Serena L.

Serena is a friendly and enthusiastic tutor with a broad range of experience working with kids, teenagers and adults. Her specialty in the Sciences but is passionate about all areas of education. Serena has a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of Ottawa in Biology as well as a Master’s of Science degree from the University of Guelph.

In her free time, Serena is active in the community and plays or coaches in softball, dodgeball and martial arts. As a student who once needed extra help before thriving academically in her later years, Serena understands that students all have the potential to succeed and is excited to help students find their own excellence.

Ruby S.

Ruby has a PhD in experimental medicine and a Masters in regenerative medicine. She brings over 15 years of experience as an educator and has worked with students in elementary school all the way to medical professionals. She has worked with students in an one-on-one format, small groups and large classes. Ruby engages with her students through virtual and in-person formats. Ruby also provides tailored support for ACT, SAT, and SSATs. She applies various strategies honed over a decade of experience in standardized test preparation to support and coach her students. With her tailored approach, her students gain the confidence to strategically tackle test preparation material and critical thinking skills to effectively apply their core knowledge.

Oriane F.

Oriane Falkenstein is an accomplished educator and curriculum writer with extensive experience in teaching Language Arts and Social Studies. She has a dual General Studies and Jewish Studies background. Her teaching certification spans from primary to senior levels, with specialist qualifications in Special Education, Guidance, and English as a Second Language. She recently acquired her specialist qualifications as a Teacher Librarian. Oriane is known for her unwavering dedication and total commitment to her students. Oriane is skilled in promoting organization, study skills, critical thinking, and executive functioning. She has a natural ability to inspire and engage her students.

In addition to her love for the classroom, Oriane has always enjoyed tutoring students one-on-one. Her personalized approach allows her to focus on each student’s unique learning needs and goals, providing them with the individual attention and support they need to succeed.  

Oriane is also a children’s book author, showcasing her creativity and love for literature. As a lifelong learner, she is a strong believer in professional development and constantly seeks new knowledge and skills and the latest developments in her field. 

Oriane is an avid reader and enjoys lap swimming,. working out at the gym and is a crazy dog lover!

STEPHANIE I.

Stephanie graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master of Arts in Child Study & Education in the primary/junior grade levels. During her time at OISE, she completed three practicum placements, which were in SK at the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute Child Study, grade 3/4 in the TDSB, and her teaching internship / extended practicum was grade 1 in the TDSB. Prior to entering her master’s at University of Toronto, Stephanie was an educational assistant that supported students in KG- grade 8 with academics, social skills, vocational skills, and social emotional learning. Through the combination of her employment opportunities and the unique position of the master’s degree, Stephanie has developed an in-depth understanding on teaching children Ontario curriculum using a child-centred approach that is best suited to each child’s needs. Stephanie truly believes that all children learn best when they feel safe, welcome, and secure, and it is her teaching mission to ensure all students she interacts with feel welcomed and include by developing strong relationships and creating a fun environment. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys camping, kayaking, yoga, and other exercise activities that promote a healthy lifestyle for her well-being.

Alain Z.

Alain Zaramian holds a B.A. (Classical Languages, Religious Studies) from the University of Toronto and an M.A. and Ph.D. (Classical Languages) from the University of Texas at Austin, where he also taught Latin and ancient Greek languages and literature. In 2018, he was awarded the Classics Department’s annual award for teaching. He additionally has many years of tutoring experience, working with high school and university students in a broad range of subjects across the humanities and social sciences. He is currently working on his first book, a study of ancient Greek and Roman religious poetry.

In his spare time, Alain loves to read, watch movies, and cheer for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Kayla H.

Meet Kayla Hicks, a Speech-Language Pathology graduate student. Kayla grew up in Oklahoma City where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Oklahoma State University. There she taught high school students from Phnom Penh, Cambodia formal grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation of spoken and written English. She also tutored college students in English, Essay writing, and Psychology. Kayla then moved to Illinois to work toward her Graduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Midwestern University where she is expected to graduate in May of 2023. Kayla has gained professional experience as a Speech Pathology graduate student who has facilitated evaluation and intervention in neurodegenerative disorders of communication (TBI/ABI, Parkinson’s Disease, Stroke, Cognition, Aphasia, etc.) and children with unique communication needs (Expressive/Receptive Language Disorder, AAC, Autism, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Articulation, Language, Social learning, etc.) Through speech and language intervention, she has been able to foster her love of teaching and support students and adults with unique needs across multiple subjects to meet their educational goals. She has been able to make her students feel more confident in the classroom and their personal life by supporting improvement in writing, reading, vocabulary, language, speech, and math.

Kayla’s experience has allowed her to be flexible and adaptable with all students. She offers a calm, yet welcoming demeanor, infectious joy, candor, and positivity. In her spare time, Kayla loves going on walks, playing games, laser tag, and dancing. Kayla also spends her time helping out at a local dance studio, where she gets to share her love of dance. You can catch Kayla with a big smile on her face, helping someone become their best self.

Nikki M.

Nikki has an Honours Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies from the University of Guelph, where she worked alongside a professor as a TA during her final semester. She also has over 7+ years of experience working with children, ages 2-15, with and without special needs as a preschool teacher, tutor, daycare worker, camp counsellor, and aquatics instructor.

Nikki also has experience working as an academic coach and helping students with their note-taking, organization, and executive function skills. She is qualified to teach all subjects at the Primary Junior Level (PreK-6) and specializes in English, Law, Politics, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the Intermediate, Senior and Post-Secondary Levels.

Most importantly, Nikki is patient as she understands that every student has their own pace and unique way of learning. While continuing her professional development, she also enjoys swimming, volunteering and travelling.

Carolyn P.

My name is Carolyn Paschen and I am a lifelong learner and teacher. I come from generations of teachers who were dedicated to being a part of student learning. I taught in Boulder Valley Schools for 21 years before I retired in 2018. Literacy is my greatest passion. Helping children discover the joy that comes from reading and writing is something I have missed since I retired. I look forward to working with children as a tutor at Prep Academy.

Mikayla P.

Mikayla grew up and studied in Prince Edward Island, Canada. In 2017, she graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and English. During this degree she took an Introduction to Education course as an elective; this is where her passion for education and teaching was born. She went on to complete a Bachelor of Education degree, specializing in Elementary, Indigenous, and International Education, also with UPEI. As a part of her Bachelor of Education degree she had the opportunity to travel to New Zealand to complete her practicum. This opened her eyes to new teaching methodologies and incorporating cultural awareness in the classroom. It also fostered a deep love of travel and openness to new experiences. Since 2018, Mikayla has taught in classrooms from K-9. She has experience with all subjects in the elementary curriculum, but her passion lies with literacy. This past year, Mikayla worked with students both in school and also after school as a tutor, with students who needed extra support in literacy. It was the favorite part of her day to meet with these students and build their confidence and skills in both reading and writing. Her approach is student centered, focusing on students strengths and interests. Her belief is that learning should be engaging, positive, and approachable. Mikayla loves teaching so much that she is constantly practicing at home teaching her dog, Gunner, lots of new tricks.

JAMIE Z.