LAWRENCE C.

Lawrence is a retired high school teacher from the Toronto District School Board where he taught Business subjects and Math. His love for teaching has compelled him to continue helping young people learn, through tutoring. Reflecting on his long career, he realizes that, when teaching, he is ‘giving’, and that, in the end, is deeply rewarding. It is the source of his passion for helping students. His 40 years in the classroom have given him unique insight into the difficulties students face and the critical junctures they need to bridge, especially in subjects like mathematics, which is highly sequential. However he is a trained business teacher specializing in subjects like Accounting, Information and Communication Technology, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, International Business, Management studies, etc.
He believes his job as an educator is to give his students success.

ERICA L

Erica will be an Ontario Certified Teacher specializing in the Primary/Junior division at the end of March. She currently attends the University of Toronto for her Masters of Teachings, and has completed her honours in English and Anthropology. Erica has worked in both the Catholic and Public School Board, and has experience teaching Grades 1-5, 10, and 11. Erica has experience working with students who have Special Needs, and those who require Reading Recovery. Erica is dedicated to helping students grow academically, and enjoys creating engaging activities for her learners. Furthermore, Erica explores different methods of teaching to engage various styles of learners, and works towards creating inclusivity.

In addition to helping educate young learners, Erica has interests in baking, spending time with her family, watching movies, horseback riding, and painting.

SUSIE Y.

Susie received her undergraduate degree and Bachelor of Education concurrently at York University. She graduated with an Honours in Mathematics for Education. She is qualified to teach Math and Economics at the Intermediate and Senior grade levels. Susie has a great passion for teaching students and helping others. Since 2012, she has been working and volunteering in classrooms getting experience working with students in various grades. Susie enjoys working with students one-on-one to build a strong rapport with them, which allows her to familiarize with each student’s needs, strengths and interests. Her goal is to support students in their future success and overall development. Moreover, she will help students understand the value of mathematics in attaining their individual goals and to continue to be lifelong learners.

NATALIE L.

Natalie Little received her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, Ontario in 2006 with a major in Political Science and a minor in French, followed by a Bachelor of Education from the Queensland University of Technology located in Australia specializing in Primary, Junior grade levels. This is where Natalie’s international journey began.

Natalie has taught overseas for the past 10 years in Australia, Antigua & Barbuda (Caribbean) and Abu Dhabi (Middle East) across all grade levels and subject areas, creating inclusive environments where students have opportunities to explore, develop, reflect and gain confidence in every facet o their life.

She also has a love for playing sports, music and traveling.

MELANIE P.

Melanie has a Master of Science in Biology received at York University. As a Master’s candidate, she was a teaching assistant for several first and third year biology laboratory based courses. During her years as a teaching assistant, Melanie instructed classrooms and also taught students one on one. She had to plan mini-lessons, teach laboratories, assign quizzes and homework, and grade university level papers. Melanie also received her Bachelor of Science in Biology at York University. During her undergraduate she took and excelled at various biology and chemistry courses. Melanie enjoys writing essays and almost received a minor in philosophy due to her love for writing. Melanie loved her years as a teaching assistant and enjoys teaching because she loves to play a role in helping a student learn. During her free time she plays recreational soccer and spends time doing puzzles with her nephew. She also currently works at a veterinary clinic in hopes of attending veterinary school.

LUCIA M.

I graduated from the University of Oviedo, Spain with a Master’s degree in Teaching Spanish as a second language. Throughout my undergraduate education, I had the opportunity to enrich my life by studying French in Belgium and France. Through these experiences I understood how difficult it is studying a second language and how frustrated you feel when you cannot communicate with local people. These feelings encouraged me to teach Spanish in a dynamic and helpful way, where students do not encounter the same fears as I previously had.

With this in mind, through my internships as a Spanish teacher, I was lucky to have the chance to share my passion of teaching Spanish with students in different levels of learning and varying ages in a multi-cultural environment.

Also, my Degree in Modern languages, maiored in French Language and Culture gave me the chance to work as a teacher assistant in French Alliance where I taught French to children, teenagers and adults from basic to intermediate levels of learning.

I treat each student individual encouraging them to work in their weakness but use their strengths to their advantage. I love to bring French and Spanish culture to the class which makes students more interested in the new language.

JESSICA G.

Jessica is a recent graduate of the Master of Teaching program at the University of Toronto (OISE). Jessica currently works as an Occasional Teacher for Halton District School Board with Primary, Junior and Intermediate Students. As an educator Jessica strives to support students in developing their knowledge, skills, and values for active citizenship. As a new teacher, Jessica is passionate and dedicated to the implementation of research-based practice, innovative learning, and student inquiry. Jessica is certified for the elementary panel. As a native of Etobicoke, Jessica has grown up with a passion for the outdoors and walking alongside the lakeshore with her dog Snooks, this passion for exercise has inspired her to also be qualified for Intermediate Physical and Health Education. In addition to being an Ontario Certified Teacher, Jessica has over 6 years of experience working with children two to twelve at Ryerson Early Learning Centre as an Early-Childhood Educator. With her passion for research and twenty-first-century learning, she is certainly an innovative and exciting candidate.

Throughout Jessica’s work as an early-childhood educator and teacher candidate, She has developed a sincere desire to inspire innovation and build challenging but supportive learning environments for her students. Within her work, she has used differentiated instruction and experiential learning opportunities to support learners with exceptionalities as these opportunities for learning are invaluable for promoting student engagement and supporting the individual needs of students. Throughout the Masters of Teaching program, Jessica had devoted her research to exploring the way teachers incorporate Aboriginal perspectives and environmental education to support the whole child. With this research experience, Jessica is passionate about implementing teaching strategies that have proven effective and efficient throughout educational research to best support her students.

Throughout Jessica’s experience, she has planned lessons that promote personalized learning opportunities to meet the needs of students. It is important to Jessica that her students feel valued and have a sense of trust and value in their learning. Professionally, Jessica’s has a strong interest in working with students with various exceptionalities and has had experience working with students in enrichment programs and students with executive functioning needs. Jessica strongly believes that students can and should look forward to learning in a safe space where it is recognized that their individual differences make the learning experience come alive. A part of this is building strong relationships and knowing her students. Jessica believes that in order to personalize learning opportunities, you truly need to know your students.

Through Jessica’s combined experiences learning from and working in the field of education, specifically the early years, she has discovered her passion for special education and early intervention. Jessica’s desire to learn more about how to appropriately adapt instructional tools for such a diverse population of learners has allowed her to make the decision complete her qualifications for Primary/Junior Special Education Part 1 and Reading. Personally, along with lakeshore hikes, Jessica has played volleyball, figured skated and has a strong passion for literacy and reading. Her favorite genre of books is non-fiction as she enjoys learning about the world around her. With a strong passion for reading, she aims to support students love or learning and discover the ways to best support students with exceptionalities. Throughout Jessica’s undergraduate and graduate studies, she has engaged in several professional development workshops to better equip herself as an elementary teacher to provide an effective and sustainable education for her students.

ILIANA C.

Iliana completed her Bachelors of Education from the University of Ottawa in 2012 specializing the in the Primary/Junior Divisions. Dedicated to working with students of all needs and abilities, Iliana completed addition qualifications in Special Education 1 and has her Reading Specialist.

Following her B.Ed., Iliana began working as an Occasional teacher with a school board. She has experience working in a variety of grades and currently teaches in the junior division. She worked as a literacy coach for 2 years, supporting students in literacy development and worked collaboratively with teachers to develop programing. Iliana also facilitated various workshops and conferences for educators from understanding student reading behaviours to reading assessment workshops. She has a passion for literacy and continues to grow as an educator.

Iliana enjoys creating engaging learning experiences, providing all learners with opportunities to meet their full potential. She is a positive and supportive person who loves working with students and strives to create a welcoming, positive learning environment where students can excel.

HAYLEE W.

In 2016, Haylee completed her Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude at the University of Ottawa. She earned a double major degree in Didactique des langues secondes and Français. She also obtained French Immersion certification from UOttawa. During her studies, she worked as a bilingual student mentor, helping students to build academic skills and study skills. She also worked extensively with international students. She completed her Bachelor of Education coursework in the French Cohort at Western University and will obtain OCT certification, as well as FSL Part 1 upon graduation in June 2018.

She is very passionate about helping others and sharing her love of languages and learning with students. She strives to offer every student equity in education and is dedicated to helping each student achieve their learning goals. She has worked for a variety of Education companies as a teacher and tutor. Additionally, she has worked in French and Math curriculum writing to develop materials for Education centres.

Haylee is very passionate about literacy development and has worked as a French Literacy Facilitator to develop individualized and authentic French literacy activities for French students. She has also volunteered as a scribe for French Immersion students during EQAO testing.

Haylee engages students through integration of technology and apps for Education. In her own teaching, she has used Interactive Whiteboards, such as Smartboards, Apple TV, and a variety of Google Applications.

Haylee hopes to complete her Masters of Education in the coming years. She is also interested in obtaining Additional Qualifications such as FSL Part 2, Specialist, and Special Education. She is interested in further research in cross-curricular approaches to teaching and learning, and second language acquisition.

EDGAR F.

Edgar is currently in his second year of Teacher’s College at York University and will graduate in June of 2018, where he will become an Ontario Certified Teacher at the Primary/Junior level. Edgar graduated from York University in June of 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Portuguese & Luso Brazilian Studies prior to starting his journey towards obtaining his Bachelors of Education degree. Edgar is in the application process of doing his Masters of Education degree focusing on Urban Educational Environments, as he is very interested in studying schools and children that embody these atmospheres. Subjects that Edgar takes most interest in are; Mathematics, Health, Physical Education, and Visual Arts. Edgar has two years of summer camp experience, where he has supervised and lead groups of children ranging from four to thirteen years of age. Edgar also has had multiple placement experiences in the Toronto Catholic District School Board, where he has worked in four different Elementary schools as a Teacher Candidate and a Tutor. In April Edgar will be going to Tanzania, Africa where he will teach for three weeks and gain an authentic, hands on experience of teaching in a third world country. In addition to teaching, Edgar remains active in the community by volunteering his time with St. Roch’s Catholic Church.

During his Undergraduate studies, Edgar was a member of the York University varsity soccer team for three years. In the three years as a member of the team, Edgar has won an OUA Bronze medal, an OUA gold medal, and a fourth place finish at the CIS National Championships. Edgar still plays soccer at the provincial level, but also finds himself coaching the youth. He has trained players from clubs such as North York FC, but also school soccer teams like; Chaminade College School and All Saints Catholic Elementary School. Edgar is a very active individual and has found a new passion for running. He completed his first marathon in October of 2017, and is now training towards completing an Ironman 70.3.