About Me

My name is Peter O'Hearn and I've taught Junior High Math and Science in Halifax, Nova Scotia for 15 years.

I've lived in the area my whole life - I grew up just outside of Hubbards, and went to Forest Heights Community School. A number of years at Dalhousie and SMU earned me a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, followed by a concentration in math and physics (about the time I started to find my way). I went north to University of Presque Isle (UMPI) for my Bachelor of Education. After teaching for ten years, still before COVID had entered our lives, I earned my Diploma in Educational Technology and gained some insight into the potential benefits of online learning. This year (2022-2023), after fifteen years at middle school, I pivoted to a position with the Nova Scotia Virtual School (NSVS) teaching a variety of high school courses online to students around the province, all online. It was immediately clear that my students appreciate and benefit from the flexibility and convenience of learning online, and it felt like the right time to start Big Umbrella - a chance to offer my support and extend that same convenience to more students who need it.

Why might you want to work with a tutor?

The change of pace and added pressure experienced when starting high school can be overwhelming and for many. Keeping up with studies can easily fall to the wayside when trying to balance all of the other excitement that high school has to offer; after all, it is one step closer to 'the real world'. Having a solid foundation in math before leaving the relative safety of junior high can help take the edge off of that potentially stressful experience, giving you more time to enjoy the rest of the high school experience.

So, why Big Umbrella?

Every now and then, we all get caught in a storm. Each rib of an umbrella helps support the canopy, keeping you sheltered from whatever nature is throwing your way. Having a strong support network - your parents, siblings and friends, your classroom teachers, guidance counselor, and tutor, your coaches and teammates - is like carrying a big strong umbrella. The bigger your umbrella is, the easier it will be to weather the potentially stormy days ahead.

So, if you could use a bit more support, I'd be happy to be a part of your Big Umbrella!