KYLE X.
Kyle is a multilingual professional with a wealth of experience in leadership, networking, and tutoring. He was born in East Asia, speaks English, Cantonese, and Mandarin fluently, and is actively learning Italian, Arabic, Spanish, French, and Korean. With six years of tutoring experience teaching students from primary, university, and ESL adult backgrounds, Kyle is passionate about teaching English, social sciences, history, and economics as a result of his academic background. His love for teaching is evident in the way he connects with his students and fosters a positive learning environment. Kyle’s leadership skills are also impressive, having founded and served as the chapter president of My Networking Club, a registered charity where he managed a team of over 20 executives to craft growth plans for six key events that connect university students to industry professionals for networking, mentorship, and internship opportunities. Under Kyle’s leadership, the club achieved membership growth of over 100 members and 300+ attendees from top companies in Canada. Kyle’s academic achievements are equally notable, with a GPA of 3.9/4.0 and a place on the Dean’s Honor Roll at York University. With a genuine passion for education, coupled with his leadership skills and academic achievements, Kyle is poised to make a significant impact in his future endeavors.
ASHLEY H.
Ashley is an Ontario Certified Teacher and has recently completed the Master of Teacher program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto (Primary/Junior). She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo (Honours Sociology, French) and a Graduate Diploma in Community Health from the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Before teaching, Ashley’s journey took her on a different path of working in child welfare and mental health for many years as a frontline worker and manager. Her previous work experiences bring a unique lens to teaching and she often draws on these skills to support students’ growth and development. She has many years of experience working with children and youth in a variety of roles, including teaching internationally in Australia’s outback.
Ashley strives for balance and is a detail-oriented individual who is meticulous and methodical, yet playful and youthful, which helps in easily connecting with children and youth. Ashley is a strong communicator who has high energy yet brings a calm demeanour and will always meet students where they are at. Her teaching and tutoring style is one where both student and teacher co-create an environment that is equitable, creative, joyful, and collaborative. She strives to foster a space where students feel seen and focuses on breaking down challenging tasks into manageable pieces. She will always approach teaching through a culturally safe lens with a focus on social-emotional learning.
Ashley’s strengths are in the areas of Academic coaching, Primary/Junior curriculum, and Social Sciences/Humanities. She also has a strong research background and has presented at several conferences. In her personal life, Ashley is a self-taught baker and runs a small batch baking business. She loves to travel, whether it is exploring close to home or going on big adventures with her partner. She practices mindfulness, and maintains an active lifestyle through hiking, cycling, yoga, and playing with her young nephew.
TABATHA W.
Tabatha is a teacher candidate pursuing her master’s degree in Child Study and Education at the University of Toronto. After growing up in Ottawa, she moved to Halifax and completed her bachelor’s degree in Child and Youth Study. During her studies she spent her time working with children in various contexts from daycare and tutoring to special education settings. Following, Tabatha’s career brought her to Toronto where she worked in non-profits in the mental health, leadership, and education field. This experience further sparked her passion for education where she then earned a diploma in Behavioural Science before pursuing her teaching degree. Tabatha prioritizes building strong relationships with students to create learning contexts that best meet student needs and keep learning fun and engaging. In her free time Tabatha enjoys taking pictures of her dog, drinking coffee and reading copious amounts of books from the local library!
TAYLOR F.
Taylor is an Ontario Certified Teaching Candidate, currently finishing her Master of Teaching program at the University of Toronto. Taylor has also won a Canada Graduate Scholarship for her Master’s research regarding integrating relevant and modern teaching into the humanities curriculum in Ontario. Prior to this, Taylor attended the University of Toronto in Scarborough to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and History. In high school, Taylor discovered her love for the environment through completing a Specialist High Skills Major program that prompted her on the path to explore environmental education with students. Taylor has worked for a variety of recreational and residence programs for about eight years which was guided by a hands-on and inquiry based learning model. Taylor has worked with students from ages 4-25 and is committed to the belief that every student has the capability to succeed. Taylor has also worked for Enbridge Gas and the Municipality of Clarington, allowing her to bring in organizational and leadership techniques to pass onto students to aid them in their academic and social success. From her love for hiking and traveling to her curious loyalty to cheese and bagels, Taylor looks for opportunities to make learning fun and palatable for students of all ages.
ALICE D.
Alice is a teacher candidate in her final year at the University of Toronto. She will be a high school science teacher specializing in biology and general science, and will also be teaching social sciences. She completed a Bachelor of Science degree specializing in Biology at the University of Ottawa but had a wide range of interests and took a variety of courses including math, physics, chemistry, psychology, anthropology and history. In addition to academics, she is an RCM certified piano instructor and has worked as a certified ski instructor. Alice believes that learning is most successful when a teacher explores and draws upon the students’ interest. She believes that it is also essential to make learning fun and to tie the content to everyday life making it meaningful and applicable for the student. In addition to teaching and learning, she enjoys, reading, waterpolo, crocheting and music.
TRISHA L.
Trisha Lee is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson), where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Studies, with a minor in Sociology. She is currently in the first of two years at York University for Bachelor of Education. She will become an intermediate/ senior Teacher with the qualifications to teach Family Studies and General Social Science courses. Trisha has a background and passion for working with children and youth with disabilities and learning exceptionalities. She worked at the Geneva Centre for Autism for many years in the Group Services department as a Shift Leader. During her time at this organization, she had the pleasure of working one-to-one with individuals to learn and complete the goals set out by the families. She created strong rapport with the clients and families, through communication to help them achieve their goals and succeed to the fullest. Outside of work Trisha enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as reading and exploring nature. Trisha is currently a volunteer in an after-school program, where she helps students from grades three to eight with their homework and reading skills. She really enjoys helping others to understand material they may have learned in school and caters to the various learning styles of the students she helps.
JAMIE Z.
Jamie is currently a grade 2/3 teacher with the Toronto District School Board. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Teaching in Elementary Education, and is currently completing his Master of Arts in Social Justice Education. He also holds additional qualifications in Special Education, Primary/Junior Literacy, Mathematics, Reading, ESL, and Kindergarten.
During the summer months, Jamie fulfills the role of Program Director with Westcoast Connection. Over the past 10 summers he has directed programs all over Canada, USA, Europe and Australia.
Ashley S.
Ashley Shalmoni is a PhD candidate in the Gender, Feminist and Women’s Studies department at York University, where she also works as Teachers Assistant. She is also working as a researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital, where she is using a feminist political economy approach to investigate the gender gap in STEM. In addition to this work, she uses an intersectional framework to examine the gender and racial disparities in labour.
Darien K.
Darien has been teaching for 5 years. He also has a Psychology degree and is certified by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. He developed a Mindfulness Committee throughout his school’s community to better support mental health initiatives.
Darien has the experience to understand and tailor instruction to the many different learning styles, abilities and backgrounds. He has taught people with various and complex disabilities for 10+ years, is comfortable teaching various levels of English Language Learners and can teach foundational knowledge through Indigenous perspective.
As a teacher his focus is on an well rounded educational plan that consists of physical and mental wellness, cultivating self-worth, morals, values and supporting students’ expressions of identity. He received multiple scholarships based on athletic merit as a member of the University’s Cross Country Running team. He loves to take his dog paddle boarding and hiking. When they are not in the sunniest spots, he’ll likely be found playing Arceus or Zelda on his Nintendo Switch.
Janet D.
Janet is a Certified Teacher, with four years of teaching experience. She has worked in both the private and public sectors. She specializes in a variety of subject areas from MYP IB, to PE, Outdoor Ed, Business, Human Sciences, and Primary School English & Mathematics.
She grew up in Barrie, Ontario, and moved out west in 2015. She has an Undergraduate Degree in Physical and Health Education and a Minor in Business Admin. As well, she’s completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from UBC.
Janet has taught a variety of high school specialized courses outside of her teachables including ESL, Home Economics, Yoga, and Basketball Academy. She also spent a year teaching a grade 4-7 elementary school class, with a special focus on literacy and mathematics in those years.
She is passionate about helping others achieve their goals and got into teaching physical and health education not only because of her love for sports, but because she thoroughly enjoys helping build her students’ confidence to succeed. She prides herself on the connections she’s built with her students and parents over the years.
Janet’s approach fosters an environment where community, global perspectives, and social responsibility become key fundamentals that will prepare her students to be true world citizens. Her goal is that the connections she makes allow others to leave at the end of the day feeling supported, and respected and that their opinions are heard. Since starting her career, she’s made it her mission to make her classroom environment a safe space for all everyone, where they can share experiences, and use their innovative thinking and creativity, to flourish. She loves working amongst the leaders of tomorrow and greatly appreciates all the connections she’s made along the way.