Meet Our People

Director 

University of Dublin - B.A. in Music (major) and Economics (minor)

University of Toronto / OISE – MEd Developmental Psychology and Education

289-234-8886 Ext.3002

keyizhang@newsteadacademy.ca

It is my sincere pleasure to be a part of the Newstead Team. Working alongside experienced teachers and support staff who are all committed to providing a thriving educational environment for our children is a distinct honour. After spending ten years study and working in Dublin, I moved to Canada and excited to expand my career at Newstead. Together with a team of amazing and creative teachers, I am committed to providing your family with a loving and developmentally sound foundation for a lifetime of learning. At Newstead, we know that play is a child's most important work, and we strive to create and maintain an environment where your child can grow and thrive while exploring the world around them. Thank you for sharing your precious children with us!

Office Manager 

Ryerson University - B.A. in Child & Youth Care

Humber College - Advanced Diploma in Child & Youth Care

289 234 8886 Ext. 3001

adeliadrak@newsteadacademy.ca

Prior to joining the team at Newstead Academy, I spent several years working alongside children in an early childhood Montessori classroom. I have also worked with older children and adolescents in settings such as after-school programs and residential treatment centres. Through these varied experiences, I have come to learn that the first few years of a child’s life are a critical basis for their future development.

My passion lies in building supportive, responsive relationships with children. I firmly believe that this is the foundation for learning and that children are capable of amazing things if given the right opportunities and a safe environment in which to explore. I am excited to be part of the team at Newstead Academy as we work to create such an environment every day.

“The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.”

—Dr. Maria Montessori

Program Coordinator 

York University -Honors B.A. in Children’s Studies

University of Toronto/OISE -MED in Developmental Psychology and Education

ruonanjia@newsteadacademy.ca

289-234-8886 Ext.3008

Hello everyone, my name is Ruonan Jia. Prior to joining Newstead Academy, I have spend 6 years learning within the field of education across all age groups. I received a Bachelor's Degree in Children’s studies from York University, and my master degree in Education from University of Toronto. Having the privilege of conducting research in the domains of Early Childhood, Early Childhood Special Education, Socio-emotional Developments and mental health in the classroom allows me to apply the most scientifically advanced education methods in daily teaching contexts. I also obtained the certificates of advanced teaching skills for classroom management and applied behaviour analysis issued by the Institute of Child Education & Psychology three years ago. I have a true passion for working with our young learners and love having the opportunity to guide and teach little minds. Helping each child progress in all areas of their development—academic, social, language, and motor—is a challenge that I am honoured to accept daily. I strive to create a community of learners that nurtures this growth in a positive, fun environment. I look forward to working together with you as partners in your child’s growth and development!

RECE 

Program Lead Teacher

Fanshawe College – Diploma in Early Childhood Education

 I am so excited to be a part of the team at Newstead Academy. After spending the last ten years as a nanny, I am excited for the change of pace that this opportunity offers. I have always been passionate about child care and I love watching little ones learn and grow. The early years are so exciting because every day they learn something new and I feel so honoured to not only witness their growth but to also play a part in their development. I believe that children have unlimited amounts of potential and in the right environment with gentle guidance, children will develop all the tools they need to succeed! Some of my greatest strengths are my patience and my empathy, so I look forward to being a safe, calm place for your child to spend their days. As a hobby, I spend time crocheting animals that become lifelong friends to children all across Canada. I also love to sing and dance so you can expect your child to come home humming a new song or with a silly new dance move.   “Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.” – Mr. Rogers

RECE

Guru Nanak Dev University-B.A. in Human Genetics

Humber College-Fitness and Health Promotion

Seneca College – Diploma in Early Childhood Education

Hi my name is Manpreet Kaur . I was born in India and moved to Canada in 2016. I had done Bachelor of Human Genetics from India. I came here as an international student in fitness and health promotion program at Humber college. I completed the Early childhood education program at Seneca College in 2019. I started working at Newstead Academy in August 2022. I found a love for teaching here and it’s become a passion. My favourite part about my job is that every day brings something new no two days are the same. I love knowing that my job is to help children achieve their full potential and strive for greatness. But, not only do I teach them, they teach me too. I learn so much from each and every kid that I have the pleasure of teaching. 

When I’m not at work you can find me searching out exploring new places for photoshoots, shopping, love to visit new restaurants and try new food there, cooking, loving adventures and spending time with my friend.

RECE

Preschool Room Teacher

University of Wuhan Institute of Technology – B.A. in Applied English

Centennial College – Diploma in Early Childhood Education

preschool2@newsteadacademy.ca

I grew up in China and moved to Canada 10 years ago, I was an English teacher working with young children when I was in China. I am a proud mama with a 4 years old daughter who is the most precious gift in my whole life. 

It has been 9 years since I am in this career. Prior to joining in Newstead team, I have been blessed with the opportunity to learn and grow within different age groups, also the children with special needs, it has been a joyful and rewarding experience to work with them alongside with their families. Being a professional Registered Early Childhood Educator, I strongly believe that each child is unique and special in their own way. Providing an environment where children are being loved, cared, and respected is my vision. I'm always fascinated by children’s sense of wonder, their ability to soak in knowledge and the way each of their personalities plays a part in the dynamic of the group.

I am strongly good at curriculums which include circle time, creative art crafts, yoga and music. As a teacher in the classroom, I really appreciate that I have the opportunity to explore the world with these little ones.

-“Free the child’s potential, and you will transform him into the world.” –Maria Montessori

RECE

Preschool Room Teacher

George Brown College-Diploma in Early Childhood Education 

preschool3@newsteadacademy.ca

Hello everyone, My name is Cristina and I am an RECE in Preschool 3. I was born and raised in Venezuela and moved to Canada in 2014, so I am fluent in both English and Spanish.
Just a year before moving though, I had the opportunity to work as an assistant in a preschool room. This experience changed my life and I completely fell in love with early childhood, discovering a passion I had no idea I had in me. Once I moved to Canada, I was lucky enough to attend George Brown College, obtaining my diploma in Early Childhood Education in 2018.
Since then, I have had the pleasure of working with all kinds of families and children from 18 to four years of age. I love my job of teaching and having the chance to support families in their children’s journey. If you have any questions, please stop by Preschool 3 where I will be happy to help you in any way I can. Thank you!

Preschool Room Teacher

RECE 

George Brown College - Diploma in Early Childhood Education

Hello, everyone. My name is Camille, and I am grateful to be a part of the amazing team of Newstead Academy. I was born and raised in the Philippines and moved to Canada with my family in 2015.

Working with the children has always been a great experience for me not only as an educator but also as a person. In the past, I had worked with different age groups during my placements and also, prior to joining Newstead Academy, I was given a great opportunity to work as a supply ECE, starting from the infants to preschools, and children with special needs. 

In my leisure time, I enjoy listening to music, doing physical fitness such as cardio exercises and yoga, I also love dancing and taking pictures of my surroundings especially nature that makes me feel calm and brings positivity in every day. I genuinely believe that all children are unique and talented in their own ways and can achieve many great things in the world. I view children as the experts of their imagination, and I am dedicated to supporting and guiding them to bring out their fullest potential by promoting an inclusive and respectful environment through their play. Creating a diverse, respectful, and fun place to play at is the goal I tend to make in building children's resilience, empathy and confidence while they also develop their knowledge and skills at their own pace.

 I am looking forward to growing and learning more new things with all of you, with the children, together with my fellow educators and with the families and communitv.

Early Childhood Assistant 

Chengdu University of Technology-Bachelor in Social Media

Fanshawe College- Public Relations

Hello! My name is Sabrina Li and I am the assistant preschool teacher at Newstead Academy. As a certified and experienced ECA Teacher, I have excellent knowledge and skills to provide guidance, ongoing supervision, and implement programs for kids. Teaching is not just my passion, it is my calling. I started working with children in 2019 and have been in the field ever since. I enjoy children and the opportunity to watch them grow and flourish very much. I feel that they allow you to be yourself and to get in touch with your inner child. I feel very proud and lucky to be part of such a great group of teachers. We are a great team with an incredible passion for each individual child. I believe that this center is a wonderful spot for your child to begin their education both academically and emotionally. 

Early Childhood Assistant

Preschool Room Teacher

Hello! My name is Wahida Atta and I have been an ECA for seven years! I was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and came to Canada 20 years ago. I speak Farsi and English. My husband and I have three beautiful daughters. We love to travel and watch movies together.  

My passion is planning activities and selecting materials that will help the children learn how to express themselves verbally while promoting creativity. It is important for me to create activities that help the children develop good social skills by working together with each other and good coordination skills. I am an excellent problem solver and have great organizational skills. I have a real desire to work with children and the ability to make a connection with them and their families. I am enthusiastic and have the ability and patience to work with all children, including those with special needs. 

Above all else, it is important for me to create a secure environment where the kids feel safe and the parents can rest easy knowing that their children are in good hands. I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to be a part of the Newstead Academy family!

Seneca College - Diploma in Early Childhood Education

Hello, my name is Wen Hua Yu He, also known as Hana and I have completed the Early Childhood Education program at Seneca College. I was born in Chile, but my parents are Chinese, so I can speak Spanish and Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese) fluently. I love to see children happy so that’s why I like to work with them. During my placement in a childcare centre, I incorporate learning goals for children's learning every day, such as learning through play, working with text, problem-solving, experimentation, the study of objects in the environment as well as natural phenomena, and exploring new things around them. I know that learning through play is an effective way to improve children's abilities and children are more likely to acquire knowledge if they do it while playing.  

“The goal of Early Childhood Education should be to activate the child’s own natural desire to learn” -Maria Montessori 

Toddler Room Teacher 

RECE

University of Guelph-Humber - B.A. in Early Childhood Studies

289-234-8886 Ext. 2005

toddler2@newsteadacademy.ca

Hi everyone! My name is Miss Crystal and I am the Toddler 2 Teacher! I am so excited to start this new journey here at Newstead Academy. I am a registered early childhood educator, I have a diploma and a bachelors degree within Early Childhood studies at University of Guelph-Humber and hope to receive my masters degree in Child life studies soon! I have had experience working within the school board, and also private school experience. I have had the greatest opportunity to have teaching moments with children that exhibited ADHD, Autism, Behavioural disorders and Cerebral Palsy. I have had the opportunity to teach children from the ages of 17 months up to the age of 11 years old. 

I believe children thrive in a loving and safe environment that allows endless opportunities for fun, learning and growth. There is nothing as rewarding seeing a child excited to play and learn and seeing them meet their developmental milestones. I cannot wait to meet your sweet children and can’t wait for you to join us! Come along this journey with me at Newstead Academy! 

I’m always here for you! If you ever have any questions for me you can always reach me by phone or email with the contact information listed above!

Kindergarten Room Teacher

University of Toronto / OISE – Master in Teaching

OCT - Member of Ontario Certified Teacher 

Greetings! I am Yue Zhu (Yu•eh Joo), and you are welcomed to call me Ms. ZhuZhu (JooJoo) or Ms. Yue (Yu•eh). It is such an honor and pleasure for me to join Newstead Academy. I graduated from University of Toronto with a degree in Master of Teaching, and I’m an Ontario certified teacher. I have teaching experience in both China and Canada: I taught students reading, writing , math, science, social science in English back in China; and taught mostly in the public system in Canada, from kindergarten to primary school. Furthermore, I also teach Mandarin to students from different age groups. I have great passion in education, and I believe in raising wholesome learners: to me, students' academic success is as important as their mental well-being. With regard to program and lesson design, I tend to orient my plans around not only basic knowledge but also students' interest and the real world. Students’ being able to self-regulate, attain high self-esteem, acquire resilience and a sense of responsibility would also be emphasized in the classroom. Learning and growing is not always fun and easy, however, I hope my students would eventually adopt a growth mindset and have a deep faith in their endeavors.

RECE

Toddler Room Teacher

Seneca College - Diploma in Early Childhood Education

Hello, and welcome to Newstead Academy !  My name is Billianna and I am delighted to be a part of this amazing team as the Toddler 1 teacher.  I have a diploma in Early Childhood Education from Seneca College and have volunteered in before and after school care programs as well as having experience as an Early Childhood Educator in daycare centres. I’ve had amazing one-on-one experiences teaching and caring for children on the spectrum. As a hobby, I spend time as a children’s Brazilian Jiujitsu instructor, guiding them through different movements while strengthening their motor skills and enhancing their self regulation. Using my empathy, patience, and passion for teaching, I intend to promote the values of self regulation of behaviour and emotions to the children through the power of play.

ECA-Toddler Room Teacher

Toronto Metropolitan University - B.A Degree in Child & Youth Care  

Hello, my name is Caileigh (kay-lee)! It is an absolute pleasure to be a part of the incredible Newstead Academy team. In the early years of my career, I am very grateful to have had the pleasure of working with incredible schools and have gained over 7 years working with children and youth in a variety of settings. I have had amazing opportunities to support children that exhibited different abilities: ADHD, OCD, Autism, and other behavioural delays. I have also completed a Child and Youth Care degree with a double minor in Psychology and Sociology. 
My passion has always been child care and development. I am moved deeply by seeing and being alongside every child’s unique developmental experience that encourages them to pursue their growth and aptitude to learn. My teaching style is through a child/family-centred approach and integrates therapeutic foundations for child development. I truly stand by advocating children are more than capable of achieving anything they put their minds and hearts into when they have a strong sense of self, a nourished well-belling, and cultivate the resiliency to overcome any obstacle. Inclusive of establishing a safe, loving, nurturing learning environment that fosters self-regulation, a sense of responsibility, and high self-esteem in your child's development and achieving their milestones.  Every child is capable of building and growing resiliency to overcome any obstacle by having loving support. I am above and beyond excited to connect and be a part of this beautiful journey with you and your family. I truly believe we can work together to successfully create an unforgettable, nourishing, and safe space for your children to learn, build resiliency and grow. I am very excited to meet you all! 

RECE

Seneca College – Diploma in Early Childhood Education

Seneca College – Degree in Child Development

Hello everyone! My name is Alexandra, Alexa for short. I am very excited to be a part of Newstead Academy! I graduated from Seneca College in both Early Childhood Education and Child Development, and I am also a Registered Early Childhood Educator. I have had a chance to work with all age groups through placements, volunteer work, and as an RECE both here in Canada and in the Philippines, where I was born and raised.
To me, each child has their own way of expressing their own selves. Whether it be through art, dance, music, or any type of play. They will never be bored if they’ve got their minds set on their own creativity. Every child is unique in their own different way. As an educator, I plan on creating a safe space for the children to be able to express their passions, and creativity, and to help them be the best they can be. 

RECE

Toddler Room Teacher

Seneca College - Diploma in Early Childhood Education

My name is Hanxue Mei, Coco is my English name. It is easy to remember. I grew up and graduated in Jilin University in China. I come to Canada for almost seven years. When I move to Canada, I learned Early Childhood Education at Seneca College in 2018. After I graduated I have more than three years of working experience. I have a huge passion for spending time with children. I have experience working with children in infants, toddlers, preschool and school-age children. There is no better feeling than knowing you have helped to brighten a child’s day and seeing their faces and expressions while they experience and learn new things. I enjoy listening to music, hiking and eating yummy food.

RECE

Toddler Room Teacher 

St. Lawrence College- Diploma in Early Childhood Education

York University- Special Honour B.A. in Kinesiology 

Hello everyone! My name is Esther, and I am the teacher in Toddler 1. I am so grateful to be a part of Newstead Academy and excited to start a new journey here. I obtained a diploma in Early Childhood Education from St. Lawrence College. I have provided full-hearted day care services for 7 years since I became a mom. I ran my own home day care and worked as a supply teacher in several centres. As working in different centres including a Montessori based one, I have learned various ways to approach children’s interests and enhance their learning experiences. Prior to my ECE career, I studied Kinesiology in York University and had great experiences in teaching physical activities and sports to children and youth. I used to work in a physiotherapy department at a long term care home providing physiotherapy and exercises to adults and seniors. My kinesiology background helps me create great curriculums that enhance children’s growth and developments. I love learning with children. Children always inspire me and give me positive energy making me feel living and productive. With children I keep learning and practicing lots of important skills, such as problem-solving skills and fundamental life lessons, e.g. sharing. I will continuously dedicate to learn with them and nurture their spirit, mind, and body with my faith, heart, knowledges, and experiences. I will do my best to achieve the goal, making children feel happy and loved. I am looking forward to having happy learning times with children, families, and staffs at Newstead Academy. Please feel free to talk to me regarding your children. I would love to help you out and work with you. Thank you. 

Executive Chef

Chef De Cuisine - Liaison College

289-234-8886 Ext. 3005

kitchen@newsteadacademy.ca

Hi! My name is Katy Turnbull. Cooking has been my passion for most of my life. I have taken this passion and made it into my life’s work. I studied at Liaison College and during my time there I became a certified Chef de Cuisine. I have a French fine dining background and more recently worked in a Long Term Care setting where I had the task of making creative menus for a large number of guests! 

Having a toddler of my own has brought balance and nutrition into the forefront of my decision making process in the kitchen. I am really excited about the delicious and, most importantly, healthy menus we’ve created here at Newstead Academy. Can’t wait to meet and cook for all of our pupils. 

CPA, CA, ACA
Finance Executive
leizhang@newsteadacademy.ca

Lei is a member of Chartered Professional Accountants Ontario and is also a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance in Dublin, Ireland. Lei has extensive accounting experience through financial controller and senior management roles for a variety of companies, including the public listed and multinational corporation, across Europe, China, and Canada. Lei specializes in developing and implementing strategic plans and working with complex, diverse organizations. In his free time, Lei likes to cook multi culture cuisine.

Bringing finance expertise to Newstead enables the Administration and our teachers to focus on carrying out the center’s vision and he finds that working with such an amazing team is very rewarding.