Welcome to the Teams page of Evergreen Academy, where we go beyond traditional education to cultivate a nurturing and positive emotional environment.

At Evergreen, we believe in empowering students to explore their own ideas and thoughts, fostering critical thinking, confidence, and personal growth.

We understand that children are like sponges, absorbing not only knowledge but also the beliefs, attitudes, and energy of those around them. That's why we emphasize creating a community where these underlying values support each child's development.

Our faculty members are carefully selected for their positive attitudes, alignment with core beliefs and values, and commitment to their own personal growth. Together, we strive to inspire and guide students on their journey of discovery and learning. Discover the passionate educators who make Evergreen Academy a place where students thrive.

Our Dream Team

Mrs. Tanya Nicoloff, Principal

Founder and principal at Evergreen Academy. I am a mother of 4, a certified nutritional practitioner, a serial entrepreneur and an educator. I have been a Montessori teacher and a POD teacher for 6 years. I have a passion to see our children thrive by giving them the opportunity to have a safe place for free expression and critical thought. I am a Christian and believe that our sovereignty is a right from God. Excited to embark on this revolutionary way to educate our children.

Mr. Simon Wolfson, Vice Principal - STEAM

I have worked in the private school industry for over 20 years. I helped administer and grow a private school to nearly 300 students. As a minority shareholder, I played a pivotal role in nurturing the sense of community and innovating our approach. I recognized that a highly academic model of education comes at a cost, and I also strongly believed there were better ways to inspire children to learn with a sense of purpose. Driven to start a school that was more in line with my values and beliefs. In 2018 we launched Evergreen Leadership Academy. I am excited to have Evergreen Academy launch this year 2022!! Reinventing a model of education which honours the potential of our children has become my life's work.

Mrs. Sacha Lalla, Board Member

I am a mother of two with over 15 years of being an entrepreneur in the realm of personal development and Gestalt Therapy. I hold an Honors degree in Abnormal and Developmental Psychology from the University of Toronto, with honesty, integrity, and authenticity being the core values that guide my work. My husband and I are big proponents of attachment style parenting and strongly believe that children are to be nurtured according to their individual needs thus enabling their optimal growth and development. I deeply believe in the team and values of Evergreen Academy and am excited to be part of the team.

Mrs. Ella Stefan

I am an educator with over 25 years of experience. I have been teaching different subjects as a primary school teacher In Romania, then continued my practice as an early childhood educator, playing to learn with children ages 1 to 6. I am an art and nature lover, and I will use any occasion to integrate them in our activities, following children’s interests and curiosity. I am so excited to meet our students and their families, learn about each other, and start a strong, fruitful relationship. I am enthusiastic to be part of the Evergreen Academy family.

Mrs. Kerri Dolson

After playing teacher as a child with my teddy bears and dolls, I always knew in my heart that I wanted to be a teacher. Being a Holistic Nutritionist, I spent a lot of time teaching/ mentoring and lecturing to an adult community, but watching children learn and grow is where the magic happens. I have an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and Health Sciences and I love sharing my passion for anatomy, natural health and healing, physical activity, and food and nutrition with children (and adults!).

I helped run a pod schooling group in 2021 and loved every minute of it. I hope that I can help the children in our community thrive, grow, and find all that they're capable of!

Mrs. Shahira Hassanien

With a background in education I specialized in teaching English as a second language and Early Childhood Education, I have over 10 years of teaching experience within Montessori, Elementary, and IB PYP schools both locally and International Schools abroad. When I wasn’t working within the walls of traditional schools I was homeschooling my young daughters and completing my masters in international education. Being a versatile and creative educator, I have taken the opportunity to instruct a wide variety of students from various backgrounds. As a result, I am a compassionate educator who remains sensitive to children’s unique needs, offering positive encouragement and reinforcement to keep students and teachers focused and motivated about learning.

Ms. Mary Doyle - Music & Drama

Hi everyone, I am Mary! I, like so many other teachers, began to see teaching as my dream job when I was quite young. The first teacher to inspire me to become a teacher was my grade 7 drama teacher. I knew that I wanted to foster creativity for others like she did for me. I did my undergraduate degree in Theatre Studies and used my love for theatre in all of classrooms I had the honour to teach in. I grew up in a musical family and I believe that music adds a vibrant dimension to learning, engaging students both intellectually and emotionally. Whether through singing, playing instruments, or studying music theory, students develop discipline, concentration, and a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity. I am so pleased to join the Evergreen Academy team a homeroom teacher and the music & drama teacher. Together, drama and music create a holistic learning environment that celebrates individuality and cultivates a well-rounded understanding of human expression, and I cannot wait to bring my love for both to the school.

Mr. Sean Michael Stinson - Visual Art Teacher

I graduated from the Biomedical Sciences program at the University of Guelph. Throughout my career, I've had the pleasure of collaborating with research scientists across various fields, assisting in their analytical work to solve diverse problems. Later on, I transitioned to working closely with local physicians, primarily focusing on reviewing research papers and facilitating continuing medical education programs.

In 2017, I retired and embarked on a new chapter, moving full-time aboard a catamaran in the Caribbean with my wife Julie, who is legally blind. Neither of us had any prior sailing experience or had ventured onto the open sea. Despite the challenges, we embraced many adventures until the onset of the pandemic prompted us to settle ashore. We found ourselves living in a small cabana beside the volcano Baru in Panama.

During this time, I discovered a passion for teaching art online, which both children and I found immensely rewarding. In 2021, I returned to Canada and began working as an Art Instructor at Lollipop Art Lounge in Oakville, Ontario. I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to join Evergreen Academy as their Art Teacher this fall 2024. I am excited to meet all the children and fellow teachers and embark on this new journey together.

Ms. Amanda Morelli - Phys Ed / Health Educator

After coaching two different sports from recreational to International level for 20 years I had a clear understanding that my passion was teaching children and helping them achieve new heights.  I created my own elite training center for athletes to train and thrive.

I had been a high-level athlete myself in many sports but had to make a choice of sport at the age of 15 which resulted in moving away from home to train at an International Training Centre for many years which led me to my career which was developing athletes and I traveled across the country and the USA to train other athletes to their full potential.

After staying at home for numerous years to raise my two children, I decided to get back to the workplace and began as a Vice Principal, grade 2/3 teacher, supply teacher, one on one support teacher and now I am honored to mix my passion of sports and teaching as the new EVERGREENS PHYSICAL LITERACY TEACHER!

This school has all of the amenities I need to create a fun and safe environment to teach and grow students in many different sports. I am ready to take Evergreen students to their full potential in physical literacy!

Ms. Becca Winship - School Chef

I have a love for creativity in the kitchen! I have worked at many different kinds of restaurants. I love making creative meals for my kids and at Evergreen, the menu is nutritious, and fun. The environment is rewarding and I love combining my passion with education.