Although, our staff are highly educated, they all have one other quality in common. They are all nurturing and caring people who offer individual love and attention to each child at Gradale Academy. This is a very important quality to have when educating young children; We believe this is what makes the difference between a Teacher and a Great Teacher!

Suzana Vecciarelli

I have had the pleasure of teaching preschool and nursery school for the last 25 years. Every day has been an adventure and I have gained a wealth of respect and understanding for children at many age s and stages of development. I was 15 years old when I started working at Village Nursery after school in the Nursery and the pre-school areas. It was there that the seed was planted and has grown over the many years since.

Some of my talents include, arts and crafts, storytelling, music and movement, and my favourite learning through play. When I  am not teaching you can find me in my garden, regardless of the season. I love the outdoors and you can often find my four children I myself out and about doing something, even if it is just lying on a blanket and snoozing in the mid afternoon sun.

I teach children to believe in themselves and their abilities. At this stage in their lives children are believe that everything is magical and amazing. I believe in working collaboratively with parents and guardians in order to make the learning experience for the individual child. I am proud to be a member of Gradale Academy and I look forward to meeting all our wonderful parents and guardians when they visit the school.

Clara-Lynn Naccarato

Clara-Lynn earned her Bachelor of Education from OISE after first having earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Windsor. It was through her years as an actor, traveling across Canada, performing for audiences of children, that Clara-Lynn was lead to her true passion: Teaching. Clara-Lynn approaches learning in an inventive and engaging style by infusing traditional lessons with visual artistry, dramatic play and music. She is inspired by children and aims to be a positive influence and supportive mentor for the children she is honoured to teach.

Diane Niec

Diane Niec joined the team of educators at Gradale Academy in 2009. She is a graduate of the University of Windsor, with degrees in both Education and Musical Theatre. She has professional theatre experience that has involved ‘movement based’ acting as well as singing. Performing has provided her with opportunities to develop dramatic movement workshops for schools across the city. She also has a strong background in health and fitness and has been teaching Pilates for a number of years. Her experiences in drama, movement, singing and fitness transfer well into her teaching. These skills allow her to engage students in a way that makes learning effective and fun. She has a true passion for children and an excitement for involving them both mentally and physically in the classroom. 

Leah Salomaa - Music and Movement

Leah Salomaa is a professional Vocalist, Songwriter, Composer and Early Music Educator. She is trained in classical voice from the Royal Conservatory of Music. By age 18 Leah was in the classroom with her mother as a special guest in Montessori schools. She started her children’s music teaching career that year and branched out to private daycares, yoga studios, art schools and private schools across Toronto.

Leah has recorded 3 CDs for children. Cds are distributed across Canada in fine independent children’s stores. She has been named in Chatelaine as one of Canada’s “leading children’s performers”. Leah loves to balance her recording and stage career with working with children. She enjoys celebrating each child’s spirit through the magic of music and creative movement.

Mary-Theresa Lawlor

Mary-Theresa Lawlor is a media artist and musician. A.D. Coleman, renowned cultural theorist and writer for wired.com has noted Mary-Theresa's visionary approach to new media and arts education for children. Her first artistic coup d'etat was building a birch bark canoe for her Barbie when she was in Grade 3. Mary Theresa'a  work is in  private and public collections internationally including  the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa, Canada and John Hopkin's University Hospital in Washington., D.C. Recently Mary Theresa's resin sculptures were part of The Armoury Art Fair and SCOPE Art New York. Please visit www.petalwear.ca.