Douglas P.

Douglas is a certified teacher, university faculty member, former museum curator, and all-around renaissance man. Few have a professional background like him: Archaeology, Astronomy, History, Paleontology, and Religious Studies are just a few of the subjects Douglas has worked and taught in. After completing a degree in History he went to work for museums in Los Angeles, including the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and Griffith Observatory. During that time he acquired a Master of Arts in Teaching, taught in several school districts, and all while continuing to work in museums. Since moving to Idaho, he has worked in community based mental health, the state prison system, and currently he is at Boise State teaching Human Anatomy and Physiology Labs, (he prefers labs over lectures – they’re more fun!). Douglas’s style is very unique, interactive, and is about inspiring and not just rote knowledge acquisition. From lecturing about Dwarf Planet Pluto at the most visited public observatory in the world, to teaching inmates about fossilization and quantum mechanics, Douglas is available to help you, or your student, find new appreciation for their natural and cultural worlds, create a tomorrow that is better than today, and learn a little along the way!

Some examples of how he works:
Does your student need to work on basic reading and writing? Let’s use dinosaurs to develop those skills!
Does your student need to work on writing proper essays, developing ideas, and forming arguments? Let’s dig up something archaeological and either support or refute it!
Maybe your student needs someone to talk with while learning about the wonders of the past, the mysteries of the cosmos, and other big ideas. Let’s dive in and see where we end up!
From kindergarten to college, Douglas will endeavor to help your student achieve academically – and have fun while doing it!

Karen D.

With a Masters in Education degree from Niagara University and an Honours Music Undergraduate degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, Karen has worked as a special education and elementary classroom teacher for over 20 years, specializing in primary/junior education, early literacy intervention, social-emotional learning and individualized education planning and implementation.

While in the role of Mental Health and Well-being consultant at the Waterloo District School Board in Ontario, over 12,000 students accessed a Social-Emotional Program she created for children and youth in grades one through eight. This past year, Karen was a part-time lecturer with Wilfrid Laurier University’s Faculty of Education, teaching “Mental Health in the Classroom” to teacher candidates.

Karen believes all children can learn and thrive, and it’s the teacher’s role to create a space that is safe, kind and inspiring. Having recently relocated to the area, Karen is thrilled to be joining the team at Prep Academy to work with students here in Whistler!

Madeleine B.

Madeleine is a student at the University of Toronto pursuing a Master’s in Teaching with a specialization in French education and plans on teaching French at the primary level. Before starting her current program, Madeleine completed an Honours Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at U of T. Having grown up attending French language schools across the US and France, she developed a passion for francophone culture and language. Madeleine taught as a grade 1 to 3 second language teacher at a French language school in Seattle, Washington, before pivoting to tutoring adult English language learners. As a multilingual language learner herself, Madeleine understands that every child’s learning needs are unique and she prioritizes individualized teaching plans to most effectively aid each student in their learning goals.

In her free time, Madeleine has been learning Spanish and enjoys staying active outdoors. She recently discovered crochet and has been learning how to make her own winter accessories!

Cristian H.

Cristian is a veteran educator with over 15 years of classroom experience. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University. Cristian later went on to earn an Elementary Education teaching certificate from Southern University, and a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership from Southeastern Louisiana University, where she graduated with honors. Cristian has experience teaching all core subjects including Math, English Language Arts, Social Studies and Science. Cristian has spent her educational career teaching grades K-5, specializing in intervention instruction in the areas of reading, writing, and math specifically. She is passionate about helping children learn and succeed both in and outside of the classroom. She enjoys reading, drinking coffee, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Katarina S.

Katarina is a Management student at the University of Toronto, currently in her final year on track to complete a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 2025. Katarina has completed an education in French Immersion, spanning 12 years, ultimately receiving a Certificate in French Immersion Studies. Moreover, Katarina has received an Ontario Scholar certificate upon Secondary School completion, acknowledging her achievements, which were later recognized by her university in offering her a partial scholarship. Katarina has always had a love and passion for learning languages, with French being her third, beginning her learning of it at the age of 6. Furthering this passion, Katarina had begun tutoring children Grades 1-9 in Core French and French Immersion, and has been tutoring for 2 years now. Katarina’s goal is to pass on her knowledge to help students reach their full potential in french speaking, reading, and writing, all while creating a focused, engaging and supportive environment. Furthermore, Katarina enjoys working with children, showcased through multiple opportunities over the years, most notably during her several year volunteer position as an assistant kids dance instructor. In her free time, Katarina enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going to concerts, and doing puzzles.

ANNA R.

Anna is a certified teacher with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Geography and a Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia. She is passionate about intermediate-level education and making meaningful connections between learning and the environment. Anna primarily teaches elementary and middle school students. She currently works as a K-12 substitute teacher in the West Kootenays.

Anna’s teaching philosophy emphasizes curiosity, excitement for learning, and fostering a sense of community for all learners. She is passionate about helping students develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed academically and beyond by recognizing the variety of learning strategies her students possess. She enjoys incorporating real-world and personal connections into her teaching.

Outside the classroom, Anna is interested in outdoor sports like skiing and enjoys spending time in nature, creating art, and exploring environmental stewardship activities.

Maria V.

Maria V. has dedicated the past eight years to teaching, cultivating a deep passion for helping students grow and succeed. Throughout her career, Maria has always believed that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their challenges. This commitment has been the driving force behind her decision to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and Elementary Education, where she is currently completing her studies. Maria’s experience in the classroom has given her the ability to adapt and tailor her approach to meet the unique needs of each student, fostering an environment where all learners can flourish.
Having spent her entire life in Idaho, Maria has a strong connection to her community and its values, which has further fueled her dedication to teaching. Her love for working with students stems from a genuine desire to see them succeed, both academically and personally. Maria’s passion for special education, in particular, has grown out of her belief that every child, regardless of their background or abilities, deserves an equal chance to succeed. Through her years of experience, Maria has honed her skills in creating supportive, inclusive learning environments, helping students overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential.

Amy H.

Amy grew up with an ardent love for reading and the English language.  Thirsty for knowledge, Amy pursued a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Hodges University, graduating magna cum laude.  She fulfilled a life-long dream of becoming an educator when she received her teaching certification in English/Language Arts.  Amy’s expertise includes not only raising test scores but also cultivating enthusiasm for learning in her beloved students.  She has supported students on every level from kindergarten to college students, from whole-class to specialized one-on-one instruction.  Her passions?  Though she has many, Amy will tell you about her three Ps – poetry, photography, and pollinator gardening.  Amy believes that kindness beats unkindness every day of the week, and that kindness coupled with love can accomplish much.

Michelle H.

Hello, my name is Michelle! With over a decade of experience in education, I am passionate about supporting young learners in their academic journeys. As a mom of two wonderful daughters, I bring both professional expertise and a personal understanding of the joys and challenges of early education.

I began my teaching career with the Peel District School Board and am now proud to be part of the Durham District School Board family. I specialize in Primary-Junior education and love creating engaging, music-infused learning experiences for my students. Whether it’s singing, dancing, or integrating rhythm into lessons, I believe music is a powerful tool for making learning memorable and fun.

In my free time, I enjoy cooking, traveling, and sharing laughter and dancing with my children and students alike. My goal as an educator is to inspire confidence, foster a love of learning, and help every child achieve their potential in a nurturing and supportive environment.

Monica C.

I believe in holistic education that engages learners cognitive, physical, emotional and social needs in an intimate classroom community. I became an educator so I can create the inclusive environment that I longed for as a child where students diverse needs and strengths are welcomed. Compassion is at the heart of my practice. Creating a culture that is safe and supportive helps students feel as though they can take risks and make mistakes because success and failure are merely viewed as information as opposed to reward and punishment. I aim to educate in a manner reflecting the diverse identities and lived experiences of all students through culturally sensitive pedagogy.

I aspire to foster learner’s social emotional development. At the heart of this growth is validating learner’s feelings and experiences, as well as teaching the essential relational skill of problem solving. I believe there are six fundamental elements of problem solving shared between educator and learner: (1) listening to student’s feelings and needs; (2) summarizing their point of view; (3) teacher expressing their feelings and needs; (4) inviting the class/student to brain-storm with the teacher to find a solution; (5) writing down all ideas without judgment; and (6) together deciding which ideas will be used and how to implement them.

Assessment is as a pathway of communication between educator and learner. Students must clearly understand expectations so they can be actively involved in achieving these goals and feel a sense of responsibility over their learning. I invite students to be active participants in their educational journey (thinking, discussing, questioning and creating). I believe assessment practices need to be fair, transparent and equitable for all. Providing ongoing descriptive feedback that is clear, specific, actionable, timely and varied is essential to support learning and achievement. This feedback will develop students’ self-assessment and reflection skills to enable them to evaluate their learning, set personalized goals and plan next steps.

Teaching is a process of learning from students, colleagues, parents, and the larger community. This enduring growth is an avenue through which I pursue my goal of being a lifelong learner. Open dialogue creates opportunities for knowledge transmission. Reflection is key to learning as it requires deep critical thinking about one’s beliefs and experiences. Upon reflection I discover new insights of self, practice and areas for growth. I believe I cannot effectively teach others if I am not evolving beyond my current mindset. Walter Lippmann says, “Education should create an interest in all persons in furthering the general good”. I believe teaching is one of the most important professions in society because teachers directly shape the future of our world by shaping the children who will create this future. Being reminded that creating good human beings is the larger goal of teaching grounds me in my practice.