engaged in the lessons/tutoring sessions. As a mentor Alyssa continues to develop strategies for working with children. She finds these experiences enjoyable and extremely rewarding.

Amelia Rutledge is an Ontario Certified Teacher who completed her Master’s degree at the University of Toronto (OISE) in primary/junior education and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Waterloo. Amelia has a strong passion for working with kids to explore their curiosities about the world and provide engaging, and hands-on learning opportunities. She has worked with Let’s Talk Science as a workshop facilitator, created and implemented camp programming, supported the Natural Curiosity outdoor inquiry program, and excelled in Ontario classrooms as a teacher for the past 2 years. Amelia is a qualified primary/junior educator with a specialization in Reading Part I. She deeply values evidence-based approaches to learning, that are specific to each student’s learning needs and goals. Her strengths lie in supporting students with curriculum content, helping students identify their strengths and goals, supporting organization and planning skills, and collaborating with parents and the student to create an impactful and unique learning plan. She also has a strong academic background in math and sciences and can help support senior students in these subject areas.

Anamika’s love for STEM learning began as a young girl, where she turned her family bathroom into her laboratory and would do “experiments” in the sink with soaps and shampoo galore. Currently, Anamika is a Master of Science Candidate with the Biology department at York University. She graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honors Bachelor of Science, double-majoring in Human Biology and Psychology. She is qualified to teach all levels for science, and Grades 1 through 10for math.

Anamika has previously worked with children ages 5+ in her role as a summer camp counselor, peer mentor, and has valuable skills obtained through her various volunteer positions, and research positions. Her interest in teaching has been further enriched through her role as a teaching assistant for introductory and advanced university-level biology courses.

Her desire to engage students from different educational and neurodiverse backgrounds follows her into the classroom. Anamika believes in tailoring the learning experience of her students to their interests and utilizing various methods to convey information to help her students develop learning strategies and resilience in the classroom. Anamika is always looking to be a better teacher, collecting certifications and attending workshops to engage students in an online classroom, develop learning skills, course design, etc.

Originally from Boston, Anamika has made Toronto her home for the past 8 years. In her free time, she loves to bake, watch movies, do yoga and hang out with her dog Gervais!

Andrew is an immigrant from China who has immersed himself in Canadian society and culture. In Canada, Andrew lived in Ottawa where he pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science and a minor in Mathematics. He has been working as a tutor for about 2 years now. He has tutored for over 200 hours ranging from primary to undergraduate level, main subjects including Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics. Through his tutoring experiences, he has developed a deep passion for working with young children and decided to pursue teaching as a career. Now, he is pursuing a Master of Teaching in the Intermediate/Senior levels degree from OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education) at the University of Toronto.
Through his tutoring experience, Andrew found out that students’ interest and curiosity along with positive reinforcement from the educator are required for them to succeed.
In his spare time, he enjoys long-distance walking, cycling, hiking, outdoor activities, and spending time with his friends and family. Oh! He also likes to watch animations such as Detective Conan and Food Wars!

Angelina studied mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Due to her strong performance there, she was hired by the math department to help tutor and mentor students in Calculus II. Through this opportunity, she fell in love with tutoring specifically and being able to help students 1 on 1. From there, she began tutoring independently with even more success. Angelina has helped students get into U of T, Waterloo, UBC, and more. Students, with her help, have moved up whole letter grades and improved significantly on standardized testing. Aside from tutoring, Angelina is also working on research and plans to obtain a master’s degree in educational psychology or cognitive science.

Angelina grew up moving around between different countries and experiencing different school systems. For high school, she attended an international school in Thailand where she obtained an IB Diploma. She always loved math and science but one of the best parts of high school and university was always being able to share that with others. Now, working as a tutor, it is incredible to not only continue sharing that but to see the students’ she always believed in achieving their goals.

Angelo Kontos is enjoying a long and rewarding career in education. Angelo has worked in a variety of roles for over twenty years, including being a Global Studies and English teacher, and curricular head. After gaining several years of experience teaching and developing courses, Angelo realized how important it was to a school to have passionate and caring vice-principals and principals, so he made a rewarding transition into administration and works as a secondary school principal with the Peel District School Board. He thrives on the daily challenges of leading a busy high school and the energy of his students. Angelo is a passionate learner, and often says the best school leaders always think of themselves as teachers first. Before completing his teaching certification, Angelo earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours Degree with York University. Over the years Angelo has added several qualifications to his professional practice, including specialists in Writing and Contemporary Studies. Angelo loves writing and he recently self-published a novel called The Tournament. In his spare time, when he is not writing, Angelo is reading, exercising, or taking his adorable but highly sensitive dog for walks.

Anna has been passionate about the French language since she first started her studies as a French Immersion student. Over the course of her career, she has taught FSL to Primary and Junior levels, and has been a valuable faculty member at the Bishop Strachan School since 2000, where she currently teaches JK – Grade 4 Core French. Anna also enjoys connecting with her students by coaching Athletics, such as Cross Country, and is an Advisory lead as well to support the social emotional well-being of her students.

Ashley is an Ontario Certified Teacher and has recently completed the Master of Teacher program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto (Primary/Junior). She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo (Honours Sociology, French) and a Graduate Diploma in Community Health from the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Before teaching, Ashley’s journey took her on a different path of working in child welfare and mental health for many years as a frontline worker and manager. Her previous work experiences bring a unique lens to teaching and she often draws on these skills to support students’ growth and development. She has many years of experience working with children and youth in a variety of roles, including teaching internationally in Australia’s outback.

Ashley strives for balance and is a detail-oriented individual who is meticulous and methodical, yet playful and youthful, which helps in easily connecting with children and youth. Ashley is a strong communicator who has high energy yet brings a calm demeanour and will always meet students where they are at. Her teaching and tutoring style is one where both student and teacher co-create an environment that is equitable, creative, joyful, and collaborative. She strives to foster a space where students feel seen and focuses on breaking down challenging tasks into manageable pieces. She will always approach teaching through a culturally safe lens with a focus on social-emotional learning.

Ashley’s strengths are in the areas of Academic coaching, Primary/Junior curriculum, and Social Sciences/Humanities. She also has a strong research background and has presented at several conferences. In her personal life, Ashley is a self-taught baker and runs a small batch baking business. She loves to travel, whether it is exploring close to home or going on big adventures with her partner. She practices mindfulness, and maintains an active lifestyle through hiking, cycling, yoga, and playing with her young nephew.

Athi is a recent graduate from the University of Toronto, having completed his Honours Bachelor of Science in Conservation, Human Biology and Geoscience. As you can tell, he’s quite the STEAM fan and has shared his education by working at the Ontario Science Centre for the past 10 years! He is currently a Host Scientist and Science Educator, delivering curriculum-connected science and math programs to both the general public and school groups. You might also see him in Ministry of Education videos and hopes to be the next Bill Nye! He has been with Prep Academy Tutors since 2018, focusing on tutoring and helping students understand and excel in the maths and sciences. He knows firsthand that confidence in the course and balance are key factors in reaching success and is eager to help his students master those same skills! In his spare time, he enjoys playing chess, creating art with photography and furthering science literacy!

Augustus is a first year Master of Teaching student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Augustus’ teachables as a Master of Teaching student are Mathematics and Geography. Augustus has a Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto, where he has a double major in Astronomy and Geography, he also has a minor in Mathematics. Augustus has an international background growing up in Hong Kong and graduated the international baccalaureate program with higher level Physics, Chemistry, Geography and Chinese B. As a Master of Teaching student, Augustus has experience being a classroom teacher, where he taught grade 11 college math. He has also tutored in both Canada and Hong Kong, his most recent experience being a volunteer instructor at Study Circle for Grade 1 to 6 students. He has also worked as a private tutor for students ranging from Grade 1 to 13.

Beth is an Ontario Certified Teacher within the Primary/Junior division. She graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Anthropology and Philosophy. Beth then traveled to Asia, where she discovered her passion for teaching. She taught English in Taiwan for over eight years before returning to Canada in 2012 to become a certified teacher. Beth received a Bachelor of Education from York University in the Urban Diversity program at Regent Park in 2013. She has since volunteered as a classroom teacher in Regent Park, worked as a childcare provider for two pre-school aged children, and most recently returned to Taiwan last year to complete a one year contract teaching grade one using the Ontario curriculum.

Beth is an experienced teacher with a strong commitment to students and their learning. Having worked with children of all ages, she believes in creating an atmosphere where students participate actively in their learning. She feels students should see themselves reflected within the curriculum in order to enrich their learning experience. As a teacher, Beth also strives to provide a variety of differentiated instruction and positive reinforcement to support student achievement and learning.

In her spare time, she loves listening to music and enjoying the outdoors. She is also passionate about the arts and is an avid storyteller.

Caitlin has an Honours Bachelor degree and a Master’s of Museum Studies from University of Toronto. She is currently completing her Master’s of Teaching from Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at University of Toronto. Her background is in museum educational programming, and she is also an experienced tutor.

Carol Ann is an Ontario Certified Teacher. She has focused her more than 25 year career on two distinct curriculum areas: Special Education (Grades 6,7,8, all subjects) and English as a Second Language (Grade 7 through University). She has also been a School Librarian for grades K-5. Teaching in these areas has taken Carol Ann to many parts of the world. Her classroom in the Bahamas sometimes had goats walking through. In Greece, the siesta meant she started work at 4:00 pm and finished at 10. In New Zealand, kea birds pulled the rubber windshield wipers off her car in school parking lots. Along the way, she earned a Masters of Education degree (in Toronto) lectured at several universities (Monash and University of Sydney in Australia). She earned her PhD. while traveling regularly between Rhodes and the University of Toronto. Her students were her very best teachers. Everywhere she went students, despite differences in culture and language, responded positively to to her belief in them as capable learners.

Caroline is an Ontario Certified Teacher. She grew up in Guelph, moving to Toronto work as a High School Science teacher. She graduated from Brock University with a degree in Concurrent Education, majoring in Physics and a minor in Chemistry. Caroline has always wanted to be a teacher, from as far back as she can remember. She especially loves helping children make connections and discovering the spark of learning. Caroline recognizes and adapts her teaching approach to best accommodate the child’s learning style to ultimately foster a love for Science. In order to achieve this, she believes in building strong relationships with her students through creating a safe and an inclusive environment. During her years of teaching, Caroline has had experience with Physics at both the University and International Baccalaureate level. Teaching students at various levels has taught Caroline the importance of open communication between the teacher and student. In her spare time, Caroline loves skiing with her family in the winter and taking her dogs for long walks in the summer.

Chithra is an exceptional educator who completed her Masters in Teaching from OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education) at the University of Toronto in 2021. Her academic journey began with a psychology degree specializing in child development from York University during her undergraduate years. With an extensive and diverse teaching background, Chithra stands out as a remarkable teacher who leaves a lasting impact. Having mentored and tutored more than 50 students, Chithra’s dedication to education is evident. She has enriched young minds as an English language instructor in Thailand and as a primary school teacher within the Kativik School board situated in Nunavik, Quebec. Notably, during the summers, Chithra assumes the role of Director of Academics for Eli Camps, an international language camp hosted at Victoria Campus, University of Toronto. Her commitment to personal growth is evident, as she consistently pursues courses in pedagogy and curriculum development, ensuring her teaching methods remain current and effective. Notably, her expertise extends to innovative techniques in literacy and mathematics instruction. Chithra’s classroom is a hub of creativity and engagement, fostering an atmosphere where students genuinely relish the learning process. Recognized for her innate empathy and compassionate demeanor, both parents and students admire her natural ability to connect on a personal level. Chithra possesses a unique talent for tailoring lessons to cater to the diverse array of learners under her guidance. Above all, Chithra’s unwavering dedication is rooted in her commitment to providing every child with the exceptional education they deserve, tailored to their unique potential.

Claudia is a certified Ontario teacher and graduated from OISE with a Master of Teaching in 2020. She also has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Waterloo, majoring in Chemistry and minoring in Psychology. During her undergraduate degree, she had a chance to be a Teaching Assistant in a 2nd year chemistry lab, where she truly found her love of teaching and working with students. Claudia is currently teaching Science at Branksome Hall, in Toronto, with many years of tutoring under her belt. She has qualifications in Senior and Intermediate Science, Chemistry and Senior Math. Through tutoring, Claudia has seen the difference one-on-one support can make and strives to support students through their learning in science and math. Claudia believes that when a child feels safe and supported, they thrive and can be successful in all domains of life. In her free time, Claudia enjoys going to the gym, playing and watching hockey and hopes to travel more in the future.

Crystal is an Ontario Certified Teacher. She completed her Undergraduate Degree in History and her Teacher Education at Lakehead University. Born and raised in Thunder Bay, she now lives and works in Toronto. Crystal grew up in a family of educators and took every opportunity to follow in their footsteps. From babysitter, to drama camp assistant, to youth programming facilitator, Crystal has had her fair share of teaching and working with children. However, it was through the role of Community Outreach Coordinator that she discovered her passion of teaching children in one-on-one settings. It is through these unique teaching opportunities that Crystal is able to make learning as experiential, self-directed, and meaningful as possible! In her spare time, Crystal volunteers with an organization called Future Possibilities for Kids where she works one-to-one with children ages 9-12 on leadership building activities and the completion of a community based Goal of Contribution. She empowers students to be the best they can be by building their confidence, understanding their needs, and supporting their growth. Finally, she believes that each student, given the proper support and resources, can achieve their own version of success.

Crystal’s work as a teacher and mentor have included classroom settings as well as individual tutoring. She is currently working with the Durham Regional District School Board. Additionally, Crystal is a trained EQAO and OSSLT teacher. She worked with Grade 3 and 9 students in preparation for the benchmark assessments. Crystal developed and implemented balanced literacy activities and assessed student learning. Her work with the OSSLT preparation test focussed on preparing boys with the tools and experiences to help them read and write more effectively.

Crystal continues to pursue ongoing professional learning opportunities. She has completed mentorship programs that shared strategies for guiding student choices and planning for post-secondary learning. She has completed her Junior Division ABQ as well as her Junior Math Additional Qualifications.

David is an OCT certified Teacher. He graduated from Queen’s university with a degree in physics in 2015. From there, he decided to pursue a career in teaching and went on to complete a Masters of Teaching from U of T in April of 2017. He has spent time teaching in both Toronto and Seoul, South Korea. He loves learning new math and science concepts, and he is excited about helping others succeed and work towards their educational goals. He believes that all students are capable of personal success if they are given the right opportunities and have a strong work ethic. In his spare time, David loves to play sports, go camping, watch movies, and travel! He is consistently thinking about 1 of 2 things: Where to travel next, and how to solve that tough quadratic equation.

Diana, Dee for short, has a Bachelor of Education from Canisius College in New York, USA. While attending Canisius, she received a specialty in teaching reading. Being educated in the USA, helped Dee to see another city educates their children. She brings that experience with her today. Dee has been teaching core subjects for over 20 years. Her experience lies within the grades of 1 – 6. Additionally, she also was a Special Education teacher for grades 7 & 8, where she was able to learn about different needs and learning styles. Dee prides herself in teaching to the student, the curriculum which is outlined.

Elise Desbordes is a Master’s student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, who has traveled far and wide to pursue her passion for sciences. Growing up in a quaint French village and surviving the demanding engineering studies in Paris, she brings a unique perspective to her tutoring efforts. With three years of experience helping high school and undergraduate students in sciences, she is driven by her love for teaching and the art of turning confusion into clarity and stress into success. Elise’s infectious enthusiasm and caring personality create a positive learning environment and inspire her students to build confidence in their unique abilities. She is committed to making learning fun and fulfilling to help her students achieve their full potential and succeed both academically and personally. In her spare time, Elise likes to engage with new people and enjoys playing rugby or any other outdoor sports with her friends.

Elisheva B. is an Ontario Certified Teacher with the Toronto District School Board. She grew up in Toronto and completed her Masters of Teaching at University of Toronto, Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE). Her research focused on how teachers can support the social and emotional wellbeing of students with learning disabilities in the classroom. As well, she also completed a Honours Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) in Family, Community Social Services and Social Service Work Diploma at the University of Guelph-Humber. It was through completing social work practicums in Toronto schools that Elisheva gravitated towards working with children and supporting children with exceptional needs. She has completed her Special Education part 1 qualification to enrich her learning and understanding around supporting students with exceptionalities. Elisheva has taught visual art and drama to junior and intermediate students, and in doing so, has helped them build their self-confidence, creativity, and public speaking skills. She has supported the development of reading, writing, vocabulary and math skills to primary, junior, and intermediate students through actively working in TDSB schools. As a teacher, Elisheva takes a strength-based approach by encouraging student accountability, curiosity, and exploration through the learning process. On a personal level, she enjoys exploring nature and all things that have to do with the arts such as music, dance, visual arts, and embroidery. Elisheva is looking forward to being a part of your child’s educational journey.

Ellie graduated from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Studies. She then went to complete her Bachelor of Education in Primary/Junior at University of Ottawa in 2014. Ellie has a wide variety of experience working with children in school settings, over 4 years of summer camp and in childcare working as a Registered Early Childhood Educator. She has worked with children from pre- school to grade eight in the areas of mathematics and literacy. From these experiences she has developed the passion for teaching children and ensuring that they are able to reach their goals and success’ in life.

Ellie is a certified teacher and academic coach. Ellie has experience teaching all subjects to students from grade 1 – grade 8 in a classroom and one-on-one. Through academic coaching Ellie is able to help students learn strategies for studying, organizational skills (note taking, writing and reading strategies) and time management skills. Ellie believes that these are all essential for students to have to become independent learners that they will use to reach their academic goals throughout their education. Additionally, Ellie is a trained SSAT coach who enjoys guiding students though the preparations for the test-taking process.

One of Ellie’s strengths is math and she is passionate about helping students find the confidence and strengthen their understanding in math concepts. In her spare time, she enjoys playing on her basketball team, watching her brother play hockey and spending time with the family.

Emily Agnew is an Ontario Certified Teacher. She grew up in a small town in New Jersey and taught drama and music during the summers at her local theatre, which ignited a love of education and outreach. Emily went on to receive a Bachelor of Music and spent her twenties traveling the world as a singer, dancer, actor and puppeteer. She transitioned into teaching, receiving a Masters of Science in Education, with a focus on literacy in disadvantaged and racially marginalized communities for her graduate thesis. While in graduate school, she was awarded a fellowship to teach reading in the New York City Public Schools. In 2011, after completing a summer music program at Yale University,  she moved to Toronto. In addition to teaching in the elementary grades, Emily has taught art, music, and drama specialties where she has proved to be an enthusiastic and innovative teacher.

Recently, Emily took part in a virtual forum ‘Anti-Racist Education and Parenting: The Life-Long Journey’ with Nastassia Subban to learn about how to model anti-racist education, address racialized communities and work for equity within the schools. She also participated in a virtual choir project, ‘Qilak’, with Indigenous composer Andrew Balfour, and in the summer of 2021 completed a Certificate in Indigenous Canada through University of Alberta. Emily enjoys reading, hiking, singing and being with her family

Emily is a graduate of the Master of Teaching program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She is currently a supply teacher in the Durham District School Board and the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. Emily is from Ajax, Ontario and was an elite level competitive swimmer throughout her elementary, high school and undergraduate career. She competed at Olympic Trials and won MVP at her conference championships in the NCAA for the University of Denver. Originally wanting to be a med student, it wasn’t until she took a science communication course that she realized she wanted to change the course of science education. Emily aspires to dismantle systemic barriers, make learning accessible for all and make education personally meaningful. When she is not working, she can be found nose deep in a book with her cat on her lap or watching a Leafs game with family and friends. Emily works to involve student’s personal interests in their learning as that is what helped her excel in her own academics.

My name is Enrique Ramirez, I am a French as a Second Language (FSL) and Math teacher from Toronto, Ontario.

 

My Bachelor of Education was conferred as part of the first Consecutive cohort of French teachers trained at the Glendon campus of York University. I also earned my undergraduate double major in French Studies and Math (along with the Trilingual Certificate of Excellence in English, French and Spanish) at the same campus. 

 

I started my Masters of Education (with a focus on math teaching) at the end of August 2020.

 

From October 2019 to June 2020, I completed a work year abroad in southwest France as the official English language assistant and Spanish tutor. My duties principally entailed leading classroom activities and reinforcing the teacher’s lessons, in both the elementary and secondary levels, at “Lycée Jean Taris” in the Bordeaux Academy school board.

 

I look forward to bringing my strengthened French skills to the classroom when I teach FSL (and math in French) along with elementary and junior school subjects in an english or francophone classroom environment.

Genevieve in an Ontario Certified teacher. She is qualified to teach Math, ESL, Economics, Business, Law, Accounting, Social Science, Philosophy and Special Education. She has over 10 years’ experience tutoring students both online and offline. Genevieve enjoys helping students of all ages achieve their full potential, from elementary to post-secondary.

Godwin is an Ontario Certified Teacher. Born in Lyon, France, he absorbed French as his first language. Godwin moved to Toronto to complete his studies, where he graduated with honours from the University of Toronto, receiving his Bachelor of Education. He has always been interested in how children develop, which is why his undergrad is in Early Childhood Education. Godwin is a well-seasoned traveller as he has worked on cruise ships and is now married to a Flight Attendant. All of this travelling as made him appreciate different cultures and languages. Godwin has been a teacher with the TDSB for 10 years, teaching all the subjects, with a focus on French. He has completed multiple French as a Second Language AQs, including the French Specialist AQ. He also does a lot of the sports coaching at his school, getting teams ready for tournaments. In his spare time, Godwin enjoys playing and watching sports, reading and spending time with his two sons and wife. Godwin brings a solid background, working with inner-city youth, he understands how to cater his lessons to diverse needs.

Hannah Dolan is a temporary Ontario Certified Teacher. Hannah has worked with students ranging from kindergarten, to middle school and high school students. Hannah received her Bachelor of Kinesiology (Honours) degree from Brock University in 2021. It was her passion for both recreational and competitive sports that drove her into the world of coaching. From hockey to soccer to basketball, it was through coaching that she discovered her deep love for educating and empowering children to realize their full potential. When she made the decision to pursue a career in teaching, she chose Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario for the Bachelor of Education program for the Junior/Intermediate levels. She was given the opportunity to teach in a Grade 8 classroom at John Sweeney Catholic Elementary School for the 2021-2022 school year, where she taught Language, Science, Financial Literacy, Drama, and Physical Education. Hannah’s bubbly personality, as well as the significance she places on building rapport with her students, makes them comfortable asking for help and understanding the material. She has always loved working with children and looks forward to all of their ‘Aha!’ moments. Hannah will spend the summer traveling to both Eastern and Western Canada to teach and facilitate secondary and post-secondary students about non profit organizations and social enterprises that support social justice initiatives.

Hannah is an Ontario Certified Teacher with a Master of Arts in Child Study and Education from the University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). During Hannah’s time at OISE, she received the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study Practice Teaching Award. Currently, Hannah holds qualifications in the Primary and Junior divisions and is in the process of securing her Intermediate Math designation. Hannah’s approach to teaching is child-centered, research-informed, and heavily inquiry-based. She also completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto studying Sociology, Education, Psychology, and Mental Health. Hannah has represented Canada internationally at the World University Games, claiming a bronze medal. Hannah’s inquiry-based practice challenges students to become agents of their own learning. Hannah believes that powerful and authentic teaching and learning emerge when meaning is curated, connections are developed, internal biases are challenged, and minds are engaged.

Harris is an OCT certified teacher working towards a career in data science. Born and raised in Honduras, Harris has a Masters degree in Physics and a Bachelors degree in Mathematics. Harris has two years experience teaching high school in Toronto and a total of 12 years of combined tutoring experience dating back to his Undergraduate years. During Graduate school, Harris taught physics labs to pre-med students and gave lectures in physics to first year physics classes. His experience spans from tutoring math (grades 9-12 and first year university) and physics (grades 11-12, IB and first year university), tutoring grade 10 science, grade 11 computer science, grade 12 data management, and grade 12 calculus from the TDSB curriculum. Given his data science pursuit, he can also be of assistance with beginner’s Python programming language as well. Most computer science courses in high school are moving towards teaching object-oriented programming. Harris is a huge fan of comedy and sports so he uses both of those aspects to connect with students.

Heidi Seibert is an Ontario Certified Teacher. She is from Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she completed a BA from Dalhousie University, majoring in Russian and Spanish. Between University and beginning her career as a teacher, Heidi lived and travelled in Japan where she taught English to students of various ages. After living overseas, Heidi spent some time in Central America furthering her love of languages. Heidi then returned to Canada and completed a BEd from Mount Saint Vincent University before moving to Toronto where she has been a teacher for over 20 years. Heidi has worked predominantly in grades 2-6 where she has gained a wealth of experience in both literacy and numeracy. For the last few years of her career, she has been an English as a Second Language teacher as well as a Special Education teacher. This role has been particularly rewarding and Heidi has gained a lot of knowledge in how children learn to read. In her free time, Heidi enjoys long walks, baking, photography and of course reading. Heidi contributes to her school environment by initiating new learning opportunities for her students, organizes clubs and also volunteers with the CNIB. Heidi continues to have a passion for travel and learning from others.

Ian grew up in Calgary, completing a BA and MA in Religious Studies at the University of Calgary, before moving to Toronto, where he completed his PhD at the University of Toronto’s Department for the Study of Religion in 2017. Along the way, Ian also studied Sanskrit at the University of Pune in India and worked for several years in the research department of a Bay Street financial services firm.
Ian has been teaching at the university-level since 2009, in the areas of Religion and History, most recently at the University of Toronto and the University of Western Ontario. He is passionate about teaching students to read, write, and, most importantly, think critically about the world around them. Seeing students master their course work is amazing; seeing students become effective, organized ,and dynamic young men and women is even better.
In his spare time, Ian enjoys reading spy novels, the occasional Netflix binge, running, playing basketball and coaching his twin boys’ baseball team.

Icell completed her Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the American University in Cairo, Egypt, and her MSc in Environment and Sustainable Technology from the University of Manchester, UK. Throughout her 15-year career, she has worked as a Solar Energy Engineer, a Kids’ Summer Camp instructor, and a freshman Physics Professor. However, her most rewarding role has always been one-on-one tutoring with students, where she develops tailored teaching strategies to suit their learning needs and pace.

Idi M. has turned his passion for outreach and community service into a career of education and recreational programming. His work with children started with running soccer programs, various camps, and instructional programs such as Kids Can-Bike. His desire to become a teacher was intensified through soccer programs he coordinated between 2006 and 2013. In 2013, shortly after completing his Bachelor of Education at University of Toronto (OISE) and becoming an Ontario Certified Teacher, Idi entered into the world of education as a primary teacher in Kuwait. Teaching in the middle east proved to be a highly rewarding experience. Working in the private school sector, you meet students who are expats like yourself. Primarily Idi delivered the Ontario curriculum with the support and leadership of Ontario trained and experienced principals and colleagues. Teaching in a K-12 school allowed him to increase his love of teaching Language Arts and Math. But there was more to the work than delivering instruction, assessments and support in the classroom.

The most rewarding part of the work is always to engage students in a manner that meets their learning needs. The goal is always to foster or maintain their joy of learning. Idi’s greatest strength is his ability to create an open line of communication with parents and students. Hearing and empathizing with the needs of others is essential in creating a positive learning environment. This philosophy comes from years of working with children with vast learning needs. It also comes from the ample one-on-one tuition that comes with overseas teaching. Students were often able to improve in their class work after having their learning challenges addressed through greater dialogue and a more appropriate pace. Subjects and concepts can seem overwhelming until the better method is employed to make the material more attainable. This is where his patient approach proves vital. He has spent the last four years teaching and travelling. Exploring various countries in Africa, Asia and the Gulf has broadened his world view. It helped cultivate his belief that no two students are alike and everyone can learn. Idi’s interests include basketball, reading, travel and spending time with family and friends. All this is to say that Idi M. has the skills, experience and insight to serve as a great contributor in the role of educator.

Ilana is an Ontario Certified Teacher who is currently the French teacher for students in grades 4-8 at Danforth Gardens Public School in Scarborough. Before becoming a teacher, she began her love for learning when she attended Ottawa’s Carleton University in the Journalism Program. From there, she moved to Montreal and fell in love with the vibrant culture and the immersion in a language other than English.

When she finished her studies, she decided to explore more of the world and other languages, and backpacked through South America for 7 months with her then-boyfriend, now-husband. When they returned to Canada, they kept up their explorations and moved across the country to Victoria, British Columbia where she completed a diploma in Environmental Restoration. For the final piece of the diploma program, she wrote a children’s novel. She connected with teachers so that she could read excerpts from her book and teach young people about the importance of the environment. This is when she realized that she wanted to become a teacher!

As we know, Victoria is far from Ottawa and Montreal which is where Ilana’s family is from. So, she applied to OISE’s (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education) Master of Teaching program so that she could be closer to home and become a teacher. Two short years later, she was hired as a permanent teacher, and she could not be happier!

As the French teacher, co-lead of the Green Team and Student Council, and coach of various sports, everyday is a busy one. However, her initiative, strong communication skills and ability to prioritize and effectively manage multiple tasks, make it a very enjoyable workplace. Her co-workers tell her that her outgoing personality and sense of humour make it a pleasure to work with her. She is a positive, solution-oriented person with excellent writing and communications skills, in both English and French.

Outside of work, she volunteers with environmental organizations, such as Rain Gardens United. In this role, she attends community farmers’ markets to do outreach work. When she is not working and volunteering, she is either hitting her peers with foam balls in her dodgeball league, or exploring Ontario’s rivers and hiking trails with her husband.

My name is Jacob Friest and I am a 36-year-old OCT qualified teacher. I have over nine years of experience in education that includes teaching, mentoring, coaching, and developing individualized programs. Prior to my time with the TCDSB and YRDSB, I taught at Ascot Vale Special School in Melbourne; Oakwood Academy- an additional needs school- in Mississauga, ON; and Jack Tizard SEN School in London, England. I have also taught in Uganda and India while working alongside local educators. Furthermore, I have several years of experience working 1:1 with students between the ages of 4-21.
I began my education in Windsor, ON and completed my Bachelor of Arts in Burnaby, BC, at Simon Fraser University. I then received my B.Ed. with Distinction from the University of Western Ontario. During my years living in Vancouver, I found my passion in life: to teach, help children and young adults, and experience the world. I have now travelled to over 60 countries and profoundly enjoy exploring new areas and cultures. Other than travelling, my interests include: cooking, hiking, music, nature, reading, sports (especially hockey), and exploring the many ravines and parks with my wife and dog Nabi.
I thoroughly enjoy being a teacher, leader, tutor, guide, mentor, and coach. There is no greater satisfaction than helping another individual discover their potential and realize their own dreams and goals. Lastly, I enjoy working in a team environment and offer a positive and vivacious personality to any task.

Jacob Friest

Jasmine is an Ontario Certified Teacher. Growing up in Mississauga, she went to the University of Guelph where she received her B.A in Psychology with a minor in Marketing. With her lifelong goal of becoming a teacher, she then went to the University of Ottawa to complete her Bachelor of Education. Learning and seeking new knowledge continues to be her passion as she is completing her Master of Education at the University of Ottawa. Jasmine has always taken on leadership and mentoring roles in the jobs she had throughout High School, University, and Post-Grad. Working in various positions such as a ski instructor and a nanny, she has had experience working alongside and developing skills in children of all ages. She is excited to continue working as an Occasional Teacher with the YRDSB this upcoming school year. In her spare time, Jasmine enjoys listening to podcasts, going on hikes, and spending time with friends and family, as well as her cat!

Jenny is a K-12 Ontario Certified Teacher who has specializations in Math and French. Jenny is currently a secondary teacher working with Halton District School Board and Toronto District School Board teaching Core French, French Immersion, Mathematics and Mandarin. She has experience and certifications in SSAT Prep, and IB programs and taken on various roles; teacher, mentor, tutor, coach and supervisor. Jenny believes that all students will succeed when given the right tools and resources based on the needs of the student. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, cooking, badminton, volleyball and exploring new music.

Jenny is a graduate of the Masters of Teaching program at OISE, University of Toronto. She studied Biological Sciences at the University of Windsor and is passionate about STEM outreach. She has engaged with a wide range of youth in diverse environments as a program coordinator, workshop facilitator, tutor, teaching assistant, and more. Her favourite type of teaching involves interactive, hands-on activities that spark curiosity in students, guiding them to make their own learning connections. Jenny believes in student-centered teaching and understands the unique strengths each student brings. She practices a growth mindset, supporting and encouraging her students to recognize their potential and capability. When her nose isn’t buried in a book, Jenny enjoys exploring the outdoors, hiking and biking wherever she can. She loves photographing nature and her camera has a permanent spot in her backpack during these adventures. As a result of her abundance of mountain and tree photographs, she is often the source for desktop and mobile screensavers for her family and friends. As thanks, they often let her win at board games

Julia is a passionate and enthusiast teacher. She a graduate of the Masters of Teaching at OISE. Julia is currently working with the TDSB as an occasional teacher. A Toronto native, Julia lived for seven years in Halifax, Nova Scotia. There she attended the University of King’s College and Dalhousie and graduated with First Class Honours in Theatre and English. Before pursuing her Masters, Julia worked in Theatre on both the administrative and creative side. Her favourite role was as director where she found immense joy in discovering the unique gifts and perspectives of every team member and fostering these gifts through collaboration and play. She finds this same joy in teaching; Julia loves the process of understanding her students and helping them see how they can extend their gifts to every subject. She rejects deficit-based thinking and believes academic growth is a matter of unlocking the inherent potential in each student. For her Masters, Julia is conducting research into successful and total inclusion of neurodivergent students and she is passionate about re-imagining how we support students with intellectual, developmental and learning disabilities.

Julie is a writing and literature professor at a Toronto college with a Master of Arts in English from McGill University. After completing her B.Ed at Queen’s University in 2005, Julie began her teaching career as a high school English teacher. Following her desire to travel and live abroad, Julie spent a year teaching ESL at an international English school in Dublin, Ireland. While living in Dublin, Julie travelled throughout Europe and visited sites full of literary history, such as the homes of James Joyce in Dublin, Victor Hugo in Paris, and John Keats in Rome. These experiences convinced her that she was not finished being a student, so upon returning to Canada, Julie decided to pursue her MA and wrote her thesis on James Joyce’s short story collection, Dubliners. For the past 10 years, Julie has been helping college students improve their writing, analytical, and academic skills.

Kameisha Edwards is an Ontario certified teacher with three years of experience working with the Toronto District School Board. She has previously worked as a Behaviour Therapist with 5 years of hands on experience in Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI). Kameisha is proficient in working with children diagnosed with developmental and intellectual disabilities. She possesses additional qualifications in teaching English language learners and special education. She have effectively been implementing culturally responsive pedagogy, inquiry based learning and individualized learning plans to meet children’s needs throughout the years. Kameisha is compassionate, well organized and patient with excellent communication, interpersonal and social skills along with strong determination of providing the highest quality of services to all students in order for them to discover their unique potential. Kameisha has completed her studies in Primary/Junior Education at Cardiff Metropolitan University and looking forward to becoming your child’s tutor.

Karen is an Ontario Certified Teacher since 2014 and is currently teaching a Grade 2/3 class. She grew up in Toronto and speaks English anad Cantonese. After graduating from Queens University with a focus on Arts-Based Education, Karen pursued her two passions; teaching children and travelling. She started her teaching career overseas in Vietnam and Cambodia. In 2017 she moved back home to Toronto and has since been teaching at various schools across the Toronto District School Board from Kindergarten to Grade 8. Her favourite subject is Mathematics and in her spare time she enjoys tutoring children to discover a love for mathematics. Karen has tutored 1-on-1 for the past 6 years both online and in-person. She builds a strong and positive relationship with children that ensure engagement in learning and developing strategies for problem-solving, reading, writing, etc.. For more information on Karen’s additional qualifications, her OCT number is 652670.

Having been an Ontario Certified Educator since 1996, Kathleen has much experience in engaging young learners and inspiring a love of learning in her students. Whether it be in the mainstream classroom, a small group setting or in an individualized teaching role, Kathleen can utilize her years of experience and education to understand her students’ needs in order to develop and implement a plan for success with lots of fun and enrichment infused.

Kristie Cairns is an Ontario Certified Teacher who has taught both internationally and in Canada. She has called Toronto home for nearly her whole life, growing up in the city and completing a double degree program at the University of Toronto, receiving both her Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts. Always believing in the power of education to provide exposure to and understanding of different cultures and with a desire to put theory into practice, Kristie realized her adventurer nature by teaching in Beijing, China and Jeju island, South Korea. In these locations, Kristie taught at a private boarding school and an international girls school. It is with a special fondness for these two places that Kristie remembers first growing her elementary expertise and gaining an appreciation for the place of meaningful, culturally-relevant curriculum and teaching for the well-being of learners.

Having taught and travelled abroad for three years, Kristie returned to Toronto and joined the faculty of a prominent independent school where she has taught in many roles including as a teacher-librarian, Grade 5 teacher and most recently, a Senior Kindergarten teacher. Over the course of her teaching career, Kristie has thrived in working with elementary students and has a genuine enthusiasm for guiding students in their foundational learning in the early years. Kristie greatly enjoys teaching reading, writing, vocabulary acquisition and developing social-emotional competencies, but is able to deliver a wide range of elementary curriculum. Kristie has lived the experience of working with students in a virtual learning format as a result of current times and has been commended by parents for connecting with learners despite the obstacle of screens. Even at this moment in time, Kristie strongly believes that building connection with students through engaging learner interests and wonderings is key to helping students feel heard, understood and better able to succeed in both realms of academia and personal development. Kristie enjoys writing stories, rock climbing, spending time with her dog and has been known fondly by students for her ever-changing hair colour!

Lena Sherwood is currently a student pursuing a Bachelor of Science with a major in Evolutionary Biology, a major in Archaeology, and a minor in Immunology at the University of Toronto. She is interested in research and has been working alongside a tenure Professor and postdoc on their ecologic research. She also got an internship working with an anthropological UofT Professor researching sustainable indigenous practices. Prior to coming to Toronto she lived in Singapore for 9 years where she was in one of the most renowned French International schools. Not only did she excel in her science courses, especially in Biology where she was the top student of the class, but she also chose to do extra English Literature, English History, and English Geography classes so as to graduate with the highest Honours (Mention Très Bien) and the prestigious OIB title. Yet one of her most proud accomplishments is having managed to help her high school friend pass his Grade 12 Final Maths exam- he thought he was bound to fail. Since middle school Lena learnt that one of the best and most rewarding ways to learn her course material was by helping teach her friends. She found it so enriching to help assist her friends gain confidence and achieve success in their courses that she thus jumped at the opportunity to become a tutor. In the past she has also tutored several middle-schoolers in math, biology, and french and is looking forward to further help students to reach their full potential.

Lesley, or Les as she likes to be called, is a certified teacher of 22 years.  Les came from Montreal to complete M.A. courses at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and then completed her teacher certification as well as specialist courses in Special Education. She later acquired a  Masters in Social Work at U of T with a focus on children and families.
Les loves kids and likes people. She is a kind, energetic and creative person who would like to share her love of teaching with younger learners in the earlier grades.  Les has a profound love of books and reading and art. Even before she had her own child, Les began to collect children’s books and is happy to have a little library of her own.
Les is experienced working with students with diverse learning styles and challenges (including learning differences / disabilities, attention issues and anxiousness).  She is well-equipped to build an effective plan to support young learners on their journey to tackling reading, language and numeracy skills. Les has excellent people skills and will communicate clearly with parents about their child’s progress. She employs creative strategies and engaging resources for learners. Les has a patient, friendly and playful approach to teaching.

Lina Wu is an Ontario Certified Teacher with basic teaching qualifications in Junior-Intermediate. Born and raised in Toronto, she moved to St. Catharines to complete her studies in Concurrent Education at Brock University. Throughout her six-year program, she completed her teaching internships with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, Peel District School Board and the Toronto District School Board. After graduating in June 2022 and receiving her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees, she continues to immerse herself in the education industry and works at a Montessori School. Lina is always hungry for growth (and a platter of sushi). She has additional qualifications in Primary Education and Special Education to further her knowledge and grow as an educator. In her spare time, you can find her spending time with her loved ones, exploring the city, or playing her cello/ piano. Her friendly personality and her quick rapport with her students allow them to feel comfortable asking for help and understanding the content. Lina has always loved working with children and looks forward to all of their ‘Aha!’ moments. Tutoring is something she would like to continue to do outside of her regular teaching position.

Lindsay Séguin is an Ontario Certified Teacher. She grew up in Scarborough, Ontario and completed a Bachelor of Arts, Honours Degree, with a double major in English and History, at York University and was on the Dean’s Honour Roll. Her studies included a year abroad at the University of York in the U.K. which led to many great friendships and amazing travel opportunities. As well, she completed a Bachelor of Education at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (known now as Ontario Tech University) with Highest Distinction. In addition to travelling during her year of study in the U.K., Lindsay has taken the opportunity to continue to explore the world following the completion of her degrees. She has also pursued new teaching interests through the completion of additional qualifications, most notably in the areas of French as a Second Language (Parts 1 and 2) and Guidance and Career Education. She has also completed Wilfrid Laurier University’s mental health in the classroom certificate so that she can better meet the needs of her students. Lindsay possesses the qualifications to teach from Kindergarten to grade 12 and has experience teaching at both the elementary and secondary levels, but is currently teaching full-time at the secondary level. Lindsay is dedicated to helping her students thrive and grow so they can meet their full potential. For this reason, in addition to her teaching responsibilities, Lindsay is involved in extracurricular sports and student associations in her school. In her spare time, Lindsay enjoys hiking, skiing, paddle boarding and swimming, as well as spending time with her friends and family.

Magdalena has a master´s degree in Children’s Literature. She works as a Spanish tutor and as an academic writing teacher in Spanish language. She in an enthusiastic bird watcher!

Margarette is a second-year student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. She recently graduated from Ryerson University with a degree in Early Childhood Studies and has completed six placements with children ranging in age from toddlers to school-age. During her final undergraduate placement, she participated in a specialized program focusing on early reading intervention strategies with grade 1 and 2 students. In this program, she assisted children who had not been successful in their first attempt at reading and helped them to become fluent and competent readers. She enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to further her education and pursue a career as a teacher. While working with kids, she uncovered a love for photography and cooking. She has now begun collecting film cameras and documenting various moments in her life while also learning how to cook. She enjoys preparing a full meal for her family in her spare time, from appetizers to dessert. Margarette enjoys trying new hobbies and learning as much as she can. She plans to incorporate her enthusiasm for exploration and her desire to gain knowledge of all sorts into her classroom. Margarette continues working with children while participating in practicums. She has completed a total of two practicums, the first with grades 4/5/6 and the second with grades 1/2. She finds these experiences enjoyable and incredibly rewarding

Mark is a Primary/Junior Ontario Certified Teacher from Toronto. He graduated from the University of Guelph with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in English, and he completed his Bachelors of Education at Queen’s University. Mark has continued his professional development in teaching by taking additional qualification courses in Primary/Junior Math and Reading, as well as Intermediate English. These studies have helped Mark expand his teaching strategies to help students build on their mathematical thinking, reading, writing, and vocabulary. Mark also has experience as an ESL teacher through TDSB’s Teaching English as a Second Language program. Reading and writing has been a lifelong passion for Mark, and he is always excited to share that passion with his students.

Mark’s passion for teaching started with soccer coaching. This job showed Mark how satisfying teaching can be, in making lessons fun and engaging, as well as watching students progress with each session.​ ​This passion carried over to his practicum experience teaching in Toronto as well as his time as a supply Educational Assistant in Ottawa. Working as a teacher, especially as an Educational Assistant, gave Mark an insight into how impactful a 1 on 1 interaction can be. Mark firmly believes in the importance of getting to know his students on an individual basis. Mark uses students’ individual interests to attach meaning to their learning, and caters the lesson to fit the individual needs of that student. Mark finds his inspiration in teaching by helping students forge their own path as lifelong learners.

Outside of the classroom, Mark enjoys being active and continues his in-home workouts though he misses intramural sports very much. He is an enthusiastic supporter of all the Toronto sports teams. Mark is looking forward to working with his students at Prep Academy.

Merin is pursuing a Masters in Teaching (MT) from the University of Toronto within OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education). She is currently in her first year and is hoping to be an Ontario Certified Teacher for the Junior/Intermediate/Senior grade levels. Merin is also a former undergraduate from Ryerson University with a Bachelor’s in Chemistry (BSc) where she was placed on the Dean’s List and received Honours for finishing a Thesis Project in her fourth year. During her time at Ryerson, Merin was given the opportunity to lead peer-facilitation sessions with Undergraduate Science students seeking help in their Chemistry courses. She was responsible for constructing weekly lesson plans, provided one-on-one help and prepped students for midterms and exams by making mock tests and quizzes. Merin has also taught Mathematics to students from Grade 3-6 within the DPCDSB (Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board) as an initiative to help schools with their EQAO preparation. Her passion for teaching first arose when she was the main leader and captain of her dance team during High School. She has been part of a professional dance team since she was 12 years old where she engaged in team-building skills and obtained an interest in teaching others while continuing to learn new styles to build her expertise. With all of her experiences with teaching, Merin hopes to teach Science courses in an engaging way to help students build their interest in STEM courses.

Nick is a Grade 5/6 teacher at a private school downtown Toronto and has 4 years of teaching experience. Nick has a Bachelor’s in Education from Queen’s University, specializing in Primary Junior. Nick has an undergrad degree from the University of Ottawa with a Major in Geography and a Minor in Sociology.

Niousha started her post-secondary studies in Mechanical Engineering. Later due to her enthusiasm for teaching, she switched programs and graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Science with honors in Mathematics for Education. She completed her Bachelor of Education in the Intermediate/Senior grade levels at Nipissing University. She completed her teaching internship in the Embank Junior Academy, where she taught in a split Grade 7 and 8 classroom with a few students working at grade level 4 and 6 for math. During this time, she voluntarily stayed in the classroom during all lunch and snack breaks to give personalized one-on-one support and help students who had fallen behind in math catch up. While completing her undergraduate degree, Niousha was given an opportunity to tutor a group of grade 8 gifted students to prepare for the Math Kangaroo Competition. Knowing that the students sacrificed their weekends to be in her classes, she filled the class time with all kinds of fun games and activities such as pretend auctions and dice rolling competitions for learning probability. Before Niousha started tutoring, she worked as a Mad Scientist for a year and taught tons of safe science activities including explosions, launching a rocket, and making slime. Through her experiences, Niousha has developed a deep passion for working with children and youth and guiding them to reach their full potential while having fun. Alongside having years of teaching experience at primary and intermediate levels, Niousha also tutored students at university and high school levels where she ran personalized interactive lessons. Niousha believes that education should adapt to students’ readiness and interests in order to enhance their curiosity and confidence and that it is the teacher’s job to learn about their students, make these adaptations and engage them in an effective learning environment. In her spare time, Niousha enjoys painting, sculpting, and resin art, as well as spending time with her friends and family.

Olivia is an Ontario Certified Teacher. She grew up in Toronto and attended the University of Toronto where she completed her Undergraduate Degree as well as her Bachelor of Education. She also has a Master of Arts in Dance Performance in Traditional Irish Dance from the University of Limerick, Ireland. Olivia is a competitive Irish dancer and has been dancing since the age of 7. Through dance, Olivia discovered her love of working with children. Olivia loves to travel, and has frequently with her family. She frequently travels to Tegucigalpa, Honduras to a children’s home where Olivia works with the children in a variety of ways. Olivia has a passion for special education, this has come from her travels as well as her early teen volunteer work at the Spiral Garden summer camp (operated at Holland Bloorview Rehabilitation Hospital). She has spent many summers volunteering with children with special needs and through that experience has discovered her love of teaching. Olivia has taken several additional qualifications in special education to deepen her knowledge of teaching and how best to meet the needs of her students. Olivia is also fluent in French, having spent many years in French education. Olivia is an energetic individual who believes that creating a positive relationship with a child is the best way to engage them in learning. Olivia loves to connect with her students through common interests.

Pedro Tironi is a professional musician, music therapist and teacher candidate from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. He grew up in Chile, where he completed a Bachelor in Arts, minor in Classical Guitar Musical Performance at the University of Chile. He moved to Barcelona, Spain to complete a master’s in music at Catalonia College of Music. Pedro grew up surrounded by books, music and nature which lead him to develop a strong intellectual curiosity and took the opportunity to continue studying and travelling. He moved to Argentina to complete an Undergraduate Degree in Music Therapy at Buenos Aires University. It was during his stay in Argentina that he discovered his passion for teaching and working with children. Pedro has worked as a music therapist supporting the strengths and needs of children, youth, and young adults with learning disabilities, communication challenges, motor disabilities and mental health issues. When he decided to pursue teaching as a career Pedro moved to Toronto where he is currently in his second year of his Master of Teaching at OISE, University of Toronto. It is through teaching that Pedro has been able to discover the interconnection between math and music and foster his love of Math. During one of his practicums, Pedro taught Math at a TDSB school grade 6 class encouraging students to learn math through interactive and hands-on experiences that integrated arts and music. In his spare time, Pedro continues developing as a musician and works one-on-one with children ranging from 4 years through adults teaching piano, guitar, and music theory. He has supported the improvement of their math skills, concentration, socio-emotional skills and music skills and attitudes. Pedro believes that by building a strong relationship with his students he is better able to meet their needs and grow their learning. As a mentor Pedro continues to develop strategies for working with children integrating creativity into the learning process. He finds these experiences enjoyable and extremely rewarding.

Rachel is a graduate from teacher’s college with a passion for education and a willingness to succeed. Rachel studied abroad in Wales, and she managed to teach herself some Welsh in addition to travelling to 8 countries while living there. Rachel returned to Canada in 2019. She joined the TDSB as an occasional teacher. Rachel has taught Grades 1-3 in the French Immersion Program. Rachel enjoys supporting student learning as a tutor outside of her teaching day. She approaches learning holistically, helping her students understand what they’re learning in school to the best of their ability. Rachel speaks both English and French fluently, and also has a background in tutoring both Math and English from working at a Kumon Centre as well as her teacher training. Outside of teaching, Rachel’s passions include keeping active, baking, hiking, and singing with her sister. She’s been to 18 countries in her life so far, and can’t wait to share her stories with anyone willing to listen!

Rana graduated with a Bachelor of Science (honors), majoring in theoretical physics and with minors in mathematics and statistics. In addition, Rana holds a Bachelor in applied Biotechnology with distinction with concentration in biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, microbiology, genetic engineering, biophysics, organic and inorganic chemistry, bioinformatics and biostatistics among others.

Rana has tutored for many years across science subjects at school and university level, including teaching English as a second language. His teaching approach focuses on an intuition-based foundation building suited to the individual learning style and level of the student. With this approach, students come on board as teammates in a supportive and stress-free learning environment.

Apart from speaking fluently and tutoring students in both English and French, he has fluency in Bengali, Hindi and Urdu as well as reading comprehension in Spanish, Arabic, Persian and Italian. He also has an excellent mastery of history in general and the history of science in particular. Rana resides in Ottawa where he has lived for over 20 years, enjoying biking in the summer and skating in the winter.

Rebecca graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. She completed her Master of Teaching at the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto in 2022. In her placements, she delivered engaging and effective lessons in Math, Literacy, Science, Social Studies, and Physical Education, taking a special interest in helping students succeed in science and math with a hands-on and interactive approach. Given the opportunity to be an ESL teacher, Rebecca dedicated herself to each of her student’s success by leveraging their strengths and interests. Furthermore, Rebecca has additional qualifications in math and special education which informs all aspects of her teaching practice. She believes that all students have the ability to learn, succeed, and reach their goals. In her spare time, Rebecca loves to play tennis, bake, and try new restaurants.

I am Reyhane, an enthusiastic Applied Mathematics Ph.D. student with a wealth of teaching experience. I have instructed university-level students and tutored elementary, middle school, and high school students. My expertise spans arithmetic, pre-algebra, calculus, geometry, statistics, and mathematical problem-solving. I focus on building strong foundations in arithmetic for elementary students while also introducing pre-algebra concepts. My goal is to instil a love for math and nurture critical thinking skills in all my students, regardless of their age or level.

Sakshi completed her Masters in Teaching with a final placement at Central Technical School. Her previous placements were at Bloor Collegiate Institute and Applewood Heights Secondary School. Prior to participating in this program, she completed her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science while working as a peer tutor for first year Chemistry. Her teachables are Biology and Chemistry and Math. Sakshi is currently teaching Grade 8 and Grade 9 advanced math. Sakshi has completed a training in Principles of Healthy Child Development and served as a Residence Don for the DEEP Summer Program at University

Samantha has been an Ontario Certified teacher for 7 years, specializing in the Primary/Junior Division. She has been teaching with Halton Catholic District School Board for 4 years and overseas in Surrey England, prior to that. She has taught Kindergarten, Grade 3, 5 and the arts (music, dance & drama). Specifically, she excels at teaching phonics, reading, writing and math from kindergarten to grade 5. She graduated from York University with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Brock University with a bachelor’s degree in Primary Junior Education. She also has 6 additional qualifications, 2 of which allow her to teach Philosophy and Social Sciences at a Senior level.

She believes strongly that children thrive when they feel confident and supported. She draws from a plethora of resources, knowledge, and experiences to provide individualized lesson plans that meet the student at their level. She ensures her students always have access to the learning while still pushing them to fulfill their potential. She promotes a growth mindset by bringing attention to the student’s progress and small victories. She crafts her lessons to encompass her students’ learning style, whether it be visual, kinesthetic, auditory, verbal, or logical. She integrates the students’ interests and makes their learning engaging and fun. This has led to an increase in multiple grade levels, for previous tutor clients. She loves watching as her students grow a newfound confidence and bloom as they reach their academic goals.

Sanya is an Ontario Certified Teacher. She grew up in Montreal, attending McGill University and graduating with a Bachelor of Kindergarten/Elementary Education. After a year of teaching in Montreal, Sanya decided to move to Toronto to pursue her career in teaching within the public school system. Within 2 weeks of moving to Toronto, Sanya was offered the opportunity to teach a Grade 1 class and jumped at the occasion, giving her great experience working with primary students. As well, she has additional qualifications in ESL (English as a Second Language) and is currently completing a second additional qualification in Reading (Part1). While living in Montreal, Sanya worked one-on-one with high school students helping with Math, Science, English, History and French. She loves working with students one-on-one and as a classroom teacher is able to see firsthand the benefits of tutoring support. During the summer months, Sanya enjoys travelling and is taking part in a summer program which involves taking high school aged students on a travel trip for 3 weeks. Sanya finds it extremely rewarding to work with students and really enjoys getting to know her students to help them succeed. In her spare time, Sanya likes to take part in outdoor activities like hiking, playing hockey, and running. In addition, she likes to try new foods and restaurants in the city of Toronto, and has an undeniable love for warm ooey-gooey chocolate chip cookies.

Shahram has been quite the globetrotter from an early age. He was born in Tehran, Iran; raised in Copenhagen, Denmark; socialized and educated in Toronto, Canada, which he now refers to as home. To date, Shahram has lived in 6 different countries (Denmark, Canada, Hong Kong, China, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates) and traveled to 62 others.  

Shahram received an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Sociology and also a Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor. Additionally, he completed his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Management with a certificate in International Baccalaureate (IB) Administration from Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia. Prior to making the transition back to Canada, Shahram taught internationally at prestigious private schools for nearly a decade. These schools followed the Ontario, British Columbia and IB curricula and framework. 

As​ an extremely passionate educator, ​Shahram’s teaching experiences have helped him refine a personal teaching philosophy and pedagogy in education that combines the importance of inclusion within the classroom, ongoing feedback, respect, and creating meaningful student-centered lessons. Shahram’s defining characteristic as an educator revolves around the joy, pleasure and passion that ​he receives from teaching beyond the required curriculum. He branches off into various learning atmospheres by becoming actively involved in the development of the ​​whole child.​​ The ‘aha!’ moment in students and seeing everything begin to click for them provides him with an immense pleasure and continuously drives his passion and pedagogy as an educator. It is important to nurture a child’s creative abilities to develop a sense of themselves, understand others and the world around them, and navigate information so that they can confidently take risks and solve problems. ​Reflection​ and ​introspection​ are fundamental components of Shahram’s pedagogy and also his own personal growth and commitment to lifelong learning. 

Shanelle is an Ontario Certified Teacher with Primary/Junior qualifications. She grew up in Toronto and completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto where she majored in English with a double minor in Drama and Film Studies. She then moved on to obtain her Bachelor of Education at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. After completing her Bachelor of Education she decided to explore new territory and made the decision to move to Australia. She spent 3 years living in Melbourne working as a primary school teacher. Throughout her time teaching, both as an occasional and full time educator, she continued to develop her love and passion for teaching. Shanelle has a great deal of experience working in direct-instruction where she supported the improvement of reading, writing, vocabulary and math skills for students with a variety of learning needs from grades kindergarten to grade 11. She currently works as an occasional teacher for the Toronto District School Board. During the summer months, Shanelle has worked as an instructor for a summer arts program which teaches Language, Math and Social Studies with a focus on artistic expression. Shanelle recognizes the importance of getting to know the whole child in order to best cater to their learning needs. She believes there is plenty of value in establishing a fun and safe learning environment in order for students to reach their highest potential.

Shannon Pappas is a Queen’s University Teacher Candidate who graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Global Development and from a Master’s of Education in Social Justice Education from the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Originally from Ottawa, Shannon is a bilingual French-English speaker with teaching specialized for the primary/junior levels with strong abilities up to high school level Social Sciences, History, and English subjects. She is an enthusiastic and compassionate person who has spent years involved in sports, camping, and teaching swimming lessons. Her passion for working with children evolved from the many years she spent working at a summer camp. Having recently added a chocolate lab puppy to her family she is thrilled to see what opportunities lay ahead this year.

Shreya as an educator brings with her a wealth of experience in the classroom with a career spanning over 5years. She pursued graduation in commerce from India while also conducting tutoring sessions as she wished to contribute to the academia of young minds. Right after graduation, she was placed with one of the big four auditing firms but felt that teaching has been her calling all along. Hence, she decided to strive towards her passion and pursued teacher education program from New Delhi, India and on completion landed an opportunity to teach in one of the reputed private schools there. Through her creative bent of mind, she employed innovative teaching strategies to ensure active and experiential learning in her classes and adopted the hands-on learning approach. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and baking which allows her to rejuvenate and bring a fresh breath of air. Currently, she is engaged in providing after-school programs like Public Speaking, Young Entrepreneurs, Money and Finances in schools across Toronto. Her commitment towards making a difference in the lives of young ones is exhibited through her volunteering stints with Toronto schools. Shreya is also Ontario College of Teachers certified.

Sophie is a passionate high school English and French teacher who strives to build positive relationships with her students to support their success. She grew up in Hamilton and completed her undergrad at McMaster University, doing a double major in French and English & Cultural Studies. Her love for travel took her on a year abroad in France during her third year, and for teachers college she went abroad to Cardiff, Wales. As a teacher, she is constantly looking to expand her experience and knowledge, such as completing a workshop in Digital Anti-Racism Education led by the Canadian Council of Muslim Women.

Stephanie graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master of Arts in Child Study & Education in the primary/junior grade levels. During her time at OISE, she completed three practicum placements, which were in SK at the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute Child Study, grade 3/4 in the TDSB, and her teaching internship / extended practicum was grade 1 in the TDSB. Prior to entering her master’s at University of Toronto, Stephanie was an educational assistant that supported students in KG- grade 8 with academics, social skills, vocational skills, and social emotional learning. Through the combination of her employment opportunities and the unique position of the master’s degree, Stephanie has developed an in-depth understanding on teaching children Ontario curriculum using a child-centred approach that is best suited to each child’s needs. Stephanie truly believes that all children learn best when they feel safe, welcome, and secure, and it is her teaching mission to ensure all students she interacts with feel welcomed and include by developing strong relationships and creating a fun environment. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys camping, kayaking, yoga, and other exercise activities that promote a healthy lifestyle for her well-being.

Stephen is an Ontario Certified Teacher, with an undergraduate degree in History and Sociology from Queen’s University, a Masters in Teaching from the University of Toronto, and a Masters of Education from the University of Vancouver Island. Born in Toronto, Stephen grew up in Peterborough, and after completing his teacher education spent six years living and teaching high school History and Law in British Columbia. He considers teaching an incredible profession for the connections and bonds he’s made, and the ability to help his students both academically and with exploring their aspirations for the future. This mindset has pushed him to meet people from all over the world, and fostered a love of travelling to learn more about other cultures and their day-to-day experiences. Having taught professionally in Canada and South Korea, Stephen has experience in supporting his students with all forms of academia, specializing in essay-writing, persuasive vocabulary, and writing in the third-person. He truly thinks teaching should be fun, rewarding, and will invest the time and effort to make it so.

My name is Tanja and I am a passionate about education and building a strong learning environment. I have been teaching for 9 years and have been a part of three independent schools. I have worked with students from JK to grade 12 and and grateful for this spectrum of experience. I have also been an active tutor during my spare time and enjoy being able to work one on one with a student and build a relationship which leads to a safe space for learning. Beyond the classroom I am an active individual. I enjoy both indoor and outdoor sports. I am a retired National Team Rugby player and have always embraced the work ethic and positive team attitude characteristics this allowed me to grow. However, I must say my favourite part of my day is walking my white lab, Kaia. Looking forward to working with your family.

Tanya P. is an Ontario Certified Teacher. She graduated from Trent University with a Bachelor of Arts in History with Emphasis in Education in 2015. While at Trent University, Tanya tutored two students for the student-run-organization, Trent Students for Literacy. In addition, she was also the coordinator of the Reading Circle for Trent Students for Literacy, where she supervised university students, who promoted literacy to children between the ages of two and five. In 2017, she graduated from Western University with a Bachelor of Education with Emphasis in Urban Education in the Intermediate/Senior grade levels. Having been a teacher candidate in Ontario, Tanya has volunteer experience within the Toronto District School Board and the Thames Valley District School Board.

Shortly after graduating in 2017, Tanya was given the opportunity to teach in a grade eight classroom on a fly-in reserve in Pikangikum, Ontario. Tanya accepted the position due to her passion for Aboriginal education and her strong desire to understand and support students by promoting a positive self-representation of themselves and their culture. While in Pikangikum, Tanya led a school group called, Girls Club, where she supervised and led weekly activities for girls in grade seven and eight to overcome barriers, build confidence, and develop positive relationships. Tanya invited guest speakers from within the reserve to share resources with the students. Through these experiences, Tanya recognizes the importance of incorporating students’ perspectives and knowledge into lessons and school community in order to make learning meaningful and relatable. Tanya currently teaches high school for a private school in the North York area. She teacher history, geography, civics, careers, drama, and a few social science courses.

Taylor has worked in a variety of fields, including medical research, public aquariums, skateboard stores, and currently, he is working as a teacher. Before working for the TDSB, Taylor taught ESL for a number of years. Having learned French at a young age and Italian during his undergraduate studies, he found he really enjoyed helping people to learn and build skills in a second language. Taylor also worked for Dalhousie University, as well as Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto. Fun fact: He has swam in most of the large tanks in the aquarium!

Taylor likes helping people because it is an engaging and interesting challenge. He’s worked with a variety of students with different needs, and is prepared with a variety of strategies to help students achieve their goals. He enjoys creating material that relevant to an individual’s personal life or experiences. Sometimes that means creating games that reflect the subject matter; sometimes it means explaining things in terms that make sense to the individual. Taylor enjoys helping people to feel more confident about their education by figuring out what works best for them, and creating learning material based on their needs.

Biology, Chemistry, French, French Immersion, Intermediate Math (7-8), Italian, Primary Junior (1-6) – All Subjects, Intermediate science, Primary Junior Math

Taylor is currently a second-year student at the University of Toronto, studying for her Master’s in Teaching. She has built her lessons and assessments around the foundations of the Ontario curriculum and achievement goals for different ages in various subjects. She has completed two in-class practicums in Ontario. Her first placement was in a grade eight classroom where she taught literacy, health and physical education, and social studies. Her second placement was in a grade five classroom where she taught art, science, and literacy. The outbreak of Covid-19 began at the end of her second placement, and she was involved in helping the students learn new social distancing rules and safety precautions. Taylor previously worked for two years in Japan teaching English to students of all ages, though most of her classes were with young students. For many kindergarten students, she facilitated the transition from learning with parents in the classroom to being comfortable going solo in their learning environment. Her teaching philosophy is people-first; all students are different, and lessons need to be built around the student’s individual needs. As she builds a relationship with her students, she strives to incorporate their personal interests into lesson plans and learning material in order to keep learning fun and engaging for the child. She likes to encourage students to set their own goals and be proud of their growth under her instruction. Outside of teaching, Taylor is passionate about travel and culture! She loves visiting new countries, trying new cuisines, and being enriched by cross-cultural sharing. When she isn’t travelling, Taylor spends too much time pampering her cat, Mister.

Tina recently graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelors in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering. She is now pursuing a Master’s
with a focus in clinical engineering, in hopes to pursue work in industry or academia. Her appreciation for teaching was cultivated when she began
tutoring in her high-schools academic help program. She went on to teach professionally throughout her university degree, serving as a course
teaching assistant, as well as a private tutor in a variety of academic subjects. Her areas of expertise lie in the sciences, math and technology at a primary to first-year university level. She also has experience tutoring the CARS section of the MCAT after scoring in the 98th percentile herself. Tina believes in a teaching style that focuses on catering to the students’ needs and uses feedback in order to improve. She also believes in fostering long-term learning habits and strategies that are applicable beyond the subject being taught. In her spare time, Tina likes to do graphic design and play the piano.

Tonya was born in Ukraine and moved to Canada in 2000. She holds a Master’s Degree in Linguistic from Odessa State University, Ukraine.

Tonya is Qualified as a Linguist, Teacher of English Language and Literature. She is certified by the Ontario College of Teachers (473290). In Canada, Tonya completed her Basic Qualifications in Intermediate and Junior Divisions-Dramatic Arts. In addition, she took Junior and Primary Divisions courses and is qualified to teach grades K to 12. She completed the 3-part Special Education Specialist course, as well as Literacy and Reading, Additional Qualification courses in Primary and Junior Mathematics (Parts 1 and 2), and ESL (Parts 1 and 2). 

Her career as an educator began in Ukraine, where she had taught English as a Foreign Language for 10 years. In Canada, she now has 10 years of a successful Special Education Teacher career as well as an Elementary Homeroom Teacher in Northern Ontario, Nunavut and Toronto.

Tonya is not only passionate about teaching but also about traveling, adventure and meeting new people. 

She has helped many students catch up with current grade level expectations, enhance grades, boost confidence and establish effective study routines. Tonya firmly believes that every child can succeed when taught in accordance with their unique learning style and abilities. She always strives to establish a personal connection with her students and empowers them to become independent lifetime learners.

Trisha Lee is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson), where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Studies, with a minor in Sociology. She is currently in the first of two years at York University for Bachelor of Education. She will become an intermediate/ senior Teacher with the qualifications to teach Family Studies and General Social Science courses. Trisha has a background and passion for working with children and youth with disabilities and learning exceptionalities. She worked at the Geneva Centre for Autism for many years in the Group Services department as a Shift Leader. During her time at this organization, she had the pleasure of working one-to-one with individuals to learn and complete the goals set out by the families. She created strong rapport with the clients and families, through communication to help them achieve their goals and succeed to the fullest. Outside of work Trisha enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as reading and exploring nature. Trisha is currently a volunteer in an after-school program, where she helps students from grades three to eight with their homework and reading skills. She really enjoys helping others to understand material they may have learned in school and caters to the various learning styles of the students she helps.

Vanessa graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Science studying Cell Biology and Immunology. She is currently a Master of Science student at the University of Toronto as a developmental biology researcher studying cancer. She is a Teacher’s Assistant and runs labs of undergraduate-level courses. Vanessa grew up between Kuwait and Lebanon, and moved to Toronto to pursue her science career at UofT. During this time, as well as fostering a keen interest in research, she was also began to be interested in teaching science. Vanessa started by informally tutoring high school students as well. She also has formal one-on-one tutoring experience, teaching high school and university-level biology and chemistry, including IB biology and chemistry programs. Vanessa believes that each student learns differently, and understanding how they learn is vital, She emphasizes implementing accountability and self-discipline through a mentor-mentee relationship rather than the traditional teacher-student relationship. In her spare time, Vanessa enjoys reading science fiction and physical activity, particularly training in self-defense and MMA.

Vini has a degree in Electrical Engineering. During university, he specialized in programming and logic. He worked with software consultancy for a while and now he is pursuing a degree in Game Development. For the past 18 months, Vini has been using his industry experience and his knowledge of math and programming to instruct kids and teenagers in robotics. During his work with robotics, he developed a great way to communicate with young minds and started tutoring not only so he could help kids boost their grades, but also so he can improve their creative thinking and get them to achieve their full potential. Always in a good mood and with good energy, Vini is constantly trying to improve in order to share his knowledge with his students in an efficient way. In his spare time, Vini likes to play video games and watch sports, which means he can have a fun ice-breaking conversation after every tutoring session with both student and parents about the latest video game released or the latest football game.

Vinuja graduated from the University of Toronto with a Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Sociology, and History. She is a graduate of OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education where she completed a Master of Teaching degree with a focus on the Primary/Junior grades. Since the start of her post-secondary journey, Vinuja has taught, tutored, mentored, and led a range of age groups towards accomplishing their academic goals. After completing her first position as a Summer Program Director for young children, she knew teaching was her calling. Since then, Vinuja has worked in education based roles including volunteer teaching in a downtown public school, tutoring students with literacy needs, programming academic activities and lessons for a daily after school program, and others which shaped her love for education. Most recently, Vinuja was a student teacher with the Toronto District School Board. She taught in an online Kindergarten class, creating differentiated lesson plans to accommodate learners and providing culturally responsive/relevant content. Through these meaningful experiences, Vinuja developed a stronger skill set to work with students and their families. She believes that engaging students through their identity, creativity, and curiosity helps them gain confidence and succeed in future endeavours.

Vivian is a fourth-year international student at Queen’s University under the Concurrent Education program. She was born and raised in Saint Kitts and Nevis but studied abroad in China for her secondary education. Through her travels, Vivian has navigated through various curricula: the Kittian and American curriculum back home and the Chinese and Canadian systems in China. Continuously interacting with students and teachers from multiple countries including Venezuela, Thailand, Korea, and more, she has seen various approaches to learning and teaching- an observation she continues to make as she enters her final year of university. It is from the pedagogical differences in Saint Kitts, China, and Canada that Vivian found a passion for teaching.

For her Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Vivian is majoring in History and minoring in Mathematics. She hopes to teach these subjects at the Intermediate/Secondary level along with English and Computer Science, which she hopes to gain additional qualifications for. She has over five years of experience tutoring ENG2D, ENG3U, MTH1W, MPM2D, MCR3U, MHF4U, and MDM4U. From China to Canada, Vivian continues to develop her craft in teaching by offering one-on-one tutoring services to peers and personal clients. She has strengthened student understanding by identifying and mitigating their academic weaknesses; personalizing notes for sessions; enlisting online resources; and negotiating with various personalities to form valuable student-tutor relationships. She currently focuses on providing her services to at-risk students but is always happy to strengthen anyone’s relationship with academia. The only other passion that rivals teaching for Vivian is her love for Spoon, her cat! However, depending on what Spoon has done the day of, Vivian will tell you that her students are the clear winner.