About Me

Quick Info

• Contact: mryantho@gmail.com
• Hometown: Acton, ON
• Education
  • Secondary: Bishop Reding C.S.S., Milton ON
  •  Undergraduate: Bachelor of Sciecne (Hons.) in Computer Science with a Software Engineering Specialization, The Univeristy of Western Ontario, London ON
  • Post Graduate: Bachelor of Education. The University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa ON
• Teaching
  • St. Thomas Aquinas C.S.S. (web), Oakville, ON
  • ITT OYAP,  Computer Science & Computer Engineering courses

Education and Development

I grew up in Ontario in the Halton Region including Georgetown, Glen Williams, and Acton.  I attended Bishop Reding C.S.S. in Milton where I was involved in soccer and student government activities.  While I was always interested in computers, it was my computer studies classes that began to open my eyes to computers and technology, and what they had to offer.  I applied to University for Computer Science (CS) programs, despite not really knowing what a “Computer Scientist” was. 

I attended The University of Western Ontario (UWO) and immediately began to enjoy my time there.  It was in my second year that I began my software engineering specialization route.  I found CS to be challenging, interesting, and rewarding, however, I found that I enjoyed explaining concepts and teaching others far more than writing programs.  It was not until the end of my third year of University that I decided I would apply to schools to earn my Bachelor of Education (BEd.) and become a teacher.

After attending UWO with a staff and student population of nearly 30,000, I made the choice to attend a much smaller school and entered the BEd. Program at The University of Ontario Institute of Technology in Oshawa (UOIT), ON.  UOIT shares part of its campus with Durham College, and as part of the second graduating class of UOIT there were little more than 1000 UOIT students.  The faculty of education was home to only 90 students.  I enjoyed my year at UOIT, and left feeling greatly prepared to take on my own classes in the years to come.

Teaching

I started teaching at St. Thomas Aquinas (STA) C.S.S. in Oakville ON.  I began to teach the Information Technology Technician Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (ITT OYAP.)  The program was established to offer students from both boards in Halton to enter an apprenticeship in the field of IT.  As a new teacher this was a challenge, as the position involved recruiting students and promoting the program in the community.  Students are enrolled in a Canadore College curriculm and are placed in a co-operative education workplacement.  I am still teaching the ITT OYAP and have also been teaching the computer engineering (ICE 3E/4E) and computer science (ICS 3M/4M) courses.  I have also taught some mathematics and communication technology courses.

I have been involved with coaching the senior girl’s soccer team here at STA since I began teaching here.  It has been a great experience for me and I have had the opportunity to coach some gifted student athletes.  I have been fortunate enough to go with them to provincial finals (OFSAA) twice, including a championship title win in 2006.