Kornelia Drianovski

Subject: Language Arts / Creative Writing

What will my child walk away with? A sincere curiosity about language, paired with the confidence to express themselves through a voice that is distinctly their own–both academic and creative. I believe that strong literacy and critical thinking skills are what prepare students to participate meaningfully in the world and, eventually, to expand it. My M.A. in English in the Field of Creative Writing from the University of Toronto, combined with my teaching experience in parliamentary and university settings, equips me to support students at every level, guide them toward their full potential, and prepare them to engage thoughtfully with complex philosophical and social questions.

What can families expect? A teacher who values curiosity and leads with empathy. I believe each student brings a rich and singular perspective to the classroom, and my role is to nurture both the technical skill and the confidence needed to express it with clarity, in writing and in speech.

What does class actually feel like? Energetic, warm, and creatively alive. As a fiction writer, I bring my creative practice directly into the classroom. I’m also a former university debater, and I place strong emphasis on developing students’ argumentation skills and their ability to engage with opposing views. My classes are always shaped around the particular students in them. If one student is drafting a new story in their free time, I invite them to share a passage; if another is passionate about a niche historical topic, I look for ways to weave it into our discussions.

How do you challenge a curious mind? I push students toward the specific and the unexpected. The most interesting writing is almost never the first thing a student thinks of, and learning to move past the obvious (or the “easy” and immediate) toward something original is a practicable skill that I work on deliberately with every student. 

Credentials and Experience M.A. in English (Field of Creative Writing), University of Toronto (funded by SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship). Honours B.A. in English and Anthropology. Published fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction in literary journals such as The New Quarterly, The Ex-Puritan, and Canadian Notes and Queries. Teaching experience in creative writing at the University of Toronto, in civics at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and in visual arts at Oakville Galleries.