Mr. Boyer was Principal of NJC from 1989 to 1992 and returned to Neuchâtel as Head of School in 2009. Mr. Boyer first joined NJC following twelve years as Head of the French Department and Director of Admissions at Crescent School in Toronto, and he is also the former Head of Toronto French School and Hillfield-Strathallan College in Hamilton, Ontario. He also served on NJC’s Canadian Advisory Committee for seven years. Mr. Boyer’s passions include History, French, and working with the hundreds of students he has had the pleasure of teaching and travelling with in Europe. Outside of work, Mr. Boyer is an avid golfer and hockey player, and he and his wife enjoy theatre, film and opera.
Meet your teachers
Neuchâtel’s teachers not only fuel the high academic standards of the school, they also take a personal approach in enabling students to reach new standards of personal insight and achievement.
Faculty Biographies
Mr. Bill Boyer
Head of School
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Mrs. Heather Grant
Director of University Guidance and Counselling
Mrs. Grant has been NJC’s Director of University Guidance and Counselling for seven years; prior to joining NJC she was a Guidance Counsellor, teacher and boarding house director at Appleby College in Oakville, Ontario. Mrs. Grant holds a Masters Degree from the University of Toronto in Counselling Psychology and has over 14 years of experience in the area of counselling and university guidance. She has also taught English and Law, and has coached Swimming, Softball, and Field Hockey. In 2003, Mrs. Grant led the school’s first Habitat for Humanity trip to Hungary where she and the students laid the foundations for the 100th house in Czurgo. Mrs. Grant loves sharing the NJC experience with students every year. |
Mr. Dan Martin
History Teacher
Mr. Martin previously taught at NJC from 1990 to 1993 and is enjoying being back this year. With a Masters Degree in History, he has taught History, Politics, Geography, French, English, Classical Civilizations and Theory of Knowledge at three different levels (Ontario Ministry, IB, and Advanced Placement) in both public and private schools. Mr. Martin has also led several summer programs in Italy and Greece. An avid traveller, Mr. Martin is a military History buff, a classical music enthusiast, an amateur chef and a wine collector. Fluent in French, he also speaks some Italian and German. At NJC Mr. Martin assists with our school play productions and in preparing students for debate, speech, and acting competitions each semester. |
Ms. Katherine Northcott
Mathematics Teacher
Ms. Northcott has a Masters Degree in Mathematics from McMaster University and came to NJC from teaching at Crescent School in Toronto, Ontario where she taught Mathematics. Ms. Northcott is passionate about teaching Math, and is driven to inspire her students in the same way. Ms. Northcott has travelled extensively through Europe and Central America, and has taken students on trips to faraway places, from the heights of Mt. Kilimanjaro to the jungles of Costa Rica. She loves the outdoors, yoga, cycling, and is particularly passionate about playing and coaching Ultimate Frisbee. |
Mr. Draco Szathmary
Physics Teacher
Mr. Szathmary is originally from Quebec’s Eastern Townships and earned his Masters Degree in Physics at the University of Leipzig, Germany. He subsequently earned a Masters Degree in Astronomy at the University of Western Ontario and currently has ongoing research projects in the field of extragalactic astronomy as he pursues his Ph D. Mr. Szathmary was a teaching assistant at the University of Western Ontario for the past two years as well as a demonstrator in their Physics labs. His outside interests include Equestrian sports, curling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, canoeing and hiking. At NJC he has coached basketball and raquet sports. |
Mr. Jean-Paul Danko
Science Teacher
Prior to teaching at NJC, Mr. Danko was Department Head of University Programs at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, a world-class biological station owned by a consortium of five Western Canadian Universities. He maintains a keen interest in graduate research on evolutionary ecology and has published work in peer review journals. Mr. Danko is interested in the variability of global perspectives between neighbouring regions and the associated ecological impacts on people and communities. He was a competitive rower in university and is the Sports Coordinator at NJC. His involvement with the Environment Club at NJC has led to his participation on three treks to Nepal where he and our students install LED lights in remote villages and work with local schools. Read more (add link to news page with story and more photos) |
Ms. Jill Solnicki
English and Drama Teacher
Ms. Jill Solnicki has taught English to a wide range of students across the Greater Toronto Area for over 30 years, serving as Curriculum Leader in her last post. Ms. Solnicki is also a professional writer; her poetry and articles have appeared in a number of literary journals, magazines and newspapers. She has three published books to her credit: a memoir about her teaching experiences and two collections of poetry. Ms. Solnicki’s passions include reading, travelling, theatre and opera, cycling, skiing, and horseback riding. Many years ago, Ms. Solnicki’s parents suggested she attend Neuchâtel. At that time she declined. Now she has finally arrived! |
Mme Christine Weibel
Visual Arts Teacher
Mme Weibel brings to NJC her varied interests in the Arts. Having completed her medical studies at the Université de Lausanne, her travels took her to South America where she studied pre-Columbian art in the Andes and refocused her academic career in the Arts. Mme Weibel teachers both Art History and Studio Art at NJC and works on her own creations. Mme Weibel teaches Studio Art at the Académie de Meuron – Neuchâtel and is particularly interested in working with NJC students as they build their portfolios and integrate their travels with Art History. She has been the Vice-Principal at the Académie de Meuron since 2008. |
Meet Ms. Heidi Gollert
Deputy Head of School
Ms. Gollert’s rich and varied career in education has always reflected her commitment to young people and her passion for languages, other cultures and travel. As a teacher, Department Head of Modern Languages, Instructor of French programs at the Faculty of Education of the University of Toronto, French textbook author and workshop presenter, she was an established leader in French Language Education in Ontario before moving on to administrative roles in Toronto District School Board, as a Vice-Principal, Principal, Leadership Development Officer and Superintendent. Her most recent position prior to joining NJC was Principal of the Senior School of the Toronto French School, a position which allowed her to return to a French language educational environment and to gain experience in the independent school system.
