Ban AL-Saffar

Re-elect

Ban holds a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA TESOL) from Trinity Western University in British Columbia. She also holds two TESL certificates and has been teaching ESL, EAP, and LINC classes in Canada since 2010, along with international teaching experience. She has worked with respected institutions such as The University of Winnipeg, Red River College, Waterloo Catholic District School Board (St. Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education Centres), and McMaster University. She is currently the TESL Program Coordinator at Conestoga College, where she also serves as a Theory and Methodology and Practicum Instructor, supporting practicum placements for TESL student teachers.

Ban has been an active volunteer with TESL Ontario since 2016. She served as the TESL WW Affiliate Representative and later as President for four years, leading professional development and AGM events for members. In 2022, she joined the TESL Ontario Board of Directors and has since strengthened her governance experience, including serving as Treasurer and a member of the Finance Committee. She attends all board meetings and contributes ideas and thoughtful feedback to support Ontario’s TESL community.

Her insight into ESL and LINC programs comes from years of direct teaching and coordination. She is deeply concerned about funding cuts and their impact on learners, teachers, and communities. She encourages colleagues to be vocal and put pressure on decision makers by writing letters and engaging in conversations whenever possible, so that informed choices are made. A strong communicator and listener, Ban values collaboration and works to find solutions, such as training colleagues to address online teaching challenges with academic integrity and student engagement.

Somayeh Jalalinasab

I am an experienced educator with nearly two decades of expertise in teaching, curriculum design, assessment, and professional development in English language education. I hold two Master’s degrees—one in Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies and the other in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)—which provide both theoretical depth and practical grounding.

Over the years, I have taught in diverse instructional settings, from settlement language training to college and university EAP programs, while also contributing to assessment as a CELPIP rater and a test panelist for Avant Assessment USA. I am currently an ESL/LINC teacher and hold OCELT, ICTEAL, and CTESL certifications, further strengthening my qualifications and commitment to excellence in language education. These roles have given me deep insight into the realities TESL Ontario members face in both classroom and professional contexts.

In addition to teaching and assessment, I have held supervisory roles in various organizations, where I guided teams of teachers and tutors, supported their professional growth, and oversaw program delivery. These leadership experiences enhanced my organizational, communication, and governance skills, equipping me to contribute meaningfully to board responsibilities. I value collaboration and have consistently fostered environments where open dialogue, active listening, and constructive problem-solving lead to strong outcomes.

I am eager to bring this blend of leadership, teaching, assessment, and curriculum expertise to the TESL Ontario Board. I will support members by advocating for their professional needs, ensuring transparent communication, and contributing actively to board initiatives. I would be honoured to represent you on the Board of Directors.

Matthew McGravey

Matthew has been active in the ELT community for 15 years. He has taught in a wide range of both private and public contexts in this area including private language instruction, English for Academic Purposes (EAP), LINC/ESL, as well as Writing/Language Specialist work. Matthew has completed his Master of Education at Ontario Tech University, the institution in which he currently serves the Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) as a Writing and ESL Specialist.

Matthew also has a strong research background, and he has authored several publications including High School Students’ Perspectives on Their Online Learning Experiences: A Systematic Literature Review, published earlier in 2025 in the Journal of Computer Assisted Learning (JCAL) with his supervisor and mentor, Dr. Jia Li. Matthew is currently in the process of completing further publications and research related to his interests of Indigenous education and Artificial Intelligence.

Matthew has held various roles on boards and committees. In his university position, Matthew plans events and university activities in close collaboration with several internal and external partners across the institution. In addition, Matthew proudly served as a member of TESL Durham from 2015 until 2021, including as Affiliate Chapter President for several years.

Matthew is looking forward to joining the TESL Ontario Board. Working closely with TESL Ontario was an amazing experience as Chapter President, and Matthew wants to start the new chapter of TESL experience by serving members on the TESL Ontario Board.

Diane Mensch

Re-elect

Diane Mensch (B.A./B.Ed./M.Ed.) has a long history of English teaching in diverse settings, and administration of EAP and other programs. For 17 years, she taught abroad in schools in Chad, Namibia, Tunisia, and South Africa, including ESL teaching to diverse populations of both children and adults. Her teaching in Canada has included public and private schools, colleges and university. Since 2010, Diane’s focus has been on adult education in ESL, ELT, and EAP programs, starting with LINC and moving into EAP teaching at St. Lawrence College, Queen’s University, and the Royal Military College. Since 2016, Diane’s work has been at Queen’s University’s School of English. This has included work as Academic Manager, overseeing the programs and instructional staff, developing the curriculum, re-writing and updating policies, and working with the administrative team to ensure a thriving array of programs and courses, but also ongoing work as a teacher, which is her passion.

Diane served on the TESL Kingston Chapter executive for five years, and was particularly active on the Program Committee, working to organize useful and vibrant workshops and to facilitate positive collaborations among the TESL Kingston members.

As a TESL Ontario Board Member, and its current Vice-Chair, Diane’s commitment to excellence, professionalism, and collaboration are the groundwork for everything she takes on. Working on behalf of our TESL Ontario members, and those that we serve, Diane’s focus will always be on finding solutions and supporting positive advancement for all concerned.