Staff Biographies

Name: Pina M.
Position: Little Reader’s Teacher
Description: I am a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE), and for almost fifteen years, I have had the privilege of fostering cognitive, physical, spiritual and emotional skills, in children ranging from toddlers to school age. I believe that the development of the “whole child” is imperative, and that if children enjoy their learning experiences, they will learn more effectively. Walt Streightiff once said, “There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.” My ultimate goal to use this window of opportunity to help build a healthy self-esteem, and create a strong and positive foundation that will support children for the rest of their academic career.

Name: Jessie D.
Position: Junior Teacher
Description: I am currently going into my second year at Guelph-Humber University. I am majoring in Child Developmental Studies and hope to continue my education into teacher’s college. Once I have completed my four years I will have obtained my B.A.S.c and a diploma in Early Childhood Education. I hope to one day be a successful teacher at the elementary school level. Working at Oxford Learning will allow me to share my excitement for learning and encourage children to gain the confidence they need to succeed. In my spare time I enjoy dancing, playing soccer and hanging out with friends.

Name: Katie D.
Position: Intermediate/Senior Teacher
Description: My name is Katie, and I am currently a second year student at York University majoring in History, with a minor in French. I want to be a high school History teacher, and I truly believe History is something we need to understand and know. I like to read and do research in my pastime, especially anything Tudor related. I am in the process of learning Italian at school, and hope I can graduate with a tri-lingual certificate. I enjoy hanging out with friends, going to family functions, and just sitting around doing nothing productive (sometimes!). I hope to encourage a lot of students to reach their full potential, and to never give up on their dreams.

Name: Nadia R.
Position: Intermediate/Senior Teacher
Description: Being an Oxford Learning Coach is one of the more rewarding roles in my life. It provides me with a great sense of purpose that I feel is unique to working with children. It was while I was completing my Honours Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto when I realized that I wanted to work with children. Being part of the Oxford Learning team has given me the opportunity to be a helping hand in our future’s development by allowing me to work with and for a group of young learners who continue to inspire me. Further, it has taught me the values of patience and perseverance and that positivity and encouragement can help a child discover something new and amazing within themselves.

Name: Julia S.
Position: Junior/Intermediate Teacher
Description: I am currently in my third year at Guelph Humber University. I am majoring in Children Studies in hopes to one day become an Elementary School Teacher. At the end of my fourth year I will obtain my B.A.S.c and also a diploma in Early Childhood Education. By working at Oxford Learning I am able to help students reach their full potential and increase their confidence. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and playing soccer.

Name: Jay D.
Position: High School Math/Science Teacher
Description: At the beginning of my fourth year as an undergraduate studying biology and psychology at McMaster University, I was awarded a teaching assistantship and my own class of 40 bright young minds. By the end of the year, having grown in confidence and in my understanding of pedagogy, I knew I wanted to become a professional educator. Since then, I have obtained my Bachelor of Education degree with teachables in biology and chemistry and have spent the past two years teaching science in Essex and London, England. During my time in England, I provided a learning environment in which my students were able to develop and explore their interests in science. I also traveled quite extensively and was able to learn more about the education systems of various countries. This I believe, has had a significant impact on my teaching practice. It is my hope, as a member of the Oxford Learning team, to help students become confident, critical thinkers who are able to achieve their goals. When I am not teaching I enjoy rock climbing, playing the piano and oboe, composing music and spending time with friends.

Name: Melissa P.
Position: French Teacher
Description: Having the opportunity to work at Oxford has allowed to me work with children of all ages and really help them reach their full potential. I strongly believe that children should take a greater interest in learning a second language. In my spare time I enjoy hanging out with friends and playing baseball.

Name: Maria G.
Position: Junior/Intermediate Teacher
Description: I recently obtained my Bachelor of Education degree from York University and completed an additional qualification course in special education, part 1. As a teacher, my personal goal is to make a difference in the lives of children. Each child is unique, with their own history, their own abilities and their own desires. I want to help children find their own potential and give them the opportunity to realize that they can achieve their goals.

Name: Melissa D.
Position: Intermediate/Senior Teacher
Description: I have just recently graduated from the Concurrent Education program at Nipissing University. As a new teacher, I believe that learning should be fun, innovative and interactive. In creating this kind of learning environment, children are able to learn with ease and comfort. My passion for teaching extends into the Oxford Learning Centre as I am able to interact with the students on an individual level and create a learning environment that promotes successful student development. I believe that each child learns differently and it is the job of educators to ensure that all children learn to their fullest potential.