Mr. Bamberger is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and Queen’s University and he has been working in education since 2001. Mr. Bamberger brings a wealth of classroom experience and was nominated as Educator of Character for the Region of York in 2015. In addition, Mr. Bamberger holds many qualifications including the Private School Principal’s Qualification as well as Special Education Qualifications.
Mr. Bamberger is committed to Junior Academy’s philosophy of inclusive and well-rounded education, including supporting both the academic and social-emotional development of every student. Prior to joining Junior Academy, Mr. Bamberger was Co-Principal of Foundations Private School in Aurora for 3 years and Vice Principal for an additional 3 years at the same institution.
Mrs. Duron is a certified teacher and Social/Emotional Learning coach specializing in Self-Regulation, Social Awareness and Behaviour Therapy. After completing a degree in English and Kinesiology, she received her teaching degree at Lakehead University and went on to receive extensive training and certifications in Mindfulness education, Social Thinking and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.
With over 15 years of experience in Education, Emily has worked with a full spectrum of students and approaches each student as a unique learner. She has a holistic and mindful approach to education and creates a non-judgmental and collaborative learning space. She is a passionate, empathetic and caring teacher who strives to create authentic connections with students and parents in order to best support the overall growth and development of her learners.
Over the last decade, Emily developed and ran a unique Social and Emotional Learning program called The ACE Approach. Through transformative and reflective practices, The ACE Approach nurtures emotional regulation, peaceful problem-solving and mental health by teaching students meditation, breathing techniques and emotional/social awareness practices. She also received clinical training in the renowned Social and Emotional Learning program, Social Thinking®.
Emily has been a member of the Junior Academy community
since 2018. Once Emily was introduced to Junior Academy, she fell in love with
the school as it aligned perfectly with her philosophies and approach to
education. Students’ social, emotional and mental health has to be at the
forefront of their learning in order to succeed in all areas. Since joining the
community, Emily has held a number of different roles at the school including
teaching, coaching and therapy positions as well as leadership positions by
providing a number of staff training and professional development workshops.
Mr. Johnson graduated from Bishop’s University with a degree in Environmental Studies and a minor in Entrepreneurship. Prior to Junior Academy, Mr. Johnson was working in the business world for a number of different start-ups. He has also worked with a number of different volunteer kids programs ranging from reading buddies, hockey H.E.R.O.S and rugby/ hockey coaching at both the U-14 and U-18 level.
” I am so happy to be a part of this amazing community of students and staff
Mr. J majored in Environmental Studies and minored in Entrepreneurship while attending Bishop’s University. As an alumnus of Junior Academy, Mr. J feels a strong connection to the school and it’s family values.
“I love the overall atmosphere of the Junior Academy. We are a small family-run school and in turn, our atmosphere is inviting, family oriented and close-knit.”
Ms. Nicole McGown has a Masters degree from York University as well as a Masters in Elementary Education from Medaille College. Ms. McGown is a Special Education Specialist and has most recently been working at Brighton school, since 2011, with significant experience with young learners.
Jessica Jakymyc graduated from Humber College with a diploma in Early Childhood Education. Previously she worked as a preschool teacher for 4 years. Jessica has been with Junior Academy since 2016 and has preformed many different roles during her time.
I love working at Junior Academy because they focus on the individual needs of each student, they are inclusive and supportive of each and every student and staff member.”
Mrs. Fox completed her Undergraduate degree in Communications at the University of Windsor. After completing her Undergraduate Degree, Mrs. Fox moved to Australia where she went to teachers college. From Australia, she moved to London, England where she taught for 3.5 years before moving back to Toronto. Mrs. Fox has been with the Junior Academy since 2003.
“One of the things I love most about Junior Academy is that we offer a wide variety of leadership opportunities for students, allowing them to contribute in a positive way to the school community. Our Leadership Crew and “Helping Hands” program helps students in grades 5-8, especially those who might not otherwise be in a leadership role, gain important skills to become role models.”
Ms. Tanis Simmons has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education. She is a Special Education Specialist, and has additional Reading qualifications as well. Ms. Simmons has been teaching since 2007, and has taught in both the primary and junior divisions. She has a significant background in Literacy, Social Thinking and developing differentiated curriculum.
Ms. Hoffman has a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degree as well as a diploma in Communication Disorders. Ms. Hoffman has been teaching since 2016, working in England and China. Ms. Hoffman has taught Kindergarten through grade two and has experience with a variety of learning profiles. Most recently, she has been working with a Speech Pathologist, supporting students with communication disorders.
Ms. Chandrasekaran has a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, has a Fundamentals in Special Education background and is trained in arts based therapy. She is passionate about inclusion and accessibility and has dedicated the past decade to serving neurodivergent learners through various roles. Prior to JA, Ms. Chandrasekaran has worked as a school psychologist before entering the special-needs classrooms as a lead teacher and later as a lower and middle school coordinator. Since joining Junior Academy, she has worked as a behaviour therapist, a consistent supply teacher and a middle school teacher.
“My favourite part about Junior Academy is the community of compassionate adults who are committed to seeing our students grow and thrive.”
Ms. Favaro taught Physical Education, Math and Learning Resource Support prior to joining us at JA last year. Ms. Favaro has also spent time gaining experience in a variety of primary and junior classrooms. Last year, she taught the grade 5-6 homeroom class and received positive feedback from parents. Ms. Favaro has a B.A. and B.Ed. from Queen’s University and she is an avid, competitive equestrian.
Mr. Webb has a Bachelor of Music Degree as well as a Bachelor of Education Degree. He also holds additional qualifications in Physical Education, Mathematics and Special Education. Mr. Webb has been teaching in the Kawarthas for the last decade. He has been responsible for Music, Physical Education, Language and Math programming at a variety of levels and has taken on leadership roles such as the school equity lead.
Ms. Bhatt has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Education degree. Ms. Bhatt has worked at Junior Academy as both a tutor and academic support staff as well as a teacher. Prior to joining Junior Academy, she taught at the grade four level for four years and has a strong background in inclusive education and supporting individual education plans.
Ms. Sherman has a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Studies and Bachelor of Education degree. She has worked in both public and private schools since 2020. Ms. Sherman has also completed additional qualifications in Special Education and specifically worked with students who were deaf or hard of hearing. In addition to her teaching background, Ms. Sherman also has an extensive camp background as a counsellor, supervisor and staff trainer.
Ms. Leach is an Instructor Therapist with extensive ABA training, an Early Childhood Educator and Special Education teacher with over a decade of experience working in Special Education settings. Ms. Leach uses an ABA style approach to teach a highly specialized, skills based program to a small group while coordinating and liaising with additional therapists.
Ms. Nicole Doiron began her
teaching career in her hometown of Charlottetown, PEI. She holds a B.Ed with a
specialization in Early Years and International Education. Afterward, she
pursued a Master’s in Education at OISE in Toronto, with a focus on Developmental
Psychology and Education, particularly in special educational instruction. For
over a decade, Nicole has dedicated herself to working with neurodivergent
students from grades 1-8 and has been an essential part of the Junior Academy
team since 2017. Her primary goal is to establish an inclusive and engaging
environment where every student can achieve their full potential.
Ms. Zoe Stark holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Psychology and a Bachelor of Education with a focus on Arts Integration and Exceptional Learners, both from Queen’s University. She has completed Specialist qualifications in Special Education and in teaching intermediate grades. Additionally, Ms. Stark is trained in Comprehensive Orton-Gillingham Plus for literacy and holds various certifications in academic subjects and social-emotional learning. Before joining Junior Academy in 2016, she gained extensive experience assisting in diverse classrooms across Toronto and led arts programs in Toronto, Kingston, and New York.
Ms. Achampong has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, an MBA and a Masters of Education in Special Education. Ms. Achampong worked as a Special Education teacher in Colorado from 2017 through 2021 and most recently, has been a Special Education Teacher at Bright Start Academy
Mr. Guy Charles-Antoine has an extensive background in French and Primary PE instruction. Mr. Charles-Antoine has a Bachelors degree from Le Sorbonne in Paris and a Masters from Amhurst University in Denver. He has over ten years of teaching experience in both French and Physical Education as well as significant coaching experience. Mr. Charles-Antoine has taught in several Private School settings in both Canada and the United States and he is excited to utilize the AIM Program and Project Based Learning to facilitate French language classes.
Ms. Kristine Locklin has over 10 years of experience working in pediatrics and is our on-site Occupational Therapist and Therapy coordinator. Kristine completed her Bachelor of Science and Degree in Occupational Therapy from Queen’s University and she has completed a wide array of Professional Development including training in sensory motor integration, cognitive behavioural therapy, social thinking, self-regulation, executive functioning and strength-based education. Kristine also oversees our FLEX program at the school and consults with all staff on a weekly basis
Ms. Hochman is our Behaviour Therapist and BT Co-ordinator who works with students both in the classroom and in 1:1 settings to support skill development. Ms. Hochman has over a decade of experience in both school, in-patient and out-patient facilities, supporting mental health initiatives. Ms. Hochman uses strategies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy to support the students with whom she works.
Ms. Clarke graduated from the University of Toronto in 2015 with a double major in biology and medical anthropology. While pursuing a master’s degree in theology and counselling at Tyndale University, she became fascinated by the field of childhood development. As a result, she decided to put her master’s on hold and enroll in a graduate certificate program in Behavioural Science at George Brown College.
After completing her certificate program, Ms. Clarke acquired valuable experience working as a behavioural therapist. She wanted to expand her knowledge of play-based learning and group dynamics among children. And so she attained a diploma in Early Childhood Development at Fanshawe College.
With her educational background and diverse experiences, Ms. Clarke understands the importance of nurturing and stimulating young minds through play-based learning and the dynamics within children’s social groups. Her diploma equipped her with the skills to design and implement engaging learning activities that foster cognitive and social development in children.
Giselle is a graduate of York University with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Seneca College with a Paralegal diploma, and most recently Centennial College with an Early Childhood Education (ECE) diploma. Giselle has always loved interacting with and helping children learn, and after years of working in corporate environments, Giselle decided to pursue her passion of working with children. She completed her ECE student placement with us and returned as a Registered Early Childhood Educator to continue working alongside our friendly and caring team. Giselle looks forward to delivering memorable experiences for our youngest learners and their families.
My name is Isa Lugo and I’m a Centennial College Registered Early Childhood Educator. Completing my field placement at Junior Academy solidified my passion for fostering young minds and being able to be a part of the staff is an honour. I had the privilege of immersing myself in a unique cross-cultural childcare role which broadened my horizons and enriched my practical knowledge in the field of child development. Child development is a calling that fills me with enthusiasm and purpose as I guide young minds to flourish. I am dedicated to connecting and making a lasting impact on each child.