HELENA P.
Helena is a Teacher Candidate at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, with a specialization in history at the Junior/Intermediate level. She brings over a decade of experience teaching in private schools across Toronto, where she has developed a patient, supportive, and engaging approach to working with students. Helena holds a Master of Arts degree from the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science, also from U of T. Drawing on her academic background and years of classroom experience, Helena is committed to helping students build confidence, develop critical thinking skills, and achieve their academic goals. Outside of teaching, Helena enjoys music, reading, and biking around the city.
AIDEN O.
Aidan O. is a PhD student in Communication & Culture at York University studying the politics of internet memes and social media. He has a masters degree in Media Studies from Western University and a bachelor’s degree in political studies from Queen’s University. Aidan is an experienced educator with a strong background in teaching communication, reading, writing and critical thinking skills. Aidan has worked as a graduate teaching assistant teaching in university classrooms, as a literacy tutor in elementary schools and in student’s homes and as a debate coach teaching students remotely over Zoom.
Aidan believes that teaching is a collective journey that requires an educator to move through the learning process with students and model attitudes and behaviors that reflect the practice and promote engagement with the subject matter. Learning is an acquisition of knowledge, but it is primarily a way of being in the world. Learning about literature, law, economics, history, science or philosophy is not just learning names of acclaimed authors and key concepts it is learning to carry on in our lives with critical questioning, eclectic curiosity and honesty about what we do not know. This understanding of the importance of teaching informs Aidan’s teaching and tutoring practice and motivates his journey to become a working professor. In his spare time Aidan enjoys cooking, listening to music and reading.
Samuelle F.
EN: Samuelle Fortin is a bilingual educator and mentor specializing in secondary and post-secondary learning. She is completing her master’s in Sociology at McGill University, where she also earned a Joint Honours B.A. in Sociology and French Literature. As a Teaching Assistant in McGill’s sociology department, she helped students synthesize and process dense course material, designed visual learning aids for neurodivergent students and those with non-linear thinking patterns, and used relational teaching to connect abstract concepts to students’ lived experiences.
Samuelle currently tutors Ukrainian university students in English through the ENGin program and mentors youth aged 16 to 21 with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Montreal. She has expertise in essay writing and exam preparation. Her lesson plans follow a structured yet adaptable framework, beginning with goal-setting and a directive approach, and moving toward independent application. Her primary aim is to foster lasting academic independence so students can confidently apply their learning in the long term.
FR : Samuelle Fortin est une éducatrice et mentore bilingue spécialisée dans l’enseignement secondaire et postsecondaire. Elle termine actuellement sa maîtrise en sociologie à l’Université McGill, où elle a également obtenu un baccalauréat spécialisé conjoint en sociologie et littérature française. En tant qu’assistante d’enseignement au département de sociologie de McGill, elle a aidé les étudiants à synthétiser et assimiler un contenu de cours dense, conçu des supports visuels d’apprentissage pour les étudiants neurodivergents et ceux ayant des modes de pensée non linéaires, et mis en œuvre une approche pédagogique relationnelle pour relier des concepts abstraits aux expériences vécues des étudiants.
Samuelle est actuellement tutrice d’anglais auprès d’étudiants universitaires ukrainiens dans le cadre du programme ENGin et mentore des jeunes âgés de 16 à 21 ans avec Grands Frères Grandes Sœurs du Grand Montréal. Elle possède une expertise en rédaction de dissertations et en préparation aux examens. Ses plans de cours suivent un cadre structuré mais adaptable, commençant par la définition d’objectifs et une approche directive, puis évoluant vers une application autonome. Son objectif principal est de favoriser une autonomie académique durable afin que les étudiants puissent appliquer leurs apprentissages avec confiance à long terme.
RAHMI C.
Rahmi C. holds a Master of Science in Environmental Applied Science and Management, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, both from Toronto Metropolitan University. Over the past three years, he’s taught more than 15 university courses, with an emphasis on subjects like first-year chemistry, biology, physics, and calculus, as well as lab-based and senior-level biomedical sciences courses. Throughout his time as a teaching assistant, Rahmi also supported exam preparation and proctoring, giving him a deep understanding of how to help students succeed at every level.
In addition to his university experience, Rahmi has tutored students from Grades 2 to 8, focusing on small group or one-on-one settings to give each student the attention they deserve. He regularly visited students’ schools, reviewed assignments in advance, and worked directly with their teachers to better understand their strengths and areas for improvement. His goal is always to build confidence, not just comprehension.
Outside of academics, Rahmi runs an international export business, which has sharpened his communication and problem-solving skills. He brings that same attention to detail and relationship-building to his tutoring style.
When he’s not working, Rahmi enjoys volleyball, gaming, and spending time with his two cats, Machu and Pichu — named after his bucket-list destination, Machu Picchu.
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.
Christopher F.
With 15 years of experience in education, Chris is a dedicated and effective teacher deeply committed to fostering student success. He has a proven ability to connect with middle and high schoolers across various subjects, including English, Math, and Philosophy. Notably, Chris’s expertise extends to high-level courses such as Dual Credit and AP English Literature, where his students achieved exceptional results, with 92% passing the AP exam and over 50% achieving scores of 4 or 5, well exceeding national averages. His extensive knowledge is backed by multiple degrees in English, Education, Philosophy, and Theology, and he has developed and taught 13 distinct courses throughout his career. He believes that every student can learn and he tailors his instruction to each student’s needs, empowering every learner to achieve their full potential. In his free time, he plays Ultimate Frisbee and has actively promoted youth engagement in the San Antonio Frisbee community for over a decade.
MANREET D.
I’m Manreet, a student at the University of Winnipeg studying Physics and a firm believer that learning doesn’t have to be boring or stressful. I’ve been tutoring since high school, and I love turning “ugh, I don’t get this” into “wait… that actually makes sense!”
Maggie O.
Maggie is an Ontario Certified teacher. Her family emigrated from Ireland to Canada when she was nine years old. Now Maggie lives in Toronto with her eleven year old daughter Aisling and Sammy, their Nova Scotia Duck Toller puppy. Maggie is known for her kind and patient humour and her compelling confidence in children. With strengths across the curriculum, she describes her teaching practice as evidence-based, guided-inquiry as influenced by her lived experiences as a student, parent and academic. For example, her primary school language learning in Irish Gaelic and high school exchange in France, where she completed the Baccalauréat de langue et litterature francaises, planted seeds for her later interest in ethnomathematics and culturally responsive teaching. In 2003 Maggie graduated with a BA in Fine Art History from the University of Toronto, and went on to teach yoga and mindfulness in newcomer, youth and justice-adjacent facilities. Twenty years later she completed an Honours BA in Political Science and Indigenous Studies also at U of T, where she became a learner of a local Ojibwe language (Anishinaabemowin). This June 2025, she will receive an MA in Child Study and Education from the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, OISE, U of T. During this degree, Maggie’s studies focused on themes of student equity, motivation and peer-based learning and she further developed her knowledge of play and arts integration. Additional defining characteristics include her unreasonable enthusiasm for diving into icy cold water, and her favourite sock colour being tie-dye-rainbow. This summer, Maggie and Aisling are competing in their first triathlon events.
SOPHIE W.
Hi! My name is Sophie and I am currently in the first year of the BEd at York. I have over five years of experience in personalized, high-quality tutoring. My primary focus is on math, and I am very passionate about helping students develop their mathematical intuition, thinking, proficiency, and (importantly!) confidence. I also tutor other subjects, especially writing-based courses, and I find it very meaningful to work with students on the crucial skills of on argumentation, articulation, and research. In my free time I love to paint for relaxation and creativity, even though I have never had any formal training/great skill. I mention this because I feel strongly that everyone should feel comfortable and confident to pursue their interests even if they don’t feel like they have the “natural skill”, and I bring that philosophy to my teaching.
Aidin T.
Aidin, a PhD candidate in Environmental Studies at York University, brings extensive teaching experience and a deep passion for education to Prep Academy Tutors. With a first PhD in political geography and a robust background in urban and regional planning, his interdisciplinary expertise spans a diverse range of social sciences. Aidin has taught courses at York University and the University of Toronto, including Urbanization in Developing Countries and Planning and Governing the Metropolis.
Aidin offers private tutorials in English and the social sciences, with a focus on geography, history, and politics for high school students. Committed to enhancing students’ writing and critical thinking abilities, he guides them in organizing and crafting well-structured, coherent essays, preparing them for future academic success at college and university levels. Through tailored support, Aidin empowers students with the analytical skills needed to excel in their studies.
Aidin is an accomplished writer and researcher, with numerous publications in both English and Persian. His work has appeared in respected journals such as Global Iranian Studies Review, Radio Zamaneh, Cinema Iranica, Critique of Political Economy, and The Bullet. Aidin has also translated key political and philosophical works into Persian. He founded Space & Dialectics, the first online journal on critical urban theory and human geography in Farsi. Aidin’s commitment to emancipatory education and student advocacy is at the heart of his work, highlighted by his role as VP Community for York University Graduate Students’ Association. Aidin is an avid soccer player, enjoying the sport several times a week.