academic team nested columns

Doa Demirsu-Doran holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts and a Master’s in Global Leadership from McGill University, bringing an international and forward-looking perspective to school leadership.

Her vision for Keystone is rooted in the conviction that everything begins with the students — that education is not about filling minds, but about giving young people the tools to explore, question, and create meaning. At Keystone, this philosophy lives in every classroom: students are encouraged to be inquirers who take ownership of their learning, while teachers act as facilitators who guide, challenge, and inspire them to think critically and globally.

As an educator, entrepreneur, and parent, Doa is passionate about building learning environments that nurture both academic excellence and personal growth. She also serves as a Board Member at Waldorf Academy in Toronto.

Rachel Shiderman earned an Honours Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Co-op) from the University of Waterloo, then a Master of Teaching from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, where she dedicated her Master’s thesis to exploring the way teachers modify and adapt environmental programming for students with special needs.

Rachel first found her love for education in the outdoors, working in the K-12 space as an environmental education instructor for various outdoor education centres throughout the Toronto District and Durham Region school boards. She then began her classroom teaching career at The Dalton School, with a focus on K-8 Mandarin dual-language education, where over time she took on the role of English Department Head and eventually School Principal and Interim Head of School. In her most recent role, she supported the Principals and Vice Principals of The Bishop Strachan School, a K-12 private girls day and boarding school in Toronto, while leading the academic administration team through various process updates and school system advancements.

Rachel is a life-long learner who constantly seeks to better inform and add to her practice, collaborate with colleagues and extend herself to the interests of her school community, both in and outside of the classroom.

Stephanie Guerreiro completed her Bachelor of Arts (History) at Trent University, and received her Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University. She spent the first five years of her teaching career working with students in Nanjing, China where she was able to explore her love of travel and experience different cultures.

Stephanie became a member of Keystone’s faculty as a Geography and History instructor in 2017. From 2022 onwards, she has assumed the role of an Academic Coordinator. In this capacity, she works closely with students on their university and college applications, and is a constant resource for post-secondary planning.

Stephanie loves working with students from international backgrounds, as well as those from closer to home, as they all have stories and experiences to share that make the world more colourful and fulfilling. Her favourite courses to teach are History and Geography, as they give everyone in the class a chance to broaden their worldview and learn about the world around them.

Ece Ozturk completed a Bachelor of Mathematics together with a Bachelor of Business Administration. She also holds a teaching certificate as well as a Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Supervision, which she completed with honours.

Ece became part of the Keystone team in 2016, teaching Math, and transitioned into the role of an Academic Coordinator in 2022. She is committed to the day-to-day success of all students and is always available for meetings with them to ensure that their time at Keystone is both enjoyable and productive.

Ece is passionate to share her love of learning with her students. She wants to instil a natural curiosity in the minds of her students so that they can find strategies to navigate today’s fast-paced world. She believes teaching is the first step in making a difference in this world – therefore, she wants to share her knowledge and experience with her students, wherever she is.

Sheron Prakasia is a passionate science teacher. She completed Bachelor’s degrees in both chemistry and education. She then completed her Master’s degree in chemistry from Mahatma Gandhi University, India.

Sheron strongly believes that education shapes an individual, not only in academics, but in their overall development. A teacher should help each child live in the outside world; teaching and learning is not something that is enclosed within books and school. Learning should be fun for students so that they will enjoy it instead of feeling burdened by it.

Sheron has experience teaching students with learning disabilities and she is ready to make any changes to her teaching style in order to achieve success for each child. She strongly believes that each child is important and that their learning needs have to be assessed regularly.

Jesmy Sunny is an accomplished education professional with a rich tapestry of experience spanning eight years, dedicated to nurturing young minds and fostering a passion for learning. With a solid foundation in both engineering and Advanced Mathematics, her academic journey has equipped her with a unique blend of technical prowess and pedagogical acumen.

Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and a postgraduate degree in Computer Software, she brings a multidisciplinary perspective to the classroom. This fusion of expertise allows her to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and real-world applications, empowering students with practical insights that resonate in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Steven Mesaros earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies and a minor in Business from Trent University, then a Master’s in Political Science from York University, where he examined the restructuring of work in Canada since the 1980s. Steven has been working towards his Ph.D. in Political Science at York University, achieving All But Dissertation (ABD) status. His research focuses on the evolution of concepts like Economic Justice, Democracy, and Globalization, employing history and theory within the social sciences.

Steven’s extensive background in teaching began with a decade-long tenure in South Korea, teaching to students ranging from kindergarten to Grade 12. Since 2012, Steven transitioned to a role as a high school Social Science Instructor, teaching a diverse array of courses in high school, including Advanced Placement courses. He also served as a guidance counsellor, assisting students with their university applications to institutions in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.

Since 2017, Steven has also been teaching at York University, holding positions as both a tutorial leader and course director. His teaching portfolio includes primarily first-year introductory courses in Social Science (Intro to Social Science), as well as upper-year courses in American Politics.

Dylan earned both his BA and MA in Philosophy at Western University, and went on to complete his Ph.D. coursework and comprehensive exams in Philosophy at York University (ABD).

With over a decade of experience working with students across a wide range of ages and backgrounds, Dylan is passionate about helping learners find their voice and reach their full potential. His teaching is rooted in an inquiry-based approach, encouraging students to ask questions, think critically, and engage in lively discussion.

For Dylan, education is less about memorizing facts than it is about learning how to think and connect ideas to the world around us. He believes a classroom should feel alive with curiosity—a place where different minds can meet, challenge one another, and grow together.

Elmira earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in French Language and Literature in Iran. She then went to France to complete a teacher training program. She attended various French language teaching courses in the city of Besançon and, driven by her passion for teaching, decided to pursue a PhD in French language education.

Elmira has taught for 12 years in international schools in Iran and at the French Embassy, and she truly loves her work. She firmly believes that teaching and the classroom experience must be enjoyable in order to be effective.

Melanie is a Toronto-based visual artist, art educator and creative community activator. She has an advanced diploma in Crafts and Design from Sheridan College and a BFA in Sculpture and Installation from OCAD U.

She’s known for her environmental work, winning The Climate Arts award in 2019 and The OALA Ground Award in 2016. Her work has been shown and featured across the GTA and internationally with Breakfast Television, The David Suzuki Foundation, Canadian Sculpture Centre, Pearson International Airport, Treefort Music Fest, and Luminato Festival.

She has been teaching, educating and creating inclusive curriculums for children, adults, and seniors of all levels and abilities for over 12 years.

Melanie is a Toronto-based visual artist, art educator and creative community activator. She has an advanced diploma in Crafts and Design from Sheridan College and a BFA in Sculpture and Installation from OCAD U.

She’s known for her environmental work, winning The Climate Arts award in 2019 and The OALA Ground Award in 2016. Her work has been shown and featured across the GTA and internationally with Breakfast Television, The David Suzuki Foundation, Canadian Sculpture Centre, Pearson International Airport, Treefort Music Fest, and Luminato Festival.

She has been teaching, educating and creating inclusive curriculums for children, adults, and seniors of all levels and abilities for over 12 years.