Karina R.

Karina is a retired teacher and administrator with over 38 years of experience teaching and leading communities of learners. She has a love for education and connecting with her students and families.

Karina believes that the key to successful learning is making it fun, engaging and appropriate for each child’s instructional needs. Her specialty is differentiating and individualizing according to each child’s interests, strengths and academic goals. She is also a lifelong learner and enjoys traveling, reading, surfing, birding and hiking. Karina is thrilled to be a Prep Academy Tutor, which allows her to help children develop confidence in their abilities and achieve their full potential.

Zeke T.

Zeke is a credentialed social science and special education teacher with over eight years of classroom experience. He holds a BA from UCLA and an MA from UCSD. Zeke is a patient, personable, and adaptable teacher who loves creating the spark that fosters lifelong curiosity and exploration.

In his free time, Zeke enjoys traveling, playing guitar, hiking, cycling, reading, and watching sports. His favorite teams include the San Diego Padres, UCLA Bruins, and anything Team USA.

NAWI M. V.

Nawi has been working with children of all ages and abilities for many years, in classroom settings and one-on-one. Currently, he is a Teacher Candidate at OISE in the Primary/Junior Program. He has a BA in English and History from the University of Toronto, which makes him confident in tutoring Intermediate and Senior students in those subjects. He is fluent in Spanish, speaks intermediate French, and has worked in schools in Canada, Guatemala, and the UK. His love of language, working with children, and his ability to build strong relationships led him to teaching. Working with children of various abilities has helped Nawi develop a patient and open teaching approach that is tailored to his students’ individual needs. Nawi can be found biking and running through the city, at the TIFF Lightbox, and on the hunt for the best street food.

Janet L. M.

Janet has been teaching for 22 years. Her most recent career choice has been teaching high school at Chief Gabriel Cote Education Complex on the Cote First Nation, SK.
Before that, in Vancouver, BC, she was a teacher trainer at Greystone College offering Cambridge University’s (UK) Teachers’ Knowledge Test (TKT) and Teaching Young Learners (TYL). In Japan she taught conversational English to children (pre-school, elementary, and junior high levels) and adults (conversational and in-house business classes) to a variety of Japanese companies in Fukui-Ken. In India, she taught ESL, English and PE at Kodaikanal International School. Janet is also a certified Outward Bound Canada Field Leader.

Janet is an award-winning author (Canada’s Legendary Ski Team – The Crazy Canucks, with a foreword by Peter Mansbridge). One of her books, Radar the Rescue Dog, celebrates Radar, Canada’s first certified avalanche rescue dog. The foreword is written by the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and monies go to the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Assoc., CARDA. She is currently working on her seventh book. Her writing has appeared in the Pique Newsmagazine, Ski Canada and several other publications.

Janet is also a Goodwill Ambassador for Friends to Mankind, an international non-profit foundation that works with individuals, corporation and philanthropic organizations towards the betterment of humanity.

Dr. Lynda M.

Dr. Lynda’s professional journey, from a long-term substitute in a public school to earning a doctoral degree in Education, is a testament to her dedication and persistence. She has worked with a comprehensive array of demographics regarding students, ranging from early intervention with the youngest students to working with adults striving to earn a GED. She has tutored undergraduate students and non-traditional learners. Each new experience builds a knowledge base and broadens understanding of students’ diverse academic encounters.

Currently, Dr. Lynda provides learning support to young students with developmental disabilities, notably those with intellectual challenges, autism, sensory challenges, and behavioral issues, as well as typical learners. She connects well with people across age cohorts and with students’ families. Her down-to-earth nature is immediately apparent. Her commitment has led her to delve into delivering early learning opportunities, such as language development, phonemes, literacy, phonics, numeracy, and social-emotional development. She uses fun, interactive, collaborative brain breaks, sensitivity, and the learners’ strengths to help them meet their needs.

Dr. Lynda is eager to participate in problem resolution with her students, using her calming therapist skills as needed. She encourages open discussion about academic difficulties in a compassionate, nonjudgmental manner, always remaining a steadfast safety net.

JENNIFER M.

Meet Jenn! She has an undergrad degree in Business Management with a focus on Stats & French and is currently a teacher candidate at Lakehead University completing her Bachelor of Education. Jenn has worked with elementary students, covers all elementary subjects, and is very strong in Math & French. She has tutored students in Math & French to G12 and is very familiar with the Ontario curriculum. Through her teaching placements with the school board & her experience working at the YMCA, Jenn has developed skills in classroom management & varying teaching techniques. Jenn has a great rapport with her students and adapts her teaching style to all kinds of learners.

ALESSIA V.

Alessia is a dedicated Ontario Certified Teacher with a deep passion for fostering children’s growth and learning. Raised in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Alessia pursued her academic journey with a strong focus on early childhood education. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education and Child Development with Applied Sciences, as well as a Bachelor of Education from Lakehead University, where she developed her skills and deepened her enthusiasm for teaching. Her commitment to education extends beyond the classroom. During the summer months, Alessia engages in educational camps and hands-on activities that emphasize STEM, science, and problem-solving skills, ensuring that children have enriching learning experiences. In her spare time, she has tutored students from Kindergarten through 12th grade, providing support in subjects including language arts, mathematics, science, reading, writing, history, and social sciences. Alessia believes in the transformative power of education and is dedicated to inspiring and guiding her students to achieve their full potential. Her approach is characterized by creativity, empathy, and a relentless drive to make learning a joyful and impactful experience for every child she works with.

TIMOTHY T.

After Tim graduated with a bachelors in Fine Arts from the University of Victoria, he went to teach English as a second language in Victoria, before moving to South Korea to teach English for a year. From there, Tim returned to Vancouver to acquire a Bachelors of Education from the University of British Columbia. He then spent 5 years teaching at Vancouver Christian School, as a Grade 7 Homeroom Teacher, teaching a variety of subjects such as English, Math, Social Studies, and Phyiscal Education. Tim also has experience as a teacher-on-call, and has subbed for Grades 3 to 12. Tim is also well-versed in music and music theory and plays the piano, guitar, and flute.

Meg H.

Meg Hardick is a certified middle grades science teacher. She holds a BS in Environmental Science, and a Masters in Elementary Education. She specializes in all areas of science, as well as elementary education, middle school French, and standardized test prep. She greatly enjoys helping students build the emotional and executive functioning skills necessary to excel in all subject areas. As a lover of literature and writing, she is especially excited to help students engage with the written word and expand their creative and expressive abilities. She has had great success supporting students through the stress and pressure of standardized testing season, taking a wholistic approach to test preparation and demystifying test structures.

When not supporting students, she enjoys spending time with her son, Hazel, wandering the Bella Vista streets, and hiking in the Poconos. She is a recent transplant from Austin, Texas, and is very appreciative of her new community.

Madison B

Madison is currently a student at McGill University pursuing a Bachelor’s of Education in High School History and Geography. She attended John Rennie High School in the Academic Plus Program and graduated from John Abbott College on the Dean’s List. Madison has had experience teaching in a classroom, as well as one on one tutoring with students of all ages, including students with special needs. She places importance on creating a safe, supportive and stimulating learning environment, where students can reach their full potential by not only growing mentally, but also emotionally and socially. Madison wants her students to understand that it is necessary to ask question and make mistakes in order to succeed. Madison has a passion for the social sciences, including anthropology, psychology and sociology.