the abelard school
Preparing thoughtful, inquisitive and motivated students to excel in university since 1997
Our Teachers
Our teachers are dedicated to their work and to our students, and they take pride in fostering academic excellence, creativity, and social conscience. All of our teachers are selected for their expertise in their fields as well as their passion for education.
Click on a photo to see the descriptions of each of our teachers
Michelle Lefolii
Brian Blair
Alina Rossinsky
Mark Young
Inga Bratchuli
Dr. Michael Kilgour
Jennifer Franssen
Masha Zorich
Dr. Carol Schwartz
Dr. Sarah Simon
Gabriel Conybeare Marsh
Max Ackerman
“Guiding us through a challenging curriculum was a set of the most intelligent, highly educated, and dedicated teachers I have ever known. Whether to help with a difficult concept, to provide extra information for curious students, or simply to chat about this or that, Abelard's teachers with their infinite patience were always there for us.”
Anne-Marie Zapf-Belanger, A.B. (Harvard), JD, (UBC), Abelard Class of '05
Michelle Lefolii
Michelle Lefolii is one of the founding members of the Abelard School. She has studied at the University of Toronto (Honours Bachelor of Arts in English, major in French), at the Sorbonne (French Literature), the École du Louvre (Art History) and at OISE (in the Masters of Teaching English programme). She is a firm believer in the importance of literature to personal experience and as a discipline worthy of rigorous academic study.
Brian Blair
Brian Blair is one of the founding members of the Abelard School. He studied first Chemical Engineering and then Classical Greek and Roman language, literature, history, and philosophy at the University of Toronto. After obtaining his Honours B.A. and M.A., he completed the coursework for his Ph.D. Mr. Blair teaches Classics, Political Science, and Philosophy. If he can pass on his love of learning to his students, he will be a happy man.
Alina Rossinsky
Alina Rossinsky is one of the founding members of the Abelard School. She obtained her B.A. and M.Ed. in French Studies from the Department of Foreign Languages at the Pedagogical University in Moscow, Russia. She has years of experience in French language instruction, journalism, and translation. Ms. Rossinsky currently teaches French, French civilization, and modern languages, and enjoys nothing more than challenging her students to be the best they can be.
Mark Young
Mark Young has a Master’s degree in Classics from the University of Toronto and spent several additional years working towards his Doctorate in Classics. He was Principal of The Abelard School from 2004-2014 and began his second term as Principal in 2020. His most recent publication is Giannozzo Manetti: A Translator's Defence. Mr Young teaches English, Classics, and History with the hope of furthering his students’ zeal to read widely and think deeply.
Inga Bratchuli
Inga Bratchuli holds a Master of Science in Biophysics from Georgia State University in Tbilisi, Georgia. She has been associated with the school in many capacities since 2000: as a teacher; as a parent (her son graduated from Abelard in 2010); as instructor for our after-school yoga club; and as our current Office Manager. If you have any questions about the school, or require any assistance, Ms. Bratchuli is happy to draw upon her wealth of experience to assist you.
Dr. Michael Kilgour
Michael Kilgour holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Chemistry from Queen’s University and in 2019 completed his PhD in Chemical Physics Theory at the University of Toronto. He has been an Abelard School Teacher since 2016, and continues his Theoretical Chemistry research as a postdoctoral fellow at NYU. Every year Michael looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for science with the chemistry students, and his love of music with the Jazz Club.
Jennifer Franssen Keenan
Jennifer Franssen Keenan holds undergraduate degrees in Biology and Chemistry and English Literature and an M.A. in English. She studied law at the University of Toronto and the London School of Economics, earning the Juris Doctor degree with honours. She spent two years working toward her Ph.D. in Law at the LSE before returning to Canada to article at Stikeman Elliott LLP in Toronto. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2008. Jennifer has taught Law and English literature at Abelard since 2018 and is currently teaching English in our middle school program.
Masha Zorich
Mathematics teacher Masha Zorich holds a Bachelor's in Math from Moscow State University and a Master's in Computer Science from Yale University. Ms. Zorich also did doctoral studies in CS at the University of Toronto and worked in IT before joining Abelard. She loves her students' aha moments and enjoys teaching those inquisitive minds alongside her brilliant and fun colleagues.
Dr. Carol Schwartz
​Dr. Schwartz holds a PhD in Molecular and Medical Genetics from U of T. She carried out postdoctoral research at the University of California at San Francisco and began work as a research associate at the Best Institute in the Faculty of Medicine at U of T in 1997. She has also worked as a research associate in the Department of Cell and Systems Biology. She is the author of numerous scientific publications. Dr. Schwartz has taught courses in the Departments of Zoology, Cell and Systems Biology and Human Biology at U of T.
Dr. Sarah Simon
Sarah Simon holds a PhD in Environmental Science and Atmospheric Chemistry from the University of Toronto and an MSc in Materials Chemistry from the University of British Columbia. Her research focused on the effects of air pollution on plants and the development of innovative solar panels. Before her PhD, Sarah worked as a science facilitator at Science World in Vancouver, leading workshops and performing science shows for large audiences. She joined Abelard in 2024 and is all about making science and math a blast, inspiring students to embrace their curiosity and become fearless question-askers!
Gabriel Conybeare Marsh
Abelard alumnus Gabriel Conybeare Marsh majored in Psychology at the University of Guelph. His passion for teaching led back to the Abelard school in 2021. Mr. Conybeare Marsh's courses have covered a range of topics from the Physical Sciences, Technology, and Psychology, to the Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts.
Max Ackerman
Max Ackerman is a theatre professional and educator, and an alumnus of The Abelard School. He is a graduate of UofT and Sheridan College with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Drama Studies and a conservatory diploma in theatre performance. He has been the Artistic Director of Dandelion Theatre since 2020, and has directed multiple productions including The Winter's Tale (2022), DEATH: A Love Story (2023) and and award winning production of Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus which opened in Toronto in 2023 and in Edinburgh in 2024.
