Our team · Midtown Toronto
The people your teen will get to know
At a small school in midtown Toronto, the adults matter as much as the timetable. Our teachers and support staff have specialized training and years of experience with students who learn differently, and small classes mean they get to know your teen as a person, not a number. Here is who you will meet.
Prefer the bigger picture first? Read about AVRO on our About page.
Leadership
Who leads AVRO
The founder and principal who set the tone for the whole school.
Jason Shaul Ellenbogen
Founder and Clinical Director · B.A., M.S.W., R.S.W.
Jason is a registered social worker and psychotherapist focused on helping adolescents and families, with clinical experience that includes work at the Pine River Institute. He founded AVRO to create a supportive learning environment that builds trust, growth, and resilience.
Efrat Shapir
Principal and Head of Humanities · M.A. Philosophy, M.A. History
With nearly a decade at AVRO as both teacher and principal, Efrat builds a personalized plan for each student and meets with them regularly to shape a high school career that fits their needs and capabilities. Under her leadership, students, teachers, and families work closely together.
Our teachers and staff
The team who works with your teen every day
Instructors, coordinators, and support staff who each bring specialized training to a small classroom.
Chirasree Sen-Varma
Academic Coordinator and Math and Science Instructor · Ph.D., PG-Cert APSET, Member CAP
Chirasree has worked across research, administration, course design, and teaching, with a focus on sciences, mathematics, and physics. Alongside teaching and coordinating academics, she manages AVRO’s international program and guides students through their college and university applications.
Janine Plantilla
Registrar and Operations Manager · M.A. Applied Linguistics
Janine is the friendly face managing operations at AVRO, and the go-to person for students, families, and staff. With over a decade of teaching experience, including as a Humanities teacher at AVRO, she keeps the day running smoothly and is your resource for registration and administrative support year-round.
Chaya Mushka Ellenbogen
Special Education Resource Teacher and Educational Support Staff
Mushkie brings four years of special-education and ESL teaching support and over five years of mindfulness training. With a patient, positive approach, she develops and implements student IEPs and provides customized 1:1 support for executive functioning, emotional regulation, and self-advocacy skills.
Tatiana Gomez-Martin
Humanities Instructor · M.A. Applied Linguistics, Advanced Diploma in Child and Youth Care
Tatiana brings over two decades of experience in education, including work as a teacher, teacher trainer, textbook publisher, and educational director of a not-for-profit. In the classroom, she fosters a positive, inclusive environment where every student feels a sense of belonging and achievement.
Xiang Huang
Math and Science Instructor · M.Ed, Ph.D Physics Education
Xiang has worked in education from STEM research to course design, with many years teaching math and physics. She aims to create a positive, constructive learning environment and hopes students leave AVRO with knowledge and experience that benefit them through life.
Nitasha Iftikhar
Math and Science Instructor · B.Ed., OCT, MPhil Physics, M.Ed Curriculum and Pedagogy
Nitasha has over ten years of experience teaching high school and believes in the power of mindfulness and meditation in education. She provides a caring, flexible classroom where inquisitive students can truly thrive and have meaningful learning experiences.
Meet the team in person
The best way to know whether AVRO is right for your teen is to visit, meet the teachers, and talk it through. We would love to start that conversation with you.