Homeroom Teachers
D-PREP offers experienced, highly qualified English native speaker teachers from all over the world who are passionate about helping students realize their potential through forming meaningful relationships with their students and their commitment to being life-long learners in education.
D-PREP Teachers
At our school, our teachers and staff don’t believe there is a “bad” or “flawed” child. The teacher’s role is to protect the best interests of every child, to believe in them, and to help them build the skills they need to overcome any challenge.
At D-PREP, teachers and staff are expected to actively self-reflect their own teaching practices in order to best support the different needs and abilities of all students. Our teachers see themselves as educational researchers who are genuinely curious about students’ development and continually seek new strategies in teaching and learning.
Our D-PREP Homeroom Teachers
Ms. Katherine Arntson-Kynn
Nursery Homeroom Teacher
We as teachers give students the starting point and destination, and the students draw their paths to reach it.
Bachelor of Arts in Theater
~ University of Florida, USA
Teaching Certification, TeacherReady Program
~ University of West Florida, USA
Ms. Lyndi Grebe
Nursery Homeroom Teacher
My teaching philosophy is based on the belief that student’s happiness is vital to all learning. If students feel happy and safe they will enjoy learning. The more happiness students find in learning the greater their curiosity will become and the bigger the risks they will take. As said by Jeff Olson: “Success does not lead to happiness – It’s the other way around. Greater happiness is what leads to greater success.”
Bachelor of Science: Education
~ Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), South Africa
Honours (Post Graduate Degree): Education with main subject Special Needs Education
~ Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), South Africa
Ms. Stella Rusel
Nursery Homeroom Teacher
Students learn best when they feel valued, comfortable, safe, and loved. To quote one of the most famous philosophers, Aristotle, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”
Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science
~ University of Santo Tomas
Masters in Special Education
~ University of Northampton
Ms. Anna Zhuravskiy
Kindergarten Homeroom Teacher
My teaching philosophy coincides with the IB philosophy to create inquisitive, creative, and free-thinking students who will go on to effect significant change in the future and the world. I seek to produce effective learning through play and inquiry-based learning as these techniques allow students to explore and share their thoughts and questions about their learning. This type of education helps cultivate curiosity and teaches skills that students can use to further explore subjects they are interested in. Positive reinforcement and inclusivity are also very important. A positive and inclusive classroom environment can lead to a love for the learning and help students achieve their dreams and goals.
Bachelor’s Degree in Education, English, and ESL
~ Rider University
Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education with IB certification
US Teaching Certification
Certification in Early Years Foundation Stage
Mr. David Schardt
Kindergarten Homeroom Teacher
I believe that students learn when they are engaged. The key is keeping them engaged. This requires communication and empathy towards your students. When they are engaged you rarely discipline problems and they will learn without realizing it. This can be achieved through a stimulating educational environment where they can grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. It is my goal to create this type of atmosphere every day. In this environment students are invited to share their ideas and take risks. I will incorporate hands-on learning, cooperative learning, projects, themes, and individual work that engage and activate students learning.
Bachelor of Science, Major in Recreation and Park Management
~ Southeast Missouri State University
Master’s of Education
~ Asian University in Thailand
Ms. Mia Ali
Kindergarten Homeroom Teacher
I believe that all students are unique and bring something special to their education. My role as a teacher is to assist each child in developing their own potential and learning style.
Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Affairs and Latin American Studies
~ University of Virginia, USA
Masters in Education, Globalization in Education
~ Moreland University
Ms. Rebecca Warkentin
Primary School Homeroom Teacher
I believe that teaching is the balance between teachers and students collaborating to ask questions, research and create. Building a positive and safe learning environment that enhances student engagement, imagination, experimentation and relationships.
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education
~ University of Winnipeg (Canada)
Mr. Ramon Toralba
Primary School Homeroom Teacher
As a mentor, I relate to students in a more personal, relational way, one that enables empathy, cooperative learning, and reciprocity. I encourage the idea of always creating, because creative energy leads to action, to exploration, to taking risks, and providing value to the world.
Bachelor of Arts, Geography and History
~ University of Winnipeg, Canada
Bachelor of Education
~ University of Winnipeg (Canada)
Ms. Donna Matheson-LeFort
Primary School Homeroom Teacher
I believe the classroom is a living community and that everyone, from the principal to the the students to the parents, must contribute in order to maintain a positive atmosphere.
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
~ Dalhousie University
Bachelor of Arts, Honours in Anthropology
~ St. Mary’s University
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
~ University of Nottingham
Master of Science Candidate Psychological Practice
~ University of Edinburgh
Ms. Alexandra Blanchard
Primary School Homeroom Teacher
I believe we learn by making mistakes. My goal is to create a positive learning environment where students become confident risk takers and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Bachelor of Arts in Education, Elementary Education Diversity in Language and Learning
~ Arizona State University, USA
Master of Education, Educational Administration and Leadership
~ Grand Canyon University, USA
Ms. Julia Xistris
Primary School Homeroom Teacher
I believe in building strong relationships emphasizing respect, encouragement, and caring for each other. At the same time, I believe in fostering creativity, communication, critical thinking, and hands-on problem-solving skills so that students can work together to solve real-world problems as they learn to make positive contributions to our community, as well as our global society.
My experience includes 14 years of teaching in the United States as a classroom teacher and as a K-5 technology/STEM teacher. I am a Project Lead the Way Master Teacher; I train and certify educators in a STEM-focused project-based learning curriculum.
Bachelor’s Degree of Science in German and Education
~ University of Wisconsin-Madison
Master’s Degree in Educational Technology
~ Marian University
Post-Baccalaureate Degree in Elementary Education
~ Arizona State University
Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200) and Certified Social-Emotional Learning Facilitator
K-12 ELL Teaching License
Working at D-PREP
For information about job openings, visit the our jobs page.