Lucas O.

Lucas is a licensed educator and Reading Intervention teacher who holds two graduate degrees in Early Childhood Education, endorsements in ESL, LBS1, and ECE, and is pursuing Wilson Reading System Level I certification. He is also a recipient of the Erikson Institute Educator Impact Award in recognition of his committed service to students and families. Lucas has experience working with students from early childhood through eighth grade, specializing in literacy intervention and ESL instruction. He has extensive experience teaching ELA and math across grades K–8 through both targeted intervention services and classroom teaching, with a strong emphasis on growth mindset, problem-solving, and skill-building strategies that empower students to become confident, independent learners. He emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking, helping students transfer strategies and skills across subjects to support overall academic success. Bilingual in English and Spanish, he is especially attuned to the needs of diverse learners and uses visual, kinesthetic, linguistic, and interest-based approaches to make learning engaging and accessible. He intentionally draws on students’ strengths and personal interests to guide instruction. Outside the classroom, he enjoys reading, cooking, and playing soccer.

PAOLA S.

Paola is a seasoned educator with a heart for helping students thrive. With over 25 years of experience in education, she has a strong background in Special Education, Reading Education, ELL, and FSL instruction. Paola has taught children one on one and in small groups for more than 15 years. Paola has also worked to develop IEP’s with students and parents.

After a successful teaching career, Paola has decided to pursue her passion for teaching by transitioning into tutoring. She still loves teaching but wants to focus on providing personalized support to children with diverse needs. Paola has a warm and welcoming personality that shines through in her approach to teaching, creating safe and supportive environments where students feel valued and motivated to learn. She believes in fostering a love for learning in each of her students.

In addition to her teaching experience, Paola has a rich personal life. She has traveled extensively and lived overseas. When she’s not teaching, Paola enjoys spending time outdoors, walking her adorable Aussie Shepherd puppy, swimming, and hiking. She also loves to cook and create a warm and inviting home for her friends and family. Paola’s passion for education and student success is evident in everything she does.

BERNADETTE M.

Bernadette is an ELA teacher at P.S. 19 in the Bronx. She has worked at P.S. 19 for 28 years as a Special Education/Literacy Specialist. She currently teaches 6th – 8th grade ICT in English Language Arts. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY Plattsburgh. She received a master’s degree in Literacy/Special Education K-12 from College of New Rochelle. In her free time, Bernadette enjoys reading and listening to music. She truly enjoys seeing her students excel both inside and outside of the classroom.

HARRISON V.

Harrison is an aspiring educator currently completing his Bachelor of Education at Western University, specializing in the Primary/Junior divisions, and will be a fully certified member of the Ontario College of Teachers in January 2026. Alongside his academic training, Harrison brings years of experience competing in and coaching high-performance sports and athletics. Through these experiences, he has developed a strong ability to motivate students, foster perseverance, and support a balance between academics and extracurricular commitments. Having faced the challenges of managing school and sport himself, Harrison is deeply passionate about helping young athletes thrive in their education while pursuing their passions.
Harrison is highly skilled at building meaningful connections with his students and fostering their genuine interest in learning. Throughout his classroom experiences, he has developed a strong ability to design engaging, inclusive, and student-centred lessons that meet the diverse needs of his learners. He is passionate about inspiring curiosity and creativity through personalized instruction, integrating real-world connections and hands-on learning to make concepts engaging and relevant. Harrison has successfully supported students in language, mathematics, physical education, and inquiry-based learning, using differentiated strategies and positive reinforcement to help each child reach their potential while building their confidence.
In his spare time, he enjoys skiing, golf, photography, and exploring Canada’s beautiful landscapes always finding new ways to bring creativity, curiosity, and his unique perspectives into his teaching.

JAMES S.

James S. 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.

THOMAS J.

Thomas J. is an Ontario Certified Teacher. He grew up in Toronto, he studied at TMU (Ryerson) to complete an Undergraduate Degree in History. As well, he completed Bachelors of Education (Intermediate-Senior) and Masters of Education specializing in Social Justice Education at Lakehead University. Thomas grew up with a deep love of travel and took the opportunity to explore the world through his love of soccer, often watching as many games as he can while away, especially Fulham FC in London. When he decided to pursue teaching as a career Thomas emphasized dynamic learning, where the teacher and students engage in a mutual learning environment. It is through teaching that Thomas has been able to foster his love of history, social studies and language comprehension. During the summer Thomas teaches at Continuing Ed, encouraging students to prioritize using learning as a way to survey their post-secondary interests. In his spare time Thomas plays tennis and works one-on-one with children ranging from 6 years through high school. He has supported the improvement of their reading, writing, vocabulary and math skills. Thomas believes that by building a strong relationship with his students he is better able to meet their needs and grow their learning. This has been displayed at Caring and Safe Schools where Thomas was not only a teacher but a mentor in helping students develop socio-emotional skills and academic skills. Thomas sees every opportunity to continue to develop his skills for empowering students academically and through confidence.

RACHAEL K.

With a career spanning continents and cultures, Rachael brings a wealth of experience, empathy, and expertise to her work as an Educational Therapist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, and a Masters in Leadership, along with a Special Education Specialization and ESL qualifications. Her extensive background includes roles as a reading, writing, and math interventionist, where she has supported students in building foundational skills with confidence and joy.
At the heart of Rachael’s teaching pedagogy is Social Emotional Learning (SEL)—the belief that nurturing emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills alongside academics creates the most fertile ground for student growth. Her work is guided by the understanding that when students feel seen, safe, and supported, their academic potential flourishes.
Rachael’s career began in Toronto, then took her to China for two years and Singapore for a decade. She has also led educational projects in China, Nepal, and Botswana, each experience deepening her global perspective.
Currently, Rachael is expanding her therapeutic practice through training in Animal Assisted Interventions and will begin her Masters in Psychology and Counselling in 2026. She’s passionate about the healing power of animals and their innate ability to connect with humans. Her youngest pup is in training to become her therapy assistant, working alongside her to help children and youth thrive emotionally, socially, and academically.

LAURA R.

Laura Roberts is a certified teacher with the Ontario College of Teachers and has spent over 20 years teaching in the Toronto District School Board. With a Special Education Specialist designation, Laura brings deep expertise in supporting students with diverse learning needs, including ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, and mild intellectual disabilities. Her career includes extensive experience teaching in an Intensive Support Autism Program, as well as in inclusive classroom settings.

As a mother of two children, ages 6 and 9, who both faced early reading challenges, Laura has a personal and professional understanding of how to support struggling readers. She is well-versed in evidence-based reading interventions and is passionate about helping children build strong literacy foundations in a way that supports their confidence and love of learning.

Outside the classroom, Laura enjoys playing guitar, traveling with her children, and embracing her role as a lifelong learner. She believes that every child can thrive with the right support and strives to create a warm, engaging environment where all learners feel seen, valued, and capable.

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.

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.