Barrie South
Tutoring

Jake Vella

Co-Owner

Co-owner Jake Vella studied business and graduated from Western University before completing a Human Resource Management Graduate Program through Georgian College. He began his career in the field of Human Resources, specializing in training and program implementation and moved into Management in a very diverse and fast-paced industry.  

Jake utilizes the experience he gained to manage a variety of business projects including multiple Oxford Learning Centres, as well as in his current position as Vice President of Continental Cosmetics.

Jake is a self-proclaimed sports fanatic, both amateur and professional.  He both plays and coaches Basketball, Baseball, Ball Hockey, Football and more. Through the ownership of Oxford Learning franchises, Jake has been able to realize the dream of combining his love of managing a business, with his love of helping children to reach their full potential.

Currently, partnered with his mother Laurey, Jake is proud to be co-owner of Oxford Learning Ancaster and Barrie South.

The Oxford Learning philosophy, which uses a cognitive approach to learning, is in line with Jake’s belief that every child is unique in how they learn.

“It is my mission to assemble the finest teams, and to provide the ideal learning environment within our Oxford Learning Centers to ensure that all children reach their full potential!”
Jake

Laurey Fawcett

Centre Director/Co-Owner

As Centre Director for the Barrie South location, I am very proud of the incredible team we have assembled and the work that they do. In partnership with my eldest son Jake as co-owners of the Oxford Learning Centres in Ancaster and Barrie South, we are fully committed to making a lasting difference in these communities and believe that children are our future.

For over 30 years I primarily worked in the field of Sales and Marketing, including 18 years as a Corporate Trainer within various industries. In addition, I am grateful for the opportunities I have had including; hosting my own cable program with Shaw television; publishing editorials, poetry and fictional works for several publications including a monthly columnist position with Edge magazine. I have also run my own event planning and interior design consultancy business and have enjoyed many opportunities to develop as a successful entrepreneur.

While raising three children through University, I spent their infant years working from home providing care for children with special needs through the Children’s Aid Society. I have a passion for volunteering and have given time to numerous organizations over the years; some of which include Habitat for Humanity, Look Good Feel Better, The Salvation Army, and Wellsprings Cancer Centre.

I love to travel, cook, and entertain but most of all I am fiercely committed to helping our students develop to their highest potential.

Jessica MacMillan

Education Director

As a lifelong history buff, I have always been fascinated by the unknown. This has inspired a passion for learning and, in turn, a passion for teaching. I started working with kids as a camp counselor for the City of Barrie Day Camps. I enjoyed this role so much and continued to work in camps for seven summers.

My love for great literature and and my intense interest in history have inspired my desire for lifelong learning and teaching.

My first taste of teaching was as a tutor and with this I found a love of inspiring a passion for learning. I graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Arts in English and History. I then went on to Queen’s University to obtain an education degree with an emphasis in the Intermediate and Senior divisions. I am a member of the Ontario College of Teachers with experience as a private tutor, EA, Program Instructor and Teacher. 

I have been teaching at Oxford Learning since October 2016 and I have enjoyed building a rapport with the great students and staff that make up our Oxford Learning family. 

As the Education Director, I look forward to building relationships with you and your family. I have a passion for education and I believe in the importance of teaching students how to learn in a way that works for them. As part of the Oxford Learning leadership team, I am committed to ensuring that the time our students spend with us is productive while maintaining a focus on the building of self-esteem, self-motivation skills and intellectual growth.  

Agatha Dyszlewski

Education Coordinator

As a current Masters of Education student, I am deeply fascinated by the complexities surrounding education. I have always been an individual easily captivated by the intricacies of the human condition, and I am proud to say that education, specifically, has become a lifelong passion of mine.

During my own educational journey, I completed the Honors Bachelor of Arts and Science with specializations in Anthropology and Political Science. I decided to continue pursuing my love for anthropology as it pertains to the field of education. I completed the Bachelor of Education (BEd) program and have moved on to the Masters of Education program.

I have also had the pleasure of educating students in a variety of traditional and alternative settings. I have had the privilege of teaching across Canada for the Royal Canadian Air Cadet Program, sponsored by the RCAF, tutoring privately and for a variety of organizations, as well as educating students from grades K-12 and many College and University students. I have had the opportunity to be a teaching assistant for the BEd program at Lakehead University and help prepare future teachers for their own careers. As a result, I am incredibly excited to be joining the team at Oxford Learning. The educational methodologies which Oxford Learning utilizes align very closely with my own methods. Consequently, I am excited to not only be teaching within this environment, but I am also very excited to learn from the already fabulous staff and ever growing group of students!

I profoundly believe that education does not only occur in the brain, but also occurs within the heart of every student. As an educator myself, I ensure that my approach to education brings life to not only the material, but resonates within the hearts of each student I have the opportunity to teach.

Lucie Marchildon

Teacher

I was born in the French village of Lafontaine, just north of Barrie on Georgian Bay.  Though we moved away from the area when I was very young, I was fortunate to be able to attend French schools throughout my elementary and secondary school years. My love of languages continued to grow; thus, I decided to study French and English literature in Montreal. Thereafter employed as a bilingual court reporter in Ottawa, I felt the need to share my passion and decided to complete a degree in Education. I graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2001 and spent many years employed as a French Immersion teacher. 

Now retired, I missed working directly with students. I joined the education team at Oxford Learning Barrie South in November of 2017 and it is my hope to continue to help students to not only become proficient readers and writers in both English and French, but also to instill in them a love for the written word, no matter what language it may be written in.

Kristy Ferguson

Education Coordinator

From a young age I knew I wanted to do something that would help people and teaching was at the top of my list! I really enjoy working with children and youth and am enthusiastic about sharing in the learning process. I graduated from The University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Arts Honours (Studio Art and English) and Nipissing University’s Schulich School of Education with a Bachelor of Education. I have my Primary, Junior, Intermediate and Special Education Qualifications.

Shortly after I received my Bachelor of Education, I moved to London, England, to pursue further experience in the teaching field. I spent 3 months supply teaching various ages and the rest of my year and a half there teaching grade 4 and traveling Europe. I learned a great deal in that time and really expanded my understanding and skills as a teacher.

When I am not teaching, I often spend time running, biking, hiking, or getting involved in a sport. I also love cooking, baking and finding a cozy corner at home or in a coffee shop to get in some fun fiction or non-fiction reading time to feed my brain.

I really see the importance and benefit of the Oxford Learning methodology and am happy to be a part of a program that not only helps students with any challenges they may be facing in school but also on the best practices of how to learn and retain information. I find it a great joy and honour to be helping others to reach their fullest potential.

Kathryn Nawrot

Teacher

I graduated from York University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Education and specialized honours degree in Kinesiology and Health Science. My two teachable subjects are intermediate/senior Physical Education and Mathematics. I have been working at Oxford Learning since September 2015, and was recently hired on full time as a teacher for the Toronto District School Board .

During the time I have spent working in the field of education, I have been able to develop and strengthen my teaching philosophy.  It encompasses a multifaceted approach that includes: promoting critical thinking, creating an inclusive and empowering learning environment, and encouraging students to think beyond the walls of the classroom. The experiences I have throughout my teaching career will continually shape my philosophical understanding of what it means to be a good teacher. The unique group of students who I teach shapes my perspectives on teaching and serves as a learning opportunity for future teaching. In this way, I strongly believe that ‘reciprocal learning’ is fundamental in the field of education, and for my professional growth as an educator.

Jim Vaillancourt

Teacher

I was raised in Penetanguishene, and have a strong affinity for, and appreciation of, the natural beauty and history of Simcoe County and the Great Lakes region. After obtaining a Bachelor of Mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo, I worked in Business, Finance and the non-profit sector. 

Having experienced the beauty of Mathematics, I developed a desire to share this with the next generation and had the privilege in recent years of realizing this goal. I have taught mathematics, accounting, economics, financial planning, and business administration to college students in both official languages. Working with young learners has made me a devotee of Oxford Learning’s approach to cognitive learning.

My pastimes include reading (I believe in lifelong learning) and sports. I have coached youngsters and list my favourite leagues in order of preference as follows: CFL, MLS, NFL, MLB, NHL. While this may be contrary to the expectation of those who would rank NHL first, I believe everyone is unique and should be respected for their individuality, especially students. I admit that growing up in Southern Ontario has instilled in me the desire to see a successful incarnation of the Maple Leafs, and I never despair. As the song reminds us, “The sun’ll come out tomorrow.”

Taylor Bojmelgrin

Teacher

Taylor joined the Oxford Learning team in the spring of 2015.

She brings with her a wealth of experience gained from teaching across grades, from kindergarten to GED, at varied locations in Ontario, Quebec, and Scotland. 

Taylor’s undergraduate degree is in Honours History from Western University, and her teaching degree was earned at the Moray House School of Education at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. 

Coming from a completely Anglophone family in London, Ontario, Taylor studied French intensively through elementary, high school, and university, and moved to Quebec for a year to immerse herself and hone her skills. Her hard work and dedication resulted in a permanent elementary school teaching position with the Simcoe County District School Board (EFSL and FI). 

Outside of work, Taylor’s hobbies include swimming, travelling, spending time with her family, friends and enjoying life as a newlywed.​

Sara Savoia

Teacher

I have always envisioned myself as a teacher. I believe that teaching is the most rewarding profession, as it encourages learning, creativity, and positive development for children.

I am a graduate from Laurentian University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts and Indigenous Studies, as well as, a Bachelor of Education. I am an Ontario Certified Teacher with qualifications in K –12 and teachables in Theatre Arts, Indigenous Studies, Special Education, and Mathematics.

Over the years, I have been privileged to work in various teacher roles. In 2012, I began working as an Emergency Supply Teacher, Supply Educational Assistant, and Supply Early Childhood Educator with YCDSB and SCDSB. In addition, I began teaching art lessons – such as drama, dance, and visual arts – in all types of after-school programs. In 2013, I began tutoring for Sudbury’s Learning Disabilities Center. It was then that I found my passion for teaching students outside of the classroom setting.

Today, I continue to practice my passion for teaching students outside of the classroom setting with Oxford Learning Centers. Oxford Learning does not only focus on the education of their students, but they also focus on enhancing one’s reasoning, critical thinking, and cognitive awareness. Through a customized learning program, Oxford Learning is guaranteed to meet the unique needs of your child. I am so thankful and honoured to be working with such an inclusive, positive, and motivational learning center. 

As Oxford Learning’s website states, “Motivation is key to school success, and we help students find what motivates them so they are on track and looking ahead to success down the road.”

Camille McKeown

Teacher

My passion for teaching began because of my sister, Kelsey. Kelsey is diagnosed with a  mental disability. Throughout her years in school, a community was created for her that allowed her to learn in an inclusive and safe environment. My dedication to become a teacher was prompted by my desire to provide to my students the same atmosphere that teachers and Educational Assistants created for my sister.

I attended Lakehead University in Thunder Bay to obtain my Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees. I studied to become a teacher of the intermediate and senior divisions. After completing a teaching placement in a younger division, I decided to acquire the qualifications to teach the primary and junior divisions as well. Moving to Thunder Bay was a great experience, being able to see the vast landscape that Northern Ontario has to offer was an opportunity to spend time outdoors. Living in this part of Ontario allowed me to gain a new interest in hiking.   

After Teacher’s College, I decided to move to England to teach. In England, I taught a Year 5 class. At this time, my interests changed to focusing on junior division classes and creating a safe and inclusive environment. I developed a curiosity for mathematics, specifically number awareness and place value. Another interest I developed was working on building children’s vocabulary, particularly in encouraging children to become excited and enthusiastic about reading.  

As a child, I attended Oxford Learning. I was an Oxford Learning student all through my primary years. Now, as I start my journey as a teacher at this learning centre, I look forward to using the Oxford Learning methodology to help students find success just as I did. I am excited to be a part of a fun, yet rewarding system that changes students’ lives for the better.

Erin Spicer

Teacher

For as long as I can remember, I have always had a huge passion for math and science. From early high school onwards, I offered to help those around me and tutored anyone from grades 5 to 12.

I graduated from Lakehead University with my Honours Bachelor of Science with a double major in biology and chemistry, and was a first class standing graduate. After university, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to the United Kingdom and become a math teaching assistant for a Catholic school in Northampton.

During my time at this school, I worked with students with many learning disabilities, including dyslexia, dyscalculia, autism and behavioural issues. I worked with students both one-to-one and/or in small groups during or after school. I have also had the privilege of working with a very highly experienced and creative staff, which I believe has helped me develop a new range of skills to help further my teaching abilities.

I personally understand the benefits of hard work and the importance in finding an individual passion for learning, and I am committed to helping each student I work with to attain theirs, all with a smile!