About Me
My Story
Krystina Raymond - Coach, EDI Officer, Educator, Teacher, and Researcher
Who Am I?
My name is Krystina Raymond. I am a PhD candidate in Developmental Psychology and Education at the University of Toronto (OISE). I am very passionate about coaching, research, developmental psychology and education. Growing up I always loved learning new things and teaching others. As early as high school, I was a peer-tutor for children in elementary grades and spent my summers as a student-coach for children playing netball and basketball competitively.
These experiences have helped shape me into the coach, educator and researcher I am today. I am dedicated to helping others learn and grow using compassion and providing continuous support to enable them to reach their goals. I also teach elementary and high school students enrolled in Québec’s bilingual programs and I am an instructor for language learning undergraduate/graduate courses at the University of Toronto. In my free time, I love to travel, spend time with friends and family, do zumba, as well as a variety of other outdoor activities.
How I can support you
Academic Coaching
Personalized one-to-one sessions to support students to uncover their strengths and equip them with the skills they require to be successful students: Time Management, Planning & Exam Preparation.
Reading-Focused Coaching
All sessions are tailored for the specific needs and goals of the learner and are conducted one-to-one. Students will learn a wide range of strategies for reading comprehension, note taking, writing, and studying.
ADHD Coaching
Help maintain focus to achieve identified goals, focus on the skills that will enable success and build motivation to find ways to use your time efficiently. Working towards your goals, minimizing impulsivity, receiving support on decision-making and prioritizing.
Presentation and Communication Coaching
Help improve in all aspects of presentation style, pronunciation, speech and communication whether it is one-on-one, in groups or in front of an audience.
More About Me
Awards
- University of Toronto- Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) Fellowship
September 2019- April 2024- $120,000.00 - OISE Associate Dean Research, International & Innovation Graduate Student Conference Travel Program
March 2024 – $750.00 - School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Conference Grant
June 2023 – $1100.00 - Global Society of Online Literacy Educators (GSOLE) Research Grant
April 2023 – $500.00 USD - Applied Psychology and Human Development Conference Grant 2022/2023
April 2023 – $500.00 - OISE Associate Dean Research, International & Innovation Graduate Student Conference
Travel Program
April 2023 – $750.00 - OISE Research Fellowship
January 2023- $7000.00 - Applied Psychology and Human Development Leader Award
December 2022- $200.00 - Applied Psychology and Human Development Student Association Conference Grant
July 2022 – $450.00 - OISE Associate Dean Research, International & Innovation Graduate Student Conference
Travel Program
June 2022 – $750.00 - OISE Research Fellowship
May 2022 – $3000.00 - University SSHRC Institutional Research Grant (SIG)
2020 for Applied Psychology and Human Development- $1,452.75 - Extra-Curricular Engagement Subsidy (GSA Concordia)
December 2017 – $500.00 - Concordia Travel and Exposition Award
July 2017 – $1000.00 - Quebec Mobility Award
January 2017 and May 2016 – $6000.00 - Louer.com Student Scholarship Program
October 2015 – $500.00
Education Positions
Teaching Assistant
Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at the University of Toronto
January 2024 – current
Courses: APD2200Y Y LEC0131 and LEC0132 20239: Child Study Foundations: Security, Wellbeing, Development, and Equity
- Lead discussions and group activities
- Create and deliver lectures on theory of mind and language
- Provide feedback on graduate assignments
- Take attendance and monitor participation
Counsellor
KR Coaching & Counselling Private Practice
December 2023- current
- Provide counselling for ADHD
- Develop individual intervention plans and therapeutic processes
- Educate individuals on coping mechanisms
Course Instructor
Graduate Centre for Academic Communication at the University of Toronto
August 2023- current
- Courses: SGS1001 and SGS1028
- Develop curriculum and materials
- Teach courses and manage online technology
- Provide feedback to students
Academic Coach/Mentor, Invigilator and Consultant
Access Center for Students with Disabilities at Concordia University
September 2015- current
- Provide one-to-one support with undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities
- Develop and implement group workshops
- Coach students holistically with goal setting and learning strategies
StudySpot Educational Services (Private Coaching)
September 2019 – current
- Support high school and undergraduate students in improving their academic and executive functioning skills
- One-to-one coaching to assist students with identifying and forming productive habits
- Create organizational systems and developing study skills
Elementary Bilingual English/French Substitute Teacher
New Frontiers School Board
April 2018- current
- Substitute French second-language teacher
- Substitute for English and general subjects
- Teach Grades K4- Grade 6
University Teaching Assistant
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Fall/Winter 2019-2020
Fall/Winter 2020-2021
Fall/Winter 2021-2022
- Course: LTE399Y1 Y LEC0601 20209 – Research Opportunity Program
- Prepare weekly content and presentations/workshops
- Grade assignments and exams
Concordia University
Fall/Winter 2016-2017
- Courses: EDUC295: Internship I: Prekindergarten Teaching
- EDUC296: Prekindergarten Teaching Seminar
- Evaluate and grade undergraduate students’ work
- Supervise students at their practicums
Translator English/French
The University of Toronto Education Workers, CUPE
September 2020
- Translate promotional and informational materials into French
- Support the designated union representative
Chief Presiding Officer
University of Toronto Mississauga
December 2019- May 2020- December 2021- May 2022- December 2022
- Organize exam classrooms and spaces
- Actively monitor examination candidates
- Enforce exam rules and regulations
Registered Early Childhood Education (RECE)
St-Alban’s Boys and Girls Club Preschool (Toronto, ON)
May 2016- March 2020
- Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) (17 months-4yrs old)
- RECE for Kindergarten program (4-6 years old)
Early Childhood Educator Teaching French as a Second Language
CPE Les P’tits Profs – Concordia University
December 2014- August 2015
- Teach French as a Second Language (ages: 4-5yrs old)
- Create and implement an emergent curriculum following High Scope guidelines
Intervention Aide (ABA)
Centre de Réadaptation de l’Ouest de Montréal (CROM)
November 2014- January 2015
- Implement ABA/EIBI program provided by supervisor
- Work one-to-one in classroom with children on the ASD
Early Childhood Educator (English)
CPE Narnia – Westmount Park School
January 2014- December 2014
- Implement programs for children between the ages of 2 and 5 years old
- Organize learning materials and resources
- Share observations and assessments with practitioners and parents
Early Childhood Educator (French) and Administrative Assistant
Garderie L’Éveil au Monde
April 2012- May 2014
- Observe, assess, and record each child’s progress
- Ensure the health and safety of children during all activities, both inside and outside the nursery/school
- Edit curriculum and conduct professional development
Research Positions
Graduate Assistant
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (Toronto, ON)
September 2019- current
The Multilingualism and Literacy Lab under Dr. Xi Chen
- Manage various quantitative and qualitative research projects
- Develop and train research assistants on a battery of measures including French experimental language and literacy measures
Research Assistant
University of Essex (Colchester, UK)
October 2023- current
The Speech and Language Therapy Lab under Dr. Nelly Joye
- Manage quantitative data
- Conduct data analyses
- Contribute to journal article submission for publication
Research Assistant
Government of Canada- Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
February 2021- June 2023
Qualitative researcher conducting interviews
- Coordinate participants and transcribe the data
- Projects:
1.) Workforce Experiences Impacting Recruitment and Retention among Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Educators in the city of Toronto, Ontario.
2.) Profile of Older Canadians Using Reverse Mortgages to Increase their Retirement Security.
3.) Home Equity and Retirement.
Research Scientist/ Coach Leader
New York University Steinhardt (NY, USA)
September 2018- October 2019
- NYU Steinhardt Literacy, Technology & Culture Lab under Dr. Susan Neuman
- Coach for teachers, data entry & data collection for World of Words (WoW) program in District 7 in the Bronx
- Supervise and coaching on the World of Words program in Philadelphia, PA Head Start schools
Research Assistant
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (Toronto, ON)
May 2016- August 2018
Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development Multilingualism and Literacy lab under Dr. Xi Chen
- Data collection in elementary school FI and EN focusing on literacy
- Data entry and coding
- Data analyses
Academic Service
Editor/Reviewer
Reviewer for the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading Annual Meeting – 2024
American Education Research Association (AERA) [Reviewer Certificate] – 2023-2024
Laidlaw Forum: Emerging Ideas in Child Study and Education – 2022
OISE Graduate Students Research Conference – 2022
The Reading Teacher [Reviewer Certificate] – 2021
Committees
- Doctoral Student Cohort-based Leader in Developmental Psychology and Education at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
May 2020 – current - Applied Psychology and Human Development (APHD) Racialized Graduate Student Leader and APHD Racialized Students in Conversation Empowering Racialized Students
February 2021 – current - Doctoral Student Committee Member on the APHD Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-racism, & Accessibility (IDEAA) Committee
April 2021 – current
Measurement and Technical Skills
- Adobe System, Android Software, Apple Software (Mac)
- ASANA, E-Prime 3.0, Express, Scribe
- Gestionnaire (Early Childcare Management Software)
- Microsoft and Google compatible programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
- Otter Transcription, Prezi, R, Qualtrics, Question Pro (Survey program), Stats Direct, SPSS
Professional Affiliations / Membership
- SSSR (Society for the Scientific Study of Reading)
- CAAL (Canadian Association of Applied Linguistics)
- AERA (American Educational Research Association)
- QPAT (Québec Provincial Association of Teachers)
- RECE (Registered Early Childhood Educator)
Feedback & Reviews
What My Clients Are Saying..
Jonathan Alvarez
Financial Manager at Acme
Russell Kennedy
Assistant Buyer at Globex
Janice Griffin
Copywriter at Dynamic
What Can I Do for You?
I am an academic and reading-focused coach practicing since 2015 with students ranging from the elementary level all the way through university. My doctoral research focuses on the development of language and literacy skills in bilingual speaking children, and their contributions to reading comprehension (please see the research section for a list of my publications).
I am devoted to issues supporting bi/multilingual education and am passionate about helping students particularly through the lenses of anti-racism, accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).
Learn More
I also hold a number of diverse roles in the field of developmental psychology and education. My teaching positions include:
- Graduate courses in academic conversation skills and oral presentation skills in the Graduate Centre for Academic Communication at the University of Toronto.
- Special education teacher in English-French bilingual programs in Montréal, QC.
To learn more about struggling readers in my podcast episode below:
Need Guidance?
I provide personalized guidance in academic coaching and reading support to students at all levels with a specialization with students from neurodiverse backgrounds. Whether you’re dealing with ADHD, bilingual language development, or a struggling student, I offer effective strategies. Let’s enhance your learning journey together!