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.
EMMA N.
Emma graduated from the University of Windsor with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences. She is moving to Toronto this summer to start her Master’s in Translational Health Sciences at the University of Toronto. Emma started tutoring in 2020 as a summer school tutor for the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board under the Focus On Youth Program. While with the WECDSB, she tutored students in grades 11 and 12 in math, Civics/careers, and an ESL (English as a second language) student in grade 11 English. She also gained ample experience tutoring students with learning disabilities, such as processing delays, and tutoring AP and IB courses. Emma enjoyed tutoring so much with WECDSB that she became a private tutor. Since then, she has specialized in tutoring high school and post-secondary students in math, chemistry, and biology. She tailors her lessons individually to each of her students and uses practical, real-life examples to explain concepts. Emma strives to instill the skills and confidence her students need to succeed, not just in the classroom but also in life. Emma enjoys watching anime, reading, playing video games, and spending time with friends and family in her spare time.
JOYET C.
Joyet holds a Master’s Degree in Child Study and Education from the University of Toronto and has been a teacher with the TDSB for almost 20 years. Her strong foundation in child development informs her teaching approach, allowing her to adapt her instruction to meet the unique needs of each student. Joyet has extensive experience teaching a wide range of subjects across grades 1 to 8, as well as special education. For the past five years, she has led an intensive remedial reading program, finding immense joy in helping struggling readers develop confidence and fluency. She is particularly devoted to teaching mathematics and implementing systematic, structured approaches to literacy instruction. Joyet recognizes that students’ emotional and mental well-being are critical to their learning and is committed to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where they feel safe and valued. Her tailored approach ensures that each student receives the support they need to thrive academically and personally.
In her spare time, Joyet enjoys spending time in her garden, doing DIY projects, and spending time with her family
KADEEN M.
Kadeen is an OCT certified teacher who holds Primary/Junior qualifications and a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning. She is also a Special Education and Reading Specialist who possesses over ten years of experience in diverse and inclusive classroom settings. She was trained to deliver Mathematics content using a multi-sensory approach to students with learning disabilities in Mathematics. Kadeen is also a trained Phonics Academy tutor who has ample experience in applying appropriate teaching and assessment methodologies and is an expert at designing and developing educational activities and preparing teaching material. She taught at the Primary and the Secondary levels internationally and is currently an elementary teacher in Ontario. In her current role, she successfully implemented instruction that fosters academic growth and personal development for students with varying needs. She collaborates closely with parents, therapists, and other educators to ensure that their approaches are holistic and tailored to maximize educational outcomes.
A nature enthusiast at heart, Kadeen finds solace in the serenity of tranquil environments, where the gentle rustling of leaves and the soft whisper of the wind provide a soothing backdrop to contemplative moments. Her love for nature is matched only by her affection for the beach, where the rhythmic crash of waves against the shore and the expansive horizon offer a sense of freedom and peace. Whether it’s a quiet walk through a lush forest, a moment of reflection by a serene lake, or a day spent basking in the sun by the sea, these experiences are not just hobbies but essential rituals that rejuvenate Kadeen’s spirit and connect her to nature.
Deanna P.
With over 16 years of dedicated experience in education, Deanna has had the privilege of shaping young minds as an elementary classroom teacher, literacy specialist, instructional coach, professional development specialist, and private tutor.
Her journey in education began with a profound appreciation for the impact that targeted instruction can have on a child’s learning and self-esteem. This inspired her to pursue master’s degree in Elementary Reading and Literacy, where she discovered the transformative power of literacy in unlocking a student’s potential.
Throughout her career, she has witnessed firsthand the joy and instant gratification that comes from helping students thrive through explicit and systematic instruction in areas of need aligned to assessment data. Her style of teaching is meeting students where they are and taking them to where they need to be, while instilling the power of “yet” and a growth mindset. Instead of “I can’t do this,” it becomes “I can’t do this yet.”
Deanna’s passion for literacy and commitment to student success extend beyond the classroom walls, as she strives to create a nurturing and engaging learning environment for every child. She looks forward to partnering with you to ensure your child receives the personalized support they need to reach their full potential.
Robin S.
Robin holds a BA in Elementary Education and an MA in Special Education, with over 10 years of experience. She is passionate about personalizing instruction to meet learners where they are, boosting confidence and academic skills in tandem. Robin incorporates multisensory techniques and her students’ unique interests to make learning engaging, impactful, and fun. With a collaborative spirit and excellent communication skills, Robin is dedicated to supporting her students’ progress both at home and at school. She is well versed in the Science of Reading, and enjoys breaking academic topics down into their simplest parts to deepen her students’ understanding and connect the dots in their learning to create lightbulb moments. In addition to her experience as a classroom teacher, Robin also has expertise in educational technology and children’s media, and has spent several years working in this space. In her free time, Robin enjoys playing guitar, practicing yoga, and spending time with her family.
Samran M.
Samran is a passionate and dedicated Ontario Certified Teacher with seven years of rich teaching experience, both locally and internationally. He holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in English Literature and Creative Writing from York University, followed by a Bachelor of Education, where he specialized in English. His ongoing commitment to professional development led him to further specialize in ESL, Special Education, and Reading, culminating in a Master of Arts in English Literature and a Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing from York University. Driven by his deep love for learning and teaching, Samran’s journey naturally steered him toward Special Education and literacy remediation. His focus lies in supporting students who face unique challenges within public schools. At his previous school, Samran taught in an intensive literacy intervention class, where his expertise helped bridge achievement gaps ranging from one to five years. He firmly believes that every child has the potential for success, regardless of their circumstances, and that building meaningful rapport is key to making students feel valued and capable.
Samran strives to create engaging, student-centered learning environments where each lesson is infused with student interests and strengths. His teaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of providing timely, meaningful feedback that fosters academic, social-emotional, and behavioral growth. Over the years, Samran has worked with students across a spectrum of exceptionalities, including ASD, ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, OCD, Tourette Syndrome, and more. He has also earned eight additional qualifications in Special Education, ESL, Reading, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Outside the classroom, Samran’s passion for creativity and learning continues. He is an avid reader, a creative writer, and runs a small Etsy shop where he sells prints of his original artwork. He also stays active by going to the gym and playing badminton.
STEPHEN C.
Stephen Carter has a BA, MA and PhD (ABD) in English literature. He was a University Teaching Assistant for five years at two Canadian universities, and he has taught and tutored elementary, high school, and college/university students for over ten years. As a teacher, Stephen helps students cultivate a love for learning, achieve academic success, and develop advanced skills in reading, writing, analysis, critical thinking and speaking.
Yin L.
Yin is a dedicated and experienced educator with over 13 years of classroom teaching experience. With a strong foundation in the Science of Reading, Yin has consistently demonstrated a commitment to fostering literacy and academic growth in students.
Yin holds a Master of Education in Leadership and Policy from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), further enhancing her expertise in educational strategies. Additionally, Yin has pursued a range of additional teaching qualifications, including Special Education, Part 1, Writing, Part 1, Librarianship, Part 2, English as a Second Language, Part 1, Reading, Specialist, and Mathematics Specialist. These qualifications emphasizes her versatility and dedication to meeting the diverse needs of students.
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.