Administration
Nasrin Matini
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Nasrin Matini began her career at Linden in 1999 and currently serves as Interim Principal. With over 40 years of teaching and leadership experience, Nasrin brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Linden. Her feminist vision, innovative pedagogical practice, and ability to lead at the intersection of academic excellence, student well-being, teacher/curriculum development, and school operations earned her a key leadership role at Linden as Principal Designate, which she assumed 17 years ago, stepping in whenever needed, or when the principal is absent. As our former senior mathematics specialist, Nasrin has been highly regarded for integrating real-world problem-solving in her classes, and is known for inspiring her students to develop confidence in their math and critical-thinking skills, which serve as strong predictors of their future academic success. She has rich experience and expertise in guidance, admissions, and human resources, and she manages Linden’s complex schedule as well as high school course offerings. Read more about Nasrin here.
Nasrin can be reached at [email protected]enschool.ca.
Beth Alexander
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Beth serves as Associate Principal. She loves to build things, whether it be a circuit, a robot, a play, a lamp, a computer program, or a computer studies program. Beth has brought her creative energy to a number of roles at Linden in the past 20 years, and runs our new CERES Lab to teach advanced coding, engineering, robotics, electronics, and science to Grades JK-11. Beth is a frequent speaker at conferences across Canada and the United States, giving workshops on topics related to girl-centered, social justice pedagogy, and is one of the founders of the Teaching for Justice conference in Toronto. She has published articles in Rethinking Schools, Elements and Crucible Magazines, and teachers' guides for Penguin Books and the Canadian Organization for Tropical Education and Rainforest Education. In 2017, Beth received a Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence from Justin Trudeau. In 2019, she was awarded a Fellowship at the Lowell Milken Center in Fort Scott, Kansas.
Beth can be reached at [email protected] and @bethkalexander.
Jean Geary
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Jean has served as Director of Admissions since 2016, and subsequently embraced the community engagement portfolio. Her career has spanned admissions, communications, community engagement and philanthropy in the health, education and not-for-profit sectors. She is especially proud of leading a groundbreaking awareness campaign to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness for CAMH, and campaigning for improved maternal and infant health globally by critiquing corporate marketing practices and monitoring compliance with WHO directives for an international NGO. Jean brings a personal commitment to her role at Linden: her daughter Monica is a proud alumna. When she is not introducing new families to Linden, Jean enjoys film, food and dance and can sometimes be found birdwatching at Toronto’s waterfront parks.
Jean can be reached at [email protected].
Sam Layton
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Sam is The Linden School’s Guidance Counsellor. She comes with a theatre degree from the University of Guelph and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. She has also earned additional qualifications in Drama, English, and Guidance. Her teaching practice has been molded from the different cultural backgrounds and learning styles of Canada, Korea, and New Zealand, where she has lived and taught. Sam previously worked in the private school environment as part of a team providing strong guidance and health education to the student body. She believes in offering an open, safe, and fun educational space for all students to grow and evolve as independent learners, and thoroughly enjoys what she gets to learn from those she teaches and counsels. She has been involved in theatre and music for most of her life, loves learning new languages, is an avid nature lover, and a horror and action movie enthusiast.
Sam can be reached at [email protected].
English and Social Studies
Deanna Harris
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This is Deanna's sixth year at Linden. This year, Deanna will be teaching Grade 11 and 12 Biology, Grade 8 Science, Grade 10 Civics and Careers, and Grade 12 Data Management. She comes to Linden with a strong background in statistics and the biological sciences, as well as an appreciation for those interactions that occur at the interface of biology and society. As she is also a trained senior history teacher, her science teaching tends to take an interdisciplinary approach, with a considerable emphasis on Science-Technology-Society-Environment (STSE) curriculum connections. Principles of equity and inclusion are also foundational to Deanna’s teaching, as she seeks to shed light on issues of power and privilege that influence what scientific questions are asked; what sorts of research gets done and by whom; as well as how scientific endeavours may benefit some and exploit others. Through her teaching, she hopes to encourage her students to develop their social consciousness and become meaningful contributors to the society in which they live.
Deanna can be reached at [email protected].
Elizabeth (Eliza) Ward McCarthy
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Eliza is qualified at the intermediate and senior levels in English and History, and in teaching intermediate Drama. She has taught writing and learning skills at almost every level, including University Prep and Creative Writing, and is very passionate about literacy as a tool for inclusivity. This year she is teaching middle school English and Drama and high school English; and co-coaching cross country running and the newly founded tennis club! Linden's values and Eliza's are very much aligned, and she enjoys helping our students develop learning and communications skills to support their educational and life goals, as well as cultivating their creativity and sustainable citizenry.
Eliza can be reached at [email protected].
Computer Studies, Mathematics, Science & Technology
Amy Stent
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Amy has been teaching science at Linden since 2010. She encourages students to incorporate their own personal stories and experiences into class discussions, so they have first-hand examples of science in action. Amy is passionate about helping students think critically about the science we hear about in the media by having students decipher ‘good vs. bad’ scientific evidence.
Amy can be reached at [email protected].
Beth Alexander
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Teacher/Curriculum Leader
Beth serves as Associate Principal. She loves to build things, whether it be a circuit, a robot, a play, a lamp, a computer program, or a computer studies program. Beth has brought her creative energy to a number of roles at Linden in the past 20 years, and runs our new CERES Lab to teach advanced coding, engineering, robotics, electronics, and science to Grades JK-11. Beth is a frequent speaker at conferences across Canada and the United States, giving workshops on topics related to girl-centered, social justice pedagogy, and is one of the founders of the Teaching for Justice conference in Toronto. She has published articles in Rethinking Schools, Elements and Crucible Magazines, and teachers' guides for Penguin Books and the Canadian Organization for Tropical Education and Rainforest Education. In 2017, Beth received a Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence from Justin Trudeau. In 2019, she was awarded a Fellowship at the Lowell Milken Center in Fort Scott, Kansas.
Beth can be reached at [email protected] and @bethkalexander.
Biljana Cavic
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Biljana has been teaching intermediate science and senior chemistry and physics at Linden since 2005. She previously spent ten years at the University of Toronto, where she lectured and participated in fundamental and industry-related research projects in the area of biosensors and biomaterials.
Biljana can be reached at [email protected].
Deanna Harris
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This is Deanna's sixth year at Linden. This year, Deanna will be teaching Grade 11 and 12 Biology, Grade 8 Science, Grade 10 Civics and Careers, and Grade 12 Data Management. She comes to Linden with a strong background in statistics and the biological sciences, as well as an appreciation for those interactions that occur at the interface of biology and society. As she is also a trained senior history teacher, her science teaching tends to take an interdisciplinary approach, with a considerable emphasis on Science-Technology-Society-Environment (STSE) curriculum connections. Principles of equity and inclusion are also foundational to Deanna’s teaching, as she seeks to shed light on issues of power and privilege that influence what scientific questions are asked; what sorts of research gets done and by whom; as well as how scientific endeavours may benefit some and exploit others. Through her teaching, she hopes to encourage her students to develop their social consciousness and become meaningful contributors to the society in which they live.
Deanna can be reached at [email protected].
Jessica Fountain
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Jessica graduated from Western University as a part of the first class with a speciality in Math Aesthetics and a focus on coding. She will be teaching Grade 8 Math as well as spending time with the Early Learners, and Grade 1-2 students teaching Music, Movement and Drama, Outdoor Education, and CERES. Before coming to Linden, Jessica worked in a wide variety of recreational and educational programs, often developing and delivering her own curriculums. These experiences have given her a real appreciation for the amount of learning that occurs in non-traditional settings and a passion for teaching extracurricular programs. In her free time, Jessica loves to cook, has a passion for fitness, and is always looking for a new opportunity to learn and grow.
Jessica can be reached at [email protected].
Kelley Ruys de Perez
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Kelley will be teaching Grade 7 Math, History and Geography and Grade 3/4 French this year. Kelley has been teaching for 20 years in both public and independent schools, including the Bishop Strachan School (her alma mater). Kelley has additional qualifications in Guidance, Mathematics (Specialist), Reading (Specialist), Special Education (Specialist - pending), Health & Physical Education (Intermediate), ESL and Integration of Information & Technology in Instruction. Kelley recognizes the need for creating a compassionate and safe community with inclusive and differentiated instruction and assessment practices relating learning to real-life and global issues. Kelley can be reached at [email protected].
Sang Lee
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Sang teaches intermediate and senior math and science classes at Linden. Sang has a love of learning and continues to learn while teaching at Linden by taking courses at the University of Toronto SCS, Harvard Summer School, and the University of Helsinki. With his further studies at these institutions, he hopes to instill a love of learning and bring world-class education to his students at Linden. Read more about Sang.
Sang can be reached at [email protected].
Languages
Arden Rogow-Bales
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Arden is the Latin and Classics teacher. She is very excited to introduce Linden students to the Latin language and to the rich literary traditions of Ancient Greece and Rome. A teacher, translator, musician, and writer, Arden is proof that a Classical education really does prepare you for anything.
Arden can be reached at [email protected].
Céleste Hamilton
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Céleste graduated from OISE’s Master of Teaching program with a teachable in French as a second language (Junior-Intermediate). She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto in French Literature, English Literature, and Visual Arts. Céleste is new to Linden and is looking forward to teaching Grades 4-8 French. She has over five years of educator experience working with youth and children in a bilingual role at the Toronto Zoo, the Rouge National Urban Park, and the Toronto French School. She also lived in Trois-Rivières, Québec for a year as part of Odyssey, where she taught English in a French-language high school. Céleste is passionate about making language learning fun and relevant for her students. She was drawn to Linden’s student-centered vision and its welcoming atmosphere. In her spare time, Céleste loves to paint and go for long bike rides and hikes.
Céleste can be reached at [email protected].
Martin Ramirez
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Martin has been at Linden since 2005 and teaches middle and senior school Spanish and English as a Second Language. He is passionate about not only teaching the language but also enabling his student to better understand the rich culture of Spanish-speaking people through exposure to Spanish and Latin American literature and history.
Martin can be reached at [email protected].
Melody Barclay
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Melody teaches Grade 4-5 and also French to K-3. Having completed a major in Equity Studies in her undergraduate degree, she enjoys teaching at a school where she can weave her knowledge of social justice into her teaching of the curriculum. Melody believes in the value of community in the classroom and ensuring a space where all students feel welcome. She is pursuing a Master of Education in Language and Literacy Education at OISE/UT and is excited to apply her new learning.
Melody can be reached at [email protected].
Wendy Marie Jeanne
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Wendy has 15 years experiencing teaching French to elementary and secondary students, including International Baccalaureate teaching experience in Canada. She speaks English, French, and Creole. She earned a Bachelor of Education at the Open University of Mauritius, and has participated in ongoing professional development including the ZEP (Zone d'education prioritaire) which emphasized adopting the right pedagogy to help students with learning difficulties and disorders. Her passion for life-long learning and appreciation for world culture fuelled her desire to be an educator. Wendy encourages all her students to learn multiple languages and experience the diverse cultures of the world through language and travel. Empowering students with critical thinking skills and helping them through meaningful and assertive conversations to create their own truth is one of her life’s main goals. She strives to help students develop their unique voice and feel a true sense of belonging through engagement with language, words, and art.
Wendy can be reached at [email protected].
Physical and Health Education
Natalie Stephenson
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Natalie is delighted to be joining the Linden community as Athletics Director. She was drawn to Linden because of its unique mission statement which supports the development of the female voice. After graduating, she taught for two years in Australia’s rural Northern Territory supporting seniors students to complete their studies and be accepted into exclusive drama schools in Australia. She spent two years in London, where she taught in both elementary and secondary schools across multiple teaching areas. Natalie then returned to Australia for several years teaching a wide range of subjects in secondary schools. Since arriving in Canada, Natalie has been working at Rosedale Day School. In 2018 Natalie was a part of a team who developed a Talented Athletes program for secondary school students in Beenleigh, Queensland. Her program, Excellence in Netball, allowed students to train and compete weekly (as a selected subject) as well as learn specific nutrition for training and muscle development. Her Phys Ed classes will focus on ownership over your body, strength and confidence, potential and spiritual growth. Outside of the classroom Natalie enjoys spending time at the theatre, hiking in new locations and salsa dancing.
Natalie can be reached at [email protected].
Sarah Barbour
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Sarah is excited to join Linden to teach elementary Phys Ed. In addition to being an educator, she has enjoyed a career as a Physical Therapist, and brings a wealth of knowledge in exercise prescription, disease prevention and health promotion. As an educator with The Scientists in the School organization, Sarah has presented workshops focusing on science and STEM enrichment to kindergarten students across Canada. Sarah’s goal for the elementary Phys Ed program is to create a fun, inclusive community of kindness within the classroom. She strives to earn the respect of her students while helping them to develop confidence through sport. Her goal is to create a space in which students feel safe, their ideas are heard, their concerns addressed, and their mistakes viewed as crucial to learning. She looks forward to fostering an environment in which students will embrace athletics, push themselves to achieve their best, and ultimately become citizens who are active for life. In her free time, Sarah enjoys cycling, skiing, baking and spending time with her husband and children. Sarah can be reached at [email protected].
Primary and Junior School
Melody Barclay
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Melody teaches Grade 4-5 and also French to K-3. Having completed a major in Equity Studies in her undergraduate degree, she enjoys teaching at a school where she can weave her knowledge of social justice into her teaching of the curriculum. Melody believes in the value of community in the classroom and ensuring a space where all students feel welcome. She is pursuing a Master of Education in Language and Literacy Education at OISE/UT and is excited to apply her new learning.
Melody can be reached at [email protected].
Elise Eisenkraft Klein
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Former Linden student Elise will teach Grade 3 this year, as well as Grades 3-5 Outdoor Education, and K-2 Art. She is invested in cultivating trust with students in her care, and believes in the importance of taking children's emotional lives seriously. She comes to Linden with more than ten years experience working with children and youth in many capacities, including teaching Grade 1 at Niteo Hybrid Schools, focusing on inquiry-based outdoor learning. Elise completed an Additional Qualification in elementary Special Education, and has extensive experience working with students with many learning needs and styles. She is committed to tailoring her pedagogical approach to each student individually, working together with families to provide the most useful and compassionate support. Elise's OISE research project focused on using Afrofuturism and Indigenous speculative fiction as tools for deepening literacy engagement, and exploring history and other STEAM subjects. She is excited to bring this approach to Linden's elementary program, and continue finding creative ways to help students navigate the world around them thoughtfully and critically. When not teaching, Elise spends time playing fiddle and klezmer violin music, watching and reading sci-fi, cooking, and biking in nature.
Elise can be reached at [email protected].
Meaghan Bedal Grunberg
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Meaghan is joining The Linden School to teach Grade 6. She holds a Bachelor of Education with a concentration on Social Justice in the Classroom, as well as a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Film and Media Studies, both from Queen’s University. She has previous experience working in elementary and middle school classrooms of all grades, as well as in support roles for students with special needs. Most recently, she taught Grade 4/5 Homeroom, French and Theatre at Voice Integrative School in Toronto. She is passionate about bringing the arts into her classroom and uses a project-based approach to teaching and learning. Meaghan is excited to work with a group of educators who also prioritize addressing equity and social justice issues in the classroom. When she’s not teaching, Meaghan enjoys frequenting live music and theatre, reading, and exploring new coffee shops around the city.
Meaghan can be reached at [email protected].
Sanchia Amor
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Sanchia teaches Grades 1-2. Before coming to Linden, Sanchia worked at international schools in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. She is glad to be back in Canada and to have found a school that aligns with her pedagogy. Sanchia has experience working with a variety of curriculum, including the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program. She is passionate about empowering girls by fostering a classroom culture where students see themselves, their ideas, and their thoughts reflected in the curriculum. Through play- and inquiry-based learning, Sanchia aims to cultivate a positive learning environment whereby content is delivered through a student-centered lens. When she’s not at Linden, Sanchia spends her time with family, exploring nature, and reading about recent research in child development and educational practice.
Sanchia can be reached at [email protected].
Kathrin Cornibert
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Kathrin loves that leadership skills are at the forefront at Linden. As the new kindergarten teacher, she looks forward to encouraging Linden’s youngest students to think critically about issues that are important to them, and helping them to find ways to advocate for what they believe in. Kathrin completed her undergrad at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) and her Masters at OISE, where she is currently a candidate for her Doctor of Education. She has taught in Canada, Kuwait, and Barbados. A believer in head and heart teaching, Kathrin knows that all children are competent and capable if you provide them with the opportunity to explore, learn, grow and thrive. How you teach, she says, is as important as what you teach. She looks forward to fostering a safe and inclusive environment, and implementing a developmentally appropriate practice that is culturally relevant and responsive to students’ individual needs and backgrounds. Kathrin enjoys spending time with loved ones, cooking, watching Food Network, exploring different cultures through food, dancing, listening to music, traveling, and trying new things. Kathrin can be reached at [email protected].
Visual and Performance Art
Joanna Marshall
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This is Joanna's first year at Linden. Joanna will be teaching Grades 6-12 Visual Art and Grade 11 Media Arts. She completed post-secondary studies in Visual Arts and New Media Arts at OCAD University, and has many years of experience teaching Art, as well as English and ESL. She is eager to inspire children and youth on their own creative journeys, using traditional and non-traditional media. She encourages curiosity and challenges students to find multiple routes to self-expression and to explore multiple perspectives on artists, artefacts and histories.
Joanna can be reached at [email protected].
Molly Tucci
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Molly has been teaching music since 2015. She studied classical violin with Dr. Jeremy Bell at Wilfrid Laurier University and Baroque violin with Jeanne Lamon in Toronto. Molly was a core member of the Cor Unum Ensemble from 2016-2019, and has enjoyed teaching with the non-profit after school program Sistema Toronto. She is actively working to break down the Eurocentric and exclusionary nature of classical music education in her classroom. Molly holds a strong belief in music’s ability to heal and build connection, and works to keep her classes collaborative and fun!
Molly can be reached at [email protected].