Darien K.
Darien has been teaching for 5 years. He also has a Psychology degree and is certified by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. He developed a Mindfulness Committee throughout his school’s community to better support mental health initiatives.
Darien has the experience to understand and tailor instruction to the many different learning styles, abilities and backgrounds. He has taught people with various and complex disabilities for 10+ years, is comfortable teaching various levels of English Language Learners and can teach foundational knowledge through Indigenous perspective.
As a teacher his focus is on an well rounded educational plan that consists of physical and mental wellness, cultivating self-worth, morals, values and supporting students’ expressions of identity. He received multiple scholarships based on athletic merit as a member of the University’s Cross Country Running team. He loves to take his dog paddle boarding and hiking. When they are not in the sunniest spots, he’ll likely be found playing Arceus or Zelda on his Nintendo Switch.
Ari S.
Ari completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences with a minor in Philosophy and Religious Studies from Western University. She was the recipient of the Faculty Subject Award at Western University for achieving the highest grade in Religious Studies at Western University. Also, Ari completed an Honours Bachelors Degree in Arts from Thompson Rivers University graduating with High Distinction. Previously, she volunteered as a tutor for high school students in Science (Grade 9), Chemistry and Biology (Grade 10-12) at Mississauga Secondary School. During her undergrad, she tutored multiple students in University-level Writing and Psychology courses. Also, she assisted tutors at Mathnasium. In her spare time, Ari enjoys reading, cooking and hiking. Ari plans to start Teachers College this fall.
IAN R.
Ian grew up in Calgary, completing a BA and MA in Religious Studies at the University of Calgary, before moving to Toronto, where he completed his PhD at the University of Toronto’s Department for the Study of Religion in 2017. Along the way, Ian also studied Sanskrit at the University of Pune in India and worked for several years in the research department of a Bay Street financial services firm.
Ian has been teaching at the university-level since 2009, in the areas of Religion and History, most recently at the University of Toronto and the University of Western Ontario. He is passionate about teaching students to read, write, and, most importantly, think critically about the world around them. Seeing students master their course work is amazing; seeing students become effective, organized ,and dynamic young men and women is even better.
In his spare time, Ian enjoys reading spy novels, the occasional Netflix binge, running, playing basketball and coaching his twin boys’ baseball team.
ALEC M.
Alec is an Ontario-certified History/Social Sciences teacher and current M.A. History student at the University of Toronto. Before moving to Toronto, he completed his Bachelor of Education at the University of Ottawa, specializing in Grade 4-10 History. Before that, he graduated from Queen’s University in 2016 with an honour’s degree in History and World Religion. He began teaching ESL to students of all ages in 2016 while living in Europe. He speaks French and a little Spanish and loves learning new languages. He has taught Grade 3-4 Core French, Grade 7/8 Language Arts, History, and Health, and Grade 6/7 English Literacy in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB). He also taught various subjects – primarily English, Social Studies, and Physical Education – from kindergarten to Grade 10 in the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE). In his spare time, he loves to play music with his siblings, especially guitar and bass. He also loves to play and coach basketball and is a huge Toronto Raptors fan. He has some suggestions for how the team could be improved but does not have the influence to secure a meeting with management. Since 2010, he has been a support worker for an individual with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their family. What he loves most about teaching is seeing students gain confidence in themselves.
Lori M.
A graduate of the University of Toronto, Lori earned an undergraduate degree in English and History as well as Master’s degree in Child Study and Education. She has been employed as a high school teacher for over 10 years and possesses certification to teach at the primary, junior, intermediate and senior levels from the Ontario College of Teachers (#615329). Additionally, she has taught graduate students at the University of Toronto, as well as an additional qualification course to teachers. She has completed numerous additional qualification courses and is qualified to teach a range of subjects, namely: English, Mathematics, Special Education, History, Religious Education, and Health and Physical Education. She specializes in English and has helped write two courses, as well as an Ontario Teacher-Student Literacy Resource that contains strategies and lessons that equip students with the literacy skills requisite to pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. She also loves working with students with exceptionalities and has a penchant for mathematics education. She is very personable and believes that all students are relational learners capable of thriving when paired with a nurturing and experienced educator who meets students where they are and intelligently scaffolds their progress