Karen is an OCT certified teacher and Expressive Art therapist with twenty years of experience supporting children who have learning disabilities and social/emotional challenges. Her teaching pedagogy is student led and inquiry based, informed by creativity, collaboration, and play. Karen joined the Oak Learners team in 2023 and is excited to be a part of the team!

Outside of work, Karen enjoys being surrounded by nature, taking canoe trips in the summer, baking, knitting, reading, and spending as much time as possible with her new nieces and nephews.

Meriam Rekkas is an OCT certified teacher and a new member of the Oak Learners team. She has a passion for art and loves to bring her artistic creativity to the classroom. Her teaching philosophy involves a hands-on, student-led approach that adapts to the unique needs and skills of each individual, unique child.

Meriam’s hope is to inspire children to embrace their creativity and individuality as they learn and grow each day!

Audrey has been part of the Oak Learners team for over a year. She now leads our Preschool Enrichment program, where she fosters curiosity, independence, and early learning through play-based, inquiry-driven activities.

In addition to her work with our youngest learners, Audrey also supports Primary, Junior, and Intermediate students in literacy and numeracy development. With over five years of experience as an independent private tutor, she’s skilled at tailoring academic and social-emotional support to meet each student’s unique needs.

A growth mindset, a positive student-teacher relationship, and a strength-based approach are the three major ingredients Audrey holds in her teaching approach. She believes meaningful learning can only happen in environments where students feel confident and safe enough to express their ideas, take risks, and make mistakes. It is her responsibility to provide such an environment.

She holds a: Master of Education and a Bachelor of Education from Brock University, and a (Hons.) Bachelor in ECS. She’s also a member of the Ontario College of Teachers.

When she isn’t working, Audrey loves engaging in small creative projects! She loves walking her dog, solving puzzles, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Daniela has been a member of the Oak Learners staff since 2022. She grew up in Colombia; she is a Psychologist from La Sabana University. She also took Homeschooling and Child Neurodevelopment, Neuroeducation and Neuropsychology courses at Ceenford and a study at the Queensland University of Technology about Inclusive Education: Essential knowledge for success. She co-founded a non-profit foundation, where she developed and implemented some social impact projects, gave speeches, and created dynamic activities. She has experience working with kids between 15 months to 15 years old.

She loves cycling, being active, learning daily, reading books and accepting new challenges. She believes the learning process should be fun and dynamic and that the student needs to know how to apply the knowledge to their lives. Teaching is her passion, and she tries to transmit this love to her students.

Katherine Nerima is joining Oak Learners in 2024 as a camp counsellor. Having worked in camps and daycare’s for going on six years she is excited to bring her knowledge and experience to the Oak Learners space. With a passion for fashion, arts, sports and film she is excited to bring new meaning and fun to these categories in camp. To Katherine, the early years of youth set the foundation to who they become and how they get there is nothing more rewarding then taking part in the building blocks to their success!

Cassandra holds a Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology where she focused her learning on child and youth development, along with over 15 years of direct experience working with children and youth in a variety of different settings. It has provided her with a strong understanding of how students learn and the different ways they may need support, how to connect with learners on an individual level and tailor lessons to their unique needs, learning styles, and goals.

In addition to her psychology training, Cassandra has a strong foundation in Math and Science and extensive teaching and tutoring experience across both elementary and high school levels. She is very familiar with the Ontario curriculum and has taught from Kindergarten all the way up to Grade 12! She has taught at prior private high schools curating lesson plans, teaching materials and all assessments for the senior level math and science courses including Biology and Chemistry. Her subject knowledge allows her to support students not only with course content, but also with developing problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and confidence in their abilities.

Cassandra believes that effective tutoring is more than just reviewing material — it’s about helping students build motivation, resilience, and strategies they can carry into every subject. Her teaching style is patient, supportive, and adaptable, and she strives to create an encouraging environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and working through challenges.

Cassandra’s goal as a tutor is to help students reach their academic potential while also developing a genuine confidence and enjoyment in learning.

Aaron has been a teacher in the private sector for almost 10 years, specializing in teaching students with exceptionalities, particularly those with ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. He has worked with children of all ages, ranging from 4 to 16. Aaron has delivered a number of programs aligned to both the Science of Reading and Structured Inquiry approaches throughout his teaching practice, including: the Orton-Gillingham Approach, Direct Instruction, and JUMP Math. He embarked on a professional singing career after high school, studying at The Royal Conservatory of Music for a short time before deciding to pursue a career in education while still singing and making music out of pure love and joy. As an undergraduate, Aaron attended McMaster University, University of Toronto, Queen's University, and University of Waterloo, where he received a bachelor's degree in liberal studies. Aaron also received a certificate from the Institute for Orton-Gillingham Educators. When he is not busy working, he enjoys reading, being in nature, getting involved in community outreach, and spending time with family and friends. Aaron has been a member of the Oak Learners team since September 2023.

Karen is an English and French tutor, as well as a singer and guitarist passionate about fostering creativity, confidence, and curiosity in every learner. Recently graduated from the University of Toronto, she majored in Diaspora and Transnational Studies, where she explored how culture, identity, and creativity shape the way we communicate and connect. Karen has experience co-facilitating Theory of Knowledge (TOK) classes for the International Baccalaureate program at Toronto French School, where she discovered the joy of guiding students to think critically and engage deeply with ideas. At Oak Learners, Karen brings her interdisciplinary background and love of the arts to create an inclusive, student-driven learning environment. Whether teaching English, French, or music, she encourages her students to explore their voices—literally and figuratively—and to approach learning with curiosity and confidence.

Katie has been a member of the Oak Learners staff since 2020. Katie has an Honours Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics from McMaster University and an MBA at the DeGroote School of Business. She has always had a passion for Math and the Sciences and loves having the opportunity to pass that passion on to others while helping them to find success. She has always loved teaching and has been a strong member of the Oak Learners team since our inception in 2017.

When she isn't working, Katie loves being active, rock climbing and running regularly, and playing tennis and hockey when the weather allows. She also loves curling up with a good book and spending time with her family and friends.

Hana McLeod is a newly licensed Ontario Certified Teacher with a passion for inclusive, student-led learning. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Education from the Schulich School of Education at Nipissing University. Before entering her teacher training program, Hana worked as a Montessori Classroom Assistant, where she cultivated her commitment to child-centered education. During her time as a teacher candidate, she completed two summer terms with the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), gaining valuable experience in educational assessment and policy. Hana is dedicated to creating equitable learning environments that empower all students to thrive.

Aaron has been a teacher in the private sector for almost 10 years, specializing in teaching students with exceptionalities, particularly those with ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. He has worked with children of all ages, ranging from 4 to 16. Aaron has delivered a number of programs aligned to both the Science of Reading and Structured Inquiry approaches throughout his teaching practice, including: the Orton-Gillingham Approach, Direct Instruction, and JUMP Math. He embarked on a professional singing career after high school, studying at The Royal Conservatory of Music for a short time before deciding to pursue a career in education while still singing and making music out of pure love and joy. As an undergraduate, Aaron attended McMaster University, University of Toronto, Queen's University, and University of Waterloo, where he received a bachelor's degree in liberal studies. Aaron also received a certificate from the Institute for Orton-Gillingham Educators. When he is not busy working, he enjoys reading, being in nature, getting involved in community outreach, and spending time with family and friends. Aaron has been a member of the Oak Learners team since September 2023.

Celine Tchang (she/her) is a Toronto-based musician and educator known for enhancing student engagement and learning through innovative lesson plans. Having previously worked as a Music Coach at Humber College’s Community Music School, Celine has crafted age-specific routines and interactive lessons that captivated all ages. By integrating physical activities to boost focus and aligning lessons with Ontario Curriculum guidelines, she has empowered students to transcribe rhythms and pitches, create, perform, and reflect on their musical experiences.

She actively performs as a trombonist in various ensembles such as jazz orchestras, concert bands, symphonic orchestras, and jazz combos. She has also acted as a recording engineer and mixing engineer on multiple projects.

Jessica Spurrell is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and classically trained pianist. She has experience as both a private and group music educator, and takes pride in creating a safe and engaging learning environment for students to explore. Jessica has also worked with visually impaired students, developing accessible learning strategies for music and music technology. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Humber Polytechnic, and is a recipient of SOCAN Foundation’s Young Canadian Songwriters Award.