Deanna Iaizzo – Kindergarten - Room 5
My name is Deanna Iaizzo and I teach Kindergarten at Elizabeth Ballantyne School. I graduated from Concordia University and have been teaching for the EMSB for the past ten years. I taught in High School for two years and subsequently at Elizabeth Ballantyne for eight years. I have always loved working with children and strive to help each child live up to their full potential. I am there to provide the students with a safe and engaging learning environment, where they can explore and learn through various activities. My goal is to make each child feel successful, confident, and eager to further their knowledge. I am excited to meet our new Kindergarten friends and greet our returning students.
Chelsea Weiner – Welcoming Class
My name is Chelsea Weiner and I work in the Welcome Classroom at Elizabeth Ballantyne School. I graduated from McGill in Social Work. After graduation, I worked as a Teacher’s Assistant at Summit School where I developed a true passion for teaching and working with students with special needs. I went back to school at Queen’s University to get my Education degree with a concentration in Special Education. This is my first year working at Elizabeth Ballantyne School. I’m an enthusiastic and passionate teacher committed to providing a stimulating environment, and am sensitive and responsive to the needs of my students.I am excited to get to know my students, their families and all the staff at EBS!
Bryan Perlman – Grade 1 – Room 4
My name is Bryan Perlman and I teach Grade 1 Language Arts and Math at Elizabeth Ballantyne School. I graduated from McGill University with a B.Ed. in 2006 and have been working at the EMSB for the past eight years. I am a passionate teacher, who loves animals and nurturing the young minds of the future generation. I am there to provide the students with a fun and engaging learning environment, where students can feel free to be themselves. My goal is to ensure the success of each and every one of my students. I am excited to meet our new and returning Grade 1 students.
Kayla Gribbon – Science & Technology
My name is Kayla Gribbon and I am so excited to be a part of each cycle this year at Elizabeth Ballantyne; cycle 1 science and technology, cycle 2 English, and cycle 3 English, math, and ERC. I am also looking forward to working with students on STEAM projects and conducting fun and exciting hands-on experiments. After I graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor in Elementary Education, I began working with the EMSB. For the past five years, I have taught a variety of subjects to a wide array of learners ranging from Kindergarten to sixth grade. This my fourth year at Elizabeth Ballantyne and I am so excited to continue my teaching journey. My passion is teaching math and science, as I love to see curiosity and exploration come alive in every student. I strive to create an environment where students can reach their full potential and be successful. When I am not teaching you can find me working with the robotics team, on a soccer field, horseback riding, or learning something new.
Ms. Rose - Grade 3 - Room 14
My name is Ms. Rose and I've been a teacher for over 23 years. I started my career at Giant Steps working as an educator and then became a teacher with the EMSB 10 years later. I worked at Honore Mercier for 10 years and have been at Elizabeth Ballanytyne for the past 3 years. I am lucky to be working with such a wonderful staff here at EBS and teach such remarkable children.
Ms. Raquel - Grade 4 - Room 16
My name is Raquel Volinsky and I teach Cycle Two at Elizabeth Ballantyne School. I graduated from McGill University and have been teaching for the EMSB for the past ten years. Teaching has always been a passion of mine as I believe that every child can learn. My goal is to make learning fun, interactive and meaningful while challenging and motivating the students to achieve their full potential. My classroom is a positive environment where children feel safe and successful because every day we learn from one another. I wake up every morning feeling blessed because I truly love what I do and I am part of an amazing school that is always looking for ways to grow and benefit our students.
Ms. Susie Bowen
My name is Susie Bowen and I have just joined Scott Thompson as part of the resource team at Elizabeth Ballantyne. I graduated from Concordia University in Early Childhood Education and followed up with a Masters in Special Education from McGill. As a resource teacher I like to say I am very resourceful in providing support both to teachers and students. When I am in the classroom there is an opportunity to give closer attention to children who could benefit from extra help. I love working with kids and look forward to being part of the larger EB team.
Caterina Ruggeri – Cycle 3
My name is Caterina Ruggeri and I am proud to call Elizabeth Ballantyne my second home. I am so excited to have joined this amazing team. I graduated from McGill University in Elementary Education, and have been teaching for over ten years. My teaching career started in high school, and now I am proud to be teaching cycle 3. I have a great passion for teaching and I work hard to engage my students in learning through high energy and hands-on lessons. My goal is to help my students reach their fullest potential. I believe that perseverance is important for every student, especially in grade 6 when it’s their last stretch towards the finish line. When the students walk into my class, I make sure that they have a changed mindset that allows them to persevere. I am looking forward to a great year with my grade 6 students and cannot wait to watch them graduate!
Dimple Mahtani
My name is Dimple Mahtani and I proud to be part of the EBS family! I teach grade 3 ELA, Math, Ethics and Art, and grade 2 ELA this school year 2019-2020. I graduated from McGill University in Elementary Education and have been teaching for 10 years with the EMSB. I believe every child should have a positive, engaging learning environment and I love to provide a variety of teaching and learning methods.
Jody Wilson
My name is Jody Wilson and I am a grade 2 teacher at Elizabeth Ballantyne School. Although I am new to the school, I am not new to the profession, as I have been a teacher with the EMSB the last twenty years. Previously, I was the grade 6 teacher at Westmount Park Elementary school for ten years, with a few years off to be at home with my four small children. I graduated in Elementary education from McGill University and have a Masters Degree in Education from there as well. I am excited to be working with such a dynamic staff and look forward to meeting my new students.
Jessica Doubt – Cycle 3
My name is Jessica Doubt and I teach grade 5 at Elizabeth Ballantyne School. I am a long time member of the EBS family, having done two of my ‘stages’ here, as well as having been a regular substitute while I mainly stayed home with my three children. I was a homeroom teacher here in 2011 and am very excited to be back! I graduated from Concordia University in 2007 and completed a Master’s degree in Education from McGill University in 2014. I strive to create a fun, engaging and dynamic learning environment for my students every day.
Daniela Colafabio – Grades 5/6 – Room 13
My name is Daniela Colafabio and I teach French in grades 5 and 6. I graduated from McGill University and have been teaching at Elizabeth Ballantyne School for the past ten years. Working with children has always been my passion. The most rewarding part of my job is when I see my students become excited and motivated to learn a second language. I always aim to make my lessons as fun and as interactive as possible by incorporating technology, drama, creative writing and a lot of movement in the classroom. There is never a dull moment in room 13 :)
Lucy De Petrillo – Grade 6 – Room 9
I am a Grade 6 teacher at Elizabeth Ballantyne School. Upon graduation from McGill (B. Ed), I embarked on an adventure as I headed to La Tabatière, a remote fishing village on Quebec’s Lower North Shore, just south of Labrador, where I taught for four years. Upon my return to Montreal, I devoted the next ten years to raising my three children. During this time, I also owned and operated a photo finishing & videography store and studio in a downtown Montreal mall. I remained active in teaching as I took on part time and substitution contracts. When my children were of school age, I was ready to embark upon my full time teaching career. I was hired by the EMSB and worked at Willingdon Elementary School for 7 years, where I taught Computer Technology and Kindergarten. I was fortunate to come to EBS five years ago, and have truly enjoyed my time here. I am a devoted teacher who loves a challenge and enjoys seeing children learn in a nurturing environment. I like to integrate technology when appropriate, and am always seeking ways to innovate with latest in effective teaching practices.
David Nurse – French – Room 6
I am a Grade 6 teacher at Elizabeth Ballantyne School. Upon graduation from McGill (B. Ed), I embarked on an adventure as I headed to La Tabatière, a remote fishing village on Quebec’s Lower North Shore, just south of Labrador, where I taught for four years. Upon my return to Montreal, I devoted the next ten years to raising my three children. During this time, I also owned and operated a photo finishing & videography store and studio in a downtown Montreal mall. I remained active in teaching as I took on part time and substitution contracts. When my children were of school age, I was ready to embark upon my full time teaching career. I was hired by the EMSB and worked at Willingdon Elementary School for 7 years, where I taught Computer Technology and Kindergarten. I was fortunate to come to EBS five years ago, and have truly enjoyed my time here. I am a devoted teacher who loves a challenge and enjoys seeing children learn in a nurturing environment. I like to integrate technology when appropriate, and am always seeking ways to innovate with latest in effective teaching practices.
Stéphane Fortin – Physical Education & Health Teacher
My name is Stéphane Fortin and I have been teaching Physical Education and Health at Elizabeth Ballantyne School for the last 27 years! I have served as Staff Assistant for the past 12 years. I am a graduate of Mc Gill University, where I also played Varsity Hockey for the Redmen from 1984 to 1988. I was an assistant coach with the Redmen from 1997 to 2014, and was part of the staff when we won the National Championship in 2012. I love teaching and I love putting my running shoes on every morning to go to work. My major objective is to stimulate the children to be more active, and to develop their physical and social skills through sports. I really want the students to bring their abilities to the next level, in a safe and peaceful environment. I also emphasize the value of good sportsmanship. Finally, I like to organize different school events such as the Terry Fox Run, Winter Carnival, Skate-A-Thon, and Field Day. I also plan extra-curricular activities during lunch hour, in order to increase the level of physical activity throughout the year.
Alison Lydynia - Science and Technology - Computer Lab
My name is Alison Lydynia and I am a proud teacher at Elizabeth Ballantyne School. Over the past 6 years, I have taught a wide variety of subjects and grade levels, but I am best known as the science and technology teacher. When I am not in the computer lab, I can almost always be found in Kindergarten Room 19, where I teach on Thursdays and Fridays. I graduated in 2009 from McGill with a B.Ed, but my passion for working with kids of all ages began well before university. I am an eager beaver who gets involved in many aspects of school life, and I strive to improve my teaching with every passing year. I love welcoming students to my class with my warm smile and enthusiastic attitude towards learning. I am sad to be missing this upcoming school year, as I will be off on preventative leave because I am expecting my first baby in March.
Ryan Clarke - Science and Technology - Kindergarten
My name is Ryan Clarke and I am the Cycle 2 and 3 Science & Technology teacher Monday through Wednesday. In addition to that, I have the privilege of being the Kindergarten teacher in room 19 on Thursday and Friday. I took a somewhat roundabout path to becoming a teacher, graduating with a BA in Psychology from Concordia University and working at the Centre for Studies in Behavioural Neurobiology at the Loyola campus for many years. In 2011, I returned to Concordia and completed my teaching degree and have been working at the EMSB for the past 4 years. This is my first year at Elizabeth Ballantyne and I feel very fortunate to be working with such outstanding colleagues and students! Everyone here has worked really hard to get our new ‘Maker-Space’ up and running and I am very excited to see all of the amazing ideas and projects that come out of it this year!