Our Team

Our Director

Kelly Farrell, B.A.H., OCT

Kelly Farrell, B.A.H., OCT

Founder & Executive Director

Kelly Farrell is the Founder and Director of Oak Learners circa 2016. She is dedicated to supporting learners of all ages and abilities reach their goals and love the learning journey. Kelly’s philosophy of education is based in the understanding that every child has the capacity to excel and succeed when they are given the tools and taught the skills to help them on their journey.

Kelly is an OCT Certified teacher and has worked in classrooms and alternative learning environments since 1996 and as a certified teacher since 2004, working with students from Kindergarten through Grade 12. Kelly has a passion for empowering students to develop confidence through building on their strengths to support their difficulties, particularly those with learning exceptionalities, including Learning Differences, ASD, social emotional needs, and anxiety.  Kelly subscribes to the tenants of Montessori, Reggio-Emilia and Constructivist methods of teaching and is always looking for ways to bring these strategies into the 21st Century through technology and environmental education. 

Throughout her teaching careers, Kelly has been teaching, leading, and connecting students and staff with a global community of educators leading the way in 21st century personalized learning. In 2014, Kelly was awarded “Project of the Year” at the Water Docs @School Film Festival for her Inquiry-Based Learning project, “Kids Against Road Salt“.  This project has been used to train new teachers on the benefits and processes behind inquiry-based learning. Kelly’s teaching was also featured in Owl Magazine on the “Cool School” page in  2014 for a unique publishing project undertaken by her Grade 7/8 class that year.

Kelly has also founded Teach Me Social in 2012, a social media marketing agency and training organization which continues to empower entrepreneurs to brand themselves online and share their messages through social media. Her experience in business and educational leadership lends Kelly a unique approach to technology training. She offers business owners a different perspective on technology, gaining participation in her sessions by energizing participants and inspiring them to dive into the Social Media world whilst also providing valuable skills, tips and strategies they can use to construct their online presence at their own pace.

Our Administrative Team

Jenn St. Denis

Jenn St. Denis

Admissions Director

Jennifer joined the Oak Learner’s team in January 2020. Her inviting energy and infectious enthusiasm make her the perfect guide to help parents ascertain whether or not Oak Learners Micro school is the perfect choice for their family. With over 30 years working with children and English as her second language, due to her French Canadian roots, she sincerely understands that one-size-fits-all teaching simply put; doesn’t cut it.

Whether your child is a kinesthetic, visual, or auditory learner, Jennifer is able to relate with you and your search for a new school. After all, who better to champion personalized teaching/learning than someone who is an ADHD warrior? She instinctively connects to the prescribed notion that every student shines brightest when afforded the right set of circumstances to learn at their own pace in their own individual way.

Our Day School Staff

Karen Stern, OCT

Karen Stern, OCT

Teacher

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, OCT

Meriam Rekkas, OCT

Teacher

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 Schatz OCT, M.Ed., B.Ed., B.E.C.S (Hons.)

Audrey Schatz OCT, M.Ed., B.Ed., B.E.C.S (Hons.)

Teacher

Audrey is very excited to be joining the Oak Learners team as a private tutor! Although she is a recent hire, she’s quite familiar with supporting students one-on-one with their academic and social-emotional development. She has worked with primary students of all ages, ranging from 4 to 12, in different learning environments. She has worked as an independent private tutor for the past five years. She also holds experience working with university undergraduate students!

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.

Our Child Specialists & Support Team

Daniela Urbina, BA

Daniela Urbina, BA

BASE Camp & Resource Coordinator

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.

Anayah Helwani

Anayah Helwani

Anayah Helwani was born into a large, close knit family, Anayah has always understood the value of support, love, and togetherness. Growing up in a home with multiple siblings, she quickly learned how to balancing different personalities and responsibilities, often stepping into a leadership role when needed. Her nurturing nature being an attentive listener and ability to stay calm under pressure made her an excellent fit for what Oak learners is about.

Anayah showed an interest in working with children. She’s volunteered at local organizations, where she had the opportunity to work with mentally challenged kids. Her compassionate and patient demeanor helped her form deep connections with these children, and she quickly became skilled in adapting her approach to meet their unique needs in a fun and creative way. Anayah’s experience taught her how to effectively communicate, manage behaviors, and create an environment where children feel safe, respected, and valued.

Anna Kaczorowski

Anna Kaczorowski

Child Specialist

Our BASE Camp Team

Daniela Urbina, BA

Daniela Urbina, BA

BASE Camp & Resource Coordinator

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

Katherine Nerima

BASE Camp Facilitator

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 Sunderdas

Cassandra Sunderdas

B.A.S.E. Camp Facilitator

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.

Rowyn Fay

Rowyn Fay

Program Facilitator

Rowyn is passionate about Art and design. She has been working with Oak Learners since 2015, behind the scenes as a website designer, office administrator and IT Support. In 2022, Rowyn joined the BASE Camp team to share her love of Art and Nature with our students. In her spare time, Rowyn can be found walking by the lake, photographing nature and writing poetry.

Our Tutoring Team

Aaron De Melo

Extra-curricular Programming Coordinator

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.

Audrey Schatz OCT, M.Ed., B.Ed., B.E.C.S (Hons.)

Primary/Junior/Intermediate Literacy and Numeracy Tutor

Audrey is very excited to be joining the Oak Learners team as a private tutor! Although she is a recent hire, she’s quite familiar with supporting students one-on-one with their academic and social-emotional development. She has worked with primary students of all ages, ranging from 4 to 12, in different learning environments. She has worked as an independent private tutor for the past five years. She also holds experience working with university undergraduate students!

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.

Katie Hartford, B.Sc.H., M.B.A.

Senior-Level Math & Science Tutor

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.

Cassandra Sunderdas

Tutor

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.

Rana Kuan, OCT

Primary/Junior/Intermediate Literacy and Numeracy Tutor

Rana is an OCT certified teacher with years of international teaching experience. She recently completed her M.Ed in Curriculum and Pedagogy at the University of Toronto, focusing on innovative teaching strategies and differentiated instruction. Before that, Rana obtained her B.Ed and spent six years teaching elementary students in Macau. She has worked with kids from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, always adapting her teaching to meet their unique needs. She believes that every child has their own needs and talents, and she is dedicated to helping them thrive through patience, empathy, and creativity.

Outside the classroom, Rana loves reading, cooking, hiking, photography, and traveling. She enjoys exploring new places, experiencing different cultures, and continuously learning—just like her students!

Our Music Faculty

Aaron De Melo

Extra-curricular Programming Coordinator

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

Music Instructor - Piano, Voice, Percussion

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

Music Instructor - Voice, Piano, Guitar, and Ukulele

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.

Adam Houle

Music Instructor - Drums, Piano

Adam has been a member of the Oak Learners staff since 2021. Adam is a professional drummer/percussionist with a strong passion for music and teaching, He has over 11 years of playing experience in multiple styles (Rock, Funk, Jazz, Latin etc.) and have been teaching music for 7 years. Adam believes a great teacher is one who can assess not only a student's current musical ability, but determine what style of learning the student thrives in. He is passionate about helping his students develop their individuality as artists.  He holds a Bachelor of Music from Humber College as well as a degree in Broadcasting & TV production!

In his free time, Adam continues to practice his own musical skills and has impressed many other Oak Staff with his amazing covers!

Read the Staff Spotlight on Adam HERE.

Our Pets

Cookie

Cookie

Bearded Dragon

Our lovely lizard friend is an almost one year old bearded dragon. He loves to eat spinach, cucumber, pear, blueberries, dandelions, crickets, meal and super worms, and more! He enjoys wearing his harness and hang out on Rowyn or sitting beside her while she works. In his spare time he sleeps.

Butterflies

Butterflies

Swallowtail and Monarch

Each summer Kelly finds Monarch butterfly eggs. She brings them to the school where the students get to watch them hatch, grow, and change before they are tagged and released. You can read more about this here: Raising Monarch Butterflies with Children

In 2025 we also raised Swallowtail Butterflies.

Oak Learners Top Award Choice 2023

2023 Top Choice Awards: Best Private School In Etobicoke

Oak Learners was voted Best Private School In Etobicoke in the 2023 Top Choice Awards.

Partner Showcase: A New Take on Outdoor Education with Larchwood Nature OT Programming

At Larchwood Nature OT we are developing courage, confidence, coordination and deep care for our precious environment in all of our clients. Nature offers many opportunities for supporting development of the mind, muscles, senses, and emotions.

Seneca College Partner Feature

Partner Showcase – Seneca College Internship with Oak Learners

The concept of teaching and learning matching is that it impacts learning in a way that encourages students to respond more positively to instructional methods while informing faculty about effective teaching practices. This encourages collaboration between the teacher and student which in turn reduces classroom management issues.

Recent research has shown that it is not as effective for a teacher to change their teaching preferences to suit the students in their classroom because they may not be as comfortable teaching in that manner.

Teacher Interview

Oak Learners Classroom Teacher Interview #2 – Emma van der Jagt

The concept of teaching and learning matching is that it impacts learning in a way that encourages students to respond more positively to instructional methods while informing faculty about effective teaching practices. This encourages collaboration between the teacher and student which in turn reduces classroom management issues.

Recent research has shown that it is not as effective for a teacher to change their teaching preferences to suit the students in their classroom because they may not be as comfortable teaching in that manner.

Humber College Partner Showcase

Partner Showcase: Humber College

Oak Learners has teamed up with Humber College and various other colleges to gather talented students across Canada to work inside the school. We interviewed one intern student from Humber College that joined the Oak Learners team, Joshua, to speak more on what they have learned whilst working with Oak Learners, how their experience went, how Humber College saw the experience, and what takeaways they have from the internship with Oak Learners.

Partner Showcase: Humber College Placement Student

Oak Learners has teamed up with Humber College and various other colleges to gather talented students from across Canada to work inside the school. Nick started at Oak Learners in the summer of 2022 as a placement student on the administration team. Nick shared what he has learned from working at Oak Learners and what takeaways he has from the placement.

Shifting Families from Chaos to Calm

Partner Showcase: Shifting Families from Chaos to Calm

The Secret Tool that Can Instantly Shift Families from Chaos to Calm (and for some reason, nobody seems to ever talk about it) “Did you brush your teeth?” “Don’t forget to pack your gym clothes.” No TV right now, hurry up and eat your cereal.” “Did you put your trip...

Partner Showcase: Make Music Magical with Little Rebels and Oak Learners

If there’s one thing we love, it’s educational spaces that are totally aligned. The Little Rebels mandate and vision line up magically with the Oak Learners vision to inspire creativity, foster technique and encourage confidence.

Spotlight on our amazing music teacher, Adam!

At Oak Learners, we are fortunate enough to have professional musicians on our team, and this time we are spotlighting our drum/percussion/piano teacher, Adam! When he is not touring or gigging around the city, Adam can be found teaching at both the RY and LS locations!