Diana A.
Diana A. is a passionate English and Spanish educator with over 17 years of experience helping students develop their academic writing, reading comprehension, and communication skills. She holds a Master’s in TESOL, Literacy, and Culture from the University of San Diego and has taught across both high school and college settings. Diana empowers students to become confident, independent writers through engaging, student-centered lessons that make complex ideas accessible. Her approach combines structured skill-building with creativity—whether she’s guiding students through persuasive essays, college application writing, or literary analysis. Beyond academics, Diana fosters a supportive environment where learners build confidence in expressing their own voices. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys discovering new authors and designing lessons that connect language learning to real-world experiences.
Cheryl O.
With over 20 years of classroom experience in English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction and educational administration, Cheryl brings a strong blend of classroom teaching, online instruction, and individualized tutoring to help learners achieve their academic goals. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education, TESOL certification, and a prior Special Education credential.
Over the past decade, Cheryl has supported students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds through online ESL instruction and one-on-one tutoring. She specializes in creating engaging, personalized lessons that meet each student’s unique needs. Cheryl is deeply dedicated to fostering language and academic growth, promoting cultural understanding, and building confidence in communication across academic, professional, and personal settings. She looks forward to continuing her work with students and helping them succeed in today’s world.
JULIAN S.
Julian S. is a dedicated teacher with the Durham District School Board who specializes in math instruction, literacy development, and supporting students with special needs. He began his teaching journey as a swimming instructor, where he first discovered his passion for helping learners succeed. This early experience inspired him to pursue an education in Early Childhood Studies, followed by a Bachelor of Education, solidifying his path as an educator. Julian has worked with many students struggling with literacy, helping them strengthen their reading and writing skills with personalized strategies. He has also taught internationally in China, where he worked with senior students and adults in ESL programs, gaining a strong foundation in language learning and communication. With extensive classroom and one-on-one experience, he is passionate about building confidence, fostering independence, and helping each student reach their full potential. Outside of teaching, Julian enjoys reading, rock climbing, swimming, and taking road trips across Ontario—always finding new experiences to bring back to his students.
Tareque M.
Tareque is a graduate of the University of Toronto, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities with majors in English and History. He is currently completing his Master of Teaching at OISE (University of Toronto) and is on the path to becoming an Ontario Certified Teacher. As part of his graduate work, Tareque is researching the benefits of using video games as pedagogy and course material, exploring how they can create new pathways for learning and highlight underrepresented skills in education.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Tareque holds TEFL/TESOL certification and has taught ESL/EFL to a wide range of learners, from young children to seniors. His tutoring philosophy emphasizes heuristic learning, strong study habits, and differentiated instruction, tailoring his approach to each student’s strengths, interests, and learning preferences.
Beyond teaching, Tareque enjoys music, film, reading, writing fiction, video games, and karaoke. He is passionate about bringing creativity, inclusivity, and innovation into his teaching to help students reach their full potential.
Samantha S.
Samantha is a bilingual educator with more than 20 years of experience helping students of all ages discover their strengths and enjoy learning. She has taught everything from core subjects in Elementary to Social Studies and English in Middle School to English as a Second Language (ESL) to adults and is known for turning challenges into confidence-building wins through social-emotional learning (SEL). With a Master’s in Positive Education and certifications in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), English as a Second Language (ESL), Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) and Family Coaching, Samantha combines expertise with a warm, encouraging approach that brings out the best in every learner. Samantha combines strong academic expertise with a supportive, student-focused approach. She partners with families to ensure students not only improve their grades but also grow in confidence, motivation, and prevailing learning skills. A lifelong student herself, she’s always taking new courses to keep life (and learning) exciting. When she’s not teaching, you’ll probably find her traveling with her family to eco-destinations where she can connect with nature, reading a thrilling novel, or singing her heart out—sometimes all at once!
Lisa S.
Lisa is a dedicated educator with decades of experience teaching students from kindergarten through grade 8. She has a deep passion for teaching children to read and firmly believes that every child can become a confident, independent reader when given the right instruction. Specializing in literacy, one-on-one remedial support, special education, ASD support, and ESL teaching, Lisa designs instruction that meets diverse learning needs while fostering critical thinking, independence, and student engagement. Making learning fun!
Highly skilled in evidence-based reading strategies, she creates interventions that equip students with the tools, guidance, and encouragement they need to succeed. Her approach emphasizes authentic praise, clear next steps, and adaptable strategies that students can apply across subjects. Above all, Lisa prioritizes compassion and individualized support, helping each student unlock their full potential, ignite curiosity, and cultivate a lifelong love of learning.
Sylvia K.
Sylvia has a Master of Teaching from OISE and a combined Honours degree in English and Philosophy from Dalhousie University. She is an Ontario Certified Teacher with over four years of experience in the Toronto District School Board. Sylvia is experienced and qualified in teaching high school English, Drama, and English Language Learning She has also taught Grade 10 Canadian History and Grade 9 Geography. Her additional qualifications include Reading Development, Guidance, and Senior Social Sciences.
Driven by a deep passion for writing and communication, Sylvia works closely with students to help them express ideas clearly and build confidence in a range of subjects. Her background in debate coaching enriches her teaching practice, allowing her to support students in exploring diverse perspectives and engaging critically with the world around them. She is committed to fostering inclusive, thoughtful learning environments for students of diverse interests and abilities.
Anthony M.
Dr. Anthony J. Marchi is a highly regarded educator and healthcare professional with over 20 years of experience empowering learners in various environments. As a U.S. Army veteran and former flight paramedic, he has led critical care training programs, mentored thousands of students, and developed award-winning curricula focused on humanistic and reflective learning principles, as well as student-centered growth. Dr. Marchi holds advanced credentials in health science, talent development, and quality improvement, which contribute to his compassionate and structured tutoring approach that inspires confidence and builds lasting academic foundations. Whether he is helping students master complex subjects or refine their writing and reasoning skills, Dr. Marchi draws from a wealth of expertise, patience, and curiosity. Outside the classroom, he enjoys reading philosophy, volunteering as a child advocate, and writing about education and leadership from his favorite corner coffee shop. At the heart of his teaching is a simple belief: every student already carries within them the capacity to grow; education is the mirror that helps them see it.
Hannah G.
As an educator of 7+ years, Hannah (she/her) is eager to help students with social sciences, technical writing skills, reading comprehension, essay outlining, executive skills, and ESL conversation. Outside of tutoring, Hannah is a Ph.D. student in the Social and Cultural Analysis program at Concordia University. Her research, generously funded by the Faculty of Arts and Science Fellowship, explores online communities — specifically LGBTQIA+ and other minority-led spaces — and alternative media creation. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Media Studies from Concordia, which allowed her to develop a web series pilot about positive representation for sapphic women and non-binary folks in online fandoms. She likewise holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in English from the University of Regina with a concentration in creative writing. Professionally, she has experience as a researcher, instructor, journalist, and actress in film, theatre, and television. Hannah is passionate about intersectional feminist filmmaking, creative writing, and archival research.
In her spare time, she also enjoys volunteering for Archives gaies du Québec.
Kimberly O.
Kimberly taught English and ESL for 14 years at South Side High School. Before that, she taught ESL and English at Northwood Middle School for 10 years. Both schools are located in Fort Wayne Community Schools in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She has a BA in English with a minor in French from Indiana University. She also has an MA in Education from Indiana Wesleyan. In addition, she holds a Professionalized Teaching license in the state of Indiana.
Kimberly has taught a diverse population of students including students from over 20 different countries. She has taught students with IEP’s as well as students with high ability. Kimberly’s passion is to see academic growth in students. She enjoys helping students achieve benchmarks in their learning to achieve their goals. She values getting to know the student as well as communicating with parents on a regular basis. She is very excited to be part of Prep Academy Tutors and she looks forward to meeting you!
“Teaching is only demonstrating that it is possible. Learning is making it possible for yourself.”
– Paulo Coelho