CHERYL P.
Cheryl P. is an Ontario College of Teachers member in good standing with more than 25 years of experience supporting students, families, and educators within the public education system. She holds a Diploma in Education from Queen’s University and a Special Education Specialist qualification from York University. Cheryl also holds certifications in VTRA (Violent Threat Risk Assessment), Mental Health First Aid, and Suicide First Aid.
Throughout her career, Cheryl served the in the public secondary education system as a classroom teacher, Special Education Specialist, and Department Head of Special Education / Inclusive Services for 11 years.
Cheryl has extensive experience supporting students with learning disabilities, ADHD, ASD, mental health challenges, behavioural needs, and complex learning profiles. She collaborated closely with administrators, guidance teams, psychologists, CYWs, social workers, and community agencies to develop individualized strategies that supported student success and well-being.
As the founder of Insight to Impact, Cheryl is deeply committed to helping students and families navigate educational challenges with clarity, advocacy, and confidence.
Mirella C.
Mirella is a Spanish and Italian tutor and educator with more than 20 years of experience helping students build confidence in language learning. She holds a Master’s degree in Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian. Mirella has worked with students of all ages, from elementary school through college, in both classroom and one-on-one settings.
Known for her patient and encouraging approach, Mirella creates a relaxed learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, practicing conversation, and learning at their own pace. She tailors each session to the student’s individual needs, whether they need support with grammar, conversation, reading comprehension, homework, or test preparation.
Mirella believes language learning should feel approachable and engaging, not stressful. She enjoys bringing culture, conversation, and real-world examples into her lessons to help students feel more connected to the language and more confident using it every day.
Romy R.
Romy is a Registered Behaviour Analyst (RBA) and Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) with over 10 years of experience supporting children, teens, and families across a variety of learning and developmental needs. She is passionate about helping learners build confidence and enjoys supporting caregivers with practical strategies that create meaningful change in everyday life.
Romy’s approach is compassionate, practical, and grounded in evidence-based strategies. She values collaboration with families and interdisciplinary teams to create positive, supportive experiences and believes meaningful progress happens when everyone works together to build on a learner’s unique strengths.
ELLIOTT D.
Elliott is a student at McMaster University, where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Physics with Co-op, with minors in Nuclear Engineering and Economics. He has a cumulative GPA of 10.43 on the 12-point GPA scale (equivalent to 3.86 on the 4-point scale) after second year. He graduated from St. Michael’s Choir School (SMCS) with a 96% average, as a deeply valued member of the school community. Elliott has extensive experience teaching, counselling, and mentoring others. He was President of the SMCS Tutoring Club, where he tutored students and connected students with other tutors, and Assistant Coach to the SMCS Junior Volleyball team, where he helped to train and coach younger athletes. As a child, Elliott spent his summers in Algonquin Park at Camp Arowhon, first as a camper, then as a Leader In Training, and Camp Counsellor where he was responsible for the safety, social cohesion, and individual development of children aged 6 to 15. He also taught Archery and Rock Climbing, and acted as Section Head In Training, where he mentored and coached junior coworkers. At McMaster University, Elliott works as a Community Advisor, where he mentors first year students to support their social, mental, and academic success in their university journey.
In his free time, Elliott enjoys many hobbies. He has a deep love of music, both classical and contemporary, that he has nurtured since his elementary and high school days, where he was a member of his school’s esteemed choir. He has practiced Kempo Karate since age four and is a black belt with Horizon Martial Arts in the Beaches, and continues to enjoy climbing and archery from his time at summer camp. He is a hobby chef and loves making delicious food for his loved ones to enjoy. Elliott is guided by his deep passions – learning, nurturing others, enacting positive change in the world, and many more. Among other things, these passions have led him to voraciously consume literature and media on a variety of subjects, especially mathematics and physics, and have fueled his future career aspirations in clean energy through nuclear engineering. Elliott is an exemplary student and is comfortable tutoring in English, Biology, and Chemistry at the high school level, and Mathematics, Engineering, and Physics at both the high school and first year university levels.
Princess A.
Princess A. is a Master’s student in International Education at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. She brings years of experience tutoring and mentoring students across subject areas, test preparation, and college readiness, with particular expertise in English and College Essay Writing.
To date, Princess has guided more than 120 students — in the U.S. and internationally — through the college application process. Her students have earned admission to the University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, Tufts University, Brandeis University, the University of Hong Kong, Middlebury College, and beyond.
Princess loves to travel and has been to 10 countries so far. Outside of her work, she enjoys spending time with her cat, tackling last-minute painting and crocheting projects, and exploring her neighborhood with a film camera!
Courtney P.
Courtney brings over 12 years of experience as a certified educator working in early childhood, elementary, and higher education settings. She holds a dual bachelor’s degree in elementary education and Spanish, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a bilingual education specialization, and a doctorate degree in early childhood education and leadership. Courtney also brings extensive experience training and coaching early childhood and elementary educators on the topics of structured literacy, early math, and self-regulation. Courtney is passionate about building relationships with students and families, and cultivating confidence in learners. When not working with students, Courtney enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and reading.
Deb B.
Deborah has been a dedicated teacher for 33 years, beginning her career after graduating from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor’s in Spanish. She has taught in rural communities and large cities, teaching every grade and subject, which has allowed her to hone her teaching skills. Upon moving to Boise, she contributed to district training initiatives and earned her Master’s degree during her nine years teaching first grade. Seeking more family time, Deborah transitioned to the Lee Pesky Learning Center, where she has worked for nearly eight years, supporting and collaborating with educators. Outside of work, Deborah enjoys the outdoors, spending time at her cabin in Featherville/Pine, and cherishing moments with her blended family. Now an empty nester, she continues to find joy in reading, traveling, and managing a couple of home-based businesses.
Fanwei (Mary) Z.
Mary is an experienced Mandarin educator and former university professor with more than 20 years of teaching and academic leadership experience. Before relocating to the United States, she served as a Professor and Director of the Engineering Management Department at Shandong Technology and Business University in China, where she taught courses in both Mandarin and English while leading major academic research initiatives.
For the past five years, Mary has taught Mandarin in the United States, working with students ranging from kindergarten through college, as well as adult learners. She specializes in helping students of all experience levels—from beginners to advanced speakers—develop confidence in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding Mandarin Chinese.
Mary’s teaching style is interactive, engaging, and highly personalized to each student’s goals and learning style. She incorporates authentic materials and multimedia resources—including videos, audio clips, PowerPoint presentations, and widely respected curriculum programs such as Easy Steps to Chinese, HSK, and YCT—to create dynamic, effective lessons that keep students motivated and engaged.
She focuses on three core principles to support student success:
- Connecting language learning to real-life situations
- Beginning with interesting, relatable topics
- Using multimedia tools to strengthen understanding and retention
In addition to conversational and academic Mandarin instruction, Mary also supports students preparing for AP Chinese, HSK, and YCT examinations.
As a bilingual educator fluent in both Mandarin and English, Mary creates a supportive and encouraging learning environment where students feel comfortable building language skills while also gaining appreciation for Chinese culture. Her accomplishments as a lead textbook author and recipient of national-level research awards reflect her deep commitment to educational excellence and lifelong learning.
Families and students appreciate Mary’s warmth, structure, patience, and enthusiasm, as well as her ability to make Mandarin both approachable and enjoyable for learners of all ages.
Skill set: Online Mandarin
Patrick C.
Patrick is an elementary teacher with six years of classroom experience and has a genuine passion for helping young learners thrive. Now living in Bracebridge, he feels grateful to call Muskoka home, a place that reflects his love of nature, community, and outdoor adventure.
From a young age, Patrick knew he wanted to teach. Growing up surrounded by educators inspired him to pursue a career where he could make a meaningful difference. He has always felt most at home working with elementary‑aged students, believing this stage of learning is where curiosity, confidence, and foundational skills truly take shape.
Patrick is known by his students as “fun but fair,” a balance he takes pride in. He creates a classroom environment that is positive, engaging, and supportive, while encouraging students to challenge themselves and grow. Building strong relationships, maintaining consistency, and bringing enthusiasm to every lesson are at the heart of his teaching approach.
Outside of school, Patrick enjoys exploring the outdoors, camping, and taking in everything Muskoka has to offer. He loves helping children make connections between their learning and the natural world around them, fostering curiosity and a deeper appreciation for their environment.
Patrick looks forward to supporting students over the summer through personalized, enjoyable, and confidence‑building learning experiences. Families are always welcome to reach out with any questions.
ROBYN K.
Robyn is an Ontario Certified Teacher and a recent graduate from the Master of Teaching program at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She also holds a Master of Arts in English from Toronto Metropolitan University. Robyn is qualified to teach Intermediate/Senior English and Social Sciences and is currently pursuing an additional qualification in Intermediate Math.
Robyn teaches with patience and flexibility, tailoring lessons to the unique needs of her students. As a tutor, she wants to help students discover the joy of learning through meaningful and engaging activities.
In her spare time, Robyn volunteers with the Toronto Public Library’s Leading to Reading Program where she works one-on-one with an elementary student on their reading and writing. She is passionate about literacy instruction and believes it is crucial to helping students develop critical thinking skills, creativity, and confidence.