• Empowering Language Learners Through Engaging ESL Education

    A globally-minded educator with over 15 years of progressive experience across Canada and Asia, I am passionate about creating dynamic, inquiry-based classrooms where language acquisition and holistic development converge. My journey from early childhood and special needs support in Ontario to a certified ESL and IB educator in China has equipped me with a versatile, student-centered toolkit. I am proficient in designing and delivering curriculum within the IB PYP framework, integrating Montessori-inspired principles, and leveraging inclusive strategies to engage every learner. My international experience has deepened my commitment to fostering intercultural understanding, critical thinking, and a collaborative classroom community. I am now actively seeking to contribute my leadership in curriculum implementation and my dedication to student growth to a forward-thinking international school.

  • Hello, I am Teacher Leighanna.

    As a person, I am defined by a creative spirit, a collaborative nature, and a profound curiosity about the world—qualities that are the direct foundation of my character as an educator. Growing up in a tight-knit family of four in the Greater Toronto Area instilled in me a deep value for community and mutual support. I carry this into my lifelong passions: the discipline and expressive grace of dance, the patient focus of crafting and photography, and the joyful precision of baking. I am inherently exploratory, whether immersing myself in a new culture through its language and cuisine, finding inspiration in music and global cinema, or embracing the camaraderie of team sports. Crucially, I view teaching as a reciprocal journey; I believe we learn as much from the children—their unique perspectives, resilience, and innate wonder—as we guide them. My hobbies are not just personal joys but practical assets: they fuel my creativity in lesson design, my patience in guiding complex tasks, and my understanding of practice and perseverance. This holistic perspective fuels my desire to connect authentically with students and colleagues and to contribute meaningfully beyond the classroom, always seeking opportunities to support charitable causes. I bring this same dedicated, creative, and reflective energy to every aspect of my life and work.

  • Teaching Goals

    1. Host a quarterly "Learning Gallery" event in my classroom

    Where students act as docents to present their project work, artifacts, and process to families. Each gallery will have a theme (e.g., "Explorers of the Ancient World," "The Poetry of Nature") and create a forum for authentic conversation, celebration, and shared understanding of our inquiry-based learning journey.

    2. Attain a Leadership Role in "Community & Culture"

    My goal is to move into a formal leadership role focused on community and culture, such as a Director of Student Engagement or Community Events Coordinator. I want to apply my passion for creating joyful, inclusive events to design programs that strengthen the entire school's spirit and belonging, using a platform that matches the scale of my vision.

    3. Assume a leadership role in advocating for and modeling inclusive practices

    By designing and delivering training for classroom teachers and staff, empowering them with practical strategies to welcome and support Students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) within mainstream, inquiry-based environments.