MATT D.

Matt has two degrees from the University of Calgary, one in Education and the other in Fine Arts. He has worked as a teacher at the Calgary Catholic School Board, the YMCA, and has worked with artists in residency programs throughout the province. Matt has experience working with all grade levels with a focus on Junior High and High School. He has taught a wide variety of different subjects, and has developed curriculum and programming for youth. His pedagogical philosophy is that creativity and innovation are important skills that are applicable to absolutely any subject from Art, to Math, to Science, and beyond. He enjoys helping students find their passion for learning. Matt’s passions include travel, theatre, and his entrepreneurial endeavours he takes on in his spare time.

Steve D.

Steve is a highly experienced and certified teacher who resides in Vancouver, British Columbia. Originally from Saskatchewan, he completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Double-Honours) in Political Science and Religious Studies from the University of Saskatchewan in 2008. Steve then decided to move abroad to Korea to try his hand at teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). Despite only planning to teach abroad for a year or two to travel and pay off his student loans, it was during his time in Korea that he obtained his TESOL certification, got married, became a father, and decided to pursue teaching as a long-term profession.

After nine years of teaching experience in Korea, Steve decided to move back to Canada in the summer of 2017 with his wife and daughter. He completed his Bachelor of Education Degree in Elementary Education (with a specialization in teaching English language learners) at the University of British Columbia in 2018. Shortly after, Steve was hired by the Burnaby School District where he currently works as a Grade 6/7 teacher.

In his spare time, Steve enjoys watching his favourite English Premier League soccer team, Arsenal, playing badminton, reading, playing guitar, singing, songwriting, and spending time with his family and friends. Steve also moonlights as the lead singer and guitarist of his rock band, Pen Pal Aloha! Steve’s guiding philosophy as an educator can be summed up by Aristotle’s quote: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” Steve always makes it a point to infuse “heart” and “head” knowledge in the minds of his students, believing that both are equally important in the development of fully educated citizens.

CHRISTINE D.

Christine Duff is a very experienced Special Education Teacher who is passionate about empowering students to excel in school. Christine brings to her lessons lots of colorful hands-on learning materials and games, as well as an infectious attitude that makes learning much more fun! Christine loves working with individual students – as well as their families – to better understand how learning differences can impact experiences in the classroom, as well as academic performance. Christine spends 1-1 time with each student to ensure that they are equipped with the kinds of skills and strategies that will help them to gain more confidence and independence – and improve their overall grades!

Christine is qualified to lead academic tutoring and coaching programs for students in Elementary School, Middle School, and High School, as well as those in college and university. She strongly believes that experiencing school success is closely tied to quality of life, and that all students should have access to fair and appropriate educational opportunities.

-Knowledgeable about learning differences such as LD, ADHD, and ASD
-Appreciative of how learning differences impact students’ mental health and well-being
-Experienced in supporting the development of Reading, Spelling, and other Literacy skills
-Skilled in helping students develop Writing Skills that enhance school performance
-Very capable of teaching Math skills and concepts, as well as new approaches to problem-solving
-Competent in Organization and Executive Function Coaching, ADHD Coaching, Academic Coaching
-Subject Areas: English and Language Arts K-12; Math and Science K-9; Social Studies K-8, Grade 9 Geography, Grade 10 History; Civics and Careers; Paragraph and Essay Writing; Applications to Colleges and Universities

KAROLINA S.

Karolina Solovka is a recent graduate of York University, where she earned both a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance Creation and Research and a Bachelor of Education in Teacher College for grades 4-10. She currently teaches dance and drama at Ms. Marianne’s Power of Performing Arts studio, where she leads both recreational and competitive classes. Karolina also plays a key role in the studio’s productions, with the upcoming show being, Into The Woods Jr!

Karolina’s teaching philosophy is rooted in flexibility and adaptability, tailored to meet the diverse needs of her students. She is committed to continuous growth and development as an educator, aiming to provide her students with a rich foundation of knowledge and unforgettable learning experiences. Her ultimate goal is for her students to leave her classroom feeling confident in their abilities, eager to learn, and ready to seize every opportunity, regardless of the outcome. She is super happy to join the team here at Prep Academy and is so excited to meet her future students!

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.

CAMILIA D.

Camilia is a TESOL certified ESL instructor and science tutor. After growing up in Toronto, Camilia completed her Bachelors of Science (Honours) degree in Biology and Health Science at McGill & Brock University. She then went on to teach English abroad in Korea, and complete her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Doctoral Degree at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto. Camilia also completed her Homeopathic Medicine diploma with CEDH, and has been tutoring high school and university students for over 10 years. In her spare time, Camilia loves cooking, travelling, photography & running. She is passionate about many things, especially teaching and helping students reach their full academic potential!

ASHLEI S.

Ashlei S. is a graduate of the Master of Teaching program at the University of Toronto, and she specializes in teaching English and visual art. From a young age, she was an avid reader and frequent creative writer. Ashlei discovered her love of teaching when she began volunteering as a summer camp counsellor, and afterwards, decided to work with students as much as possible. While earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts at York University, she earned several awards in essay writing and for her academic standing. She has experience teaching students of a variety of ages: elementary school students in afterschool art programs, high school students in her teaching placements, and university students whom she worked with as a teaching assistant. She enjoys helping students strengthen their communication skills and reading comprehension and hopes to guide them in building confidence and a sense of achievement in their progress.

Abigail T.

Abigail T. is a passionate and experienced educator specializing in Elementary Education (K–6), as well as music instruction in Harp, Piano, and Music Theory. Raised in a homeschool environment that nurtured her love of learning and music, Abigail began teaching at an early age—giving private music lessons to children throughout high school. She later earned her degree in Music Education from Baylor University, further solidifying her foundation in both academics and the arts.

With experience teaching in classrooms and tutoring students from kindergarten through seventh grade, Abigail brings a compassionate and patient approach to every session. She is especially committed to supporting students who face academic challenges, helping them build confidence and master new skills. Her warmth and dedication make her a favorite among young learners and parents alike.

Outside of tutoring, Abigail enjoys spending time with her cat, Rory, playing with her young nieces, and diving into complex board games.

Testimonial:

“…Abigail was amazing and customized each lesson. By end of semester my daughter was able to complete and turn in all her assignments. Plus the confidence boost she had in class now reading and answering questions out loud! Looking forward to starting her back again end of summer get her back and ready for new school year. THANK YOU Prep!”

Camilia D.

Camilia is a professional and passionate tutor with over 6 years of experience teaching and tutoring. She has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in biology, and is pursing her Doctoral degree in Naturopathic Medicine. Camilia is a certified ESL instructor, and has worked with students at a variety of grade and ability levels. Camilia loves teaching, learning, art, music, cooking and travelling. On her free time she takes photographs and runs outside 🙂

Julia G.

Julia is a teacher candidate at York University’s concurrent education program. She aims to teach the Intermediate/Senior age groups when she graduates from university. She completed her undergrad at York University with a major in theatre and a minor in history. Julia has gained most of her teaching experience through working with different age groups at daycares and previous tutoring opportunities. Prior to university, Julia has tutored different subject matters including english, geography, history, and the arts.

Aside from her passion for teaching, Julia has worked as an assistant manager at a retail store and volunteered with drama camps over multiple summers. Julia used to take dance and singing lessons recreationally throughout her childhood. She also enjoys music and movies that she can share with others. Julia is very passionate when working with students and aims for each student to leave working with her to enjoy at least one element of what they have learned together.