Contact Us

Trina Allinotte
B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Ed., OCT

I am a curriculum developer and instructor for SBI4U and I also teach SNC2D. The excellent questions my students ask certainly keeps me on my toes! I enjoy the flexibility of the online education as it allows me to teach as well as stay involved with my family. This flexibility is also an attractive feature for VHS students, who desire a high quality education, but need to fit it into a busy life. As their instructor, I draw upon over 8 years of teaching experience at both university and secondary levels. I look forward to connecting daily with the VHS community of learners.

Stephen Armitage
B.Sc., M.Sc., B.Ed., OCT

My love of sports began at an early age with hockey and I have been coaching and playing many sports since. I have competed at the Canadian national championships in Track & Field, Rowing, and Ultimate Frisbee, and I spend my summers waterskiing at the cottage. I couldn?t do any of this without the love and support of my family and I feel truly blessed to have my loving wife and my 2 year old son in my life.

This is my first year with Virtual High School and I am excited to be part of the VHS team. I hope that I can help you achieve your own goals and I look forward to learning with you along the way.

Tom Card
B.Sc., B.Ed., OCT

Tom worked on developing the Ontario Science curriculum and has written a number of Science courses for the Independent Learning Centre. This is his first go at on-line teaching and he is very excited about being back in the classroom (virtual instead of one with walls) and interacting with students again. His greatest satisfaction comes from working with students, answering their questions, and supporting them as they learn about Science and their own learning styles.

Tom and his wife have moved away from the greater Toronto area into a little community where they are able to walk everywhere – to the grocery store, post office, bank, and library. They enjoy hiking on the local trails and touring the countryside, visiting the small towns in the area.

Tom likes to start each day with a 5 km run; he has competed in road races in the past and hopes to do so again. He and his wife have travelled to Italy, Austria, Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia since retiring. Their next trip will likely be to England, Scotland and Ireland. Tom also enjoys reading, both fiction and non-fiction.

Stephanie Casemore
B.A., B.Ed., OCT

Teaching online is the opportunity I've been waiting for my entire life! I find that online learning allows for a different kind of interaction between student and teacher than the traditional classroom setting; the online student/teacher relationship has the potential to be much more collaborative. It also provides the opportunity for substantial feedback and increased dialogue, when students are willing and eager to participate fully.

The experiences that have brought me to VHS include a combination of formal education and real-world experiences. I earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph with a double major in International Development and English. I then went on to complete an After-Degree in Education from the University of Alberta with a specialization in secondary English and a minor in Intercultural Education. While I did not pursue a career in the field of international development, I still have a passion for this area of study and strive to include a global perspective in my teaching. The study of world literature is a valuable method of understanding both the world and people around us; it is a vehicle to understanding the differences between us, but more important, the commonalities we all share.

After a number of years teaching for Edmonton Public Schools, my husband and I made the decision to return to our home province of Ontario. Upon my return, I worked briefly for the Thames Valley District School Board in London. When my son was born, I left the classroom to be a full-time mother. I spent eight years away from teaching gaining real-world experience in the subject I love to teach: English. During this time I wrote a book and established my own publishing company.

In addition to teaching with VHS, I continue to operate my publishing company and continue writing. I also provide editing and back-of-the-book indexing services to authors and publishers which allows for a wide variety of work and the privilege of working on many interesting book projects. My experience in the publishing industry continually adds to my knowledge and skills, which I can then pass on to my students. While time is never free, I do enjoy running, reading, baking, and have recently bought a touring kayak and am looking forward to exploring the beautiful lakes and waterways around eastern Ontario.

The opportunity to teach with VHS is a true joy. I view my role as that of a facilitator: a partner in my students' learning. A day just isn't complete without logging in to check how everyone is doing, answer questions, and review newly submitted assignments. Of course, being able to do it at 6 a.m. in my pyjamas and with a hot tea in hand is a nice added bonus to the job!

Sarah Cooper
B.A.(Hon),B.Ed., M.A., OCT

In my teaching of History, I enjoy the challenges of making the past relevant and interesting to students, as well as helping them develop the strong research, analytical and writing skills they will require in their careers, whatever paths they choose. During the past year I have been leading a semi-nomadic existence following my husband to various academic posts, and have been keeping busy working with undergraduates at the Princeton University Writing Centre, and teaching ESL to adults in Toronto, in addition to my VHS courses. In my spare time, I love reading, photography and travelling the world- which may explain why sometimes my students will see me online at strange hours of the day!!

Paul Craigen
B.A., B.Ed., B.Com., M.B.A., OCT

Paul brings a very practical approach to business studies to his classroom activities and discussions which his students report highly engage them in their learning. He is an enthusiastic and energetic teacher with real world examples that bring his business classroom to life.

Adrienne Crookshank
B.Sc., B.Ed., B.Math., OCT

I have two beautiful twin boys, Andrew and James, who were born in 2011. In my free time, in enjoy running, playing soccer and ultimate Frisbee and reading.

Jeff Cummings

Last year, I was married to my wonderful wife Jennifer. The other love of my life is my Bernese mountain dog, Samson. In my free time, I run a sports and fitness business which keeps me very busy, but offers me a tremendous opportunity to meet people throughout my community.

Gayle Detenbeck
B.Math., B.Ed., OCT

Mrs. D. enjoys working with all her online students and helping them reach their goals. She hopes her students will email her and introduce themselves.

Mark Dietrich
B.B.A.(Hon), B.Ed., OCT

Mark is still eager to travel and hopes to see more of the world in the near future. Some of his other hobbies include watching and playing sports such as golf, hockey, and tennis, as well as his vast interest for outdoor activities. During his holidays, Mark can be found canoeing and portaging through Ontario?s beautiful Provincial parks. Mark is very eager for the opportunity to gain experience in his field with a well-established education provider.

Anthony Di Palma
B.Sc.(Hon), GDipEd.,
MET,OCT

He holds an Honors BSc from the University of Guelph in Biological Science, a Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies from The University of Wollongong in New South Wales Australia and a Masters Degree in Educational Technology from The University of British Columbia.  When Anthony is not teaching in the classroom or behind his computer he can be found coaching on the rugby field, ski instructing on the slopes of Ontario or under water scuba diving the tropical waters of the Caribbean.

Fred Driedger
B.Sc.(Hon) ,B.Ed., OCT

Online learning, seemed like a logical progression, as Fred now enjoys teaching the VHS SPH4U and SPH3U courses. Fred and his wife own a 45 acre farm in south western Ontario. While initially, he was actively involved in the farming operation, he now leaves that for the experts and instead enjoys the sounds of chirping birds in the morning and the quiet country nights. His hobbies include gardening, woodworking and the restoration of classic cars.

Scott Dykes
B.ASc., PhD., B.Ed., OCT

I have been working online as a tutor for 7 years and really enjoy the experience. I have now branched out to teaching entire courses online in Mathematics and Computer Science for VHS. I find the one-on-one contact very stimulating, working with students who want to complete the courses. The key to success in my view is found in this quotation. "One does not fail by falling down, one fails by not getting back up."

Ann Findlay
B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Ed., OCT

Ms Findlay has a well rounded teaching resume having taught grades 5 through 12 in Canada and the USA, as well as teaching post secondary students within Trent University's BEd program. Ann is as equally comfortable teaching International Baccalaureate courses as she is teaching applied level courses.

Ann coaches cross country and track and field and feels the responsibility that comes with extra-curricular activities helps to shape a well rounded individual. Ann has written two science courses for VHS and is excited to be teaching in the virtual world.

Christy Flynn
B.A.(Hon),Grad.Dip.Ed., OCT

I danced competitively for many years and performed in as many stage shows in as many genres as I could manage. I attended Queen's University where I not only grew to love the arts even more, but found a true passion for working with other students and gaining a real understanding of how the arts can shape student's lives. I attended teacher's college in Melbourne, Australia and have worked as a teacher from grades 8-12 for the last 6 years. One of my main ambitions in teaching has been to provide opportunities for students to be creative, whether that is in a social science class or a drama class!

Uma Gnanaharan
B.Sc., OCT

At the University of Victoria, Mrs. Gnanaharan developed secondary/college level computer science programming instructional units for the use of a new information technology text for upper school levels in Central America and China. She feels that online students in our school should possess the ability to be self-motivated and self-disciplined, be able to use the technology properly, and have the ability to think critically.

Darrell Goddard
B.Sc., M.Sc., B.Ed., OCT

He enjoys travelling to Europe, especially England and Germany.

He is father of five young children and in any spare time that's left he enjoys playing the guitar and piano, plays in a band at church, loves to bike for exercise and to go camping.

John Graham
B.Com., B.Ed., OCT

Mr. Graham has a Business Honour Specialist, a Marketing Specialist, Cooperative Education qualifications and is qualified to teach at the junior level. He has authored a number of business studies courses for the Ministry of Education and E-Learning Ontario, has tutored for TVO's Ask A Teacher, and authored a business studies course for the Independent Learning Centre. He teaches part time for Queen?s University, Faculty of Education.

In his spare time, Mr. Graham enjoys curling, playing basketball, and golf. He is an avid traveller and enjoys visiting Caribbean countries.

Derek Grainger
B.Sc.(Hon),B.Ed., OCT

Derek teaches Grade 10 Foundations of Mathematics (MFM2P) and Grade 11 Foundations for College Mathematics (MBF3C) at VHS. He is a firm believer that anybody can succeed in mathematics and is eager to help all of his students find that success. He is always available for questions and clarification, and encourages his students to do their best and ask for help when it is needed.

Outside of teaching, Derek spends most of his time playing sports, training for triathlons, reading, cooking, and spending quality time with his fiancée and their puppy, Max.

Stephanie Gray
B.A., B.Ed., OCT

I also believe that one should meet students outside the typical classroom. Prior to teaching at VHS, this meant coaching student athletes and helping them. I hold my coaching certificate for soccer, and I co-coach my high school track and field team in Tillsonburg, ON. I also still remain active in my own life, playing both recreational soccer and competitive soccer both indoors and outdoors in London. VHS will enable me to connect with my students and learn through their experiences which they will bring into their own unique writing styles. One of the delightful surprises in teaching at VHS is the ability we have to connect with students and to develop relationships that, in many cases, are more meaningful than those we would develop in conventional classrooms. Add to this the fact that we are "virtually" an international school and the possibilities for exciting teaching experiences are endless.

Terry Hsia
B.A., M.A.

"Online high schools can be a great alternative to those students that don't excel in traditional schools. I'm so passionate about online education that I quit teaching at a brick and mortar school so I can devote all my time and energy into online education!"

Linda Jones
Mus.Bac.(Hon), B.Ed., M.Mus., A.Mus., OCT

I had the privilege to be one of the founding teachers of Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts in London ON. Physical activity—running, sailing, walking, cycling—is an enjoyable and essential part of my day. Running for fun or training for road races from 5K to marathons gets me out the door in any weather. I balance this with my books, computers, keyboards of the musical kind, and an assortment of other hobbies. So why VHS? What better place to find global exposure to students who value excellence and love learning, and to connect with like-minded colleagues. Besides, it's fun!

Heather Kennedy
B.Sc.(Hon), M.Sc.,
B.Ed., OCT

After completing my B.Sc(H) and M.Sc. in astrophysics at Queen's University I looked to teaching as a way to connect and excite young people about science. This year ;I am very excited to start teaching with Virtual High School where I feel students get to be a part of a unique educational environment tailored to their individual needs as learners. While teaching at VHS I will also be teaching in classrooms in Canada's capital region as a supply and long term coverage teacher. When I'm not teaching I am reliably cooking, gardening, camping, painting, or playing the occasional video game!

Bill Love
B.Sc.Ed.(Hon),
MET,OCT

I am also appreciative of the importance of a trusting and reliable relationship with an online teacher. I love helping students to learn and get very excited when the light bulb switches on and a student says, "Oh! I see now". I grew up in New Zealand and I am a team player having played rugby until I was 61 years old. I have coached rugby in England and introduced rugby to high schools in southwestern Ontario. As well, I have taken school teams from Ontario to tour in the United Kingdom. I have played in a bluegrass band in which I was the guitarist and lead vocalist and was musical director to an Appalachian clogging team called the Susquehanna Steppers. We performed in folk clubs and folk festivals, among other venues. I still perform solo, mainly in folk clubs.

Erin Matthews
B.Math(Hon),B.Ed., OCT

She hopes that she can have a positive impact on their learning experience and help them to be successful.

Caroline McBrine
B.A.(Hon),B.Ed., M.M.St., OCT

As she currently spends her days with her two small children, and because she lives much of the year in the United States, teaching CHC2D and CHI4U provides her with a welcome connection to Canada and to the world of education. Although Caroline is new to teaching with VHS, she has already come to enjoy working one-on-one with her students. It was often difficult for her to find the time to do so when she taught in a traditional classroom, so she really appreciates this aspect of online teaching. She is impressed with the wide range of backgrounds that her students bring to their classroom, and she looks forward to working with many more students in the future.

Stephanie McCormick
B.A.(Hon),B.Ed., OCT

I love being a high school Math teacher and enjoy working with students every day in the classroom but I look forward to this new adventure in a different type of classroom. Outside of the classroom I am the senior girls volleyball coach and help out with the boys' fastball team. On my spare time I enjoy traveling with my husband, spending time with family, and playing with my cat Felix.

Jody McKinnon
B.A.(Adv),B.Ed., OCT

Other experiences over the years include: online tutor and supervisor at TVOntario’s “Ask a Teacher” homework website, text reviewer for a Media textbook, writer of a Geography textbook, and various roles at EQAO including writer and room supervisor. For fun, Jody loves to travel, watch old sitcoms, and follow the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Blue Jays. Extra curricular wise, Jody has directed several musicals and plays including: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Outsiders, Us and Them, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Legally Blonde and Grease. He also runs the Me to We club at his day school and he runs Arts trips to cities such as New York and Chicago.

Jody believes that elearning provides a chance for all learners to be successful and he is very thankful for the continued opportunity to work with VHS.

Laurie McMillan
B.A.A., B.Ed., OCT

Laurie McMillan has been an educator within the Ontario public school system for many years teaching Business and Computer Studies including IB Computer Science. Besides teaching, she has also held the positions of Department Head, Computer Coordinator and International Baccalaureate Coordinator. Laurie taught online learning in Accounting with her current board before teaching with VHS. She appreciates the importance of life-long learning and sees the VHS virtual classroom as playing a major role in the education of current and future students.

Laurie enjoys her regular classroom and especially enjoys the experience of seeing her VHS students successfully completing their courses.

Laurie was born on Vancouver Island but grew up in Montreal and Toronto. After graduating from the Ryerson University and the University of Western Ontario she relocated to Kenora, Ontario where she met her best friend and husband Barry. Laurie and Barry divide their time between Kenora on beautiful Lake of the Woods and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Vance McPherson
B.Sc.(Hon),B.Ed., OCT

It is not about a new, but a very ancient way of educating—by connecting people to ideas and each other—that hearkens back to Aristotle, Francis Bacon, Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. Complete with custom-programmed virtual labs and multiple opportunities to research, I don't think that there is a better way to learn science. It is a great professional privilege to be a science teacher at Virtual High School.

I was Science Coordinator at Virtual High School for a number of years, before reliquishing my administrative duties to be a VHS teacher and writer in various regions of the globe. Before VHS, I taught in classrooms in Ontario and Quebec, and trained Cadets in orienteering at CFB Borden. Prior to my teaching life, I worked as a laboratory researcher, a municpal administrator, a call centre operator and in the fast food industry. I try to draw upon all of my past experiences in my professional career as an online science teacher.

Gina McWade
B.A., B.Ed., OCT

The most satisfying part of teaching for me is the relationships I am able to develop with my students, colleagues, parents and members of the larger community. I am passionate about my students achieving their academic and personal goals, and I do all I can to help facilitate their accomplishments. I love teaching English because it is primarily about communication and relationship. In particular, I am interested in the relationship authors develop with the members of their audiences through the complexity of emotions and life experiences that they convey in great literature and media, and with which our human experiences resonate. I learn so much each day in my work, and am excited to continue it in the dynamic environment of Virtual High School!

Jenna Meyers
B.A., B.Ed., OCT

I have taught every grade from kindergarten to grade twelve in a variety of subjects including Sociology, Anthropology and Psychology, English, Religion, Philosophy, Drama and Dance. I pride myself on being extremely well organized and prepared, and on being an active and engaged teacher in my students? learning. I try to challenge, nurture and encourage my students to ensure the outcome of success!

Kevin Mlot
B.A.(Hon), B.Ed., M.Ed., OCT

I have been teaching within the Catholic Board for the past 8 years in many different areas, including within the high school classroom and home schooling, where I taught a wide range of levels and grades of mathematics and other subjects. I enjoy staying very active and participate in hockey, softball, and travelling.

Alisha Newsome
B.Math., B.Ed., OCT

I have been teaching mathematics for the last 6 years in the public school system in London, Ontario. I have taught all different levels and grades of mathematics. I have instructed in a day school, night school and summer school setting.

Currently I am finishing up maternity leave as my husband and I welcomed our first baby girl in November of 2010. Since I was a little girl I always wanted to be a teacher and excelled at mathematics so it seemed to be a perfect fit to become a mathematics teacher. I enjoy working with students of all abilities and accept the challenge of trying to break down the stereotype that 'math is hard'. I strive to challenge my students and teach them that every day is a new day in learning math - to leave all worries and insecurities aside and believe that he/she CAN succeed with each new math concept. I challenge my students to be open and honest when questions and clarifications arise and to know I am always here to help.

Dr. Peter Orange
B.A., M.A., B.Ed., PhD, OCT

Peter believes that all students can learn and excel and that acquiring knowledge means relating and applying academic knowledge to the outside world. All forms of knowledge are interdependent. Intellectual rigor and high standards in the school's learning community are essential to student growth and achievement. The learning community must manifest support for all of its members to have a cohesive and integral strength. Peter thinks that running 10K (including charity races) on a regular basis is fun.

Felicia Palage
B.Ed., B.Sc., OCT

"Diagrams, animations and video clips inserted in lessons take students closer to the essence of the physical phenomena. In online courses, students enjoy the experiments that they can make by themselves; in this way they develop their experimental skills. At the same time, they can watch the video / animation / simulation of experiments. As an on-line teacher, it is really interesting to work with students with different ages and backgrounds but all driven by the same desire to learn more about Physics."

Nikos Rentas
B.Sc.(Hon), B.Ed.,
PMP,OCT

While teaching, Nikos has seen growing success as an entrepreneur developing start-ups, small businesses, and project based companies through strategically implementing innovated business models and processes. He has landed a Cambridge Chamber nomination for 2012 Young Entrepreneur of the Year award with his work for innovative startups and vast community support with non-profit organizations.

Claire de Rosensoll
B.J.(Hon), B.Ed.,
M.Ed.OCT

She feels it is very important to help students learn about their learning style and individual learning needs in order to become effective self-regulated learners who have the skills to manage and drive their own learning. It is for this reason that she feels very privileged to be part of the online teaching world as this environment truly provides students with opportunities of differentiation.

Dawn Ruddick
B.A.(Hon),B.Ed., M.Ed., OCT

She is excited to be teaching the Healthy Active Living course for the Virtual High School. It was said by some that teaching this course online was not possible, but she is proud to have developed a course that allows flexibility and interaction, freedom and connection.

Daniela Scavuzzo
B.A., B.Ed.,
MET,OCT

When I stumbled upon Virtual High School’s website, I was thrilled to learn that such a wonderful online community existed. I have spent much of my own time and effort upgrading my qualifications, via online methods, after beginning my full-time permanent teaching career. I would not have been able to complete such courses otherwise, as a working professional with a new career and limited time. I was ecstatic to learn that elementary and high school students now have the same opportunity. This technological advancement has become an enriching experience and possibility for people of all ages to complete their education, outside of fixed schedules and institutional walls. I am honoured to be associated with such a wonderful and evolving community. It is great to be a part of the future – today!

Jennifer Shields
B.Sc., B.Ed., OCT

VHS provides an opportunity for me to help students who, for whatever reason, do not wish to participate in the traditional school setting. From my experience, I know that when we change our "education roadblocks" into our "education motivators" success is sure to follow.

Gary Simons
B.A., B.Ed., M.A., OCT

If you try to understand the situation the people are in, then ask yourself what you would do - compared to what they chose to do - then you'll start to understand and enjoy History. On-line teaching is fairly new for me, but I'm looking forward to the challenge, and to helping students learn History in a new way". Gary's work has received regional, and provincial recognition and in 2003 he received the Governor General's Award for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History.

B.A., B.Ed., M.A., M.Phil., OCT

He has been doing these activities for many years, for so many years, in fact, that many have labelled him an obsessive-compulsive, and that may, in fact, be partially true, but only partially true, because his true loves are teaching and writing about literature.

To change person, I have taught for more than thirty-five years and consider teaching to be one of life's greatest pleasures and privileges. After teaching at a local high school for thirty years, and after developing an award winning Canadian literature course with Mr. Baker, our principal, I taught the course on-line, and the die was cast. A decade later I am still developing courses and meeting many wonderful scholars from all corners of the world. The size of the classroom has grown exponentially as have the opportunities for students. It is exciting to be at the forefront of such changes.

I have also taught at the University of Western Ontario for the past six years in the Writing Department and have developed courses for university students in distance education and technical writing. Work at the university level is particularly rewarding. It allows me to anticipate the needs of graduating students at the secondary level as they prepare for post-secondary study.

Ed Sommerville
B.Sc.(Hon),M.A., B.Ed., OCT

I think that my desire to continue teaching after retirement is due in part to the fact that I was late in finding my true vocation. I did a lot of things before I got a real job. And while I enjoyed working in city planning research, as a university lecturer and for too long as a professional student; it wasn't till I had managed to survive the first couple of years as a rookie high school teacher at St. John's-Kilmarnock School (an independent school located in the Waterloo-Wellington region) that I felt I had finally discovered my lot in life.

To the extent that degrees are a measure of an educated person I guess I can claim to be one as I have three of them: a B.Sc (Honours Geography) from the University of Glasgow in my native Scotland; an M.A. (Planning) earned at the University of Waterloo; and a B.Ed. from the University of Western Ontario.

Though I trained initially as a geographer with a minor in geology my interests and university work beyond my first degree turned to the social sciences so that as a teacher I developed and taught courses not only in geography but also in history, economics and politics. At VHS I am currently teaching CGC1D b, Geography of Canada, 9, Academic, and CGW4U, Canadian and World Issues: A Geographic Analysis, 12 as well as writing the CPW4U, Canadian and World Politics ,12 U course of study.

Once upon a time, I had to write a brief essay for Ontario's Independent Learning Centre, on the differences between classroom-based and online teaching and learning. I said many things in this essay. But I'd like to repeat just one of these things here.

"Classroom teachers have one great advantage over distance educators. They have face-to-face contact with their students on a daily basis. Thus problems of flagging motivation, lack of self-discipline as well as lack of understanding and learning skill deficiencies can be recognized and dealt with quickly. Moreover, classroom instructors can capitalize more readily on their quota of charisma to provide a stimulating learning environment for their students than can their colleagues teaching at arms length. So, how can a course delivered over the internet be designed to compensate for the inherent disadvantages of a somewhat isolated learning context?

A short answer to this question is to provide independent learners with exceptionally interesting lessons presented in exceptionally interesting ways that aspire to produce exceptionally interesting responses: the basis for exceptionally interesting teacher/student interaction. In addition, instructions must be detailed and crystal clear to students who have neither time to waste nor the opportunity for instant clarification available in the classroom context. Finally, the provision of feedback - in response to student queries, assignments and evaluations - which is both constructive and timely is another rather obvious way of lessening the level of isolation of independent study students."

Nothing really original here but from what I've seen of VHS offerings so far it's a pretty fair summation of the school's modus operandi. I hope I can live up to it.

Finally, though I'm too old and old-fashioned to feel very comfortable in the age of My Space blogs, here's a few more personal items to show that I do have a life beyond the pale of work. First, I read a lot - mainly in two areas ? History to learn and Mystery Fiction for fun. As a native Scot, I was brought up with two sporting activities in which I retain great interest. No! not caber tossing or haggis hunting but rather football (soccer as its known in Canada ) and golf, which I used to play well but now play indifferently. I have also always loved music of all kinds though lately have found myself gravitating more and more to the classical genre ? especially the music of the Baroque era (Handel in particular). Last but not least, I have recently come to enjoy hiking and I have always been an inveterate traveler.

Ken Stewart
B.Sc.(Hon),B.Ed., OCT

Ken has been teaching at the same school for the past 18 years and brings all of this experience to the students in his courses at VHS. "I really enjoy working with my on-line students. They are self motivated and are developing great time management skills as they work through their on-line courses, a skill that too often is overlooked in education. I have been impressed at their depth of knowledge and their level of enthusiasm as they work through the material." Ken stays active coaching his son's hockey team, his daughter's basketball team and enjoys reading and playing golf in his spare time.

Denise Tremblay
B.Éd.(Hon),M.Éd., OCT

Her real passion as a teacher, though, is to try diverse ways of teaching French and watching her students realize that "OUI" they can learn a second language and gain confidence. Mme Tremblay has also a Masters in Education in sociolinguistic from the University of Toronto. Her research is focused on the future of French Immersion program in Ontario and how students pick-up different French accent as they move along in their program. Her last trip to China as an ESL teacher has given her a new insight in teaching French.

Ken Turner
M.Ed., B.Ed., B.A., OCT

Ken Turner graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a BA (1974). He then went on to the University of Calgary and graduated with a B.Ed(1981) and a M.Ed (1987), with a specialization in Curriculum Design and Canadian Studies. Ken has been teaching in the Canadian Studies area since 1978 (approximately 31 yrs.). He started with the Virtual High School shortly after it was formed in the capacity of a curriculum writer in Canadian Studies.

Ken has been involved with computers in education since computers such as the Icon and Commodore 64 were in fashion. His other interests have involved the teaching of robotics to students as well as connecting students up with NASA led research projects.

Anne Volpe
B.A.(Hon),B.Ed., M.Sc., M.D.E.OCT

Studying in these areas led to a rich and fulfilling teaching career in the areas of guidance and mathematics. I am presently close to completion of a Master's in Distance Education through Canada's own Athabasca University.

I have learned a great deal through my online teaching experience. There is much more opportunity to do individualized teaching in this environment. I also find students very willing to take responsibility for their learning and work with me on achieving their academic goals.

Megan Wilkinson
B.A., M.Ed., OCT

In 2008 I graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a specialization in History and began the pursuit of a teaching career at the University of Toronto. After completing a two year Master degree in Education I began working with the Halton District School Board. Currently I am teaching sections here in Canadian & World Studies. As a teacher at VHS I hope to inspire a love of History in my students and help them to become lifelong learners. I believe the online learning process offers a unique opportunity for students to learn independently and create a sense of ownership for their education. It is rewarding for me to support students in their academic endeavours and continuously encourage passion and progress in all pursuits.