Sandi M.
Sandi Mustard is a Certified Teacher. She grew up in Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island, moving to Vancouver to complete an Undergraduate Degree in Psychology. As well, she completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Arts Education. Most recently, she completed a Masters of Education (Innovations in Maths Education). Sandi has a lifelong passion for working with children, beginning at a young age. She loved volunteer babysitting for mothers’ meetings in her teens and led arts-based summer day camps during her undergraduate degree. She joined the world of education as a Certified Education Assistant, working extensively with students with autism and other developmental disabilities. She has also taught English in Thailand, where she hit the beach every day after work. In 2009, Sandi returned to UBC to complete a Bachelor of Education, and has been joyously teaching ever since. She is passionate about supporting the improvement of reading, writing, vocabulary and math skills. Sandi knows that by building a strong relationship with her students she is better able to meet their needs and grow their learning. She engages students using their curiosity and interests to help them gain the confidence they require to succeed. In her leisure time, Sandi enjoys hiking and backpacking and anything on or in the water. You can often find her at or near Okanagan Lake, swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking or boating. And if she’s not there, she’s up in the hills! Sandi looks forward to supporting your child, teaching in a way that guides them towards their fullest potential.
SAMUEL S
Samuel has Master’s degree in Medical Sciences from the University of Toronto. He has conducted basic biomedical research sciences for over a decade, with a focus on vascular biology. Samuel has had a depth of teaching professionally and privately in the biological sciences at the undergraduate and graduate levels including the professional MCAT exam.
Zoë M.
Zoë graduated magna cum laude from the University of Toronto, specializing in research psychology and minoring in English.
They graduated from York University with an MA in critical psychology, their thesis focusing on accessibility in undergraduate education.
Zoë’s passion is teaching and learning, and they have expertise in a variety of subjects. Most notably, they have been an SAT tutor for over ten years — tutoring 1-1, teaching intensive courses, designing lesson plans and curricula, training other instructors, and even writing an SAT Teacher’s Manual, which was sold to various test prep and tutoring companies, and which they still update yearly for personal use.
Zoë’s teaching style is reflexive, engaging, agile, and learner-centred, informed by their extensive knowledge of psychology and pedagogy, and enriched by their confidence in every student’s ability to succeed when given the right tools.
MARZIA H.
Marzia is currently completing her undergraduate Honours degree in Cellular Molecular Microbial Biology with a minor in Psychology at the University of Calgary. Marzia has been tutoring young students for over 8 years, developing her own unique strategies and best practices along the way. Marzia’s passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education extends beyond tutoring. She has been working with Minds in Motion to deliver hands-on STEM concepts to groups of students from grades 1- 9 through summer camps, kid’s clubs, and classroom workshops. Marzia focuses on fostering excitement about the intricate world of STEM, creating an inclusive environment, and sparking curiosity in young minds.
Having worked extensively with students across different age groups and academic levels, Marzia is adept at tailoring lessons to meet the individual needs and learning styles of each student. She believes in creating a supportive and engaging environment where students feel empowered to reach their full potential. Marzia is known for her patient and encouraging approach and is skilled at building strong, positive relationships with students and parents alike.
In addition to Marzia’s passion for knowledge through reading and watching various genres of documentaries, she enjoys painting as a way to express creativity and relax. Marzia often incorporates random bits of obscure knowledge into her teaching, relating to her students, making learning more engaging and enjoyable!
Kenedy O.
Kenedy graduated at the top of her class from the University of British Columbia, and is currently completing her Master’s of Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. Kenedy has vast experience tutoring children aged 6-10 in reading and writing. She has also worked extensively as a behaviour interventionist, informed by applied behaviour analysis theory, with children and youth diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Kenedy has a passion for integrating education and play to ensure learners have an engaging and fulfilling session that allows them to achieve their goals. She strives to ensure each activity is meaningful and specific to her client’s needs. Kenedy draws on her creativity to implement various teaching styles to accommodate diverse learning styles and create a safe environment.
When she is not working, Kenedy likes to spend her free time crocheting, cooking, and exploring the city as she is new to Toronto!
BRADEN K.
Braden is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Education degree, with a specialization in Inclusive Education. He is widely recognized for his amiable nature and his genuine interest in forging meaningful connections with others, coupled with his penchant for exploring new avenues. Outside of his academic pursuits, Braden finds joy in engaging in deep conversations, hiking amidst natural landscapes, capturing moments through nature photography, and immersing himself in story-driven media.
He previously held the role of Regional Manager at a sales company before transitioning into the realm of education due to his leadership experience there where he maintains a consistent strong work ethic and a dedicated approach to any task at hand.
Braden’s teaching philosophy has been meticulously crafted to advocate for a mentorship-oriented approach within the realm of education, emphasizing the importance of nurturing individual potential over conventional instructional methods. He aspires to gain tutoring experience by establishing bonds of trust and accountability with students, guiding them towards unlocking their inherent capabilities as they progress on their educational journey.
BRYCE R.
Bryce Rodrigues specializes in tailoring curriculum and remedial teaching across diverse age groups. Holding a BA in Psychology and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of South Africa, Bryce brings deep understanding and compassion into his teaching methods. His role at Choice School for Gifted Children showcases his ability to design and implement innovative educational programs that cater to the unique needs of each learner. With extensive experience from teaching in South Korea to remedial coordination in South Africa, Bryce has demonstrated a consistent commitment to enhancing student performance and fostering an inclusive learning environment. His expertise extends to creating engaging content, managing classroom dynamics, and mentoring educators, establishing him as a dedicated advocate for student success and educational excellence.
Saumya M.
Saumya has a vast background in various subjects that she is qualified to tutor. She has a background in Arts & Culture through her high school’s SHSM program, focusing on Vocal Music and Musical Theatre. During this time, she taught music theory to grades 9-11 students.
Saumya completed her undergraduate education in Neuroscience, Biology, and Chemistry at the University of Toronto. She is currently finishing her Master of Science degree from the University of Toronto in Cell and Systems Biology. She plans to complete an MD/PhD degree and eventually teach undergraduate university courses as a professor.
Saumya has experience teaching undergraduate small-group tutorials as a Teaching Assistant at U of T Mississauga. Her subjects of expertise include general chemistry, biology, and psychology. She has also given guest lectures and created advanced case studies for human anatomy courses at UofT.
Saumya has won numerous academic and public service awards for her commitment to student success. She has mentored high school and university students academically since 2017. In her free time, Saumya enjoys musical theatre, indoor cycling, solving sudoku puzzles, and trivia games!
NANCY C.
Nancy comes to Prep Academy after 35 years in education, with the last 28 years as the Director of University Counselling at a private school in Vancouver, BC. Nancy has worked with over 2,000 students and parents by helping them to achieve their goals which includes acceptance into top tier post secondary institutions in Canada, United States and Abroad. Nancy holds 4 degrees from Western University (Kinesiology), UBC (B.Ed. & Masters in Ed. Admin) and UC San Diego (College Counseling).
Nancy brings a wealth of experience in post-secondary counseling and over the years, she has established strong connections with university representatives from all over the world. She has been recognized by Stanford University and The University of Chicago as an outstanding educator in the field of post-secondary guidance and in 2021 received the Distinguished Service Award from the International Association for College Admission Counseling. As part of this honour, nominators described Nancy as forward thinking, kind, compassionate and creative.
Nancy’s collaborative approach will provide Prep Academy students with one to one guidance on the university process and can specifically address any or all of the following:
- Program selection
- “What’s the Dream?”
- Post Secondary short list
- Proofreading writing supplements
- Interview tips & techniques
- Application assistance
- How to Decide?
In her view, there are two main drivers of post secondary counselling: to keep students calm about this process by not getting overwhelmed. And two, to keep parents informed along the way.
Brian N.
Brian N. is a current teacher at Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute and Baccalaureate School (IB Program) in Kitchener, Ontario. He currently teaches grade 9, 10 and 12 math at the school, but has tutored and is comfortable with all Ontario mathematics content (JK- Calculus, IB and beyond!). His qualifications are as follows: Primary, Junior, Intermediate Senior Division Teachable, as well as Intermediate Mathematics and History, as well as Senior qualifications in Music. He is eager to come along side the PAT team and help students.