St. Thomas
Tutoring

Jennifer Weldrick

Owner / Centre Director

Hello! My name is Jen, and I’m the proud owner and Centre Director at Oxford Learning St. Thomas.

I grew up in London, Ontario, and completed my Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education at Western University. I started working at the centre as a Beyond Tutoring teacher in 2009.

Initially, I had my sights set on becoming a classroom teacher and even worked as an occasional teacher for TVDSB for several years. As I worked at Oxford Learning in various roles, I learned more about the Oxford Learning Difference and quickly fell in love with Oxford Learning’s philosophy and programs! I realized that my dream job was right in front of me and I purchased the St. Thomas location in 2015.

I consider myself incredibly fortunate to love what I do so much. I am passionate about helping children learn and leading them to recognize their own potential. Watching our students’ self-confidence grow alongside their academic ability is so rewarding!

In my spare time, I love to spend time with my husband and our two cats, Link and Little Mac. I also love to read, bake, and drink coffee!

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing” - Pele

Kathy Naylor

Education Director

Hello! My name is Kathy, and I am the Education Director at Oxford Learning St. Thomas.

Being involved in the nurturing and education of children has been my passion for many years. My sights were set on a teaching career when I graduated from Western University with first a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts major) and then a Bachelor of Education. I taught in a collection of private school classrooms before I became a staff member here at Oxford Learning.

My husband and I are parents to four children and were also foster parents for a decade. Most recently, we have been thrilled with the addition of three beautiful granddaughters to our family. Spending time with our special gang is both a priority and a joy in our lives. My husband and I share a love for the education of children. He was also a teacher and then spent a number of years as an elementary school principal before he retired. We work together in Children’s Ministry leadership and teaching at our church in London.

In my spare time I love walking, sewing, drawing, craft-making and reading. My husband and I are theatre fans - stage and screen - and we very much enjoy visiting various restaurants.

Being part of the team at our Oxford Learning Centre allows me to continue to pour into young lives. Playing a part in changing those lives by building learning skills and confidence is a fabulously gratifying experience. I am proud to teach the Oxford Learning Way—it is an amazing program that really works!

“Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practising patience and being persistent.” -Billy Graham

Megan Griffith

Education Coordinator in Training, Advantage / En Francais / Beyond Tutoring Teacher

Salut! My name is Megan and I have been working at Oxford Learning for several years now. I graduated from the concurrent education program at Wilfrid Laurier University with a double major in psychology and contemporary studies. I have a minor in French with the help of Université Sainte-Anne in Nova Scotia. I also have part one of a teaching specialization in French. I am currently taking a refresher course online in high school physics.

I worked as an occasional teacher for a year before getting a position teaching core French at Forest Park P.S. in St. Thomas. I was in that role for several years before an unfortunate medical situation meant I had to give up teaching in a classroom. Oxford Learning gave me back my passion; allowing me to teach once again. French is my first love but while at Oxford Learning, I have discovered how wonderful and challenging it is to teach math and science. I like the many different ways to teach math and I get excited when I am able to reach those students for whom traditional methods have failed.

I am the proud fur-mom to one kitty and two pups. I have a (tiny) home business creating and selling quilts. I love all things related to Harry Potter. I am always trying to learn new things and take on challenges.

“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be” -Albus Dumbledore

Julie Atkinson

Advantage / En Francais / Beyond Tutoring Teacher

Hello! My name is Julie, and I have been a teacher at Oxford Learning since 2014.

I received my Bachelor of Science with a Major in Chemistry and a Minor in Biochemistry from the University of Ottawa and my Bachelor of Education with additional qualifications in French and Special Education from Western University.

I am a mom to (soon to be four) children. I have three girls and a boy expected soon! I also have a dog named Zoey and a cat named Ryder. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, spending time with my family, drinking coffee, and camping!

“If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn” - Ignacio Estrada

Shelby Stevens

Beyond Tutoring Teacher

Hi! My name is Shelby. I am an Oxford Learning teacher and supply teacher for the Thames Valley District School Board. I graduated from Laurentian University in 2015 with Bachelors degrees in Arts and Education. After graduating, I left my hometown of Dorchester and taught English for a year in South Korea. Teaching English in rural Korea was an amazing experience that helped me become a more patient, creative, and confident teacher.

After I returned home in the fall of 2016, I became an Oxford Learning teacher! I love working at Oxford Learning St. Thomas because it gives me the opportunity to work with amazing children and co-workers. I love having small class sizes because it allows me to get to know my students better individually and to determine what learning strategies work best for them.

In my free time, I enjoy reading, spending time with my friends and family, and playing with my pets. I also love traveling because it teaches me about the world and allows me to experience how other people live.

“Students don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care!” -anonymous

Jamie Burge

Beyond Tutoring Teacher

Hello! My name is Jamie. I graduated from the concurrent program at Wilfrid Laurier University and Nipissing University in 2017.

I have worked at Oxford Learning St. Thomas since July 2017 and I love it! Besides working at Oxford Learning, I am also a substitute teacher with the Thames Valley District School Board working with students from kindergarten to grade 8. I have found that being a substitute teacher has helped me tremendously at Oxford Learning because I am able to go into so many different schools and meet so many different students. Because of this, I teach some students at Oxford Learning in their actual classrooms at school and can make connections to their learning more easily.

I absolutely love working at Oxford Learning St. Thomas! I find that the small class sizes really help me get to know the students I teach. I am able to work with the same students most of the time, which allows me to see their progress first hand. My favourite thing about working at Oxford Learning is to see students succeed in areas that they had difficulties in before. The atmosphere at Oxford Learning is so friendly and so welcoming that students are able to achieve anything they set their mind to!

In my free time, I love to crochet, read, and play with my cat, Ember.

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” -Mahatma Gandhi

Melissa Legg

Beyond Tutoring / Advantage Teacher

Hi! My name is Melissa and I have been working with Oxford Learning since May 2018.

I graduated from Lakehead University in 2018 with a degree in History and Education. I love coming to work at Oxford Learning! The team of teachers here are extremely passionate and caring. One of my favourite parts of this job is being able to get to know each of the students and working one on one with them.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me I remember. Involve me and I learn.” -Benjamin Franklin

Debbie Fischer

Jill of All Trades

Hi! My name is Debbie, and I do a little bit of everything around Oxford Learning St. Thomas! Most often, you’ll find me keeping the centre sparkling clean and organized. I also volunteer my time to help out with various events and Oxford Learning St. Thomas activities. Everyone at the centre knows me as “Jen’s Mom!”

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family - especially my grandchildren! I also enjoy snuggling with my two kittens, C.J. and Dusty.

“No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.” -Tony Robbins