Kristina C.

Kristina has been teaching in Downers Groves School District 58 for the past 8 years. Beginning her career in 2nd grade for one year, moving to 3rd grade for six years, and now enjoying her first year teaching 4th grade this school year! She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Illinois State University, and since then obtained her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Western Governors University. While at Illinois State University, Kristina studied abroad twice, once to Costa Rica and a second time England. In England, she completed half of her student teaching experience in a 4th grade classroom. Her passion is to teach students that have different interests and abilities, and be their biggest cheerleader. Students’ growth is endless, once they realize their potential!

When not teaching, Kristina enjoys cooking for her family, baking m&m cookies, and socializing with friends. She comes from a big family with many younger cousins, and often found herself in the role model position from a young age. She is looking forward to getting to know more local families and aiding in their child’s academic success!

Ella H.

Ella Handley is currently a Teaching Candidate in the Okanagan School of Education at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. She has completed her undergraduate studies specializing in chemistry at UBC Okanagan. Ella has always loved working with children and helping them succeed in what they are working towards. She has spent the last 4 years as a supervisor at a summer camp and tutoring children in elementary math. She grew up in Castlegar, British Columbia where she fell in love with camping and being on the lake. In her spare time she participates in competitive 5 pin bowling. Ella believes that every child can excel if they are given the chance and meeting the child where they are at is critical in helping them move forward in their academic endeavours.

Kelsea S.

Kelsea Shea is a recent graduate from San Diego State University with both her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. She is currently in the Master’s program at SDSU and a 2nd grade long term substitute in Poway while she completes school. She completed her student teaching in 4th grade and has subbed in all grades! Kelsea is originally from Los Angeles County but currently lives in Pacific Beach with her 4 best friends (and two cats)! She used to be both a camp counselor and programs assistant for Mission Bay Aquatic Center where she would teach water sports and marine science to 6-14 year olds.

As an educator, she believes that she has the responsibility to support and advocate for the young minds of our future generations. She also believes that it is her job to create a motivating, safe, and positive environment in which students can grow as both learners and peers. She aims to be a role model for her students that encourages a growth mindset by growing together. Throughout her student teaching and future classroom, Kelsea’s instruction is equity-driven and unique to the student where they can learn in many engaging and educational ways. Whether this be through access to visual, kinesthetic, collaborative, or auditory supports, the learning of the student is built around them and their characteristics. Kelsea grounds her teaching on the notion that every student is a valuable contribution to their classroom and the world around them, therefore the instruction and environment in which they learn in, must be rich in value as well.

Alya S.

Alya is a dedicated and compassionate elementary school teacher with over four years of teaching experience. She has her master’s degree in Childhood Education and is licensed to teach students in grades 1-6. She has experience teaching students in a variety of settings, including public, charter, and accelerated curriculum schools.
Alya has extensive experience implementing targeted instructional approaches that meet various students’ academic learning styles and needs, including students with IEPs.

While in graduate school, Alya tutored elementary and middle school students in Reading, Writing, and Math. She also created supplemental curriculum material that aligned with state standards in order to provide differentiated instruction for these students.

In her free time, Alya enjoys practicing yoga, going for walks on the beach, and hiking. Alya believes that in order to best meet the learning styles and academic needs of each student, frequent and open communication with parents/guardians, and differentiated instruction is imperative. She looks forward to the opportunity to work with you!

Bailey K.

Bailey has been teaching elementary education for four years, with experience in both first and fifth grade. She earned her Associate of Arts in Teaching in 2018, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a focus on Special Education in 2020, and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction in May 2024.

Bailey’s teaching philosophy revolves around creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment where students feel safe and supported. She believes in tailoring her instruction to meet each student’s unique learning style, ensuring that every child can thrive academically and personally. In addition to her expertise in reading and math, she has a deep passion for helping students develop research skills, think critically, and engage creatively with subjects.

Bailey also values strong collaboration with parents to help students achieve their goals and build the skills they need for lifelong learning. Outside of teaching and tutoring, she enjoys competitive swimming, loves sports, and appreciates cozy movie nights in with her cats, George and Toby.

Eden K.

Alongside having years of tutoring experience, Eden has a Bachelor of Arts in Photography and is a certified teacher. Eden grew up in Manchester, England where her parents fostered young children. That’s when she discovered her passion for educating children and she then came up with numerous exciting and engaging ways to educate children. Tutoring has allowed Eden to immerse herself in one-to-one personalized lessons that harbour children’s curiosity and interests, specializing in maths, reading and writing. Eden has a passion for traveling, therefore moved to Canada at 23 to fulfill her dream of living in the mountains, mountain biking and snowboarding. Through these experiences, in England and abroad, Eden has developed a deep passion for working with children and guiding them to reach their full potential.

KRISTEN P.

Kristen just retired after 32 years of teaching in the Ardsley School District. She started out in a self-contained Life Skills program for 8 years and then moved on to the CORE program in grades 2,3,4 where students were pulled out of their mainstream classes for direct instruction in ELA and math. She co-taught in grades 1, 2 and 3. Kristen was a Direct Teacher Consultant in K-4 and did direct reading instruction for grade 5. Kristen has a great deal of experience supporting students with Emotional and/or Behavioral needs both in and out of the mainstream classroom. She also directed an extended school year program for students needing summer services. In addition to planning and adapting curriculum, differentiating lessons, completing assessments and evaluations and collaborating with teachers and parents, Kristen has participated in a great deal of professional development and is trained in Fundations, Thinking Maps, LLI reading programs, Envisions, Do The Math and Investigations math programs and more. She has created curriculum for and taught after school Mindfulness and Introduction to French classes for K-2 students. Kristen mentored teachers and worked with staff to help develop their co – taught programs. She has pretty much done it all! Kristen enjoys baking, traveling, hiking, biking, reading and watching movies. Kristen is excited to be able to work with students to help facilitate their learning in fun and engaging activities!

Keira M.

Keira relocated to Whistler from Alberta in 2016 to experience the endless outdoor recreation opportunities that the Sea to Sky has to offer. As an outdoor educator with a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education, Whistler turned out to be the perfect place for her and it became her long-term home. As a current Teacher Candidate in the Bachelor of Education – Early and Middle Years program at the University of British Columbia, Keira comes with a diverse range of experiences having worked in both classroom settings and outdoor education environments. Believing that learning should be fun, Keira adopts a strength-based approach that empowers students to build confidence and discover their own inspiration. Utilizing multi-modal teaching methods, she tailors each session to meet the unique needs and learning styles of her students, ensuring that every learner feels valued and engaged.

Julia V.

Julia has a Masters of Science in Psychology, with a focus on Applied Behaviour Analysis from Capella University, is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) and is a Registered Behaviour Analyst with the College of Psychologists in Ontario. She has experience supervising and working with clients between the ages of 4-17 with ASD and developmental disabilities on a variety of academic, social and life skills, as well as behaviour management strategies for clients and their families. She has experience with staff and parent training and loves to help families meet their goals!

Estelle S.

Estelle Saroukian is currently pursuing dual majors in Sociology and Law and Society at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. With a strong academic foundation, Estelle has been consistently recognized for her dedication and performance, achieving Honour Roll status during her high school years at both Virtual High School and St. Georges School of Montreal.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Estelle has an impressive background in athletics, having competed as a swimmer for over eight years. Her competitive swimming career has instilled in her the values of punctuality, efficiency, and a strong work ethic, which she applies to all aspects of her life. Beyond sports, Estelle has honed her skills through various internships, including her role as a Leasing Administrator for SHL Management, where she developed her organizational, administrative, and communication skills.

Estelle is also committed to giving back to the community, having volunteered at senior care homes, the SPCA, and Moisson Montréal. Her diverse experiences have shaped her into a dependable, tech-savvy, and creative individual who is eager to use her expertise in both academia and future professional endeavors.