Monica V.
Meet Mrs. Monica. Monica has 16 years of teaching experience in elementary and high school education in reading, writing, and math. She is a native of San Antonio, TX. where she still resides and completed her Undergraduate Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. She is certified in elementary education, special education, and teaching English as a second language. Her spare time is spent reading and learning new things to grow professionally and in her personal life. She also loves to exercise and wind down the day reading something (mostly nonfiction) real life stuff.
Over her years of teaching she has been able to help so many struggling students tap into their own thinking abilities, learn metacognitive skills (think about their thinking), and discover their own learning style along the way. Watching them grow in this way is what she feels has been the rewarding part of teaching. She is always looking forward to the next part of her teaching journey.
SANDY A.
Sandy joins Prep Academy with over 20 years of experience teaching Spanish Language and Culture to students from grade 5 to grade 12. She is a native Spanish speaker from Caracas, Venezuela. Sandy graduated from The University of Alberta, where she received a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Physical Education with a minor in Spanish. While completing her undergraduate program Sandy also studied Italian Language and Culture in Cortona, Italy. She also has a Master’s degree in Spanish Language and Culture from the University of Granada in Spain.
Over the years, Sandy has demonstrated a solid commitment towards Spanish Language education in Alberta by spearheaded the implementation of the Spanish Language and Culture Program at Westmount Charter School in Calgary. A lifelong learner, Sandy continues to further her professional development obtaining numerous certifications, including Advance Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB), as well as being a certified examiner for the Diploma in Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE).
Teaching Spanish Language and Culture is Sandy’s passion. She believes that learning another language allows students to not only communicate, but to also become critical thinkers who are caring, compassionate and independent.
Morgan F.
Morgan graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Science Education, with a concentration in Chemistry and a minor in Spanish. She completed her student teaching in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she taught 6th and 8th grade science. After graduating, she was an Au Pair for a year in Bilbao, Spain, where she lived with a family, helping take care of the kids and teaching them English. When she returned to the States, she spent the next year and a half teaching experiential science education at Keystone Science School in Colorado. Morgan loved how her classroom was outside every day, even in the snow, and facilitating hands-on science activities. Most recently, Morgan was able to combine her passion for traveling and teaching by leading a language and cultural immersion program in Costa Rica with a group of high school students. Morgan is dedicated to inspiring the next generation and building meaningful connections with her students along the way. When Morgan isn’t teaching or traveling, you can find her skiing, hiking, or biking in the mountains; kayaking or swimming in a lake; or curled up with a good book!
NAWI M. V.
Nawi has been working with children of all ages and abilities for many years, in classroom settings and one-on-one. Currently, he is a Teacher Candidate at OISE in the Primary/Junior Program. He has a BA in English and History from the University of Toronto, which makes him confident in tutoring Intermediate and Senior students in those subjects. He is fluent in Spanish, speaks intermediate French, and has worked in schools in Canada, Guatemala, and the UK. His love of language, working with children, and his ability to build strong relationships led him to teaching. Working with children of various abilities has helped Nawi develop a patient and open teaching approach that is tailored to his students’ individual needs. Nawi can be found biking and running through the city, at the TIFF Lightbox, and on the hunt for the best street food.
Ivan L.
With more than 20 years of experience as a teacher and tutor, Ivan has a rich background in education, spanning various countries and educational levels. As an engineer, he brings a unique approach to helping students succeed and boosting their self-confidence, particularly in quantitative subjects. Ivan is known for his patience and his ability to understand each student’s unique perspective. He emphasizes the importance of mastering the basics to foster deep understanding, avoiding mere memorization and promoting genuine learning.
MARCELA M.
Marcela has a Bachelor of Arts with a major in French Language Learning from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Education from York University. She is also of Latin American decent, making her fluent in English, French, and Spanish. She teaches high school for the TCDSB.
Emmanuel P.
Emmanuel has been teaching since 2007 in a diverse range of places, from Los Angeles to Japan, Miami, and San Diego. He has taught students from 2nd to 12th grade, and has a special enthusiasm for phonics at the early grade levels and US history at the upper grades, although he is similarly enthusiastic for mathematics from lower elementary all the way through high school . He also has a keen interest in languages, and is bilingual in French and English, as well as having studied Spanish, Hebrew, and Japanese. Emmanuel believes that every subject is inherently fascinating and that every student is capable of excelling, even in a subject that they never imagined themselves to be experts in. He loves helping students to embrace struggle and feel the satisfaction that comes with pushing themselves to more than they thought possible.
Eduardo M.
Eduardo is a native Spanish speaker. He has an undergraduate degree and Master’s degree in Spanish. He earned both degrees at San Diego State University. During his time at the Master’s program he taught Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Spanish.
After graduating from college, he started teaching K-12 as a substitute teacher. He has experience teaching every educational level. From Kindergarten all the way to College.
Eduardo is very excited to start this new journey as a tutor. His goal and number one priority is to see his students succeed and having fun by learning a new language.
In his free time he likes to spend his time at the beach, hiking, jogging, going to the movies, and attending sports events.
Jessica V.
Jessica has been teaching high school for over 20 years. During that time, she focused on English/English as a Second Language, Spanish, and college preparedness. She is the coordinator of AVID at her high school and part of a college network that aims to get students into colleges that fit and tailor their needs. She builds great rapport with students and is a great motivator. Her energy and enthusiasm mesh well with junior and high school students. She is patient with high expectations, firm but warm. Her true gift is helping students get into college. Specializing not only with the UC/CSU system, she is also very knowledgeable with private school applications and scholarships. Jessica Vargas is a great choice during college application season, or anytime for tutor support. Bilingual and IEP support is available as well.
Kristin H.
Kristin Haley is a dedicated educator with a passion for empowering students to reach their full potential. Currently pursuing a certification in education, Kristin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and brings a unique perspective to her teaching approach.
With three years of experience as a long-term substitute teacher in elementary education, Kristin has honed her skills in creating engaging and effective learning experiences. She understands the importance of personalized instruction and strives to tailor her tutoring sessions to meet the individual needs of each student.
Kristin’s journey in education began with her fascination with sociology, where she explored the complexities of human behavior and societal structures. This background enriches her understanding of students’ diverse backgrounds and helps her create inclusive learning environments where every student feels valued and supported.
In her tutoring sessions, Kristin emphasizes building strong foundational skills in reading, writing, and math, while also fostering critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. She believes in empowering students to become confident and independent learners who are equipped to tackle any challenge they encounter.
Outside of tutoring, Kristin enjoys exploring her creative side through cooking and painting. Her enthusiasm for learning and dedication to her students make her a valuable asset in helping students excel academically and reach their goals.