Our Instructors
Debbie Levy-Stock, BA, BEd, ECE, Certified OG
Certified Orton-Gillingham Tutor
Debbie joined the Learning Disabilities Association of Halton as a parent and volunteer in 1998. LDAH was instrumental in providing support to be an effective advocate. In 2003 she received training from LDAH in the Orton-Gillingham Approach, a research based methodology. Since then she has been working in the tutorial program; helping students to become accomplished in all areas of language and at the same time discussing students’ needs and progress with parents and educators.
Debbie has over 30 years of experience working with children and is a member of the College of Early Childhood Educators and the Ontario College of Teachers. Debbie is a certified Member of the Orton-Gillingham Academy of Educators and Practitioners
She is dedicated to equity and skill development for students with learning disabilities.
Fran O'Donnell (They/Them), BA
Associate Orton-Gillingham Tutor
Fran joined the Centre for Diverse Learners in fall of 2020 after graduating from McMaster with an Honours English & Cultural Studies degree. At that time, they worked as the organization’s copywriter while volunteering with Reading Rocks and Homework Help.
In 2021 they received training from Centre for Diverse Learners in the Orton-Gillingham approach. Since then, they have been tutoring 1:1 as well as working full-time at Centre for Diverse Learners’s Learning Pod as a literacy teaching assistant. In fall 2022, Fran will be attending York University’s Faculty of Education.
Fran is currently completing their supervised 100-hour practicum and will be taking on new students as they continue to grow as an educator.
Afshan Parvaiz, BA, Certified OG
Certified Orton-Gillingham Tutor
Afshan has been associated with the Learning Disabilities of Halton Region (Canada) since 2004 providing one on one tutoring.
Afshan has over thirty years of teaching experience in primary and secondary schools covering a wide variety of subjects including English Language, English Literature, World History, Science, Maths etc. She spent three years in UK (1998-2001) going back to school to study GCSE courses in English and Mathematics. While in the UK she pursued and completed a one year Certification Course in Special Needs (Dyslexia) from John Hunt Institute, accredited with Oxford/Cambridge Universities and Royal Society of Arts (UK). Afshan completed a Diploma in Dyslexia from Hornsby International Dyslexia Centre in London, UK.
She moved to Canada in early 2002 as a landed immigrant and is now a Canadian Citizen. She has a working knowledge of Orton-Gillingham, Hornsby and Hickey methodologies in supporting children with learning disabilities (Dyslexia). Afshan is an Associate of the Orton-Gillingham Multi-Sensory approach, having completed her Associate level coursework (60 hours) and her supervised practicum.
COVID-19 Policy
The Centre for Diverse Learners follows and will continue to follow all Public Health guidelines and requirements for the operation of its in-person programs. However, due to the unpredictable nature of COVID-19 and it’s affect on the Halton-Hamilton area, the Centre for Diverse Learners reserves the right to transition all in-person classes to a virtual environment in accordance to any recommendation by Health Canada. When signing up for this program, you agree that in-person classes may be held online when deemed necessary. No refunds will be applicable in the case that classes continue in-person and families choose to withdraw, but applicants will have the choice to withdraw if classes transition to online-based learning.
