Our mentors
Who teaches your child.
Your child’s mentor will be chosen for what they know, how they teach and how they treat children. Here is the standard, and how we’ll check it.
What we look for
Five qualities. Every mentor, all five.
This is what makes someone eligible to teach at Hikmah, and how we check each quality.
Hikmah Education
The mentor standard
All five, before anyone is hired.
- Depth in their subjectsChecked in the subject check
- Experience with young peopleChecked in conversation and with references
- Finds the root, asks before tellingChecked in the teaching demonstration
- Patience, warmth and reliabilityChecked at every step, and with references
- Fluent English or FrenchChecked in conversation and in the demonstration
5 of 5Meets the standard
Also valuedCertification with the Ontario College of Teachers
Then, before a first learner: a police vulnerable sector check, training and shadowing.
How we select
Six steps. No shortcuts.
Every candidate passes every step, in this order. Select a step to see what we check.
Application and screening
Candidates apply, and we read every application against the standard.
What it takes to pass
Clear evidence of subject depth, experience with young people and fluency in the language they’ll teach in.
Qualities checked
- Depth in their subjects
- Experience with young people
- Fluent English or French
A first conversation
A conversation about their experience, their values and why they want to teach at Hikmah.
What it takes to pass
Warmth, reliability, respect for families and a real reason to do this work.
Qualities checked
- Experience with young people
- Patience, warmth and reliability
- Fluent English or French
A teaching demonstration
They teach a short session built around a real learner’s mistake, and we observe.
What it takes to pass
They find the root of the mistake and ask questions before telling.
Qualities checked
- Finds the root, asks before telling
- Patience, warmth and reliability
- Fluent English or French
A subject check
A check of their knowledge in each subject they’ll teach, at the level they’ll teach it.
What it takes to pass
Secure knowledge, explained simply.
Qualities checked
- Depth in their subjects
References and a police check
We speak with their references, and they complete a police vulnerable sector check.
What it takes to pass
Good references and a completed check, before they start. No exceptions.
Qualities checked
- Experience with young people
- Patience, warmth and reliability
Training and shadowing
Training in our method, the platform, safeguarding and privacy, then shadowing sessions.
What it takes to pass
They show, in shadowed sessions, that they’re ready for a learner of their own.
Qualities checked
- Finds the root, asks before telling
- Patience, warmth and reliability
The standards
What every mentor upholds. In every session.
Safeguarding
Your child is always seen, and always safe.
- Work in open, visible spaces, never alone with a child out of sight.
- No private messages or social-media contact with learners outside Hikmah’s own channels.
- Report any concern about a child the same day.
Privacy
Your child’s information stays where it belongs.
- See only the records of the learners they work with.
- No photos or recordings of a child without your consent.
The method
Your child does the thinking.
- Find the root of a mistake before fixing it.
- Ask before telling.
- Review every software suggestion before it affects your child.
Partnership with parents
You always know how it’s going.
- Regular progress updates, in plain language.
- Answer your questions, and tell you early if something isn’t working.
Continuity
A mentor who knows your child.
- The same mentor for your child, wherever we can.
- If a change is needed, we’ll tell you why and introduce the new mentor.
Growth
Good mentors keep getting better.
- Observed and coached regularly.
- Ongoing training in the method, safeguarding and privacy.
For parents
Know who is with your child. Ask anything.
Meet the mentor first
Meet your child’s mentor before the first session.
Ask about their background
Their experience, their subjects and how they teach.
Change mentor at any time
If the fit isn’t right, ask, and we’ll make the change.
Questions
What parents ask.
Has Hikmah hired its mentors yet?
Not yet. Hikmah is coming soon to Ottawa, and every founding mentor will be hired against this standard. If you’d like to be one, see our Careers page.
Are mentors certified teachers?
Some will be, and certification with the Ontario College of Teachers is valued. We look at subject depth and proven teaching together, and every mentor passes the same six steps.
Who checks the checks?
The centre director confirms that every step is complete and recorded before a mentor starts, never after. References and police checks are never skipped or postponed.
How do I raise a concern about a mentor?
Tell the centre director in person, or write to us through our contact page. We act on a safeguarding concern the same day, and we’ll tell you what we did.
Can my child have a French-speaking mentor?
Sessions will be in English or French, led by a mentor fluent in that language. Tell us your preference when you join the waitlist.