Adrian C.

Adrian received a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the University of Sydney in NSW Australia in 2011 and spent over a decade working as a post-doctoral researcher on wheat and canola improvement at Canadian university and federal labs; besides, at an Australian university. Adrian has always had a keen interest in teaching and helping young students excel at school. Aside from his research, he participated in occasional voluntary and informal teaching, training and mentoring of secondary, summer, and pre-grad students. Adrian firmly believes that every student is capable of exceeding their academic potential, given the right guidance and mentorship. His expertise lies in cereal molecular pathology, quantitative genetics, genomics and functional bioinformatics. He is also a wannabe outdoor enthusiast, passionate about playing soccer, chess and trading options.

Summer H.

Summer is a 5th year Bachelor of Arts student at the University of the Fraser Valley with a History major focusing on Early Modern Japan and a Geography minor focusing on human/environment relations. She is planning to enter UFV’s Bachelor of Education program to attain her teaching degree following the completion of her undergrad. Additionally, Summer has many years of experience working in the education sector with over 300 classroom volunteer hours in grades K-12 and through her work as an educational respite worker. In this role, she has helped students on the autism spectrum complete assignments, set and attain academic goals, and supported them in building confidence to complete social tasks such as such as paying for items and ordering at restaurants. It is through her work that she developed her mission statement of encouraging the love of learning for all students, with an emphasis on diversifying the points of entry to learning. Summer strives to ensure that all different types of learners have accessible education opportunities regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities.

Michelle R.

Michelle is a graduate-level counselling psychology student with a strong background in writing, coaching, and one-on-one support. She brings a warm, patient, and encouraging approach to tutoring, helping students build confidence, feel comfortable working through mistakes, and break challenging material into manageable steps.
With experience as a published author, keynote speaker, former business professional, and counsellor-in-training, Michelle communicates clearly, listens thoughtfully, and adapts her approach to meet each student’s unique learning style.
Michelle believes students learn best when they feel understood, supported, and capable. She strives to create a calm, engaging environment where students can grow in both confidence and academic ability.
In her spare time, Michelle enjoys yoga, reading, going to concerts, creative home projects, and tending to her ever-growing houseplant collection.

Mark P.

Mark is a San Diego native that attended University of California Davis, graduating in 2002 with a major in Human Development and Psychology. He then proceeded to earn his Masters in Education from the University of Phoenix in 2008. He has been the supervisor of elementary afterschool programs and has taught at a local private school since 2010. He specializes in early literacy, reading, humanities, modern world and US history courses. His love and desire for knowledge drives him to continuously dive into unfamiliar topics gaining perspective from a wide range of mentors and professionals.

With free time, Mark enjoys being on the water, sailing or fishing for tuna. He is an avid outdoorsman, spending vacations hiking, camping or riding his Harley up the 101, Pacific Coast Highway. Mark believes there is nothing better than smiling with friends around a table full of tasty food!

Devin D.

Devin is a dedicated elementary educator with experience teaching both kindergarten and second grade. She currently teaches second grade at Lakeside Christian Academy, where she creates engaging, student-centered lessons that help children grow academically, socially, and spiritually. Devin previously taught kindergarten at Honeycomb Preschool and has also worked with middle school students through substitute teaching and classroom observation experiences, giving her a well-rounded understanding of diverse learning styles and needs. She is currently pursuing her Master of Education through the University of Olivet and is passionate about helping students build confidence and a love for learning. Math has always been Devin’s favorite subject to teach because she enjoys making problem-solving fun, interactive, and meaningful for young learners. She believes strong relationships, patience, and encouragement are key to helping every child succeed both inside and outside the classroom. Outside of teaching, Devin enjoys creating hands-on learning activities, supporting student growth, and bringing creativity and positivity into every lesson.

Michele M.

Michele is a Certified Teacher with a Master’s Degree in Education from Southeastern Louisiana University. She grew up in Prairieville, Louisiana, where she attended Ascension Parish Schools. In her 27 years as an educator, Michele has been able to foster her love for teaching math, especially to students who believe that they dislike math. The summer months bring an opportunity for Michele to travel with family and friends. This allows for new experiences that she can share with students to help them connect their learning to the world. In addition to teaching, Michele has years of tutoring experience, where she fosters engaging, personalized one-on-one interactive lessons.

Mirella C.

Mirella is a Spanish and Italian tutor and educator with more than 20 years of experience helping students build confidence in language learning. She holds a Master’s degree in Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian. Mirella has worked with students of all ages, from elementary school through college, in both classroom and one-on-one settings.

Known for her patient and encouraging approach, Mirella creates a relaxed learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, practicing conversation, and learning at their own pace. She tailors each session to the student’s individual needs, whether they need support with grammar, conversation, reading comprehension, homework, or test preparation.

Mirella believes language learning should feel approachable and engaging, not stressful. She enjoys bringing culture, conversation, and real-world examples into her lessons to help students feel more connected to the language and more confident using it every day.

Courtney P.

Courtney brings over 12 years of experience as a certified educator working in early childhood, elementary, and higher education settings. She holds a dual bachelor’s degree in elementary education and Spanish, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a bilingual education specialization, and a doctorate degree in early childhood education and leadership. Courtney also brings extensive experience training and coaching early childhood and elementary educators on the topics of structured literacy, early math, and self-regulation. Courtney is passionate about building relationships with students and families, and cultivating confidence in learners. When not working with students, Courtney enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and reading.

Deb B.

Deborah has been a dedicated teacher for 33 years, beginning her career after graduating from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor’s in Spanish. She has taught in rural communities and large cities, teaching every grade and subject, which has allowed her to hone her teaching skills. Upon moving to Boise, she contributed to district training initiatives and earned her Master’s degree during her nine years teaching first grade. Seeking more family time, Deborah transitioned to the Lee Pesky Learning Center, where she has worked for nearly eight years, supporting and collaborating with educators. Outside of work, Deborah enjoys the outdoors, spending time at her cabin in Featherville/Pine, and cherishing moments with her blended family. Now an empty nester, she continues to find joy in reading, traveling, and managing a couple of home-based businesses.

Amanda

Amanda Guedes has a bachelor’s degree in Kindergarten Elementary from Mcgill University. She has been working with children since her teenage years when she volunteered at a daycare and then began working there as a replacement educator. She then continued to pursue her love for working with children through the education program at Mcgill University. She graduated in 2019 and since then has worked towards her career in teaching. Upon graduating, she went abroad to London, United Kingdom to start her teaching career and gain experience. There, she completed two years of teaching –at the grade 5 level and kindergarten level respectively –and got to appreciate the education system and its methods within the UK. Upon her return to Canada, she was able to bring back those methods and began teaching for the English Montreal School Board. She has been with them ever since and continues to put all her love into teaching. She also began tutoring four years ago and has since then taken on many students to provide extra practice to help them succeed in their academic journey. She has helped students with their homework, extra practice to solidify their understanding, practice for both final and entry exams, and so forth. Amanda speaks three languages and is able to help students in both the English and French sectors.