Staff Biographies

Amanda Giglio (Centre Director)
Amanda has been in the Oxford Learning system since graduating with a Masters of Education from Medialle University. She loves working with the Oxford system because it allows her to help each student reach their potential and increase their confidence. Amanda’s dedication to this Oxford Centre has helped it to grow to be what it is today.

Nicholas Cragg (Elementary Education Director)
Nicholas graduated from University of Toronto with an Hon. B.A. in English and Geography. Shortly thereafter, Nicholas moved to Australia for a year where he earned his Graduate Diploma in Education. For the past three years, Nicholas has been working in other tutoring centers as both an instructor and educational coordinator. In his off-time, Nicholas volunteers as a swimming instructor. He believes the best teaching tools involve humour and leading by example.

Andrea Wallette (High School Education Director)
Andrea has recently moved from Vancouver to join the Oxford Team. She has been tutoring since she was in high school and loves to show students that math & chemistry are not as scary as many believe them to be. Andrea has a Master’s degree in Chemistry from UWO, a very strong background in Special Education, as well as a B.Ed. in Intermediate/Senior Mathematics and Chemistry.

Helen Tafolla (Office Manager)
Helen’s bubbly and energetic personality helps to keep our centre organized and running efficiently. She has a diploma from George Brown in Business Accounting. Helen enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Her natural mothering skills have come in handy with all of the students at the Centre.

Rosie Bajari
Rosie is currently attending Ryerson University to complete her Bachelor of Science in Biology. One of her goals is to teach biology after taking her first year biology course and absolutely loved it. In her free time, she enjoys reading classic literature and playing the violin.

Jennifer Bauman
Jen graduated with a degree in Sociology from Wilfrid Laurier University and went on to receive her Master of Teaching Primary from Griffith University in Australia. Jen's love of travel and teaching has also taken her to teach kindergarten in South Korea. She is glad to be teaching the Little Readers at Oxford!

Fiona Buchanan
Fiona is a student at the University of Toronto, studying Political Science and French Linguistics. She started teaching piano to children when she was 15 and has loved working with kids ever since - as a camp counselor, a swimming instructor, a gymnastics instructor and now as a tutor at Oxford. In addition to teaching, Fiona enjoys cycling, and writing and editing for her college newspaper.

Tia Chambers
Tia is a recent graduate of the University of Toronto, who received her HBA in English and linguistics with honors with distinction. Tia loves to foster empowerment and confidence in children and youth, and also teaches drama at Clinton Public Junior School in her spare time. Tia also loves to bake and read novels.

Samra Dervic
Samra is currently completing her Bachelor of Science at the University of Toronto, where she is specializing in French Second Language Learning, along with studies in mathematics and psychology. Samra has spent the past year living and working in Toulouse, France, as an English teacher. She loves teaching and helping students gain confidence in their academic and personal lives. She also enjoys playing the piano and riding her bike!

Matthew Harris
Matthew Harris is a writer and researcher who has been living in Toronto for the last fourteen years. He is currently writing a novel as the thesis for his MFA degree from the University of Guelph. After he has finished his Masters degree, he plans to attend OISE to further his educational credentials. When he's not teaching, Matthew enjoys reading and writing.

Wendy Hird
Wendy has been working at Oxford since March 2011. Previous to this she was teaching kindergarten in South Korea. Wendy completed a Masters in Teaching at Griffith University in Australia. Wendy loves helping her students feel successful and keeping them enthusiastic about learning. In her spare time Wendy loves to travel and play hockey

Helena Macario
Helena graduated at U of T, receiving her BSc in Psychology. During her undergraduate she worked as a Research Assistant in the Child Development lab, and focused her studies on developmental psychology. Growing up in francophone house, she has been speaking and studying French her entire life, so working as an French interpreter is natural fit. Helena has been at Oxford since April, and enjoys teaching and watching her students have "AHA" moments.

Erik MacKinnon
Erik is currently studying for his Bachelor of Education at OISE (UofT) and has recently finished a Masters of Science degree in biology. He enjoys connecting with students and teaching the ever-interesting subjects of math and science! When not at Oxford, you can find him practicing his dodging skills (dodgeball), paddling through the outdoors (canoeing), or playing fetch with his cat (who acts like a dog).

Amber Newton
Amber grew up in Vancouver and moved to Toronto for the first time in 2001. After completing her studies at the University of Toronto she then went to South Korea, where she taught English and Art at various Korean public and private schools until she became the Pre-Kindergarten teacher at an American international school. Amber returned to Toronto in the summer of 2011, and is happy to be in Canada again.

Shail Oza
The only thing Shail loves more than Math and Physics is teaching it. Shail has been part of the Oxford team since the Winter of 2010, and his favorite part of the Oxford experience is the healthy interactive environment it provides for the students.

Nadia Ragbar
Nadia grew up just outside of Toronto and has an MA in Comparative Literature, and a BA in Literary Studies from the University of Toronto. Because she lives so close to U of T she has decided to go back for an MA in Creative Writing, to work on a collection of short stories. She also loves to sew and knit and make things with her hands.

Tynessa Walters
Tynessa graduated with a Communications degree from McMaster University in 2005 and spent the next several years teaching both adults and children abroad. She is currently studying Jewellery Design at George Brown College, and is excited that she has the opportunity to regularly work with children at Oxford Learning. When not studying or teaching, Tynessa greatly enjoys cooking and traveling.

Elizabeth Went
Elizabeth is currently a researcher at the ROM, a research assistant on two catalogues for the National Gallery of Canada, and a freelance writer. She graduated from U of T with an HBA in English and Art History in 2009, and next year, she will begin an MA in Art History either at Concordia or NYU. Elizabeth has been at Oxford since January 2010, teaching primarily High School English. In her free time, Elizabeth reads (obsessively), sings, plays guitar, and cooks.