Sofia Z.
ENG : Sofia earned an Honours Bachelor of Science in Physics with the French Immersion Program (2025) at the University of Ottawa. Bilingual in both French and English. She has worked in laboratories specialized in biophysics and photonics at the university. In her theoretical classes she excelled in many of her mathematics courses (Calculus, Linear Algebra) and her physics courses (Theoretical Physics, Mechanics, Optics, Quantum Mechanics, Biophysics, Astrophysics, and more).
Experienced in tutoring, teaching, and leading a few workshops in science. She hopes she becomes a high school physics teacher that can inspire young minds to explore STEM. Beyond the workplace, Sofia has many different hobbies including hiking, camping, swimming, reading, and skiing !
FR : Sofia est titulaire d’un baccalauréat en physique avec programme d’immersion de l’université d’Ottawa. Elle est bilingue français-anglais. Elle a travaillé dans des laboratoires spécialisés en biophysique et en photonique à l’université. Dans le cadre de ces cours théoriques, elle a excellé dans ses cours de mathématiques (calcul, algèbre linéaire, preuve et raisonnement mathématique) et de physique (physique théorique, mécanique, optique, physique du solide, mécanique quantique, biophysique, astrophysique, etc.).
Forte de son expérience en tutorat, en enseignement et en animation d’ateliers scientifiques, elle espère devenir professeure de physique au lycée et inspirer les jeunes à explorer les sciences et les mathématiques. En dehors du travail, Sofia a plusieurs passe-temps, dont la randonnée, le camping, la natation, la lecture et le ski !
Elyssa N.
Elyssa has a Bachelor degree in English from UofG, and her Bachelor of Education from Laurier. Elyssa has been tutoring 1:1 for about 5 years, and she started tutoring at Oxford Learning. Elyssa also became the Education Coordinator at Oxford in Woodstock. She can confidently tutor students in reading, writing, and mathematics up to Gr. 10.
SUSAN S.
Susan has happily been an educator for 20 years, teaching French and English predominantly with the York Region District School Board but also various private institutions. Susan graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Education from University of Toronto (OISE) including her Masters. Moreover, she has taught overseas and traveled in places like India, South Korea, South Americas and has studied in France and Quebec. Susan is dedicated to sports, fitness and dance as she has coached running clubs, dance teams and triathlons events When not teaching, Susan herself travels, competes and works in the triathlon industry which includes Iron Man, Olympic and kids events. She is also a mountaineer having climbed in South America and the USA. Susan is passionate about volunteering in the community which includes social justice and a love for animals and nature. Susan is looking forward to meeting and supporting families and learners in Toronto.
Dr. Ariel Z.
Daniella F.
Daniella grew up in Pennsylvania and obtained her Psychology Degree at Boston College focusing on Child Cognitive research. She later gained her medical degree at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in NYC and is now a dedicated neurology resident continuing her passion for understanding the brain. Her research experience at the Boston College Infant and Child Cognition Lab, allowed her to investigate how children develop their understanding of math through gesture and eye-tracking studies. She also contributed to the creation of “Parkopolis,” a life-size STEM board game designed to promote STEM learning and parent-child engagement in underserved communities, developed at Temple University’s Infant and Child Lab. Daniella’s work reflects her deep commitment to fostering curiosity and confidence in young learners, and she is driven by a genuine love for helping children grow, develop, and become the next generation of thinkers and innovators.
Cynthia P.
Cynthia is a certified teacher with a doctoral degree in education. She has over 20 years experience teaching both in the classroom and tutoring. As a school teacher she worked mainly with middle school students. As a tutor she has worked with students from first grade to the college level. Her years of experience and passion for teaching (and learning) give her the expertise needed to create targeted lessons that support learning and meet her students’ specific educational needs.
Dr. Pellegrini got her doctoral degree from Florida International University. She has a master’s degree in reading and learning disabilities from the University of Miami and a bachelor’s degree in the social sciences. She also studied in Italy where she lived and taught English to high school students and to adults. Cynthia is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian.
Outside of her professional life, Cynthia enjoys gardening, watching documentaries, travelling, playing with her animals, and of course, reading. She often uses knowledge gained from these passions to connect with her students and spark their curiosity for places and things they may know little or nothing about.
Cynthia understands children and has a knack for creating a good rapport with her students. She makes them feel comfortable and makes every effort to celebrate their progress and successes. With her, students are made to feel like new challenges are always surmountable, with a little effort. Cynthia’s students enjoy her classes while working hard to reach their academic goals.
SAHAR P.
Sahar P. is a committed and energetic educator entering her second year of the Master of Teaching program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto. She specializes in the Intermediate/Senior division, with a focus on French and Business Studies. Sahar earned her Honours Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Western Ontario, where she completed a double major in Business Human Resources and French Language & Literature.
With hands-on experience in classrooms, Sahar has taught Grade9 and 10 French—both Core and Immersion—as well as Grade 10 Business during her teaching placements. She also has experience working with younger learners in Grades 1 and 2, supporting their early French language development. Having been a French Immersion student herself, Sahar brings a unique perspective to language learning and understands how to support students at various stages of their French education. Currently, she is serving as a supply teacher at the Toronto District School Board, further enriching her classroom practice while working toward her Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) certification.
Beyond her academic and teaching roles, Sahar has always been actively involved in her school communities. She previously served as the Vice President of Finance for her university’s French Club and mentored incoming students to help ease their transition into post-secondary life. A strong believer in well-rounded development, Sahar has also volunteered as a swim lesson assistant—combining her love of swimming with her passion for working with youth.
She speaks three languages fluently—and proudly claims a few more on the side (if being able to string together some sentences and order food counts, and she thinks it totally does!). Sahar brings this multilingual, multicultural perspective into every learning environment she enters. Her educational philosophy is grounded in the belief that learning should be engaging, empowering, and enjoyable. As she often says, her goal is to be “the teacher I never had”—someone who inspires confidence, nurtures curiosity, and makes education feel fun and accessible.
With one year left until she completes her master’s degree and becomes a certified teacher, Sahar is eager to make a difference in the lives of her students. She takes pride in being a reliable support system and finds deep fulfillment in seeing her students grow and succeed.
Betty Y.
Betty has a Master’s degree in Teaching and is certified to teach students from the Primary to Intermediate levels. She also holds an Additional Qualification in Intermediate Mathematics. Betty has been teaching with the Toronto District School Board for three years, where she has delivered engaging math sessions tailored to diverse student needs. She is committed to meeting students where they are in their learning and helping them grow with confidence. Betty brings a strong understanding of differentiated instruction and assessment for learning. She enjoys integrating real-life applications and problem-solving strategies and regularly communicates with parents to refine her teaching.
Lucas J.
Lucas Jacob has taught and tutored writing, literature, and reading to grades 6-12 for more than 30 years, in private, public, and public-charter schools across the United States and in Budapest, Hungary, where he was a Fulbright Fellow. He holds a B.A. in English and African/African-American Studies from Carleton College (Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude) and an M.A. (with highest honors) in writing and literature from Temple University. Luke has published nearly 100 essays, poetry, and works of fiction in trade journals (including Education Week and Independent School Magazine) and literary magazines (including Southwest Review and Chicagoland’s venerable RHINO). His first two full-length collections of poems have come out in the past six years, from Eyewear Publishing (London, UK) and Next Page Press (San Antonio, TX). He currently serves as co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Media Literacy Education and he is working on both his first middle grades novel and his first mystery novel for adult audiences, which goes to show that even when he is not teaching reading and writing he is…well…reading and writing.
Madison J.
Madison J. is a certified teacher in Life Sciences and ELL. She has been teaching for 10 years. While studying Neuroscience at Vassar College, she discovered a love of teaching as a chemistry teaching assistant. After graduating, she went on to earn a Master’s in teaching through a fellowship with the Institute for Citizens and Scholars. She has taught Biology, Zoology, and Environmental Science at the high school level, as well as science and math at the middle school level. Her true passion is in helping all students not only succeed, but to discover a love of learning and the joy that comes from exploring the world. Outside of the classroom, she is mom to an energetic son and a grumpy tortoise. She loves to knit, sew, and hike.