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!
JUSTIN R.
Justin Riley is an OCT-certified teacher with over 20 years of experience teaching and tutoring elementary and high school students. Currently he is working in the York Region District School Board (YRDSB). He holds an undergraduate degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Science in Education from Medaille College. Justin is highly qualified in Social Sciences, Accounting, Economics, Business, and English courses. He believes in integrating humor and culturally relevant pedagogy to connect with students, making content relatable and enjoyable for all learners. His teaching approach focuses on fostering a cooperative learning environment that engages students and motivates them to achieve their very best.
KAROLINA S.
Karolina Solovka is a recent graduate of York University, where she earned both a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance Creation and Research and a Bachelor of Education in Teacher College for grades 4-10. She currently teaches dance and drama at Ms. Marianne’s Power of Performing Arts studio, where she leads both recreational and competitive classes. Karolina also plays a key role in the studio’s productions, with the upcoming show being, Into The Woods Jr!
Karolina’s teaching philosophy is rooted in flexibility and adaptability, tailored to meet the diverse needs of her students. She is committed to continuous growth and development as an educator, aiming to provide her students with a rich foundation of knowledge and unforgettable learning experiences. Her ultimate goal is for her students to leave her classroom feeling confident in their abilities, eager to learn, and ready to seize every opportunity, regardless of the outcome. She is super happy to join the team here at Prep Academy and is so excited to meet her future students!
Andrea T.
EN: Andrea has a Bachelor’s Degree in High School English Education from McGill University. She has also completed her Master’s in Teaching and Learning from the University of Ottawa. She has four years of teaching and tutoring experience including ESL and loves being able to connect with students. Andrea completed her education in French and is bilingual in French and English.
FR: Andrea est titulaire d’un baccalauréat en éducation en anglais au secondaire de l’Université McGill. Elle a également complété sa maîtrise en enseignement et apprentissage à l’Université d’Ottawa. Elle a quatre ans d’expérience en enseignement et en tutorat et adore pouvoir se connecter avec les élèves. Andrea a complété ses études en français et est bilingue en français et en anglais.
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.
Christina G.
While completing her undergraduate studies at McGill, Christina tutored on behalf of the Sociology department, preparing students for upcoming exams and assignments. As well, Christina volunteered at the essay writing center, where she edited and assisted students with papers.
Christina is passionate about literacy and believes that skills in reading and writing are fundamental to success in any subject. She has worked extensively with students with developmental and processing problems, working to help the students overcome difficulties and obstacles. She is trained and very experienced in SAT and SSAT preparation as well as assisting students with writing personal statements of excellence. She teaches students studying skills, test-taking strategies, and how to overcome test-related anxiety. As well, Christina specializes in preparing students to transition from public to private schools. Her preparation is exhaustive, including test-taking prep, interview prep for the student, and interview prep for the parents.
Christina believes in developing and fostering relationships with each student to create a comfortable environment that allows the students to flourish and learn. She is a firm advocate for different learning styles and tries to incorporate a variety of techniques that deviate from standardized education, as she considers each student’s learning style to be unique and accommodable.
Sandi M.
Sandi Mustard is a Certified Teacher. She grew up in Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island, moving to Vancouver to complete an Undergraduate Degree in Psychology. As well, she completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Arts Education. Most recently, she completed a Masters of Education (Innovations in Maths Education). Sandi has a lifelong passion for working with children, beginning at a young age. She loved volunteer babysitting for mothers’ meetings in her teens and led arts-based summer day camps during her undergraduate degree. She joined the world of education as a Certified Education Assistant, working extensively with students with autism and other developmental disabilities. She has also taught English in Thailand, where she hit the beach every day after work. In 2009, Sandi returned to UBC to complete a Bachelor of Education, and has been joyously teaching ever since. She is passionate about supporting the improvement of reading, writing, vocabulary and math skills. Sandi knows that by building a strong relationship with her students she is better able to meet their needs and grow their learning. She engages students using their curiosity and interests to help them gain the confidence they require to succeed. In her leisure time, Sandi enjoys hiking and backpacking and anything on or in the water. You can often find her at or near Okanagan Lake, swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking or boating. And if she’s not there, she’s up in the hills! Sandi looks forward to supporting your child, teaching in a way that guides them towards their fullest potential.
SAMUEL S
Samuel has Master’s degree in Medical Sciences from the University of Toronto. He has conducted basic biomedical research sciences for over a decade, with a focus on vascular biology. Samuel has had a depth of teaching professionally and privately in the biological sciences at the undergraduate and graduate levels including the professional MCAT exam.
MORGAN H.
Morgan is entering her final year of a two-year after-degree in education specializing in elementary English. She has a prior degree in Psychology, which she received in 2022. She has worked in 5 different grade 1 classrooms in 2024 as a volunteer and has worked with the Calgary Board of Education as an Education Assistant for students with special needs. During her last practicum, she prepared and delivered lessons to a very diverse classroom with a wide array of different learning needs and considerations. Morgan is comfortable and confident supporting students up to a grade 12 level in most subjects.
MARZIA H.
Marzia is currently completing her undergraduate Honours degree in Cellular Molecular Microbial Biology with a minor in Psychology at the University of Calgary. Marzia has been tutoring young students for over 8 years, developing her own unique strategies and best practices along the way. Marzia’s passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education extends beyond tutoring. She has been working with Minds in Motion to deliver hands-on STEM concepts to groups of students from grades 1- 9 through summer camps, kid’s clubs, and classroom workshops. Marzia focuses on fostering excitement about the intricate world of STEM, creating an inclusive environment, and sparking curiosity in young minds.
Having worked extensively with students across different age groups and academic levels, Marzia is adept at tailoring lessons to meet the individual needs and learning styles of each student. She believes in creating a supportive and engaging environment where students feel empowered to reach their full potential. Marzia is known for her patient and encouraging approach and is skilled at building strong, positive relationships with students and parents alike.
In addition to Marzia’s passion for knowledge through reading and watching various genres of documentaries, she enjoys painting as a way to express creativity and relax. Marzia often incorporates random bits of obscure knowledge into her teaching, relating to her students, making learning more engaging and enjoyable!