We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
At Oak Learners, our mandate includes helping all learners reach their potential through creativity, confidence and community. This mandate goes beyond what we do for our students and includes supporting new teachers, interns and youth on their path to success.
Since its inception, Oak Learners has consistently provided opportunities for students and interns to work alongside experienced professionals to develop new skills and expand their learning opportunities. In addition to providing work experience and mentorship, Oak Learners has also invested in professional development courses and certifications for our teachers and staff. In the past year, our teachers have participated in courses through the Red Cross, Learning Without Tears, the National Institute for Learning Development, and more. Several of our teachers have also been working towards Postgraduate Degrees and their experiences at Oak learners have formed a foundation of experiential learning to augment the theory they were learning in class.
This summer, Oak Learners was honoured to receive the Canada Summer Jobs Grant from the Government of Canada in order to employ 2 amazing students to support our camp programming. This was a huge step for Oak Learners towards supporting our continuous professional development plans as well as a fantastic opportunity to bring new energy and excitement into our programming. We are grateful for the support of our local community and elected representatives as we continue to strive to bring more opportunities for personalized learning to our students.
Meet our Staff in their own Words
Emma Vella
Emma has been working as a Camp Counselor at Oak Learners since 2016. She graduated with Honours from Father John Redmond with an Arts Diploma in Drama. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of Western Ontario with an interest in International Development. Her work with children has solidified her passion to make a difference in the world and we are so excited to see what this amazing young woman accomplishes in the coming years!
Reflecting on her experiences at Oak Learners, Emma shared that she valued the importance of teamwork and communication. “As a result of working at Oak Learners, I have learned how to effectively work and communicate with people whether it be with the children, their parents or my fellow co-workers. As an employee here, you truly understand the importance of communication, which is pivotal to any career path.”
Lucia Mormille
This was Lucia’s first summer at Oak Learners. A local Mimico resident, Lucia was familiar with the needs of our families and the unique opportunity that Oak Learners offers. She is working towards completing her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Toronto and hopes to pursue a Masters of Education in the coming years. We are thrilled to have added Lucia to our summer camp and tutoring team at Oak Learners and are looking forward to supporting her journey in education.
In her own words, Lucia reflected that, “Oak learners has given me the opportunity to gain experience working within a teaching environment. In addition to the welcoming atmosphere, Oak learners has helped me achieve new skills that will support me in my future studies, where I aim to graduate with my Masters in Teaching. Upon entering an inclusive educational space, I have been able to network with other educators and be introduced to progressive teaching strategies.”
Teresa Mormille, H.BA, M.Ed., OCT
Teresa has worked as an educator at Oak Learners since 2017 and in other diverse educational settings since 2014; teaching children from Kindergarten through Grade 12. Teresa graduated from her Honours Bachelor Of Arts at the University of Toronto in 2016, double majoring in English and Social Sciences. A recent graduate from the Masters of Education program at OISE in 2018, specializing in the Intermediate/ Senior divisions, Teresa understands that every child learns differently and she enjoys personalizing her lessons to keep her students progressing and confident. Her research focused on curriculum support in Toronto high-schools for students who have experienced grief trauma.
When asked about how Oak Learners supported her journey as an educator, she stated, “I was able to apply my theoretical knowledge from my master’s program in supporting diverse learners, and work closely with a team of individuals with interdisciplinary knowledge. Oak Learner’s holistic approach aligned with my master’s research, in fully supporting diverse learners. Oak Learners is where I was able to fully put my theoretical knowledge into practice, and further my inquiry in the teaching and learning relationship.”
Kelly Farrell is the Founder and Director of Oak Learners. 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.