Chris L.

Growing up in Cardiff, Wales, Chris was drawn to the outdoors despite the city’s amenities. As a child, he joined outdoor clubs, cubs, scouts, and played various sports; fostering a love for new activities, challenges, and meeting people. This passion led him to the Sea to Sky region, where a temporary visa turned into a lifelong adventure. For Chris, the satisfaction of overcoming a challenging target, problem, skill, or puzzle has always been worth the effort, work, and occasional pain and frustration

While in university, Chris worked at a summer camp in North Carolina, where he helped campers grow physically, socially, and emotionally, sparking his interest in academic teaching. In 2013, he earned a BA in education from the University of the West of England, Bristol. Through this course, he was incredibly fortunate to have extensive placements in a range of settings, with a range of grades. Chris has worked in both traditional and non-traditional settings; in schools with everything imaginable and schools with almost nothing; and taught from the very youngest learners up to adults in their golden years.

Chris blends educational theory with his active outdoor background to create engaging, multidisciplinary learning experiences, emphasizing hands-on learning and understanding rather than doing. He strives to find creative ways to show that learning is real rather than a lesson in a room. Chris loves finding opportunities to get outside and do something, rather than learn about something. He encourages movement, noise and active participation. Critically and fundamentally, Chris believes in teaching a person at their own individual level and to their own individual needs, encouraging everyone to take ownership of their learning and to support them in overcoming challenges to aid understanding and ability.

Making mistakes and finding things hard is the first step to learning something. If it was easy, were we learning, or just completing tasks?

Augustin P.

Augustin is a recent graduate (with distinction) from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Science in Honours Psychology. After completing his honours thesis on the neurobiology of opioid addiction, he is eager to apply his knowledge and passion for science through teaching.

He is passionate about an interdisciplinary approach to science and research. In the past he has worked as a personal tutor for students with learning difficulties (SEGPA) at the Externat des Enfants Nantais high school (EDEN) in France. Having studied in three different school systems and lived in multiple countries he understands diverse perspectives, teaching styles. He also recognizes the challenges that come with learning in a second language.

His approach to teaching is focused on nourishing curiosity, imagination and intrinsic interest in the student. He sees that difficulty can often arise from the apparent dryness and irrelevance of concepts that students begin to be confronted with at the end of high school and CEGEP. He emphasizes the logic behind equations and methods rather than focusing on memorization. With the emphasis he places on linking knowledge across classes he aims to foster an understanding of science as a unified discipline. This approach not only facilitates learning and memorization but also helps reduce workload.

He is fully fluent in both French and English, proactive and committed to offering different perspectives that enhance course content and student engagement.

SARAH R.

Sarah is currently a student at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in the Masters of Teaching program. She has a particular interest in mathematics education and a consciousness of math anxiety and shame within the math classroom, as she is currently working on research on math anxiety in BIPOC students. Sarah truly believes that every student is capable of learning any subject and believes in the importance of building students’ confidence. So, she focuses on connecting with who students are to teach them in a way that works for them.

Before coming to OISE, Sarah taught dance and gymnastics to kids aged 4-12 in a summer camp setting. In practicum experiences, Sarah taught in a grade 5-6 gifted classroom, a grade 7-8 literacy, history, and art classroom and a grade 8 science classroom, with a concentrated focus on math skills within science. With these different age groups and experiences, Sarah has learned the needs of different age groups and is well-equipped at adapting to these different needs. In the future, she hopes to use what she has learned to teach in a junior or intermediate level classroom setting (grades 4-10).

In her personal life, she enjoys baking, watching movies, and seeing live music. She also is active in the UofT community as a Varsity Blues cheerleader.

Hajrah M.

Hajrah is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at McGill University. She has completed CEGEP in Pure and Applies Sciences as well as the High School science pathway. Hajrah has 4+ years of tutoring between the ages of 5-20.

Haroula G.

Haroula is an enthusiastic educator who is completing the Master of Teaching program at OISE (Intermedia/Senior Division). She additionally holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences from McMaster University, where she graduated summa cum laude. She has over four years of experience working with students of all ages, specializing in supporting high school students in math and science. Her wide breadth of knowledge in these subjects is an asset to aid students across a scope of classes and curriculums. She is passionate about building a strong rapport with students and fostering an environment where students can cultivate a growth mindset as a tool for self-improvement. Being an inclusive and supportive educator and adapting to the individualized needs of each student is at the forefront of Haroula’s pedagogy.

Fernanda V.

Fernanda V. graduated from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi with Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science and is currently enrolled in a post-graduate Medical Laboratory Science program in hopes of being a professor. Experienced in teaching students from middle school to undergraduate levels, Fernanda hopes to instill a deeper understanding and confidence in the material to empower students to reach their goals and find a love of learning using an individualized approach. When she’s not in the lab or teaching, Fernanda enjoys hiking, reading, and winning trivia competitions.

Rachel P.

Rachel graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa cum Laude from Reed College before going on to earn her Masters and become a Doctoral Candidate in Classics at UC Berkeley–she can also train a wild horse, work concrete, and process game. With more than ten years’ teaching experience at the high school level, and even more at the collegiate level, you’re in good hands with Rachel, across subjects from Anatomy to Zoology. Rachel is a voracious learner and credits this authentic curiosity to her success in connecting with young people during her career. She is a neurospicy Boise native who loves animals and playing with her amazing kiddo. Rachel believes that being human is too hard to do alone, and that powerful things are possible through connection. For her, the purpose of tutoring is to meet students where they are and support them in developing transferable strategies and tools that foster independence, confidence, and achievement as they progress along their educational journeys.

Nicholas D.

Nick D. is an experienced mathematics educator with years of experience in tutoring, lecturing, and mentoring students from diverse backgrounds. He has taught at both New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and the University of New Hampshire, where he designed lesson plans, led interactive discussions, and provided individualized support to students. In 2024, he received his Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences from NJIT for his research on magnetic materials. In his spare time, he plays piano in impromptu ensembles with his friends.

Vito S.

Vito has over 25 years of experience in the electrical engineering field where he utilized analytical and problem-solving skills on a daily basis. Born and raised in New Jersey, Vito holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology. He is also a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of New Jersey.

Later in his career, Vito worked as a manager where he had the opportunity to mentor and train
his staff into the engineers they yearned to become. Vito guided a variety of professionals with diverse technical backgrounds by tailoring his teaching approach to the specific needs and skill sets of each individual.

Vito also has experience tutoring middle and high school level mathematics. He finds great joy in teaching a subject that he strongly utilized throughout his profession as an engineer. Not only does Vito boost students’ confidence, but he is also able to provide them with a practical understanding of the subject matter. Whether it is solving an equation or balancing a checkbook, Vito excels at bridging the gap between theory and application.

In his spare time, Vito enjoys exercising, reading, and spending time with his family. Vito puts his heart into everything that he does, which makes him an authentic and dedicated tutor.

SASHA P.

Sasha is a student at St Mary’s University, pursuing a Bachelor of Education degree. She finds her purpose in educating others and helping others succeed. She wants to eventually teach mathematics at a Junior High or Senior High School Level. She wants to bring joy and purpose into education and finds it very rewarding to see big improvements in her students achievements. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, running, playing piano, cooking and learning.