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.
Additional Details
BIANCA I.
Bianca is an Ontario Certified Teacher since 2017. She grew up in Mississauga, moving to Hamilton, Ontario to complete an Undergraduate Degree at McMaster University and receiving a B.A in Humanities and a minor in religion. As well, she completed a Post Graduate Diploma, a Master of Science in Education in Buffalo, New York. Bianca grew up with a deep love of travel and took the opportunity to explore the world following the completion of her degrees. Since she was a young girl, Bianca discovered her passion for teaching and working with children. During the summer months, Bianca normally tutors student for the upcoming school year and continues to work with them throughout the year. In her spare time Bianca works one-on-one with children ranging from 6 years through middle school. She has taught almost all grades kindergarten through to grade 8 and while teaching, still supports students through tutoring. She has supported the improvement of their reading, writing, vocabulary and math skills. Additionally. Bianca has over 10 AQs (additional qualifications) and believes that all are life-long learners and is constantly building and adding to her career as an educator. Bianca believes that by building a strong relationship with her students she is better able to meet their needs and grow their learning.
Samantha F.
Samantha began her love of teaching at 17 years old when she became a volunteer assistant in a primary classroom. After high school, she attended the University of Toronto where she studied philosophy, history, and sociology. After completing her undergraduate, she took a big leap and moved to South Korea where she became a full-time kindergarten teacher. Although she did not make it as a K-pop star in South Korea, she did come to realize that teaching is one of her biggest passions. After her year abroad she came back to Canada and decided to become an ELL teacher at a school downtown, teaching adult students coming to Canada to learn English. During this time, she also became a private tutor working with students ages 7-11 who attended schools in the TDSB. She worked with students who had different exceptionalities and it was through this job that she realized that teaching is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach. After two years, she decided to take another big leap and complete her Master of Teaching at OISE, University of Toronto. Samantha is delighted to officially be an Ontario Certified Teacher. In her lessons, Samantha takes the time to get to know every individual student in order to create individualized plans that tap into the interests, passions, and needs of the learner. She loves to incorporate educational games, technology, art, and movement into her lessons in order to make the lessons more enjoyable, less rigid, and tap into multiple ways of learning. On her days off you can find Samantha watercolour painting, getting lost around the city, trying not to overwater her plants, and starting a new book before finishing the last one.
DUSICA T.
Dusica is an Ontario Teacher certified at Primary, Junior, Intermediate and Senior levels. She graduated with a Bachelor in Education from the University of Western Ontario. Prior to this she attended Wilfrid Laurier University where she obtained a diploma in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Geography.
Dusica has had a dream of being a teacher since she was 3 years old. She has been working with children for over 10 years now and enjoys her profession more and more each day. She believes that every student can learn if they have the right amount of support they need. Dusica’s goal is to make students fall in love with learning the way she did. Her outgoing personality helps with establishing strong connections and trust between her and her students
In her free time Dusica enjoys hanging out with friends, hiking, traveling, taking photographs, cooking, baking and the occasional movie night. Dusica loves learning new languages. She fluently speaks English, Macedonian and Serbian. She is also working on learning some Spanish, French and Italian.
Lander P-F.
Lander is an Ontario Certified Teacher who graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in English, a Bachelor of Education, and Minor in Social Sciences from York University. Throughout his six-year undergraduate degree, Lander consistently worked within the education sector which included leadership roles in school field trips, and clay sculpture workshops. After work, Lander can typically be found in his apartment with his cat Ezra, watching a quality film. Lander is an individual who is passionate and dedicated to his teacher’s craft, and seeks to hone his skills alongside his students with an energetic and motivated personality – above all, Lander wants to see his students succeed.
Bianca P.
Bianca has over 15 years of experience in education in both Toronto and internationally as a certified Teacher. She spent 7 years in the Middle East at international schools in various roles of teaching and leadership. Bianca has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and her thesis is focused on equitable leadership.
Bianca began her career as an Early Childhood Educator (ECE) to develop a deep understanding of the mindset of a developing child. She is consistently upgrading her education and experiences to remain current in her professional practice. Bianca believes that education is the foundation of society and understands her role in shaping the future through the education of students.
SIMON M.
Simon has a Masters Degree in Education focused on Curriculum and ESL from Mount Saint Vincent University in Nova Scotia. After volunteering as an ESL and ECE teacher, Simon gained a passion for supporting families new to Canada – particularly as they transition between different international school systems.
Simon focuses on grammar as the foundation of reading and writing. By zooming-in on sentences and zooming-out to see the connected meanings needed to complete complex assignments, Simon helps students improve basic grammar, plan clear writing, and understand exam questions under pressure.
With extensive experience working in international and ecological education in rural and urban areas, as well as with students who have a first language other than English, Simon also researches best practices in language education methods to support all types of learners.
Simon grew up in Brockville, Ontario, and attended MSVU and Saint Mary’s University in Halifax Nova Scotia. He has 12 years experience as an educator and holds TESL Canada Level 3 and CELTA teaching certificates. In his free time, he likes to cycle, snowboard, and read.
ABY C.
Katrina B.
Katrina received her Honours Bachelor Degree from the University of Toronto with a major in English Literature and a double minor in History and Political Science. She also holds a Masters in Education with a focus on English and Special Education. Katrina is currently a secondary school teacher with the Peel District School Board, where she teaches English (all levels, including IB and Vocational) and Special Education. Throughout her career, Katrina has maintained a desire to gain rich and varied teaching experiences and is therefore active within her high school and within her community as Katrina believes that connecting with the various interests and hobbies of her students’ will strengthen bonds and enrich the learning experience by connecting the curriculum to real life. Throughout her career and through various volunteer placements, Katrina has worked with many students of various ages who had behavioural and developmental learning exceptionalities and, by doing so, helped students gain confidence and positive results with reading and writing skills. Katrina believes that building relationships and fostering resilience is essential in order to help build confident learners who are able achieve success in all aspects of life. Katrina takes pride in helping her students to reach their full potential and encourages a range of skills to help ensure they are successful in both their academic and personal lives.