Tam Huynh, Principal

Tam is passionate about the The Erindale Academy Program because it is designed to help student reach their full potential in a positive and extremely motivational way. She is an Ontario Certified Teacher specializing in Math and Science for juniors and senior students. She has completed BSc from York University and a BEd from Nipissing University. Tam works towards enhancing her students' understanding by adapting to their unique learning styles.

Deborah Vieira

Deborah Vieira is a Certified Educator registered with the Ontario College of Teachers. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Bachelor of Education from University of Toronto as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ryerson University. Deborah has educated secondary school students in Visual Arts, English, Drama, Guidance Counselling, and Geography for 30 years with the Peel District School Board, including six years as an Instructional Resource Teacher in Alternative Programs. As a Acting Principal and Guidance Counsellor at The Erindale Academy, Deborah strives to support and inspire students to develop critical and divergent thinking skills in order to attain their life goals.

Philip Desjardins

Philip has a Bachelor of Education and is a member of the Ontario College of Teachers since 1987. He is a graduate of the University of Montreal's Teachers College with additional training in special needs education at McGill University. He is also a certified TESL teacher. In addition to having taught at the secondary school levels in both Quebec and Ontario, Phil was, for many years, the creator of distance education courses and educational films for TvOntario.

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Anton Ton, Associate Director of Recruitment

Anton Ton has over 20 years of experience in teaching ESL, Administration, and International Education. He holds a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics from Curtin University (Australia) and a Master of Education in Administration and Leadership from Brock University (Canada). Being fluent in English and Vietnamese, Anton is working as a school counselor, student advisor, and marketing specialist at TEA. He primarily supports TEA's students both academically and with their personal achievements.

Nancy Ping, Manager of Recruitment

Nancy graduated from the University of Toronto, Canada with a Bachelor of Arts, specializing in studio arts and art history. She was a high school graduate of Toronto Central Academy. As an international student, Nancy understands firsthand what it is like to transition from one educational system and culture to another. Therefore, she is a strong support to our students who are making the transition to Canada. She is a well-known young artist in Toronto whose works won various awards in Ontario Art Exhibitions.

Genesis Serrano, Manager of Recruitment

Genesis has been an International Student Advisor since 2017. She has helped over 1,000 students from different countries to attain the life skills of planning, organizing, goal setting, problem solving, and learning to successful. As a Spanish speaker, graduating from the Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana with a bachelor's degree in Business Production, Gensis earned her Diploma in Business Administration with Toronto School of Management. Genesis has the experience and empathy to understand the transition that a person experiences when arriving in a new country.

Genesis is focused on creating and strengthening agreements with the most important agencies in Latin America to help children fulfill their dreams of studying in a Canadian high school.

Daryl Bergman

Daryl Bergman is an Ontario Certified teacher for grades 10-12 Social Sciences as well as ESL. He has a B.A. (Geography / International Studies) and a B. Ed. from the University of Toronto. For nearly 12 years he taught ESL in South Korea to secondary level and university students. I have learned that in order to be a great teacher, one has to be an excellent learner. 'A teacher is a learner, and a learner is a teacher'.

Alex Chen

Passionate about using business to better the world, Alex Chen teaches a variety of business courses at the school. He got his Bachelor's in Business Administration from the Ivey Business School, and he often uses Ivey case studies in his courses. Alex had two years of experience teaching Business English at the Shanghai Business School, where he learned how to better teach English learners from China. He strives to bring out the best in all his students so that they bring honor to their family and society!

Gillian Matthews

Gillian is an OCT teacher and has taught elementary and secondary students for more than 20 years. She has her OCT, New York and Florida State Teaching Certificate and a Master of Education from OISE/UT in Educational Administration. Gillian specializes in English Language/Literature courses, ESL and Social Sciences and enjoys guiding ESL and international students to achieve their academic and personal goals. Gillian has taught in several private schools in the Toronto Area and encourages students to build on their knowledge, language and comprehension skills while making meaningful personal connections to the material that they are learning.

Ella Hou

Ella earned her Bachelor degree in honors of Biochemistry at McMaster University with strong science knowledge-based background and excellent Mathematics application skills. She is well qualified but not limited to teach wide range of senior high school Mathematics including Function, Calculus and Data Management, as well as has much experience on working with groups of students to support them in Chemistry, physics, and biology studies in private schools and tutor centers. Majority of students received a dramatic improvement not only on marks but also the enthusiasm on the studying of related filed.

Simon Yiu

Simon Yiu is a graduate from Ryerson University from the Architectural Science program and Fashion co-ordinate program. He has studied art extensively since the late 90's hoping one day he can use his art to change the world. Throughout the years, he has worked as an art and fashion teacher, a painting studio, a book cover illustrator and a medical blog illustrator. He believes Art is a way of communication and should be able to be enjoyed by everyone. Currently, Simon is teaching at Toronto Central Academy which he offers fashion design and Visual art courses.

Hakan Oztunc, Ph.D. in Statistics and Econometrics

Dr. Hakan has a Ph.D. in Statistics and Econometrics. For nearly 6 years he taught math in US to secondary level and for five years he taught math and statistics in Turkey to university students. Dr. Hakan has worked in the field of education for more than 20 years in several countries. In addition to having taught at the secondary school and university levels, he is the author of math and statistics books. The greatest chance of a person is to meet a great teacher when he/she was young."

Julie Bamford

I am an OCT certified teacher. I first graduated from York University with my Bachelor of Arts in History and English and my Bachelor of Education for intermediate and senior grades. I went on to complete my Master of Education with York University. I have furthered my own education by completing professional development courses with Queen's University. I have taught History, English, and Careers & Civics since joining the school in the summer of 2021. I believe that a school should be a place for students to flourish and grow both academically and personally."

IShaheer Akram

I completed my Master's in Business administration (MBA) Major Finance and Accounting, Bachelors in Business and Commerce, from Karachi, and then moved on to complete 3 levels of the Cost and Management Accountancy (ACMA). I completed a certificate course for teaching ESL students from USA. I have 7 years of teaching experience in Ontario, Canada and 1 year outside Ontario, including an online institute in China. I consider myself a creative and thoughtful person. I love nature and travelling. Teaching is one of my passions. My goal as a teacher is to help my students relate their knowledge with the real world around them in order to benefit them in their future endeavors. Cooperative learning is one of the most important skills I want to develop in my students. We can achieve endless possibilities by collaboration.

Fauzia Akhter

Fauzia Akhter graduated from the University of Toronto with an M Sc. In Env. Science and a diploma of Environmental Technician from Seneca College, Toronto, Canada. She also holds a Master of Science in Zoology and a B. Ed from the University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Having over eight years of biology/science teaching experience, she joins TEA. Teaching is her passion, and she believes in engaging in teaching and hands-on experience in learning science, which includes Lab work or field study. She thinks that if knowledge is not shared, it is wasted. She also loves to learn new concepts/ new techniques from her students. In her spare time, exploring nature, watching the Travel & Food channel, and knowing people are one of her many hobbies.

Cigdem Bahar

I have been teaching Mathematics for over 20 years. I began my career in education as a high school math teacher in 1998 in a private school. I hold a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and a post graduate degree in Accounting and Finance. Throughout my career I taught students from grade 6 to university level. I am committed and passionate about teaching students through building strong relationships with students and their families. I also believe that my job is to fill the need for learning by creating engaging and relevant learning experience every day. I have been teaching in TEA for three years and enjoying a part of the team.