Ruta L.

Ruta L. is an Ontario Certified Teacher who grew up in Toronto and attended Essex Public School, Harbord Collegiate and Metropolitan Toronto University. After living in Portugal and France, she received her Bachelor of Education Degree at the University of Toronto in 1990 and then worked as a Primary/Junior teacher for over 25 years at the Toronto District School Board. Ruta enjoyed teaching Reading, Writing and Mathematics, as well as Art, Music and Drama to children from Kindergarten to grade six. She also provided instruction as a Core French and Special Education teacher for many years. Ruta’s passion for singing and music enabled her to lead various children’s choirs while teaching at various schools in Toronto, and she continues to be a member of several community choirs. In her spare time, Ruta plays squash and coordinates a house league for beginner squash players at the West End YMCA. As a tutor, she endeavours to draw from her teaching experiences in order to build strong relationships with her students and she is determined to meet their needs and grow their learning. Ruta lives in Toronto with her husband and two adult daughters.

HAYLEY W.

Hayley is an Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT) with a diverse range of teaching experience across various grade levels. Currently working at an independent IB school in Toronto, she is passionate about creating engaging, inquiry-based lessons that inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and a love of learning. With a Bachelor of Education in Primary/Junior, Hayley is skilled at designing hands-on lessons that cater to the individual needs of her students.

Her teaching experience spans a variety of settings, including Montessori classrooms and outdoor education programs, allowing her to bring a well-rounded and flexible approach to her work. She believes in the importance of tailoring lessons to each student’s interests and strengths, creating a positive and supportive learning environment where all students can thrive.

Outside the classroom, Hayley is passionate about gardening and cooking. She is also a proud pet owner of Frankie, her clever cat who loves to show off his tricks! With a commitment to continuous professional growth, Hayley is dedicated to supporting students in their educational journey, helping them develop both academic skills and a lifelong love of learning.

RACHEL K.

Rachel is a PhD chemist. She has lived in Ontario her entire life and done all of her schooling here as well. She completed her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology at Wilfrid Laurier University and her graduate degrees in Analytical Chemistry (MSc) and Polymer Chemistry (PhD) at the University of Toronto. Rachel loves science and math and doing puzzles. Her favourite part of teaching is when students have an ‘Aha’ moment and whatever they have been working on clicks into place! Rachel works with students ranging from grade 4 to 1st-year University. In her spare time Rachel is an avid reader and attends as many Toronto Blue Jays games as she can.

SOPHIE W.

Hi! My name is Sophie and I am currently in the first year of the BEd at York. I have over five years of experience in personalized, high-quality tutoring. My primary focus is on math, and I am very passionate about helping students develop their mathematical intuition, thinking, proficiency, and (importantly!) confidence. I also tutor other subjects, especially writing-based courses, and I find it very meaningful to work with students on the crucial skills of on argumentation, articulation, and research. In my free time I love to paint for relaxation and creativity, even though I have never had any formal training/great skill. I mention this because I feel strongly that everyone should feel comfortable and confident to pursue their interests even if they don’t feel like they have the “natural skill”, and I bring that philosophy to my teaching.

MINOO M.

Minoo is an accomplished and dedicated TDSB teacher with over 10 years of experience in the education industry. She is an experienced teacher in Canada and abroad and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Education. She also has a master’s degree in business which makes her knowledgeable in teaching accounting and business. Minoo specializes in teaching Mathematics and business to Middle and high school students. She is known for her ability to create a positive and engaging learning environment, using a range of techniques and strategies to keep students motivated and enthusiastic. Minoo takes pride in her students’ achievements, and her unwavering commitment to their success has earned her a reputation as a reliable and effective educator. In her free time, Minoo enjoys exploring new destinations and surfing. With her experience and passion for teaching, Minoo is an invaluable asset to any student seeking to improve their academic performance.”

RAHMAN S.

As a highly qualified educator and professional accountant, Rahman holds the prestigious designations CPA CMA (Ontario), ACMA (UK), and CGMA (USA). He also holds a Master of Business Administration in Financial Services (UK) and a Bachelor of Business Administration (UK), along with a thesis-based research Master’s degree in Toronto (Master of Science in Management in Accounting). With over a decade of teaching experience at prominent institutions such as Seneca, George Brown, and Conestoga colleges, Rahman specializes in financial accounting, management accounting, taxation (personal and corporate), and financial management.
Rahman’s teaching philosophy emphasizes helping students learn rather than just teaching them. His key strength lies in understanding the unique learning needs of individual students and tailoring lessons to suit their distinct styles. This personalized approach ensures students develop a deep understanding of the material in ways that resonate with them.
Rahman’s corporate experience in London, New York, and Toronto adds a practical dimension to his teaching. Known for his ability to explain complex concepts with clarity, Rahman excels at customizing lessons to meet diverse learning needs. His unique blend of academic excellence, professional experience, and personalized teaching makes him an ideal tutor to support your child’s educational journey. The following is one of many comments students have made about his teaching:
“The instructor was very nice. He had a strong grasp of the subjects and explained each topic with examples, making complex questions easy to understand.”
As a parent himself, Rahman understands the pursuit of every parent to provide their child with the best educational support. In his spare time, he enjoys teaching his own children topics their tutors find challenging to explain, further showcasing his ability to simplify complex concepts and make learning enjoyable.

KAREL C. R.

Karel is a biologist and a Science and Math teacher. He was born in Havana, Cuba, where he studied at the University of Havana, Cuba’s top high center of studies. He graduated from Biology, later taking the courses for the Master’s Degree of Marine Ecology, becoming a researcher in Marine Biology, specialized on Fish Biology and Ecology. He has done research on coral reefs and other tropical marine ecosystems, mostly focused on fish communities and occasionally also assessing sharks for both Ecology and Fisheries. He’s done a lot of marine research on vessels, which includes many hours of SCUBA diving, performing fish community censuses. He has taught postgraduate courses about his specialty, and also contributed for High School and University teaching, back in Cuba, for both general Biology and for national courses on Environmental Education, including being one of the advisors for “Universidad para todos” (University for everyone) for the Cuban national TV. He started teaching in Ontario in 2019, where he has taught Math (Functions) for 11 and 12 grades, including Calculus for 12, as well as Chemistry for 11 and 12 and of course, Biology for both grades, that being his own field. He has also taught some optional courses, like Kinesiology for 12 grade. He loves diving, hiking and camping, and on his spare time he reads History and also sings regularly with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (mostly classical music), the one singing with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, something he finds to be very rewarding emotionally.

YURI D. A.

Yuri is a teacher candidate in the Master of Arts Child Study and Education program at the University of Toronto, with an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University. She has extensive experience working with young learners as a registered early childhood educator, primarily working with preschool and kindergarten age groups. During her practicums, she gained valuable experience in both TDSB schools and the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study, where she worked with diverse groups of students in the primary and junior grades and supported various classroom activities, including UFLI instruction and the development of Individual Education Plan (IEP). Her educational philosophy is rooted in the belief that every child is unique, curious, and capable, and she strives to create inclusive and accessible learning environments that build on each child’s strengths. Outside of teaching, Yuri enjoys embroidering and spending time with her two dogs, Bello, a chihuahua, and Bella, a golden retriever.

EMILY S.

Emily received her undergraduate degree in Sociology from Western University in 2022 and is a teacher candidate in the Master of Teaching program at OISE at the University of Toronto. She has extensive experience working with children in the classroom setting, with practicum experience surrounding EMPOWER reading intervention, as well as UFLI and math intervention. She has worked with children in a sport setting for the past 10 years, and is passionate about creating an environment in which children are inspired to be their best selves. In her free time, she loves reading, being active, and spending time with her cats!

SYRENA B.

Born and raised in Toronto’s West End, Syrena is a Registered Early Childhood Educator and Ontario Certified Teacher who is committed to making learning engaging and enjoyable for the students in her care.
Attending University of Toronto and George Brown College allowed her to stay close to family and friends while pursuing her educational aspirations.
Syrena completed her Bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science before receiving her Diploma in Early Childhood Education from George Brown College and her Master’s in Teaching from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE, U of T). Throughout her educational pursuits, Syrena gained experience working in the nonprofit sector, within organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA. Her work within these two organizations combined spans over a decade.

Syrena’s warm and welcoming demeanor has been recognized by many as part of her charm in meeting new people and most specifically, building caring and comforting relationships with children. In fact, her initial opportunity to work with Boys and Girls Club was recommended to her by the Program Coordinator who recognized that she would be a natural working with children in the after school and summer camp program. In reflecting on her own early childhood experiences, Syrena attributes her training in Taekwondo to her confidence in providing clear instruction and her patience in supporting students who require extra time to achieve their learning goals.

Since Syrena was a student in the gifted program, she is passionate about working with students with exceptionalities and additional needs. She has completed the Special Education Part 1 Additional Qualification and is planning to obtain her Special Education Specialist Qualifications in 2025. She is currently completing the Reading Part 1 AQ.
In addition to having her black belt in Taekwondo and being a certified yoga instructor, Syrena has completed 4 half marathons. Needless to say she is quick on her feet and flexible!