Martina Zamecnik
(Owner of 360 Learning Academy and Tutors Math and Science)
Martina graduated from Penticton Secondary School in 2001. She followed her dream of attending University on a full ride swimming scholarship. Her four and a half years at the University of Nebraska at Omaha were filled with many highlights some of which included competing at NCAA Nationals all four years, receiving NCAA Athletic and Academic titles, and graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry. Her tutoring career had its roots in University, where she helped many student-athletes achieve their academic goals. Since returning home to Penticton in 2005, Martina coached a group of swimmers in the Kisu Swim club for a year, after which she took up tutoring once again. It was through the help of many Pen Hi counselors, especially Dave Nackoney, that Martina found her passion for teaching. She has over 15 years of experience working with all levels of high school math and science. Her goal is to empower students to live a wholesome life and help them achieve their academic endeavours so that all of their doors remain open in their future. In her spare time she enjoys all kinds of outdoor activities…hiking, biking, running, swimming and skate-skiing. She can also be found cultivating a backyard garden or creating fun and delicious meals in the kitchen with her young daughters.
Jean Gemmell
(Tutors Elementary and Middle School)
Jean graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of General Studies Degree and a BC teaching certificate. She worked for several years in School District 85 Vancouver Island North and then worked for many years as a teacher on call in Penticton and Summerland aftermoving to the Okanagan. Jean has taught in all schools in the Okanagan Skaha School District, primarily working with students from Kindergarten to Grade 8. She has worked with adults with Developmental Disabilities in a residential setting, and has been a volunteer tutor at Okanagan College in the Adult Literacy Program. In her spare time, she enjoys running, walking, hiking, riding her mountain bike as well as yoga and fitness classes. Recent travels have been to Mexico and Portugal.
Breanna Halliday
(Tutors English)
Breanna graduated from the University of Calgary in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts Majoring in English. She has since been living in Penticton tutoring exclusively for the Okanagan Hockey Academy and Penticton Secondary School. Her passion for Shakespeare in University has allowed her to help students understand the playwright and excel in the Shakespearian portions of their curriculum. Her main goal is to help students discover their own personal style of writing so that they are able to excel in any written assignments that they are given during and after their post secondary education. She wants to teach students that writing can open up so many windows of opportunity and it’s important to take pride in the way we write as it’s an essential part of how we communicate who we are to the world. Breanna tutors all high school English courses, but she also offers specialized tutoring sessions designed to help students prepare for the Grade 12 English Provincial Exam and the English portion of the SAT Exam. In her spare time, she enjoys dragon boating, spinning, and walking her dogs.
Monica Nolan
(Tutors Math and Science)
Monica graduated from University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. After working and traveling abroad for a few years, she returned to her roots in Newfoundland to complete a Bachelor of Education, specializing in Intermediate and Senior Math, Physics and Science. She has spent most of her 30-year teaching career as a Secondary Math and Science teacher in Ontario. During this time, she raised three sons and completed her Master of Education at the University of Toronto. Over the past few years, Monica has also added ESL online teaching to her credentials. She is very confident and comfortable teaching virtually, having taught and tutored in several online learning platforms. A lifelong learner, Monica has a genuine curiosity about our world and all its magic. Monica places emphasis on exercising and educating the mind, spirit, and body for genuine growth. She is patient, loves to laugh and strives to instill in others the thrill of learning. When not teaching or tutoring, she can be found outside playing in various activities such as trail running, gravel biking, hiking, camping, skiing, and snowshoeing. One of her favourite quotes is “Do one thing every day that scares you.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Edie Johnson
(Tutors Elementary/Middle School)
Edie first started her career, in 1985, working in Victoria followed by Kitimat. She then moved to the Okanagan and worked for 15 years in the Penticton school district before retiring in 2018. She had the opportunity to work with students in all grades, K-12, who were struggling with different learning challenges. She also took 2 years of sign language and oral interpreting to work with students who had hearing impairments. Edie has also enjoyed crafting, sewing and drawing for many years. She has sewn quilts for countless babies and her own sons were recipients of her creations including jackets, pj’s and quilts. She continues to teach teens sewing. Nothing warms her heart more than seeing the accomplishments of children who have learned to do a difficult task. She’s looking forward to working with students at 360 Learning Academy and sharing her joy of learning with them.
Ian Johnson
(Tutors Science, Chemistry, Physics & Math)
Ian retired June 2020 after 32 years of teaching in BC. After completing a Physics degree at UBC and teacher training at UVIC Ian taught Computer Science courses for 7 years in Kitimat BC. Eventually he moved his family from the land of rain and snow to the sunny Okanagan, teaching in Keremeos, where he made up ⅔’s of the science department, teaching Chemistry and Physics at the 11 and 12 levels as well as the junior sciences 8-10. Teaching in a small school gave Ian the opportunity to get to know his students over a number of years and a number of courses and he spent many lunch hours working with students one on one. “When a student says they don’t understand something (or anything!), often the reality is that they are missing one key part of a concept. Helping the student find that ‘missing piece’, like the last piece of a puzzle, is that ‘aha’ moment, and suddenly everything makes much more sense”. In retirement Ian and his wife have spent a lot of time renovating their new old house in Summerland and their ‘92 Airstream. They have two boys, both graduates of Pen Hi. As he used to say to his students, “I only know so many jokes, so you will hear them more than once. Just know that if you choose to laugh, you are only encouraging me.”
New to the Okanagan, Asia is currently finishing her Bachelor’s degree at the University of British Columbia in Statistics and Psychology. Graduating high school with honours in 2018, and finishing high school math by age 16, she has been tutoring students in mathematics since the beginning of high school. She tutors all levels of math, but especially enjoys teaching grades 6 through 12. In 2022, Asia moved from Toronto to come live with her family in Penticton, BC and to enjoy the nature of British Columbia! In her spare time, Asia enjoys the performance arts, hiking, spending time in the gym, and baking!