Our Teachers and Staff
Ty Anderson
Ty has been a teacher at WillowWood since September 2017. Being a middle-school teacher as well as the lower-school French teacher, he has been able to enjoy getting to know much of the WillowWood community and appreciates many of the positive moments he has experienced. Ty studied Physical Education at Brock University prior to taking his B.Ed at York University. He is an avid traveller who has lived + visited over 14 different countries and enjoys exploring different cultures, cuisines, traditions and environments. Ty coaches Dodgeball at WillowWood to lower and middle school and on his free time works towards improving his handstands. He is looking forward to having another great year ahead in the 2026-2027 school year at WillowWood!
Shannon Anderson-Kamdar
Shannon joined the WillowWood team in February 2024 as a High School Science and Math teacher. Originally from New Brunswick, Shannon got her Bachelor of Science in Biology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. After spending a few summers hosting sea kayaking tours to see seabirds and whales, she worked with Parks Canada, as well as the Saskatchewan and Canadian Wildlife Federations, connecting youth with volunteer opportunities in conservation across the country. She later earned her teaching degree from St. Thomas University in Fredericton, NB. In her free time, she loves to play sports, hike, camp, and spend time on the water.
Skye Baziuk
Skye joined the WillowWood team in May 2023, first teaching Grade 6 and now working with our Grade 4 students. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Education from Trent University, and a Master of Education from the University of Calgary. Her passion for teaching and supporting others has been lifelong — in high school, she traveled to Kenya to help build a school for a local community, an experience that deepened her commitment to education. In her spare time, she enjoys focusing on wellness, reading a good book, and getting creative with arts and crafts.
Jamie Bearg-Pustil
Jamie is a 26-year veteran teacher in the Lower School, joining WW in the year 2000. She taught grade 3 homeroom classes initially and then moved into her role as a Resource teacher providing individual and small group support programs. Jamie finished her BA at York in 1998 and her BEd at Western in 2000, with her Spec Ed AQ. She’s the mom of two teenage girls, and when she’s not teaching, she loves to play tennis, does yoga, and walks her standard poodle, Ozzy.
Maria Bucsit
Maria joined WillowWood in September 2019 as a High School Math teacher. She studied Civil Engineering at Seneca and Lakehead between 2014 and 2019 and brings a wealth of varied experiences with her – she has been a Math Professor and Statistician, a Lay-out Artist, and a Land Surveyor. She coaches Volleyball, loves Anime, and finished the first version of the game Diablo.
Jeff Clayton
Jeff Clayton started with WillowWood in 1996 as a volunteer, joining as a Middle School homeroom teacher in 98. He moved over time into the High School, and into the Office, and now works part-time as Communications Director, along with teaching Film and English. Jeff also makes art when he’s not working – comics, music, film, writing – and his favourite part of teaching is the jokes.
Warren Cotton
Warren joined WillowWood as a High School Science and Math teacher in 2021. He studied Astrophysics and Philosophy of Science at the University of Toronto and completed his teaching degree at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games, painting miniatures, cheering for the Edmonton Oilers, and reminiscing of past shows played with his former band. His favourite parts of teaching are helping students to work through questions one-on-one and the free coffee from the office.
Walid Dowdie
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Walid started working at WillowWood as a high school Drama teacher in 2000 after finishing his Degrees at York University (History and Education). His role has since evolved, and he is now the Head of the English Department, teaches English and History, and is the HS Summer School Coordinator. Walid leads the Student Council and is the Teacher Rep on the Health and Safety Committee. Fun Fact: Walid wrote a play titled 'By Any Means Necessary' that won an award at the Sears Drama Festival in 1993.
Adrienne Goodman
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Adrienne joined the WillowWood community in 2014. With a Bachelor of Education and a Master’s in Educational Psychology from McGill University, she brings a deep understanding of both teaching and learning to WillowWood. Beginning as a shadow, Adrienne has grown into a key leader within the Lower and Middle Schools, working closely with teachers, students, and parents to create an enriching and supportive environment. Passionate about recognizing each student’s unique potential, she is dedicated to helping them thrive academically and personally. With an open-door policy and a commitment to collaboration, Adrienne is always happy to connect and support the WillowWood community.
Joel Godfrey​
Joel is a seasoned music producer, sound engineer, and audio specialist with over a decade of experience turning ideas into soundscapes. He studied Music Production and Audio Engineering at Audio Masterclass (UK) and is also a pharmacologist from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. When he’s not in the studio crafting sonic magic, Joel’s either talking about music, playing soccer, or crushing it at ping pong—always keeping life in perfect rhythm.
Adam Harper
Adam is a member of our High School teaching staff who has been teaching at WillowWood since 2016 and has begun new roles in both our Guidance and Athletics Departments. He graduated from Trent University with a B.A (Honours) in History & English before attaining his B.Ed. Adam has over a decade of experience working with neurodivergent children and truly sees the importance of fostering a strong teacher-learner relationship as being pivotal to learning. His passions are Hockey, Golf, poetry and cooking new foods. His goal is to ensure a fun, inclusive learning environment in which students grow to understand themselves and the importance of the decisions they are making now. Be it through teaching or coaching, Adam looks forward to learning more about you soon!
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Yvonne Huynh
Yvonne joined WillowWood in 2021 as a Grade 4 teacher. She received her Bachelor of Education degree at Brock University and she spent 4 years teaching overseas in South Korea and England. She enjoys bringing new elements into her classroom and finding new ways to inspire her students. In her spare time, she loves to travel and see new places as well as make homemade greeting cards.
Kemeny Jones
Kemeny joined Willow Wood in September 2017 as an Education Assistant in the Foundations Class. Over the years, she’s worn many hats, including teaching various subjects within lower and middle school, providing administrative support, and currently coordinates the Aftercare Program. She spearheaded the launch of the SK program in 2022 and has since made valuable contributions to its development. She studied Psychology & Communication Studies at York University and has a vast professional background in a variety of business, non-profit, media & communications, and educational roles. Outside of work, she enjoys travelling, spending time outdoors, creating short films, playing the guitar, and cycling.
Yuriy Kudelya
This will be the first full year for Yuriy as part of our WillowWood family. After doing some supply work and teaching in the Lower School at the end of last term, he’s excited to bring fresh energy to gym, language, and music classes for the little ones. Soon after earning a bachelor’s degree in international relations in his homeland of Ukraine, Yuriy began his career in education on the opposite side of the globe - in China. Nearly ten years of dynamic elementary school teaching have given him a wealth of experience, both in the classroom and on the playground.
He is a big fan of tennis, soccer (make sure to sign up quickly for the club), Chinese cuisine, and festival cinema. Another of Yuriy’s great passions is cycling - he’s ridden over 3,000 kilometers of Ontario roads in just three summers!
Zachary Lawrence
Zachary joined us in February 2016 as a High School English teacher – but within a year or two, he’d also taken AQ courses in Computer Programming and founded High School courses in the same, which are well-attended. He regularly attends conferences and events to stay up to date on advances in the IT industry. Zach earned his Honours Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto.
He is a giant Technology enthusiast – he also co-leads different technology-based clubs with Bryan and is the go-to for all tech issues in the school. Outside of school, he enjoys reading, playing board games, and watching different television series.
Andrew Leizer
WillowWood’s favourite Gym teacher went to WillowWood for 6 years when he was a wee boy! He says it “helped shape me as a student and person,” and he returned to teach with us after studying at the University of Guelph. He is the very proud father of one puppy (Carter) and two human baby girls, named Haydyn and Sienna! Andrew can always be found munching on pumpkin seeds.
Meredith Morrison
Meredith joined Willowwood in 2021 as a jack-of-all-trades high school teacher and has taught English, physical education, social sciences, and computer studies. She studied journalism at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) and then earned her Masters of Teaching at the University of Toronto. In her spare time, Meredith teaches fitness classes (spin, barre, and aerial hoop), bakes cupcakes, and reads high-fantasy fiction novels. Fun Fact: Meredith co-wrote a book!
Rosie Ortiz
Rosie joined WillowWood School as a Drama and English Teacher. She is a Scholar who holds a Bachelor's Degree in English and a Teaching Degree from the University of Panama. Rosie also has a Master's Degree in Education and an International Education Specialization from the University of Toronto (in which she was the Valedictorian student); earning academic awards at both universities. She moved into an administrative position with the role of International Student Coordinator - responsible for developing and maintaining ESL programs and courses to enhance student and community life and is now known to students across the Globe as a second Mother. She is also our IELTS Coordinator and is fluent in three languages. She loves to teach, travel, learn, and grow.
Jelena Perkić
Jelena Perkić is a member of WillowWood’s teaching staff and has been inspiring students for almost 20 years. She obtained her Honours Bachelor’s Degree in History and Geography and her Bachelor of Education from York University. Most recently, she earned her Specialist in Special Education from Trent University, further strengthening her commitment to inclusive education. In addition to teaching, Jelena serves as WillowWood’s Athletic Director and has designed more than 30 courses for the school. She is especially proud of introducing WillowWood’s recycling program and, together with her colleague Steve Taylor, achieving EcoSchool Platinum recognition, the highest recognition awarded to a school. Outside of school, you’ll often find Jelena forest bathing, and she recently completed an 11-day silent meditation retreat. Jelena hopes to build meaningful relationships with students and help them realize their full potential through her work as a teacher, coach, and leader.
Hilary Rahbar
Hilary was born and raised in Toronto and attended York University to obtain both her undergrad and teaching degrees. Her passion for the performing arts was fostered at a young age, through competitive dance and musical theatre, and she cherishes the opportunity to share her enthusiasm with the WillowWood community as the director of the annual school musical. Hilary enjoys spending her free time in nature, with her family and friends nearby. Since the first time Hilary walked through the WillowWood doors in September of 2008, she knew she had found her “forever home”. 17 years later, she is still looking forward to opening her classroom doors and extending her WillowWood family.
Bryan Reigate
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Bryan joined WillowWood on his actual birthday, in September 2000. He has been a Middle School teacher since, providing a calm center to the drama-filled classrooms of young teenagers. He earned an Honours BA from U of T, and a Bachelor of Education from OISE. Bryan collaborates widely in WillowWood’s Podcast Club, Robotics Club, Student Council and Coach (Ultimate, Bowling, and Softball).
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Bryan is an avid collector of comic books and sportscards. He is a veritable media mogul, with a solo podcast (Comics and History) and a YouTube channel containing over 200 flipped classroom channels of his own design. While he was born sometime in 1953, Bryan looks nowhere near as old as his birth certificate states. Scientists and archaeologists speculate that he is a clone and/ or a time traveller.
Matt Rusinek
Matt joined WillowWood in 2015 after working with us in a placement during his Bachelor of Education at York U. He also earned his Bachelor of Biomedical Science Degree at the University of Guelph 2010. He’s taught French, Science, and Physics in our High School, along with spearheading and running the My Willow online platform and related digital services. He is an effective meditation teacher and has impacted many students and teachers with his calming guidance. On the other hand – Matt is an inveterate sensation seeker and can be found climbing trees and scaling cliffs in his spare time. When Matt was younger, he worked as a medical researcher in the field of Pediatric Ophthalmology at SickKids in Toronto and Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia, and started a business to help young artists across Canada gain notoriety and a steadier income from their work.
Jennifer Smith
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Jenn joined WillowWood in 2019 as our Grade 5 homeroom teacher. She studied Journalism at Loyalist College from 2009-2012, did an Honours Bachelor Degree at York, and then headed to Lakehead U to earn her Education degree. She taught in London, England for 10 years – which is where she fell in love with Harry Potter and was inspired to bring witches and wizards, magical creatures, and various animals into her classroom. She invites you to come visit!
Sari Schacter
Sari joined WillowWood in 2007. Initially she worked one-on-one with students, then taught in the Lower and Middle School. She became a TOSS teacher in 2012, fully revamping the program with a colleague, and is the head of that program today. Sari attended Concordia University (Child Studies BA) and then worked as a social worker in group homes and working with children). Sari also works with many charities, including Reena Foundation, Sick Kids' and Toronto Western Hospitals. Her family home is a famous Halloween stop, annually decorated with lights, fog, scary sounds and terrifying dioramas created by her husband. Sari loves her summers in Jamaica.
Jason Singh
Jason joined WillowWood in September 2019 as the grade 6 homeroom teacher. He has a B.A. from the University of Toronto and graduated teachers' college at O.I.S.E. He loves to travel and has been to over 20 countries. He is also a supervisor at the historic Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre in downtown Toronto in his spare time. He is an avid basketball fan, GO RAPS! He also enjoys playing video games, especially NBA 2k.
Heather Spicer
Heather joined WillowWood in 2017 as a High School teacher. She studied History and Education at Lakehead University, and teaches Social Sciences with us - Nutrition, Gender Studies, Contemporary Issues, and Geography. She also coaches an enormous number of Athletic teams (and is a competitive athlete herself) and hails from the curling capital of Canada! She enjoys gardening and cycling and has a very cute dog.
Steve Taylor
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Steve Taylor joined us in 2007 as a Science teacher, eventually becoming Head of Science. He left to do an MBA and has returned since in a Business and Marketing role (and teacher). He earned degrees from Western (Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology) and Ryerson (Masters in Business Administration). Steve is now in charge of all things marketing at WillowWood. He keeps parents and our community informed through our social media channels and handles the promotion of our school. In his spare time, Steve can be found tearing up the trails in a forest on his mountain bike.
John Vicol
John joined WillowWood in 2004 as High School Math teacher, network administrator, and web designer. He finished the Pedagogical college in 1978 and became a teacher of elementary classes when he was only 18 years old. John continued his career in math and in 1978 graduated from the State University of Chisinau. He worked at the Academy of Science of Moldova as a math scientist, and a math professor. He studied computer science and became a Microsoft and Compaq Certified System Engineer. John coaches table tennis, and chess.
Heather Zganec
Heather Zganec began her journey at WillowWood in 1991 as a classroom volunteer and part-time office assistant. Over the years, her dedication and passion for the school community have led her to her current role as Registrar, where she oversees enrollment and student registration. Heather brings creativity and enthusiasm to everything she does, especially when helping to plan special events and fundraisers, such as the High School Formal, Graduation, and Springfest, among others. Outside of school, Heather enjoys crocheting and spending quality time with her family.
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