Introducing: New Faculty and Staff for 2025-26
As we begin the 2025-26 academic year, St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) welcomes our newest faculty and staff who have joined our community recently.
Get to know the new members of our community below:
 | Cameron Branch Branch joined the Athletics Department in February 2025 as the school’s new Strength and Conditioning Coach. He has a master of science in kinesiology and led a successful career as a professional volleyball player in Europe. Branch also has extensive strength coaching experience across a wide range of sports, which he brings to his role supporting the development of SMCS student-athletes at all levels. |
 | Mark De La Cruz ’98 De La Cruz is an alumnus of SMCS and has begun his role as a music teacher in the Music Department this academic year. He completed his honours bachelor of arts from Western University and his bachelor of education from the University of Toronto. He also has a diploma in music, jazz and commercial music from Humber College, and a bachelor of music – jazz studies from Thompson Rivers University. De La Cruz has been working since 2010 as a teacher with the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), most recently as the Department Head of the Arts and Technology. He has remained connected to SMCS as the orchestral pianist for various musical productions for the past 15 years. |
 | Robert DiZio ’82 DiZio began consecutive long-term occasional teaching roles in the English and Theology Departments in January 2025 after serving as a guest teacher for the past three years. He brings over three decades of teaching experience to the classroom and has a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of education from York University. He spent his teaching career working at Senator O’Connor College School with the TCDSB and served on curriculum development/writing teams at a school board-wide level. |
 | John Mandawe Mandawe has joined the SMCS faculty again in the Mathematics and Core Intermediate Departments. He has an honours bachelor of science and a master of science from York University, a bachelor of education from Western University, and a PhD from RWTH Aachen University in Germany. Mandawe has been teaching since 2011, both abroad in England and in the GTA. At SMCS, he has been both a guest teacher and a classroom teacher. He has also worked for Blyth Academy and Northmount School. |
 | Matthew Ramdial Ramdial joined the Advancement Office in June 2025 as the Advancement Officer, Alumni Relations. He completed his BSc in psychology and social anthropology at the University of Toronto. He has previously worked as an event coordinator and here at SMCS as a facilities attendant. |
 | Ivanka Slywynska Slywynska began her role as a math teacher at the start of the 2025-26 academic year. She has an honours bachelor of applied science, mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto, and a bachelor of education from the University of Toronto. Slywynska has worked in the Toronto District School Board since 2012. She was a math, science, and student success teacher and was involved in outdoor education and scouting. |
Returning Faculty:
 | Annelise Beaton Smith Beaton Smith returns to the teaching faculty as the Head of the Science Department following a maternity leave. |
 | Kristy Onyeaju Onyeaju returns to her role as a guidance counsellor in the Student Affairs Department following a maternity leave. |
Faculty in New Roles:
 | Christina Shin Shin has taken on the additional role of Head of the Applied Science and Technology Department. |
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