ANNABELLE K.
Annabelle is an Ontario Certified Teacher with a Transitional Certificate as she works towards completing her final year of the Master of Teaching program at OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education). In her studies at OISE, Annabelle has been exploring accessibility through gamification and how to best ensure students are engaged and ready to learn in the classroom. Through her placements, Annabelle has had amazing opportunities to work closely with students to meet their various learning needs, including providing students with one on one support. Annabelle has always been passionate about education both inside and out of the classroom as seen through her work in museums. Before entering the classroom, Annabelle received her Master of Museum Studies from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Information. Annabelle’s museum work centred around making history accessible and engaging to students through creating interactive and informative exhibits, and school programming for students from Grades 3 through 12. Its her passion for history and the humanities that have led her to teaching and she is excited to share this passion with her students. Annabelle has been working with kids for as long as she remembers, growing up as a camp councilor and teaching karate, always looking for ways to make learning fun. In her spare time, Annabelle practices her karate as much as she can and is always looking for a new video game to play!
ANTHONY M.
Anthony Mayadunne is a multi-disciplinary educator up to the university level in Mathematics (ALM, Harvard), English (MA, UBC), and Business (MBA, U of T). He is passionate about delivering a focused and exciting learning experience to his students—whether they are in Grade 6 … or pursuing their PhD. He is also a SAT trainer (integrating both English and Mathematics sections), and University Admissions Coach for undergraduate and graduate programs, having placed many students in leading universities around the world. When invited to teach Calculus in Engineering Outreach programs (Gr 9 – 12) at U of T Engineering, he developed an engaging approach to teach a famously challenging subject: Calculus. Later, completing his Masters in Mathematics for Teaching, he specialized in teaching Calculus to meet rigorous standards: AP/IB Calculus, Engineering Mathematics, and Mathematics in Arts & Science. His warm and engaging manner has led him to mentor many students in their academic and professional careers. He hopes to persuade the world that all people (including parents) are innate mathematicians, and that Calculus can bring as profound joy as Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony, or Maurice Sendak’s Night Kitchen. So far, he has succeeded with about 50 people, and optimistically looks forward to the still 8 billion more people to go.
He has traveled extensively, living for many years in Japan, Australia, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, and uses these experiences to write short stories, essays and poems. He describes himself in four verbs: I teach, I travel, I read, and sometimes, I write.
ASHLEY D. S.
Ashley is currently enrolled in her second year at OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education) at the University of Toronto for her Master of Teaching in the Primary/Junior grade level. She has completed two teaching placements in a Grade 3 classroom at Hillcrest Community School, and a Grade 5 classroom at Norseman Junior Middle School. It is through teaching that Ashley has been able to foster her love of Science and Math.
During her undergrad, she spent her time volunteering with child-focused non-profit organisations where she mentored two elementary-aged children with Autism and ADHD through weekly cooking classes and collaborated in teaching a weekly conflict resolution and community-building program to a Grade 5 classroom at Swansea Junior and Senior Public School.
Through these experiences, Ashley has developed a deep passion for working with children and guiding them to reach their full potential. Ashley believes that by building a strong relationship with her students she is better able to meet their needs and grow their learning. She finds these experiences enjoyable and extremely rewarding. In her spare time, Ashley enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, watching anime, and spending time with her friends and family.
GRIFFIN H.
Griffin graduated from Humber College in 2022, receiving a Bachelor’s of Music with honours. Griffin is 25 years old and has been teaching music and mentoring students for over 5 years and has experience working with students of all ages.
Griffin graduated from Kelowna Secondary School in 2018 receiving a diploma with honours, as well as the Holland-Rusk Award, the BC Achievement Scholarship, and the BC District Scholarship for Fine Arts. During his time at Humber College, Griffin was awarded the Bernie Piltch Memorial Scholarship and the Yamaha Canada Music Award.
Griffin is a graduate of the OISE program and is working in the TDSB. He has extensive knowledge of the Ontario curriculum, with a focus on the Junior/Intermediate division.
JAMES S.
James Schultz found his passion for writing as the editor of his high-school newspaper. Under his direction, it fell prey to censorship battles and published only one issue. At university, he spent his time writing bad dystopian novels, and paid a heavy academic price for it. Returning to Toronto to pursue a career in screenwriting, he co-wrote Disappearance at Clifton Hill with director Albert Shin for Rhombus Media, starring Tuppence Middleton and David Cronenberg. After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2019, it was picked up for North American distribution by IFC Midnight and reached #1 on US Netflix. Between his screenwriting and story editing duties, he still finds time to work on his next bad dystopian novel.
Tangelica C.
Tangelica is an experienced and passionate educator.
Tangelica has a B.A. in English from California State University, Sacramento, a M.Ed in Multicultural Education from National University, a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in English with an ELD endorsement and Reading Specialist endorsement.
She has taught at the junior high school level for over 15 years and for three years as a Certificated Student Learning Coach (working with more than 1,000 students). Today, Tangelica is a full-time online English teacher and tutor.
Tangelica strives to help students achieve the self-confidence they need to succeed in school — and beyond. She supports students with their academics (reading, writing, and grammar), but also with their motivation, organization, study skills, self-reliance, and perseverance.
She thrives on helpings students learn how to fill in their learning gaps, because the skills learned in overcoming those “gaps” are often the ones that will help them succeed in all their future endeavors.
Emma M.
Emma received her honours history degree from Queen’s University this year. She is currently working towards her Master of Teaching degree at University of Toronto. Before this, she gained experience teaching and assisting classrooms in various boards including TDSB. Emma recognizes the importance of providing students with individualized lessons and supports that suit their specific learning goals. One of Emma’s strengths is her ability to meet the child where they are by assessing what they already can do and developing a learning plan from there. Whether its dismantling ‘math anxiety’, fine-tuning reading and writing skills, or completing homework assignments, Emma can help young learners overcome any academic challenge by providing them with the tools they need to succeed.
Beyond learning, Emma enjoys travelling, listening to music, and trying new foods! She also loves doing crafts, piano, and camping.
Victoria M.
Victoria is a Chilean woman that has a Bachelor Diploma in Education and a certification in ESL teaching. She worked for 3 years in an IB International school with kindergarten, planning, teaching and evaluating students with a diversity of conditions. She also worked during summer in an International Summer Camp in charge of the youngest student from all around the world as an ESL teacher, teaching english from scratch and creating a space of joy and acceptance over cultures.
She is a passionate, enthusiastic and dedicate teacher that loves seeing her students grow and be part of their learning process.
CYNTHIA A.
Cynthia is an Ontario Certified Teacher with over 20 years of classroom experience and currently works with the Toronto District School Board. Born and raised in Montreal, Cynthia’s love of teaching began when she was a case worker in high security youth detention centers. She tended to the young offenders in their academic school day and discovered her passion for helping all children reach their potential and challenge them to be curious and take chances when learning. She then earned her Bachelor of Education from the University of Concordia in 2001 and moved to Toronto to begin her teaching career.
Knowing four languages, she specialized in teaching English as a second language and had several teaching positions in various grade levels as well as a central position in her school board. She presently teaches core French and English as a Second language. She has a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by non-native speakers and is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all her students.
In her spare time, Cynthia enjoys long distance running, viewing documentaries, as well as spending time with her friends, family, and her Frenchie Dolce.
AMANDA F.
Hi there! I’m Amanda, an OCT certified teacher with a passion for education that spans over 20 years. A graduate of the University of Western Sydney’s teachers college, I specialize in intensive support programs, full-day kindergarten, literacy and special education.. I have a Diploma and a Degree in Recreation Leadership, and hold additional qualifications as a Reading and Special Education Specialist.
I bring an unwavering belief in the competence and capability of every child with the proper support. My approach revolves around emergent learning and play-based education, integrating strategies like Universal Design for Learning (UDL). These approaches ensure that each student receives an education tailored to their unique needs, fostering a sense of inclusivity and empowerment.
Beyond academics, my life in Toronto revolves around my husband, our two children and our dog Willow, reflecting my commitment to family and outdoor activities. Summers are spent up north, supporting my husband in his role as a Director of a summer camp, embodying my belief in holistic and engaging learning experiences.
I believe in the power of personalized education, where experience meets innovation. Join me on a journey where your child’s potential is unlocked, nurtured, and celebrated. Together, let’s build a foundation for lifelong learning!