Teachers - COA Coastudy - Canada Online AcademyCOA Coastudy

Name	Biography
Vanessa Persaud	Vanessa has a passion for education and culture. She has taught at Ontario schools in Canada, Malaysia and China for the past seven years and enjoys working with students from around the world. For her undergraduate degree, she majored in computer science and cognitive science at the University of Toronto at Scarborough. Her education degree from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education at the University of Toronto qualifies her to teach high school computer science, English, and mathematics. Vanessa obtained her Master of Education in Curriculum Design from the University of Windsor, focusing on interdisciplinary studies. She believes in the inter-connectivity of knowledge and its ability to change lives.
Zulfiqar Khoja	Zulfiqar has been an educator for over 4 years and studied Business from University of Toronto, University of Guelph and Humber College. Zulfiqar has experience teaching Business and Accounting courses. As society and technology is always changing, Zulfiqar portrays best interest for his students based on the subject and develops new ideas to make the future a better place for his students. Moreover, Zulfiqar’s courses are focused around promoting teamwork & relationship building, because he believes to become successful within the global sphere, it is beneficial to work collectively. Zulfiqar develops and maintains a strong rapport with his students to achieve better student learning. Also, he recognizes that it is essential for students to acquire an enduring love for knowledge and a desire for excellence in the world-class education to become successful in school and practical life.
Sonya Thadikaran	Sonya Thadikaran has been teaching Science and Math for the past 5 years in various Ontario high schools. She has her Masters in Chemistry, a Bachelors of Education, an International Baccalaureate (IB) certificate in the Middle Years Program (MYP) from Bethel University and she is certified at the Junior, Intermediate and Senior science levels by the Ontario College of Teachers. Sonya is presently teaching Chemistry, Math and Sciences to students from Grades 9 till 12 in an Ontario based private school. She enjoys making complex topics in Math and Science approachable and interesting to her classes. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, swimming, tasting exotic food and talking to teenagers!
Soraya Mehraban	Soraya has been teaching for five years, specializing in English and ESL courses. Soraya completed her Honours Bachelor of Art at the University of Toronto, majoring in English and minoring in History and Philosophy. Then Soraya studied at York University, where she received her Bachelor of Education in 2010. It was Soraya’s dream since childhood to be a high school teacher and she found herself lucky to be passionate about her teaching career.
Olivia Coady	Olivia has been a full time teacher for the past three years. She spent one year teaching overseas in the United Kingdom as a year three teacher after gaining her teaching credentials and training at the University of Ottawa and Laurentian University. She currently works as a high school teacher in a private academy where her main focus is on English literature in addition to nutrition, business, and psychology. Along with a passion for education, Olivia is an amateur boxer with Boxing Ontario and enjoys being active in many different sports. She also enjoys traveling to new places, learning through reading and talking with others, and a great cup of coffee!
Denise George	Denise has been in education for over 10 years. She has taught outdoor education, has been a teacher in the classroom, and has also developed and taught courses online for various schools. Denise graduated from Nipissing University with her Bachelor of Education after completing her BA at the Universities of McMaster and Waterloo. Her education includes a focus on both Physical Education and Social Sciences as she thoroughly enjoys learning about the world around her and sharing ideas on how to live a healthy, active life. Denise has a passion for helping others reach their potential and become the best version of themselves through setting and reaching their goals. She is currently living north of the Toronto and enjoys writing and teaching online courses while raising her family.
Alessandra Stalteri	Alessandra is a certified OCT teacher who graduated from Niagara University. She earned her Bachelor’s of Arts degree at Ryerson University, specializing in English Studies and Social Sciences. Her qualifications also include teaching Junior, Intermediate, Senior students as well as Special Education. Alessandra’s teaching philosophy focuses on finding unique ways to allow students to connect learning to their everyday lives in order to understand the academic and social relationships of such topics. She focuses on student growth and success through an innovative, safe and inclusive learning environment. Student success is promoted through self-motivation, creativity and 21st century technology based learning to ensure preparation for the fast-paced, ever-changing, modern world. Outside of the classroom, Alessandra enjoys the arts, and danced competitively for 10 years. Since then, she has expanded her love of education to dance studios and theatre auditoriums. Educating children and adults in the fine arts is important to her as she believes that learning not only happens inside the mind, but also through the body. Alessandra’s other hobbies include cake decorating, scrap booking, and playing tennis.
George Doukas	George Doukas has been teaching for the past 5 years. He completed his studies in Business and Society, with focuses in Geography and Macroeconomics, from York University and obtained his Bachelor of Education from Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. George has experience teaching from grade 4 to 12 and has obtained credentials to teach at all levels, but his focus is at the intermediate and senior levels. Outside of teaching, George coaches youth competitive soccer and also obtained his community coaching certificates from the Ontario Soccer Association.
Levon Sarmazian	Levon Sarmazian is an Ontario Certified Teacher who has always had a passion for business and education. He attended Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, for his undergraduate degree – majoring in Economics and Business Management, with a minor in Political Science. Levon then continued his education by attending York University in Toronto, Ontario, where he received his Bachelor of Education, to specialize in teaching high school business studies and politics courses. When not teaching, Levon manages the retail division of his family’s company all while spending a great deal of time volunteering for various non-profit organizations within his community. Levon appreciates the individual differences among all students and works toward developing a positive learning environment for all types of learners. In all the work that he does, Levon holds a high importance in preparing youth to be respectful, successful, knowledgeable and responsible members of society.
Samantha Darrach	Samantha is an Ontario Certified Teacher with Geography and History as her teachable subjects. In her spare time, she’s often playing board games and video games. She also loves to go on Ontarian vehicles through the woods while watching birds and animals. Samantha’s favorite quote is from Dr . Seuss “you have brains in your head. Feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.”
Kelda Wells	A graduate of the University of Toronto, at the age of 22 Kelda found herself working for a satellite launching company in Toronto. She worked at the smaller of Canada’s two such companies at the time, performing orbital physics calculations for the owner of the company. It was the first of many such industrial physics positions she would have throughout the next 25 years. Kelda went from her foray into rocket science straight into her Master’s degree at the State University of New York at Potsdam. There she obtained a Master’s of Science in Teaching degree. Returning to Toronto, Kelda became a college professor at the age of 24. During her eight years at George Brown College in Toronto, she educated over a thousand students in the subjects of physics and mathematics in the Electronics Department of the college. Her next position found her as the Chairperson of the Department of Mathematics at a private secondary school in Toronto where she also taught physics courses. During her ten years at this school, Kelda ran a robotics club which competed in the National Canadian Robot Games at the Ontario Science Centre’s annual competition. Kelda’s next move was an unexpected one: she authored her first novel, *The Whole Story*. Published by Page Publishing Inc. In New York City, this original science fiction novel of 2013 took Kelda in a new direction, with an international book tour. She now creates physics and mathematics e-courses, continuing to promote her novel.
Justin Black	Justin grew up in Toronto, Ontario, but his background is Jamaica. He has always loved sports an exercise. Justin played a variety of sports growing up including basketball, soccer, and baseball. Many people in his community are teachers and thus he was inspired to be a teacher by the environment around him. Justin teaches health & physical education as well as social sciences. He hopes to have his own business one day teaching sports to kids.
Larraine Astejada	Larraine has been an Ontario certified teacher for about three years now. She graduated from York University earning her Bachelor of Science and Engineering degree, as well as a Bachelor of Education degree. Larraine’s specialties are Math and English. Growing up, Larraine has always wanted to do something that would help others and that would help make a difference in the lives of others. Fortunately, Larraine was able to witness how teachers helped shape her life and those that were closest to her. Naturally, she learned to love education and the idea of what it can do for others. Apart from teaching, Larraine loves to read, travel, shop, and spend quality time with families and friends. Larraine believes that learning mostly comes from outside of the classroom. Take in as much as we can from the people we meet and the places we visit. Every experience is a learning experience – if we let it be.

Name

Biography

Vanessa Persaud

Vanessa has a passion for education and culture. She has taught at Ontario schools in Canada, Malaysia and China for the past seven years and enjoys working with students from around the world. For her undergraduate degree, she majored in computer science and cognitive science at the University of Toronto at Scarborough. Her education degree from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education at the University of Toronto qualifies her to teach high school computer science, English, and mathematics. Vanessa obtained her Master of Education in Curriculum Design from the University of Windsor, focusing on interdisciplinary studies. She believes in the inter-connectivity of knowledge and its ability to change lives.

Zulfiqar Khoja

Zulfiqar has been an educator for over 4 years and studied Business from University of Toronto, University of Guelph and Humber College. Zulfiqar has experience teaching Business and Accounting courses. As society and technology is always changing, Zulfiqar portrays best interest for his students based on the subject and develops new ideas to make the future a better place for his students. Moreover, Zulfiqar’s courses are focused around promoting teamwork & relationship building, because he believes to become successful within the global sphere, it is beneficial to work collectively. Zulfiqar develops and maintains a strong rapport with his students to achieve better student learning. Also, he recognizes that it is essential for students to acquire an enduring love for knowledge and a desire for excellence in the world-class education to become successful in school and practical life.

Sonya Thadikaran

Sonya Thadikaran has been teaching Science and Math for the past 5 years in various Ontario high schools. She has her Masters in Chemistry, a Bachelors of Education, an International Baccalaureate (IB) certificate in the Middle Years Program (MYP) from Bethel University and she is certified at the Junior, Intermediate and Senior science levels by the Ontario College of Teachers.
Sonya is presently teaching Chemistry, Math and Sciences to students from Grades 9 till 12 in an Ontario based private school. She enjoys making complex topics in Math and Science approachable and interesting to her classes. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, swimming, tasting exotic food and talking to teenagers!

Soraya Mehraban

Soraya has been teaching for five years, specializing in English and ESL courses. Soraya completed her Honours Bachelor of Art at the University of Toronto, majoring in English and minoring in History and Philosophy. Then Soraya studied at York University, where she received her Bachelor of Education in 2010. It was Soraya’s dream since childhood to be a high school teacher and she found herself lucky to be passionate about her teaching career.

Olivia Coady

Olivia has been a full time teacher for the past three years. She spent one year teaching overseas in the United Kingdom as a year three teacher after gaining her teaching credentials and training at the University of Ottawa and Laurentian University. She currently works as a high school teacher in a private academy where her main focus is on English literature in addition to nutrition, business, and psychology.

Along with a passion for education, Olivia is an amateur boxer with Boxing Ontario and enjoys being active in many different sports. She also enjoys traveling to new places, learning through reading and talking with others, and a great cup of coffee!

Denise George

Denise has been in education for over 10 years. She has taught outdoor education, has been a teacher in the classroom, and has also developed and taught courses online for various schools. Denise graduated from Nipissing University with her Bachelor of Education after completing her BA at the Universities of McMaster and Waterloo. Her education includes a focus on both Physical Education and Social Sciences as she thoroughly enjoys learning about the world around her and sharing ideas on how to live a healthy, active life. Denise has a passion for helping others reach their potential and become the best version of themselves through setting and reaching their goals. She is currently living north of the Toronto and enjoys writing and teaching online courses while raising her family.

Alessandra Stalteri

Alessandra is a certified OCT teacher who graduated from Niagara University. She earned her Bachelor’s of Arts degree at Ryerson University, specializing in English Studies and Social Sciences. Her qualifications also include teaching Junior, Intermediate, Senior students as well as Special Education.

Alessandra’s teaching philosophy focuses on finding unique ways to allow students to connect learning to their everyday lives in order to understand the academic and social relationships of such topics. She focuses on student growth and success through an innovative, safe and inclusive learning environment. Student success is promoted through self-motivation, creativity and 21st century technology based learning to ensure preparation for the fast-paced, ever-changing, modern world.

Outside of the classroom, Alessandra enjoys the arts, and danced competitively for 10 years. Since then, she has expanded her love of education to dance studios and theatre auditoriums. Educating children and adults in the fine arts is important to her as she believes that learning not only happens inside the mind, but also through the body. Alessandra’s other hobbies include cake decorating, scrap booking, and playing tennis.

George Doukas

George Doukas has been teaching for the past 5 years. He completed his studies in Business and Society, with focuses in Geography and Macroeconomics, from York University and obtained his Bachelor of Education from Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. George has experience teaching from grade 4 to 12 and has obtained credentials to teach at all levels, but his focus is at the intermediate and senior levels. Outside of teaching, George coaches youth competitive soccer and also obtained his community coaching certificates from the Ontario Soccer Association.

Levon Sarmazian

Levon Sarmazian is an Ontario Certified Teacher who has always had a passion for business and education. He attended Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, for his undergraduate degree – majoring in Economics and Business Management, with a minor in Political Science. Levon then continued his education by attending York University in Toronto, Ontario, where he received his Bachelor of Education, to specialize in teaching high school business studies and politics courses.

When not teaching, Levon manages the retail division of his family’s company all while spending a great deal of time volunteering for various non-profit organizations within his community.

Levon appreciates the individual differences among all students and works toward developing a positive learning environment for all types of learners. In all the work that he does, Levon holds a high importance in preparing youth to be respectful, successful, knowledgeable and responsible members of society.

Samantha Darrach

Samantha is an Ontario Certified Teacher with Geography and History as her teachable subjects. In her spare time, she’s often playing board games and video games. She also loves to go on Ontarian vehicles through the woods while watching birds and animals. Samantha’s favorite quote is from Dr . Seuss “you have brains in your head. Feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.”

Kelda Wells

A graduate of the University of Toronto, at the age of 22 Kelda found herself working for a satellite launching company in Toronto. She worked at the smaller of Canada’s two such companies at the time, performing orbital physics calculations for the owner of the company. It was the first of many such industrial physics positions she would have throughout the next 25 years.

Kelda went from her foray into rocket science straight into her Master’s degree at the State University of New York at Potsdam. There she obtained a Master’s of Science in Teaching degree.

Returning to Toronto, Kelda became a college professor at the age of 24. During her eight years at George Brown College in Toronto, she educated over a thousand students in the subjects of physics and mathematics in the Electronics Department of the college.

Her next position found her as the Chairperson of the Department of Mathematics at a private secondary school in Toronto where she also taught physics courses. During her ten years at this school, Kelda ran a robotics club which competed in the National Canadian Robot Games at the Ontario Science Centre’s annual competition.

Kelda’s next move was an unexpected one: she authored her first novel, The Whole Story. Published by Page Publishing Inc. In New York City, this original science fiction novel of 2013 took Kelda in a new direction, with an international book tour.

She now creates physics and mathematics e-courses, continuing to promote her novel.

Justin Black

Justin grew up in Toronto, Ontario, but his background is Jamaica. He has always loved sports an exercise. Justin played a variety of sports growing up including basketball, soccer, and baseball. Many people in his community are teachers and thus he was inspired to be a teacher by the environment around him. Justin teaches health & physical education as well as social sciences. He hopes to have his own business one day teaching sports to kids.

Larraine Astejada

Larraine has been an Ontario certified teacher for about three years now. She graduated from York University earning her Bachelor of Science and Engineering degree, as well as a Bachelor of Education degree. Larraine’s specialties are Math and English.

Growing up, Larraine has always wanted to do something that would help others and that would help make a difference in the lives of others. Fortunately, Larraine was able to witness how teachers helped shape her life and those that were closest to her. Naturally, she learned to love education and the idea of what it can do for others.

Apart from teaching, Larraine loves to read, travel, shop, and spend quality time with families and friends. Larraine believes that learning mostly comes from outside of the classroom. Take in as much as we can from the people we meet and the places we visit. Every experience is a learning experience – if we let it be.