Naadir H.

Naadir is an Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT) with a strong commitment to helping students achieve their academic goals. He has been teaching with the York Region District School Board for nearly ten years, where he is dedicated to ensuring that every student feels supported and capable of success.

He views himself as a facilitator of learning rather than a traditional instructor, believing that asking the right questions empowers students to take academic risks and view mistakes as opportunities for growth rather than failure. His approach encourages curiosity, resilience, and a growth mindset.

He strives to create a learning environment where students feel inspired, confident, and motivated, with a focus on supporting the whole child. This includes attending to students’ mental well-being as well as connecting learning to real-world interests. Known for being positive, kind, and respectful, he takes pride in building strong relationships and being a consistent, supportive presence for his students.

Sarah I.

Sarah I. is a certified teacher. She grew up in Guelph, Ontario moving to Trinity College at U. of T. to complete an undergraduate degree in French and English. She attended Toronto Teachers College and later completed a Master’s degree in teaching and a specialist in Special Education. Through teaching, Sarah has been able to foster her love of learning in different environments. Today, she works one-on-one with students from 6 years old to university-aged young people preparing for graduation. She supports improvement in reading, writing for different purposes, expansion of vocabulary, organization, and fosters a desire for learning and excellence. Sarah believes that by building a solid relationship with her students, she can best meet their needs and encourage their learning. As a mentor, she continues to develop strategies for working with students of all ages. She finds these experiences rewarding and she often maintains long-term educational relationships as students carry on through the further stages of learning.

Heather C.

Heather C. is a certified, retired teacher with a 30 year history of working in public education. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology (University of Windsor), a Bachelor of Education (University of Ottawa), and a Master of Arts in Education (Concordia University). Heather is certified as a Specialist in Special Education, an experienced teacher of English as a Second Language, Deaf and Hard of Hearing programs, and qualified to teach the Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Divisions. Past assignments include teaching all subjects from kindergarten through to post secondary college and university, and private tutoring. Heather enjoys helping students to compose and edit essays and research papers. She specializes in improving communication skills. Heather believes strong written and verbal communication skills are the foundation for success in most academic subjects for all grades. Heather’s proven success with improving students’ confidence and attitudes towards learning was evident in the improvement of their academic grades. In addition to being knowledgeable about the public school system, Heather has firsthand experience in the independent school and Montessori systems. Heather retired early from teaching for school districts to pursue a PhD in Education (University of Western Ontario) and to travel. She returns to do what she finds most rewarding which is helping families with their educational experiences in any school system. In her spare time, Heather kayaks, cycles, swims, and walks her dog on trails.

Colleen C.

Colleen is a passionate and dedicated educator with a strong academic background and a genuine commitment to helping students build confidence and achieve success. She holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences, a Bachelor of Business Administration, and is currently completing her Bachelor of Education in the Primary/Junior division. This diverse educational background allows her to support students across a wide range of subjects while applying a strong understanding of how children learn best. Her experience working with students of varying ages and academic backgrounds enables her to adapt instruction to meet individual learning needs.

Her teaching philosophy is rooted in a student-centred, strengths-based approach. She focuses on breaking down complex concepts into clear, manageable steps and uses a variety of strategies—including visuals, real-world examples, guided practice, and discussion—to support understanding. She prioritizes building strong relationships with students so they feel confident asking questions and engaging fully in their learning.

With younger learners, she emphasizes engagement, structure, and confidence-building, while with older students she focuses on skill development, critical thinking, and academic independence. Across all grade levels, her goal is to support both academic growth and the development of strong foundational skills. She is committed to working collaboratively with families to provide personalized support that helps each student feel confident, capable, and motivated to learn.

Khadijah S.

Khadijah is a dedicated and enthusiastic educator with a genuine passion for supporting students as they grow academically and personally. She is currently a teacher candidate in the Primary/Junior program and brings a fun, caring, and student-centred approach to her teaching. Khadijah has experience working with students as young as four years old, helping them build strong foundational skills in math, English, and science.

She believes that every child learns differently and is committed to creating supportive, inclusive learning environments where students feel comfortable taking risks, asking questions, and developing confidence in their abilities. Khadijah focuses on tailoring her instruction to meet each student’s individual needs, using engaging strategies and hands-on learning to make concepts accessible and meaningful.

Her goal is to foster a positive attitude toward learning while helping students develop the skills they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Khadijah looks forward to working closely with students and families to support academic success and nurture a love of learning.

Grace H.

Grace is a dedicated educator with a dual-degree background, holding a Bachelor of Psychology and a Bachelor of Education. With extensive experience in Resource Teaching, she specializes in supporting students with diverse learning needs, including Autism, Down syndrome, and physical disabilities. Grace is officially trained in the UFLI program, providing her with a research-backed foundation in early literacy and the science of reading.

Having worked directly in elementary classrooms, Grace understands how to bridge the gap between school curriculum and individualized support. Her holistic approach is further enriched by her background in teaching music, allowing her to incorporate rhythm and creativity into her sessions. Throughout her career, she has completed numerous specialized courses to better advocate for and support individuals of all abilities, ensuring every student feels empowered to succeed.

Kathryn H.

Kathryn H. is an experienced educator, learning specialist, and former intelligence professional who brings exceptional depth, structure, and insight to her work with students. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Mary Washington, and is currently completing her MBA at Harvard Business School.

Kathryn is an Orton-Gillingham Associate (dyslexia specialist) and holds a TEFL certification from Cambridge University, England. She spent over 10 years as an SAT and SAT II tutor and has taught students across all grade levels, now specializing in reading, writing, and executive functioning—particularly for neurodivergent learners with Dyslexia, ADHD, or Autism.

Prior to her career in education, Kathryn served for 20 years with the USMC and CIA, working at the Pentagon and spending several years in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Combat Operations Planner, an experience that deeply informs her calm, strategic, and highly individualized approach to learning. Known for building strong relationships and confidence in her students, Kathryn blends evidence-based instruction with real-world problem-solving.

Outside the classroom, she is a Le Cordon Bleu alumna who enjoys cooking, playing soccer, and horseback riding—proof that discipline, curiosity, and creativity can thrive side by side.

Tatyana C.

Tatyana is a Primary/Junior Teacher Candidate qualified to teach Kindergarten through Grade 6. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, with a major in Sociology, Geography, and Environmental Studies, and is currently completing her Bachelor of Education.

With over three years of experience as a supply teacher with the Toronto Catholic District School Board, Tatyana has worked with students across a wide range of grades, abilities, and learning needs. This experience has strengthened her ability to adapt instruction, follow curriculum expectations, and create inclusive, supportive classroom environments where students feel valued and confident.

Tatyana is patient, organized, friendly, and caring, and she is deeply committed to helping students reach their full potential. She believes in breaking down learning into manageable steps and scaffolding instruction in ways that build understanding, confidence, and independence. By tailoring her teaching strategies to each student’s unique learning style, she ensures lessons are engaging, accessible, and meaningful.

Her goal is to foster curiosity, confidence, and a positive attitude toward learning. Tatyana looks forward to working closely with families to support students academically while helping them build strong foundational skills and a genuine love of learning.

Samantha L.

Hi there! My name is Samantha, and I am a teacher with the Toronto District School Board. I currently teach in a Junior Autism Intensive classroom and am qualified to teach students from Kindergarten to Grade 8.

I hold a diploma and degree in Early Childhood Education, as well as a Bachelor of Education from York University. I also have additional qualifications in Reading, Mathematics, ESL, Special Education, and Physical Education.

My teaching philosophy is collaborative and strength-based, with a focus on building confidence and supporting each student’s individual needs. I am fluent in English and Cantonese.

Aya I.

Aya is a first-year teacher candidate in the Bachelor of Education program at Ontario Tech University. She also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialization in Human Resources. Aya is a Primary/Junior candidate and offers tutoring support for students from Kindergarten to Grade 6.

Aya is passionate about teaching and believes that learning looks different for every student. She values individualized support and strives to create a positive, pressure-free learning environment where students feel comfortable taking risks and learning from mistakes. Rather than simply providing answers, Aya focuses on equipping students with the tools and strategies they need to think critically and work through challenges independently.

Her goal is to help students reach their full potential by building on their strengths, developing essential skills, and using approaches that work best for each learner. Aya is enthusiastic about partnering with students and their families to support growth, confidence, and academic success.