The Team

Hebah Ali, education director at Discover Learning, holds a bachelors of science from UBC and a bachelors of education, in Secondary Education, from SFU. She has been a certified Orton Gillingham instructor for over ten years. Hebah has also attended several workshops to compliment her education including OG math, reading strategies for a classroom, and OG grammar. She is the co-owner of Discover Learning, with her brother Faraaz.

Faraaz Ali, head tutor at Discover Learning, has been a certified Orton Gillingham tutor since December 2010. He is also a certified education assistant. He started his journey working for the Learning Disabilities Association of Vancouver tutoring both OG mathematics and English. This drove his passion for teaching, and he joined his sister on her business venture where they created Discover Learning.

Sandra Bowman, OG mathematics and English tutor, has been a certified OG instructor for several years. She also has an early childhood education diploma. Her venture started at the Learning Disabilities Association with Faraaz, and she joined our team in 2013. She is known as the queen of games and is our elementary specialist.

Shannon Roest, OG mathematics and English tutor, has been in the education field for over 20 years. She has worked for the Burnaby School District, in the Montessori programs, and has experience in child and youth counselling. She is known for her energy and is an elementary specialist.

Ayse (pronounced I-sha), OG math and English teacher, is currently studying English Literature at the University of British Columbia. She plans to pursue a Bachelor of Education (BEd) and become an elementary school teacher in the near future. At UBC, Ayse is actively involved in The UBC Film Society, where she helps run weekly workshops, teaching her peers about various aspects of film. When she’s not reading or watching movies, she enjoys spending her free time baking and crafting. A fun fact about Ayse is that she loves to dance and has been taking dance classes since she was three years old!

Mateus Barbosa, OG English and Mathematics tutor, has been in the teaching field for 7 years. He has taught in various environments and has even taught English in a Dungeons & Dragons Club. In his spare time, Mateus likes to play video games, work on math, and program computers. His favourite band is Pinguini Tattici Nucleari.

Ruby Sirjusingh, an esteemed educator with
over 30 years of experience in the field of
education, is recognized for her expertise in
mathematics and English. Having studied Early
Childhood Education (ECE), she excels in
teaching younger students. Her extensive
knowledge spans childcare and early literacy
intervention. Notably, she has recently earned
certification in the Orton-Gillingham (OG)
methodology, further enhancing her ability to
provide effective and specialized instruction.

Maggie, an Orton-Gillingham (OG) tutor
specializing in mathematics and English, brings
her teaching expertise to the education field with several years of experience. In addition to her proficiency in these subjects, she has been
instructing sciences at the high school level. She
is also currently pursuing her studies in
Biomedical Physiology, and Maggie is dedicated
to achieving a Bachelor of Science. Outside of
her academic pursuits, she indulges in her passion for travel and is an avid fan of Star Wars.

Pawandeep Kaur is a passionate educator and psychology student at the University of British Columbia, poised to graduate in 2024 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Mathematics. Her journey as a teacher began in high school, where she supported peers and younger students in subjects like Math and Science, fostering personalized learning and creating engaging educational materials. Now, as a tutor, Pawandeep continues her commitment to individualized education, utilizing technology to enhance lessons and track student progress.

In addition to her tutoring, Pawandeep runs the TikTok page “WhyPsychologyMatters,” where she shares insights on the practical applications of psychology in daily life. Known for her flexibility, creativity, and attention to detail, Pawandeep strives to make learning not only accessible but also inspiring for all students.

Emily is studying at the University of British Columbia, where she is majoring in Biochemistry and Anatomy & Physiology, with a minor in Sports and Kinesiology. She has been teaching for five years and has also volunteered with the Learning Buddies Network as a mentor in math and English from 2019 to 2022. Additionally, Emily contributed to the Let’s Talk Science SMaRT program, teaching science lessons to underserved communities in East Vancouver.

She also teaches emergency first aid with St. John Ambulance. Outside of her studies and teaching, Emily enjoys hiking, skiing, camping, and practicing emergency first aid. She recently achieved a personal best 10k run time of 56:29!

Victor, OG math and English teacher, holds a Bachelor’s of Arts from Simon Fraser University, with a major in Psychology, a minor in Human Development and Counselling, and a certificate in Philosophy and Methodology of Science. He also completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and was part of the French Immersion program in high school.

Victor has several years of teaching experience, including frequently helping peers with math in high school, tutoring pre-calculus, and working at a childcare center where he taught emotional health and self-regulation strategies to children. Outside of teaching, he enjoys a wide range of hobbies, including playing video games, reading comics and manga, and exploring various creative outlets depending on what he’s currently reading or watching. A few fun facts about Victor include that he can salsa dance, play both piano and ukulele, and Shannon was his preschool teacher

Hebah Ali

Faraaz Ali

Sandra Bowman

Shannon Roest

Ayse O.

Mateus Barbosa

Ruby Sirjusingh

Maggie

Pawandeep Kaur

Emily Chao

Victor Ng

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