AMBER C.
Amber is an Ontario certified Primary, Junior, and Intermediate Teacher. She grew up in Vancouver and Toronto and earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto. As well, she obtained a Bachelor of Education at the University of Ottawa with great distinction, and she is currently pursuing a Master’s of Education in Studies in Teaching and Learning. Amber grew up with a deep love of teaching, language, and culture, and took the opportunity to continue teaching as her career. She has taught students from K-12 for the past 7 years and has diverse experience in teaching ESL students, students with multiple exceptionalities, and as well as various subjects such as Language Arts, Math, Science, Geography, and Visual Arts. She has also tutored standardized exams such as SSAT, IELTS, and College Admission Assessments and taught English in South Korea. As a professional mentor, she continues to develop instructional strategies for working with children and accommodating their needs. Amber also enjoys learning about each of her students’ interests and strengths to help students learn effectively.
NICK P.
Nick Patel is a math and science teacher. Nick began on his teaching path in the winter of 2002 when he began working with the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education at New York University. He earned his BA and MS degrees from New York University with a concentration in biology, chemistry, economics, and general science, and obtained his teaching credentials in science education from Fordham University and City College of New York. In Nick’s words, “To me, teaching fulfills a higher purpose. Knowing that the future leaders of this world will face many coming challenges, teenagers and young adults must immediately be guided in such a way that will prepare them for the coming challenges that humanity faces.” Nick has been actively involved in the education sector for almost fifteen years, teaching in private and public schools, and providing services to educational institutions in the greater New York City area.
MARK G.
Mark is a Primary/Junior Ontario Certified Teacher from Toronto. He graduated from the University of Guelph with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in English, and he completed his Bachelors of Education at Queen’s University. Mark has continued his professional development in teaching by taking additional qualification courses in Primary/Junior Math and Reading, as well as Intermediate English. These studies have helped Mark expand his teaching strategies to help students build on their mathematical thinking, reading, writing, and vocabulary. Mark also has experience as an ESL teacher through TDSB’s Teaching English as a Second Language program. Reading and writing has been a lifelong passion for Mark, and he is always excited to share that passion with his students.
Mark’s passion for teaching started with soccer coaching. This job showed Mark how satisfying teaching can be, in making lessons fun and engaging, as well as watching students progress with each session. This passion carried over to his practicum experience teaching in Toronto as well as his time as a supply Educational Assistant in Ottawa. Working as a teacher, especially as an Educational Assistant, gave Mark an insight of how impactful a 1 on 1 interaction can be. Mark firmly believes in the importance of getting to know his students on an individual basis. Mark uses students’ individual interests to attach meaning into their learning, and caters the lesson to fit the individual needs of that student. Mark finds his inspiration in teaching by helping students forge their own path as lifelong learners.
Outside of the classroom, Mark enjoys being active and continues his in-home workouts though he misses intramural sports very much. He is an enthusiastic supporter of all the Toronto sports teams. Mark is looking forward to working with his students at Prep Academy.
COURTNEY K.
Courtney has been in the teaching and childcare field since she was young herself. She was enrolled in French Immersion in kindergarten, and continued her french education through both highschool and university, mentoring and teaching younger students. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in French at McMaster University in Hamilton. She went on to obtain her teaching degree from Brock University, specializing in Primary/Junior education. Courtney worked as an occasional teacher and tutor in Hamilton, before spending a year in Switzerland practising her french and working with children and adults to improve their english. Courtney believes that one of the most important factors in student success is confidence, and she works to instill this in every student she teaches. Students confident in their abilities try new solutions, take more risks, participate more in class, and keep trying when they make mistakes. In her free time, Courtney enjoys all things artistic, including painting, knitting, sculpting, cooking, sewing and drawing. She is also a huge sci-fi nerd, and can often be found with her nose stuck in a book.
RYAN R.
Ryan is an OCT Certified Teacher who graduated with an Honours Bachelor in Physical Education and a Bachelor of Education from Brock University. He has taken his Biology, Special Education, and Junior division qualification courses. He is a passionate HCDSB High School Teacher with a specialist in Biology and is currently teaching Science at Corpus Christi High School. Ryan has previously been a Special Education Resource Teacher where he helped his students build skills that helped them to be successful in High School. He has tutored students from grades 4-12 in math, language, and science. Ryan believes that learning can be fun when students can see the value behind what they’re doing.
NEIL P.
Neil is a recent graduate from the University of Toronto, graduating with a BSc in Biology, Statistics, and French. Neil has a passion for the sciences and math and hopes to pursue a Masters’s degree in Biostatistics or Bioinformatics. He has worked as a research assistant and a lab manager for various biological science labs for the university.
He enjoys biking and film and is currently in the process of publishing his undergraduate thesis on the ecological effects of invasive species.
Neil has always enjoyed assisting peers, students, and colleagues in achieving their academic goals. There is nothing more rewarding to him than seeing others succeed!
LIANNA M.
Lianna earned a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Sciences, with a focus in honours biological sciences and minor in physical geography, from Brock University. She completed an honours thesis in bacterial genetics with Brock University’s department of Biological Sciences and Agriculture Canada. Lianna has also completed an Ontario University Field Biology Course, where she performed ecology-based research in Belize’s Lighthouse Reef Atoll. She is an Ontario Certified Teacher, qualifying her to teach the intermediate and senior divisions. She is also qualified to teach chemistry, as well as ESL, through a qualification course and teaching practicum at an ESL summer camp in Shanghai, China for a month. Her teaching pedagogy is centred around student success, as she believes a learner must be individually supported through the learning process, while in a positive environment where student’s differences are celebrated and honoured. She strives to encourage and assist students in moulding their own education journey, instead of being forced to fit into a pre-established mould of learning. She also understands the delicate balance of athletics and academics, as a former member of Brock’s varsity Dragon Boat team.
Lianna loves to spend time with her family and friends, including her two cats. She likes to make music, sew, knit, and enjoy the beauty of nature in her free time.
Waiyne S.
Hi, my name is Waiyne. I am an OCT-certified teacher with 2 years of teaching experience abroad (one year in Math and one year in Science). I make math and science lessons come alive for my students by relating abstract concepts to their everyday life. I incorporate tools like whiteboards, visuals and other manipulatives to help students understand the material through visual and tactual means. I strive to help my students reach their full potential by providing them with individualized support they require.
LUKE Z.
Luke is a tutor and learner who values breadth, experimentation and interdisciplinary knowledge, having radically changed majors, schools and career goals many a time. Ultimately earning an MA in Linguistics and a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Toronto, he has tutored mathematics, French, physics, chemistry and computer programming since 2016, with stints working as a university teaching assistant, dialect researcher, and even a professional web developer. He has worked with students of all ages, from elementary to post-secondary, and with diverse learning needs, such as ADHD and giftedness. Luke believes in maintaining a non-judgemental space where students are encouraged to identify and articulate their difficulties and strengths, formulate goals, and develop a sense of self-efficacy through subject mastery. Grateful to have savoured quite the cheese platter of educational opportunities, he continues to sample new ones, dabbling in theatrical clown, improv, voice acting, and the aerial arts.
VICTORIA D.
Victoria graduated from Queen’s University with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and English, followed by her Bachelor of Education. She has since become OCT certified, with AQs in Math Part 1 (Primary Junior) and Reading Part 1 (Primary Junior), and currently taking the AQs for Writing Part 1 (Primary Junior) and Intermediate English. She has been teaching within the York Region District School Board since September. Victoria has been teaching online, helping students adjust to the changes in their educational journey. Victoria believes that all students can meet their full potential with the right tools, and takes an equitable and interactive approach to teaching and learning. She will meet students where they are at and guide them to meet their goals with an individualized approach. Her other passion is music and theatre. She plays the guitar and ukulele, and sings. She loves bringing these instruments into the classroom to help foster an engaging environment, and loves developing drama lessons to help students build confidence. When she’s not playing her music, Victoria enjoys cooking, spending time outdoors, and being with her family and friends.