Dr. Michelina N-O.

Dr. Michelina Nelson-Olivieri developed a lifelong love of reading and writing as a child growing up in rural East Texas. Her favorite writers include Jeanette Winterson, Emily Austin, and Joy Harjo.

She received her B.A. and M.A. in English from Sam Houston State University, and her Ph.D. in English from the University of Denver. During her time at DU, she taught several English courses and tutored in after-school programs and at the University Writing Center.

Michelina’s passion is helping students of all ages find their written voices and learn to understand the world around them through other literary voices.

When she is not helping students learn to read and write with confidence and ease, you can find Michelina hiking with her family on trails all over the Front Range.

Dr. Katina W.

Dr. Katina Walton views her enthusiasm for teaching as a calling and a responsibility that is driven by her commitment to student growth, equity, and excellence. Her desire to be a better teacher is fueled by the her personal experience of how effective instruction transforms lives and unlocks the potential in every learner.

She holds a Ph.D. in Literacy, Reading, Assessment, and Evaluation from Walden University, and has taught in a variety of classrooms from elementary schools to universities since 2001.

Outside of teaching, Dr. Walton finds joy in her faith, family, and community. She also enjoys encouraging others and engaging in activities that renew her spirit and strengthen her passion for education.

Jacob C.

EN: Jacob is a current student in McGill University’s Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning (English Language) program. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism and brings nearly 10 years of experience in traditional media and corporate communications, where clear, effective language was central to his work.
Jacob specializes in reading, writing, and communication skills. He has a particular strength in helping students build confidence in their abilities. His background allows him to break down complex ideas across multiple subjects into clear, accessible concepts while adapting his approach to each student’s learning style.
Positive and encouraging, Jacob aims to create a personalized learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and progressing at their own pace.

FR: Jacob est actuellement étudiant dans le programme de maîtrise arts en enseignement et apprentissage (langue anglaise) de l’Université McGill. Détenant un baccalauréat en journalisme, il possède près de 10 ans d’expérience dans les médias traditionnels et les communications d’entreprise, où l’utilisation de langage clair et efficace était au cœur de son travail.

Jacob est spécialisé dans la lecture, l’écriture et la communication. Il excelle particulièrement dans l’aide apportée aux élèves pour qu’ils prennent confiance en leurs capacités. Son expérience lui permet de simplifier des idées complexes dans plusieurs sujets en concepts clairs et accessibles, tout en adaptant son approche au style d’apprentissage de chaque élève.

Positif et encourageant, Jacob vise à créer un environnement d’apprentissage personnalisé où les élèves se sentent à l’aise pour poser des questions, faire des erreurs et progresser à leur propre rythme.

Alexander C.

Alexander is a graduate of Phillips Academy, an elite boarding school in Massachusetts, and currently studies at McGill University. He specializes in admissions consulting for boarding schools and colleges. After successfully guiding applicants to gain acceptance at prestigious institutions such as Yale, Tulane, and UNC, he began developing proprietary testing materials, as well as specialized courses in essay writing, interview preparation, and extracurricular activities.

Hannah G.

As an educator of 7+ years, Hannah (she/her) is eager to help students with social sciences, technical writing skills, reading comprehension, essay outlining, executive skills, and ESL conversation. Outside of tutoring, Hannah is a Ph.D. student in the Social and Cultural Analysis program at Concordia University. Her research, generously funded by the Faculty of Arts and Science Fellowship, explores online communities — specifically LGBTQIA+ and other minority-led spaces — and alternative media creation. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Media Studies from Concordia, which allowed her to develop a web series pilot about positive representation for sapphic women and non-binary folks in online fandoms. She likewise holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in English from the University of Regina with a concentration in creative writing. Professionally, she has experience as a researcher, instructor, journalist, and actress in film, theatre, and television. Hannah is passionate about intersectional feminist filmmaking, creative writing, and archival research.
In her spare time, she also enjoys volunteering for Archives gaies du Québec.

Stacey C.

With a robust foundation in early childhood and special education, along with her credentials as a licensed learning consultant specializing in neurodiversity, Stacey brings expertise and passion to her work with students.

As a Neurodivergent Specialist, Stacey’s approach, grounded in the constructivist theory, prioritizes experiential learning through dynamic, hands-on activities, social and emotional engagement, and meaningful project-based outcomes.

Taylor J.

Taylor is a Special Education Teacher and ABA Therapist. She holds a Masters in Teaching from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (UofT), and is working towards her Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) certification with the Florida Institute of Technology. She currently works with the English Montreal School Board and previously worked for the Toronto District School Board for three years. Taylor brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in supporting students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other learning challenges. Taylor’s expertise in creating and implementing personalized learning intervention plans makes learning accessible and fun for all learners, while building the confidence and skills for academic success.

Brittany S.

A Columbia University graduate with a BA in psychology and writing, Brittany began her career as a journalist, honing her skills in crafting narratives that engage and inspire.

She later pursued her legal education at the University of Montreal, earning both LLB and JD degrees. Brittany’s unique blend of legal precision, creative thinking, and psychological insight has become the foundation of her specialty: helping individuals stand out in highly competitive processes.

With years of experience guiding applicants into Ivy League schools and other prestigious institutions, Brittany excels at creating tailored, compelling applications that tell each applicant’s unique story. Her personalized approach ensures that every detail reflects the applicant’s strengths and aspirations, positioning them for success.

Whether shaping a standout college application, law school submission, or professional profile, Brittany combines her expertise, creativity, and strategic insight to help clients achieve their academic and career goals.

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.

Arden R.

Arden graduated summa cum laude from Yale University with a Bachelor’s in Classics (Latin). A member of Phi Beta Kappa, she was awarded the George A. Schrader Humanities prize at graduation for her contribution to the cultural life of the college. Since then, she has worked extensively as a tutor, mentor, and classroom teacher, helping students reach their goals in fields as varied as SAT prep, English prose style, French literature, musical composition, and mathematics.

Arden scored 2340 on the SAT, achieving a perfect score in Critical Reading and reaching the 98th percentile in Math. She received perfect scores on all three of her SAT IIs: Literature, French, and Molecular Biology. Her insights into the test are supported by her experience creating instructional and practice material for both the SAT and SAT II Literature Subject Test.

Empathetic, friendly, and enthusiastic, Arden has an infectious passion for learning. She is fluent in French, has translated a novel from German, and studied Ancient Greek along with Latin at Yale. Outside the classroom, her interests include songwriting, classical music, game design, philosophy, and gender.