Karina R.

Karina is a retired teacher and administrator with over 38 years of experience teaching and leading communities of learners. She has a love for education and connecting with her students and families.

Karina believes that the key to successful learning is making it fun, engaging and appropriate for each child’s instructional needs. Her specialty is differentiating and individualizing according to each child’s interests, strengths and academic goals. She is also a lifelong learner and enjoys traveling, reading, surfing, birding and hiking. Karina is thrilled to be a Prep Academy Tutor, which allows her to help children develop confidence in their abilities and achieve their full potential.

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.

Graciamaria R.

My name is Graciamaria, and I am thrilled to introduce myself as a dedicated academic tutor. With a diverse background in Education, I bring a unique perspective to my teaching approach, ensuring that each student I work with receives personalized and effective support.
I have a strong foundation in education, thanks to my M.A., B.Ed. and M.Ed. from the University of Waterloo, University of Western Ontario and Wilfrid Laurier University. My academic journey has equipped me with the knowledge and skills to understand the complexities of student learning, particularly in relation to Social Sciences, Literature and, Intermediate Mathematics. Additionally, my experience as a Special Education teacher for the past twenty years has allowed me to develop essential mentoring and leadership skills, which I bring into every tutoring session.
As a tutor, I am committed to creating a supportive and encouraging environment for every student. I understand the challenges that come with academic pursuits and strive to make learning an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. My goal is to help students build confidence, develop strong study habits, and reach their full potential.
I am also deeply connected to my Hispanic heritage, which has influenced my approach to education. I believe in the importance of cultural awareness and inclusivity in teaching, and I strive to create a learning space where all students feel valued and understood.
Whether your child needs help with homework, exam preparation, or developing a passion for learning, I am here to support them every step of the way. Together, we can work towards academic success and a brighter future.

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.

Alvaro D.

Alvaro Drake-Cortes is a certified facilitator, trainer, teacher and mentor who has worked with children, adolescents and adults in academic and professional settings in government and private sectors.

Alvaro has over 20 years of experience empowering clients to meet their goals and potential across a wide range of disciplines, using tailored and personalized instruction and guidance. With Prep Academy Tutors, he offers students an opportunity to immerse themselves in the Spanish language through lessons and workshops.

Alvaro has a Master of Education from Temple University and acquired his teaching certification in the state of Pennsylvania.

Rachel B.

Rachel is a former teacher and nanny with a passion for helping students succeed. With a master’s degree from DePaul University, and a 4.0 GPA, Rachel loves to learn and share her knowledge. She gets to know her students’ background and interests before starting her lessons, as to make the information at hand pertinent to each child. With kindness and enthusiasm, Rachel strives to make learning a fun and comfortable experience for both the student and their families. Communication is her strong suit, as she enjoys sharing milestones and challenges with parents to ensure student success. In her spare time, Rachel travels the world with her husband, Cole. The pair resides in the Northwest suburbs with their two cats, and in her spare time, Rachel runs a successful photography studio out of her home office. Get in touch with Rachel today – she cannot wait to get to know you!

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.