Rita Z.

Rita worked with students in the Sarasota County district school system for over 20 years as a middle school science teacher. With a gifted certification and extensive professional development experience in exceptional student education, she is well equipped to work with students of various abilities. In the classroom, Rita was able to connect with students, parents and the community and earned highly qualified evaluations by administrators year after year. Rita took a hands-on approach to learning science in her classroom, often taking students on field trips and creating meaningful learning experiences with interactive and virtual learning. In 2013, Rita was recognized for all of her achievements as the district middle school teacher of the year.

Rita has a master’s degree in STEM education from the University of South Florida and a bachelor’s degree in physics and astronomy, making her very capable of helping students succeed in all science disciplines. Rita completed her master’s thesis on how to develop notetaking and organizational skills in students that support students in reading and writing expository texts. After completing her master’s degree, Rita earned over 900 hours of professional development, focusing on differentiated instruction and integrating literacy into the core content areas.

MELISSA T.

Melissa is an Ontario Certified Teacher with qualifications in the Primary-Junior division and experience working with high school students. She completed her undergraduate degree at York University and earned her Bachelor of Education at Lakehead University.

Melissa has worked extensively with students across different age groups, including elementary and secondary school, fostering their learning and helping them achieve academic success. She has experience conducting EQAO assessments, writing report cards, and supporting students’ literacy and numeracy development.

With a passion for education and a commitment to fostering a positive learning environment, Melissa believes in building strong relationships with her students to meet their individual needs. She takes pride in encouraging her students to develop confidence and a love for learning.