2022 Recipient biographies – Teaching Excellence in STEM

Certificate of Excellence

Robert Tymofichuk: Sparking the joy of learning

Robert Tymofichuk: Sparking the joy of learning

Year: 2022 — Province: Alberta
Certificate of Excellence Recipient

Watch the video on Youtube

Robert Tymofichu

New Myrnam School
Grades 5 to 12, Science, Math, and Career and Technology Studies
Myrnam, Alberta

"Robert's passion for learning has never waned. His enthusiasm is inspiring and contagious. He has spearheaded, and brought to successful conclusions, projects that have given our village pride and motivation."

Mayor

Robert is not only a teacher. He is a pillar of the community. His work has the quality of uniting people around learning initiatives. His own inspiring personality instills confidence and motivation to people who are waiting to contribute, but also often need direction and a sense of purpose. He is a unique role model for his students as well as for all members of his community.

Teaching approach

It is said that one of the main challenges in education is to bridge theory and practice. Robert brings the two together by designing and implementing projects that students relate to. He is there as a mentor and coach, channeling the energy and motivation of students, and sharing this insight and knowledge. The result is tremendous fulfillment for students and motivation to take on enriching trades and careers.

Robert's approach includes a personal mission – preserving the environment. This is one of the backdrops to his teaching. He translates his objectives into real initiatives like the school's Renewable Energy Program, with projects like the construction of a sustainable greenhouse where students programed their computers to monitor temperature inside the greenhouse, explored the science of heat before installing insulation, designed a rainwater irrigation system, as well as a venting system that automatically engages when the temperature exceeds a certain threshold. Robert successfully integrates technology with learning.

In the classroom

In 2018, Robert accepted the teaching position at New Myrnam School, enthused by the opportunity to work on an engaging project that brought together science, math and career technology education. Under his guidance, students designed a solar tracking array system, a wind turbine and a biofuel reactor which connected to a generator in order to investigate which form of renewable energy would be recommended by the students to the village counsel for the new Career Education Centre. They took the project from plans to functioning system. Robert's learning space is designed to accompany his students to successful outcomes through projects that help develop knowledge in science and technology, and also mechanical skills

Outstanding achievements

Robert has transformed the image and the role of the school by inspiring a generation of students to pursue careers in science and technology, as well as in trades. Many of these students, who were at risk of leaving school, are now achieving meaningful academic and career goals.

Robert is not only a teacher. He is among the most dynamic members of the community. Among his many incredible achievements, he is the driving force behind the Construction and Technology Education Center in Myrnam. The Center provides students with access to the tools and technology to develop their skills and make their projects a reality.

Get in touch!

New Myrnam School
51050 50 Street
Myrnam, AB T0B 3K0
780-366-3801
nms@sperd.ca
Facebook: @newmyrnamschoolsperd

Sarah Torrie: Making science come alive

Sarah Torrie: Making science come alive

Year: 2022 — Province: Ontario
Certificate of Excellence Recipient

Watch the video on Youtube

Sarah Torrie

Victoria Park Collegiate Institute
Grades 9-12, Physics, and Intermediate Science
Toronto, Ontario

"Sarah took me to a Women in STEM conference, as she knew that other female students and I would feel empowered and motivated hearing the stories and struggles of successful women in STEM. It is because of her enthusiasm and love for physics, that I am currently a Nuclear Medicine Research Assistant."

former student

Sarah is a uniquely creative and resourceful educator. She creates effective and engaging digital lessons, activities, and assessments for her students. She provides her students with opportunities including real-life experiments at research labs, STEM events and interesting field trips.

Teaching approach

Sarah makes science theories come alive, make sense and be relatable. She has the unique ability to incorporate scientific experimental applications with digital media using a wide variety of teaching techniques. She integrates elements such as languages, arts, music, business, history, and geography into her course contents and extracurriculars. Her approach recognizes the specificities of different learning backgrounds, styles and abilities. Her students not only learn the content, but also have fun while learning and develop interest and love for the topics.

In the classroom

Sarah is highly skilled in digital media creation. She converts those skills into exciting and memorable digital lessons and activities, and creates individualised learning opportunities for her students. She provides the setting for her students to build and showcase their creativity and competencies – critical to learning success and the development of transferable skills. Her classroom is a welcoming and immersive space, filled with science- and physics-related items.

Sarah's class is more than STEM. She provides insight and perspective on real-world issues, such as climate change, gender equality, human rights, equity, anti-racism, and inclusivity. She does so through thought-provoking discussions and assignments that use actual data sourced through her contacts with various research organizations.

Outstanding achievements

Sarah is an exceptional role model for women in STEM, and she actively mentors female students interested in pursuing STEM careers. She co-founded the Women in Science Club at her school, establishing a platform for female students to discuss their education and career goals in science and engineering, providing them with information about post-secondary programs in science and engineering. She ensures young women have opportunities to see science and physics in action.

Sarah is a strong proponent of student mental health. She recognizes signs of troubles in their lives, mental health issues, or just a need for help developing appropriate social skills. She builds the much-needed rapport with the students and helps them get the support they need.

As an outstanding educator with a keen interest in the future of her profession, Sarah has presented at conferences and facilitated workshops including the Toronto District School Board's Eureka Science Teacher Conference, the Science on Stage Canada Conference and Physics workshops on behalf of the PI and University of Toronto Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She continues to grow as an educator and give back to the profession.

Get in touch!

Victoria Park Collegiate Institute
15 Wallingford Road
Toronto, ON M3A 2V1
416-395-3310
VictoriaParkCI@tdsb.on.ca
Instagram: @victoriaparkci
Twitter: @vicparkci

Certificate of Achievement

Amanda Green and Julie Arsenault: Launching Student Innovation through STEM Collaboration

Amanda Green and Julie Arsenault: Launching Student Innovation through STEM Collaboration

Year: 2022 — Province: Alberta
Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Julie Arsenault Amanda Green

Julie Arsenault – Michael Strembitsky School, Edmonton Alberta
Amanda Green – École Champs Vallée School, Beaumont, Alberta
Grades 7 to 9 Science, Math, STEAM, Environmental Education, Health, Coding/CTF

"Their incredible dedication to space education has molded them into exceptional educators, going above and beyond to provide engaging experiences for their students and their colleagues. (…) The province of Alberta has benefitted from their willingness to present at many conferences about STEM, space education and assessment practices for teachers, as well as outside of Alberta. They both have the high energy and passion to make students smile, be excited about learning in a time of uncertainty during this pandemic. They are a beautiful gift to the world of teaching."

Colleague

Both Amanda and Julie are the spark of space exploration that ignites curiosity and a love for learning in their students. They challenge students to solve real-world problems and innovate with technologies to ultimately better life here on Earth. While they teach at different school, their willingness to share resources and to collaborate on multiple inquiry-based projects, they have built a professional learning network that spans the country.

Teaching approach

Julie and Amanda both embrace multiple modes for instructing and engaging students, and they encourage their students to learn through experience. Students are challenged to design experiments and develop procedures but it is the process, rather than the end result, that is celebrated. Students learn that "epic fails" are a means to deeper understanding.

In the classroom

Amanda and Julie have spoken to many astronauts over the years and they all have one common message – The Overview Effect. While floating above the Earth all borders disappear and all that remains is one beautiful symphony of land, water, air and life. This feeling of interconnectedness and global citizenship is something that both of these teachers exemplify in their classrooms and beyond.

Amanda and Julie's coding journey began with Let's Talk Science and the Canadian Space Agency's Living Space project where students learned to code Micro:bits in order to monitor their environment and compare it to the conditions on the International Space Station. Students developed their computational thinking skills by coding systems to measure temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide. Students were then challenged to improve upon their own local environment and compare their results in order to reflect upon their energy use and resulting emissions. This quantifiable measurement of carbon dioxide became the impetus for a number of energy-focused projects.

Outstanding achievements

Science is the language of the future. It is the door through which technology advances and medicine progresses. Youth need to become excited by the adventure of discovering the unknown. This where Amanda and Julie come in. They demonstrate – in class and in the community – that they are the spark that enables students to walk through the door into the future. And while they are dedicated to helping their students develop STEM skills, both also value the personal growth of their students. They are preparing the Canadians of the future.

Get in touch!

Michael Strembitsky School
4110 Savaryn Drive SW
Edmonton, A T6X 0Z5
780-392-3500
michaelstrembitsky.epsb.ca

École Champs Vallée School
6002 30 Avenue
Beaumont, AB T4X 2C2
780-929-8888

Véronique Brunelle: Launching student innovation through STEM collaboration

Véronique Brunelle: Launching student innovation through STEM collaboration

Year: 2022 — Province: Alberta
Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Véronique Brunelle

William Aberhart High School
Grades 10, 11 & 12 – Math
Calgary, Alberta

"Véronique is truly an exemplary mathematics leader and teacher. Her passion for teaching and math has had a significant and lasting impact on our students, staff, and community both locally and provincially. Her exemplary teaching practice truly exemplifies what we mean by a Master Teacher."

Assistant Principal

Véronique has worked as a math teacher in the French Immersion program in the Calgary Board of Education at two different high schools. Because Véronique teaches in the French Immersion program, she is de facto a language teacher as well as a math teacher.

Teaching approach

Véronique has an in-depth understanding and instructional knowledge of the mathematics curriculum. She is also a highly conscientious and reflective teacher and leader who recognizes the importance that collaboration plays in her own learning and the learning of others. She is mindful about providing outcomes based learning opportunities and making the learning visible to students. She utilizes a student-centered approach to personalize her lesson plans so that they meet the diverse needs of her students.

In the classroom

Véronique's classroom is not typical. One might see students writing on the whiteboards on the walls, and even on the windows. Students also use mini-whiteboards and argue about how to graph a function or to solve a rational equation. Students are empowered to take risks, write down their ideas, pursue the problem-solving process. Students working outside of the box, identifying patterns and solving problems in a collaborative team environment – this is Véronique's classroom.

Many teachers are afraid to try new things for fear of losing control, or deviating from the patterns they have established. Véronique is resolutely committed to innovation. She continuously works and reworks her learning environment to meet the needs of her students. Students would describe her classroom as a safe space to share their ideas with their classmates.

Outstanding achievements

As a teacher in French Immersion, an inherent role in her work has been to encourage students' exploration and development of French. In the Canadian context, helping students to develop bilingual skills is one of the many ways that she has helped students to expand their understanding of our world.
As a woman in STEM, Véronique is an inspiration to many of her female students. They see her as a smart, hard-working, knowledgeable leader who they can look to for inspiration. She encourages her students to reach their potential, and often helps students with their university applications and by writing reference letters. In addition, she has encouraged many students to take part in the WISEST program at the University of Alberta – a program that places high school girls in research labs, providing teens with an opportunity to work on campus in a science or engineering related field, and to visualize themselves in a similar role. Véronique connects her female students to high quality experiences that drive them forward in their learning.

Get in touch!

William Aberhart High School
3009 Morley Trail NW
Calgary, AB T2M 4G9
403-289-2551
williamaberhart@cbe.ab.ca

Jeffrey Landry: The guidance and the tools to succeed in STEM

Jeffrey Landry: The guidance and the tools to succeed in STEM

Year: 2022 — Province: Alberta
Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Westwood Community High School
Grades 7 to 12 – Robotics, Digital Design, Mechanic and Construction
Fort McMurray, Alberta

"Jeffrey Landry is a long-time teacher at Westwood Community High School who has shown unwavering passion and dedication to student learning. Beyond academics, Mr. Landry excels in leading students through his diverse approach to teaching, student development, and bringing new opportunities for positive growth."

former students

Jeffrey has been teaching Robotics, Digital Design, Construction and Mechanical at Westwood Community High School since 2014. His emphatic and positive approach with students in every class and his relationships with students speak to his pedagogical talent and skills in the classroom.

Teaching Approach

Jeffrey's pedagogical approach is based on project-based learning and product-based learning. He connects the classroom learning activity to real life production and development experience by having students make goods that are sold in order to financially support new projects and equipment. He has been central in revamping the curriculum to bring it in line with students' interests and motivate them towards STEM based careers. Among the outcomes of his efforts is that he is mentoring new teachers in the STEM curriculum in order to meet the demand for those option classes.

In the classroom

Jeffrey's classroom is about providing his students with the latest in learning tools. It is in itself an adventure in technology. It is full of the latest equipment, from the HoloLens Extended Reality System, to virtual reality, to dedicated servers, to 3D-printers as well as class-sets of high-end laptops. Jeffrey's teaching is not limited to improving students' coding skills. He also connects the learning experience to the machine learning world, digital design, virtual reality, web design, and robotics. After five years of fundraising, the Westwood Innovation Lab became reality. This is a makerspace in the heart of the school dedicated to innovation and creativity, and based on shared interests in technology. Students gather in that space to work on projects while sharing ideas, equipment, and knowledge.

Exceptional Achievements

Jeffrey's desire to see Westwood succeed further is only exceeded by the importance and attention he gives to his students. This inevitably leads to success. The support he offers has led students to a plethora of honors, awards, and achievements. These include winning the North American Inspo Innovation and Research Fair, the VEX robotics Provincial tournament qualifications as well as awards including the Design, Sportsmanship, Skills Champion, Excellence, and Tournament Champions awards, as well as multiple distinctions in national math and coding competitions.

Hid pedagogical achievements are best illustrated with some facts. Among the 80 students who graduated from Westwood in June 2021, 33 went into technology fields and 10 were accepted at the University of Waterloo Software Engineering, Mechatronic or Computer Science. This is only an indication of the motivation and drive Jeffrey provides his students.

Get in touch!

Westwood Community High School
221 Tundra Drive
Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4Z7
780-791-1986
Twitter: @Wwhighschool

Lucile Denys: Helping everyone learn

Lucile Denys: Helping everyone learn

Year: 2022 – Province: British Columbia
Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Lucile Denys

Cousteau School
Grades 1 to 6 – French and Mathematics
North Vancouver, British Columbia

"I don't know if she really realizes it, but her commitment and perseverance have a positive impact on everyone she meets. Just being around her, we are inevitably inspired by her many accomplishments to reach for greater heights ourselves."

Educational Consultant

Being a remedial teacher, Lucile is familiar with her pupils' learning difficulties. Lucile has dual French and Canadian citizenship and she never fails to showcase the wealth of the two cultures. This is how she contributes to her school's multiculturalism, which is important when you consider that 40 different nationalities are represented among the pupils attending the school. Her lived experience gives Lucile an open mind about the world around us and how people are connected.

Educational approach

Lucile spearheads the use of innovative teaching practices in the classroom. She energizes not only her pupils but her fellow teachers as well. She implements effective teaching techniques in the classroom and she trains the school's team of teachers on these practices. Lucile's teaching is adapted along universal design for learning lines. Her knowledge and enthusiasm inspire her fellow teachers as she demonstrates the most effective and intentional teaching practices at the school.

In the classroom

Lucile is right up to date on how to use new technologies in the classroom. She sees computer hardware as a tool to be used for the benefit of learners. She uses a wide variety of software packages, always with a view to helping pupils learn. One example is her use of Lexibar to help special education pupils read and spell.

Lucile also builds excellent relationships with the parents of the children at the school. She stays in contact with them through tools like Loom or Jamboard, and has even created videos with tips for parents for helping their children with their homework. These videos also give the parents a better understanding of the activities she leads. For example, Lucile suggested a set of writing exercises to help children improve their fine motor skills. She also helps pupils improve their reading aloud or compose a speech, encouraging them to talk on the school's web-based radio station.

Outstanding Achievements

Lucile's work is not over at the end of the school day. For example, she has a professional Instagram account with nearly 2,000 followers. At school, she shares her experience, recommendations and resources. Outside the classroom, Lucile is, along with other remedial teachers, a regular contributor to a podcast on remedial education. Driven by the same desire to help her peers, Lucile regularly runs training sessions in the teaching forum of the French secular mission association, the Mission Laïque Française. Since the Mission is an international network of French schools, she trains teachers from all corners of the globe.

Get in touch!

Cousteau School
3657 Fromme Road
North Vancouver, BC V7K 2E6
604-924-2457
head@cousteauschool.org
Facebook: @cousteauschool
Instagram: @cousteauschool

Carl Savage: Technology at the service of creativity

Carl Savage: Technology at the service of creativity

Year: 2022 — Province: British Columbia
Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Carl Savage

Ecole Ballenas Secondary School
Grades 10 to 12, Physics, Computer Science, Specialized Science, Astronomy, Independent Directed Studies
Parksville, British Columbia

"Not one of my past educators has come close to dedicating themselves to generating real scientific, digital and creative literacy as Mr. Savage. Creativity in science stems from a strong foundation of first principles and in that regard, Mr. Savage is in a league of his own. (…) Physics and astronomy are fields so often plagued by complicated formulas, yet Mr. Savage redefines this narrative. He builds literacy in technology through student projects and ensures students' continued success beyond high school by engraining an endless love of lifelong learning."

former student

Carl was an astrophysicist who worked on missile guidance systems – and then became a high school level educator. The skills students develop in his classroom go beyond what is expected in the curriculum and helps them prepare for future studies and careers.

Teaching Approach

Carl's pedagogical approach in based on two key elements. The first is bridging the sometimes wide divide between theory and practice by providing students with subject matter and activities that they relate to. He encourages students to take on initiatives that bring science to the realities of life with real applications. The second element is that he brings out the best in his students and makes the task of challenging them to try things out of their comfort zone look easy. He adapts his teaching to meet the needs of his students so that all feel supported regardless of their academic ability.

In the classroom

Digital and creative literacy is woven in to everything Carl does with his students. He teaches them the Python programming language, how to problem solve, how to represent data, as well as interpret and analyse data using coding. Students are then taught to write reports using coding. And they are initiated to the use of Jupyter notebooks for a range of data science tasks.

Carl's projects with his students are not only plentiful – they are of an outstanding level. A few samples are building a small nuclear fusion reactor, learning neural networks using Python, designing a land rover for data collection, hunting for exoplanets using NASA's Kepler data, automatic grocery carts for people with visual impairments, a satellite project in cooperation with UBC's Rocket Team, and 3D printed hands that could move with the help of technology.

Exceptional Achievements

Carl teaches coding to his students even if it's not part of the studies program because he is aware of the significant benefits. The best example is the experiment that was designed by a group of his students and that was sent and used to the International Space Station. The students worked on computer code that they hoped would be able to detect small variations to the ISS's orbit as it travels through the thin upper atmosphere of earth. Conducting scientific experiments on the ISS is the dream of many scientists. For high school students, it's an amazing feat.

Get in touch!

Ecole Ballenas Secondary School
135 Pym Street
Parksville, BC V9P 1G4
250-248-5721
Twitter: @Ballenas5

Chris Heidebrecht & Mark Lesiuk: Bringing the anishinaabe culture to the world

Chris Heidebrecht & Mark Lesiuk: Bringing the anishinaabe culture to the world

Year: 2022 — Province: Manitoba
Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Chris Heidebrecht Mark Lesiuk

Minnetonka School and Highbury School
Grades 5 & 6 all subjects
Winnipeg, Manitoba

"Manito Ahbee Aki is the first Minecraft teaching resource that honours, celebrates and explores the Manitoba Anishinaabe community in pre-European contact. (…) It is truly amazing to witness the impact this initiative has had on students and teachers across the world."

Divisional Vice-Principal

Manito Ahbee Aki (which means "the place where the creator sits") is a collaboration between grade 5/6 students, Mark and Chris, the Louis Riel School Division’s Indigenous Education Team, and Minecraft Education Edition to create a world based on Anishinaabe culture and history. To create an authentic experience, members of the LRSD Indigenous Council of Grandmothers and Grandfathers (ICGG), along with Frank Deer, LRSD Scholar in Residence, and Knowledge Keepers from the Manitoba Anishinaabe community, guided and informed the development of the project. The project has been a game changer in education for exemplary utilization of technology to engage and empower students while seamlessly learning about Indigenous perspectives in Manitoba.

Teaching Approach

We know that students are well versed in what is entertaining and fun. Transitioning this interest to focused and purposeful learning activities is the art of teaching. Game based learning has certainly become a valuable tool in the pedagogical tool chest. Both Chris and Mark are leaders in incorporating Minecraft, one of the most popular games in the world, into their curriculum. They understand that when students play a game, they become immersed in the challenges that open the door to deeper learning. The art of the project is that students think they are playing a game, but they are learning in an immersive and engaging way.

In the classroom

Manito Ahbee Aki was a significant undertaking for Chris and Mark's students. Incorporating Indigenous teachings, culture, language and history into Minecraft was a unique idea, a huge task, and not without risk.

To make the game the "right way," with the blessings of the ICGG and Knowledge Keepers, the team needed to ensure their sacred stories would be honoured in the game platform. Chris and Mark spent a lot of time talking with the Anishinaabe Knowledge Keepers, listening to their stories and teachings. They shared the stories with their students who helped design the game activities that would help players learn about the Anishinaabe language, culture and history.

Exceptional Achievements

The Manito Ahbee Aki project reimagined what could be accomplished with game-based learning. Having students as co-creators and contributors to the design and playability of the Manito Ahbee Aki was an incredible learning opportunity for them. And about the success of the project – Manito Ahbee Aki now has 800,000 users in 90 different countries. Chris, Mark and their students are frequently asked to lead classrooms around the globe on using Minecraft and Manito Ahbee Aki.
When teachers start to discuss Indigenous perspectives and reconciliation in the classroom many non-Indigenous teachers struggle and are often uncomfortable leading students in these areas. What Manito Ahbee Aki has provided is a platform for non-Indigenous teachers to use this tool for an authentic and engaging way to bring lessons to their students and share Indigenous voices and teachings with their classes.

Get in touch!

Minnetonka School
200 Minnetonka Street
Winnipeg, MB R2M 3Y6
204-257-8114

Highbury School
99 Highbury
Winnipeg, MB R2N 2N5
204-254-5078

Julia Grant-Pretty: Learning together is better

Julia Grant-Pretty: Learning together is better

Year: 2022 — Province: Newfoundland and Labrador
Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Julia Grant-Pretty

Holy Name of Mary Academy
K – 12, Math, Science, Technology, Library
Lawn, Newfoundland

"Julia is extraordinarily talented at connecting with her students and educating in a creative and engaging fashion. Showing confidence in the use of varied media, Ms. Grant-Pretty incorporates the use of technology in all of her subjects to give her students every possible opportunity for success."

Principal

Julia resides in a small town on Newfoundland's south coast where she teaches in a K-12 school. However, there's nothing small about the achievements. She has grown and adapted her practices throughout her thirteen years of teaching in a profession that is ever changing. Julia has an unending determination to ensure that her students succeed and reach their maximum potential.

Teaching Approach

Julia's philosophy is based on the principle "learning is better together". She is a strong believer in giving students the opportunity to learn through exploration and to pursue their passions through inquiry-based learning. She believes technology is an extraordinary tool that enhances learning opportunities for her students and she is constant in her plight to develop innovative ways to impart knowledge and skills, but also to develop global awareness.

In the classroom

Student engagement is at the forefront of Julia's teaching methods as she integrates a wide range of practices that are experiential and broaden knowledge of the curriculum. She is dedicated to creating a welcoming classroom space which is safe, flexible, engaging, compassionate, and connected. To foster connection and build on her relationships with students Julia introduces restorative talking circles to her classes. These circles support her students' socio-emotional development by building their interpersonal and communications skills.

Julia's teaching philosophy relies heavily on engaging students through STEAM which brings real-world learning into her classroom through hands-on experiences that offer students self-directed learning activities and differentiated means of assessment. She achieves cooperative learning within her instructional practices through techniques such as flipping her classroom, self reflection tools, as well as team building exercises.

Exceptional Achievements

Julia leads a highly successful robotics program. The HNMA Megabots have won multiple provincial competitions, and competed in a First Lego League international competition in Detroit, USA. The robotics program has had a deep impact on students' social emotional learning, a positive effect on their mental health, and has helped them grow and take on a greater responsibility for their learning. The robotics team and program has been an incredible success within the school. It has insured student attendance and has secured a bond between school and community partners. The learning opportunities afforded through such experiential learning engages students within STEM and helps build connections between the curriculum and everyday life.

Julia lends her talents in the STEM field in more than just the classroom, she has become a Let's Talk Science Teacher Leader and mentors other teachers province wide. Through this lens she has created outdoor experiential learning environments that actively engage her students in the curriculum stimulating their knowledge of the concepts and fostering connections to the world.

Get in touch!

Holy Name of Mary Academy
1 Quarry Road
Lawn, NL A0E 2E0
709-873-2069
Twitter: @HNMA_Lawn

Jeffrey Locke: The guidance and the tools to succeed in STEM

Jeffrey Locke: The guidance and the tools to succeed in STEM

Year: 2022 — Province: Newfoundland and Labrador
Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Jeffrey Locke

Holy Spirit High School
Grades 10, 11, 12 – Biology and Writing
Conception Bay South, Newfoundland

"Jeff's teaching excellence stems in good part from his holistic approach. He recognizes the social-emotional needs and the diverse learning needs of his students. He teaches based on the premise that students need to know you truly care about them. Jeff takes every opportunity to remind his students that he is there to support them and wants each and every one to feel valued and to succeed."

Colleague

Jeffrey teaches both science and creative writing. He is a modern-day renaissance man. But his true passion is education. He has found a way to merge all of his diverse interests and talents into a unique learning environment for his students.

Teaching Approach

Transforming passion into learning is a challenge for teachers. Most deliver curriculum from their own point of view, as learning leaders. Jeffrey recognizes that students are leaders too and that informs his classroom practices. Using constructivist methods, Jeffrey often delegates roles for students for particular tasks. He aims to structure strengths and skills development through collaboration. In groups, he takes time to rotate leaders. He guides students to work as a team and experience new roles in the classroom. The outcome is greater ownership of learning and eventually, academic success.

In the classroom

Jeffrey incorporated Minecraft Education Edition into his writing class. He worked with teachers and students to create a Holy Spirit High School Minecraft world with the objective of instilling pride and digital citizenship that extends beyond the classroom. Students collaborated to represent their own understandings of descriptive text through the Minecraft world. Upon completion, Jeffrey was approached by Minecraft Education to share the project.

Much of the experimentation in Jeffrey's science classes is done using Vernier LabQuest Technology. He is committed to environmental conservation, science education, and community. As an ecology study, he and his students surveyed the school's duck pond and the Manuels river. His classes collected water samples for analysis and used temperature probes, flow rate meters, dissolved oxygen and other sensors to learn about their local ecosystems. Using Vernier technology in his classroom has been a game changer in how students are able to collect and manipulate data.

Exceptional Achievements

For six years Jeffrey has sponsored a video gaming club known as the HSH Smashteam. Being an avid gamer himself, he saw a need for this club as a way of reaching those students who didn't seem to have any other school involvement. They met each week as a gaming community that supported each other in competitive play. Students who may not have had much communication with other students were suddenly coming out of their shells in this environment. Jeffrey then extended this club into a fundraising event. Each year, the Smashteam organized a game-a-thon where students would participate in an all-night gaming session. They raised funds to donate tablets, ipads and technology for assisting student learning over 6 years for the Newfoundland Autism Society's educational library.

Get in touch!

Holy Spirit High School
2694 Topsail Road
Conception Bay South, NL A1W 4B1
709-834-1031
hsattendance@nlesd.ca
Twitter: @HolySpiritHS

Zélia Capitão-Tavares: Transforming learning experiences into life experiences

Zélia Capitão-Tavares: Transforming learning experiences into life experiences

Year: 2022 — Province: Ontario
Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Zélia Capitão-Tavares

McMurrich Junior Public School
Grades 4 & 5, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, The Arts, Health
Toronto, Ontario

"Since STEM is interdisciplinary in nature, Zélia masterfully weaves it into her lessons in conjunction with the UN Sustainable Development goals which allows the students to get involved in issues that are currently affecting the world and empowering them make a difference in their local communities and beyond."

Acting Coordinator – Mathematics, Science, STEM and Robotics

As a critical fixture in the Toronto District School Board's tech initiatives for over 20 years, Zélia has been instrumental in helping the entire board navigate some of the most challenging, tumultuous and rapidly changing times in EdTech.

Teaching approach

Zélia's intention is to create learning based on social entrepreneurship. She provides experiential learning opportunities based on interest, community and lived experience. She connects educators with a variety of strategies, practical tools and ideas to develop computational thinking by using micro:bits, makeymakey, MakeCode, Scratch and Lynx coding. Zélia leverages coding with game-based and challenge-based learning. For instance, in "Hack the ROM," students-built Minecraft worlds inspired by Indigenous ancestral objects under the guidance of ROM Indigenous Knowledge Resource Teachers.

In the classroom

Encouraging student voice in a social media world is a key component in Zélia's programming. Students hone digital citizenship skills through Twitter chats with #WomenInSTEM, designing social media campaigns for class projects, building identities as digital citizens who challenge one-sided messages. As knowledge constructors, her students also critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to further their understanding. Students in Zelia's class create interactive presentations that integrate different uses of technology like screencastify, QR codes, Google Maps, Scratch coding and MakeyMakey. This space provides students with a showcase of their learning.

As a teacher Zélia provides time for self exploration of various technologies with an emphasis on supporting student learning. Within the same lens of reflecting on equity, Zélia is a role model in technology, always encouraging girls/women in STEM providing workshops and resources for educators to use with students to work with coding and robotics.

Outstanding achievements

Zélia is committed to the conversation on how to build system capacity, and is intentional in highlighting cross-cultural contributions to the STEM fields and addressing the gender gaps. Students who identify as female all need opportunities to see themselves as contributing members beyond their communities, and seeing/hearing from Women in STEM. Students see themselves as potential global changemakers through the daily choices and actions provided by Zélia.

Zélia uses digital technologies to foster creativity and improve student learning and outcomes. She also uses technology to weigh in on world issues like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Global Competencies to develop student agency. And she is the right person with the personal skills to accomplish this. She is a Google Certified Innovator, a Microsoft Innovative Fellow, an HP Teaching Fellow, a KidsCodeJeunesse Ambassador, TeachSDGs Ambassador and a board member on MindShareLearning.

Get in touch!

McMurrich Junior Public School
115 Winona Drive
Toronto, ON M6G 3S8
416-393-1770
McMurrich@tdsb.on.ca

Melissa Dent: Transforming learning experiences into life experiences

Melissa Dent: Transforming learning experiences into life experiences

Year: 2022 — Province: Ontario
Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Melissa Dent

McNaughton Avenue Public School, LCCVI Virtual Campus
Grades 7, Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arts, Health
Petrolia, Ontario

"As a classroom teacher, Ms. Dent always has something creative cooking, sometimes literally. You will find her students coding, discussing the structural integrity of a pumpkin by wrapping it in rubber bands until it bursts, having guest speakers from musicians, to engineers, to shark activists to discuss how math and science help them perform their jobs. She will be leading online cooking classes with her students or having students design structural marvels in Minecraft. Melissa firmly believes that STEM is the way of the future, and she practices what she preaches."

colleague

With 25 years of teaching experience in the Canadian public education system, Melissa has an unwavering commitment to prepare students and colleagues for tomorrow's world. Her passion and love for integrating technology into her program is contagious, exciting, and revolutionary. If there is a new technology available, she is the first to learn, try, share, and teach it.

Teaching approach

Melissa always applies knowledge of how pupils develop and learn physically, socially, and cognitively. She has a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic and complex processes students go through in learning and developing their cognitive, social and physical capacities. Central to her pedagogical approach, she integrates technology into her teaching program to build skills, support academic objectives and promote mental development and health.

In the classroom

Melissa promotes, through inquiry and active exploration, the ways for her students to connect and discover their passions. She is intentional, and innovative in the use of technology to enhance learning. She designs engaging learning experiences, making sure to include her individual learners' needs and competencies with the goal of developing the students into engaged thinkers and ethical citizens with an entrepreneurial spirit.

In her learning space, Melissa encourages feedback, risk-taking, questioning, and experimentation by establishing a non-threatening learning environment. She promotes fairness and justice and adopts anti-discriminatory practices in respect of gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, age, religion, and culture. She is a strong voice and leader in cultivating equity and inclusion.

Outstanding achievements

Melissa serves on countless committees and boards with the primary goal of enriching student learning, including the National Film Board, ECCO, Arts in the 21st Century, and Google Education only skim the surface of her involvement in community organizations. She took her interest in gaming to the next level by enrolling some of the girls in her school into the "Girls that Game" program – a partnership with Dell, MicrosoftEdu and Intel. The group was challenged to create a world that focuses on a community that incorporates the UN Sustainable Development Goals of Clean Energy and Gender Equality. The players learned such skills as computational and critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and innovation. This year her "Girls Who Game" group not only won the Citizenship Award but also won the Esports competition, making them the GWG STEM Esports Event Champions for all of North America.

Get in touch!

McNaughton Avenue Public School, LCCVI Virtual Campus
4141 Dufferin Avenue
Petrolia, ON N0N 1R0
519-352-8252

Marc Dubeau: Imparting the skills of tomorrow

Marc Dubeau: Imparting the skills of tomorrow

Year: 2022 — Province: Ontario
Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Marc Dubeau

Osgoode Township High School
Grades 10 to 12 – Communication Technology
Metcalfe, Ontario

"I have worked with Marc for over 20 plus years. He is passionate about teaching, innovation and activating today's youth. By engaging students, he creates a stimulating learning environment, integrating hands–on strategies and problem-solving activities into his teaching practices. By using technology in an innovative way, he is improving student learning and the outcomes are endless."

Department Head

Marc's hallmark is the remarkable wisdom that he shares with his students, parents, teachers, community, and governing bodies in education. His activities are an eclectic set of examples that demonstrate his impact on teachers and students across Canada, North America and the globe. His work is constantly building on itself and he goes out of his way to include all students, including students from different schools, collaborating with many institutions and working with industry high tech leaders and corporations to tailor his STEM lessons to today's needs.

Teaching Approach

In STEM, the focus is often heavily on the technology. Marc includes students from a variety of backgrounds in his projects and uses technology to improve their lives. The reality behind Marc's success is that soft skills are really the key to his approach. It is hard work, clear communication, a disciplined approach and paying attention to details that allow him to expand students' STEM skills while ensuring they are engaged and receive the opportunities to expand their personal growth.

In the classroom

Marc's teaching program is constantly evolving and embodies up to date digital and creative curriculum based on real world evolution in a variety of new media. As an example, Marc is among the first teachers in the secondary classroom to explore real time rendering technology tools such as Unity and Unreal Engine. These tools have empowered students to learn new ways of prototyping and exploring technologies in the classroom, and contribute significantly to their academic success.

Exceptional Achievements

While working with Virtual Production (a video technology company) Marc was noticed by Epic Games and afforded two unique opportunities. First, he was hired as a part time contractor to create lessons for teachers. These lessons are in the process of being published and will be used by school boards across the globe to train teachers and coaches on how to use these tools for implementation into their high school curriculum. Second, he was accepted in the Virtual Production Fellowship. This highly prestigious fellowship allowed Marc to participate in an intensive training program with the best VFX, cinematographers and industry professionals in the world. The experience has opened up many opportunities for him. For example, this year, Fair Chance Learning, an organization that curates best-in-class educational programs for school boards in Ontario, contracted Marc to run one of their workshops. Their goal (which is perfectly aligned with Marc's goals) is to ensure the highest quality in content delivery in the STEM field.

Get in touch!

Osgoode Township High School
2800 8th Line Road
Metcalfe, ON K0A 2P0
613-821-2241
Twitter: @othsguidance

Pushpa Gunawardena: The learning journey to math success

Pushpa Gunawardena: The learning journey to math success

Year: 2022 — Province: Ontario
Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Pushpa Gunawardena

Ottawa Catholic School Board
Grades 9 to12, Math, Science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics), Computers, Business
Ottawa, Ontario

"Pushpa's ability to inspire and motivate students speaks to her great creativity as a teacher. Her specialty is creating and delivering engaging lessons that propel her students to excel. (…) In essence, Pushpa has equipped her students with an understanding of mathematics and a self-discipline that will help them face life's challenges with increased confidence."

Principal

Pushpa is passionate about both teaching mathematics and empowering students to reach their full potential. She believes in students and is able to motivate and inspire them to persevere.

Teaching Approach

Pushpa plants the idea of life as being a journey of problems. She makes the students work together to solve problems. Some days they find solutions, but other days they find no solution at all. This is when Pushpa seeds the idea in students that life is a journey of issues to resolve. Solutions are not always at hand, but the challenge is to continue the search. Puspha chooses problems which spark curiosity in students, challenging them to reach high standards and connecting them to real life situations as much as possible. Eventually students adopt a more confident mindset. They become more resilient and motivated to tackle problems. Frustration decreases. They try again and again. They develop self confidence and self regulation. Students learned to apply the problem-solving strategies to that of their own lives.

In the classroom

Pushpa's classroom is a space designed to accomodate each learner. At the beginning of every semester, she conducts knowledge assessments before proceeding to teach the curriculum. She uses various problems and questions to diagnose current strengths and needs, gage individual learning gaps, and plan differentiated courses of action that put in place the conditions of success. Pushpa uses technology in the classroom to help consolidate students’ understanding. At the same time, she integrates relevant science and math concepts. Throughout her 18 years of teaching in Ontario, less than 5 students have been unable to obtain a math or science credit with Pushpa. This is an outstanding result.

Exceptional Achievements

Pushpa is particularly instrumental in reaching vulnerable students at Rideau High School. Rideau serves a diverse population including many families new to Canada, some having experienced interrupted learning, and a growing community of Indigenous families. Through excellent contact with the home, Pushpa got to know many of the families of children in her classes. Often families new to Canada would seek advice from Pushpa and would feel understood. Pushpa cares genuinely for her students and they can sense this. She empathizes with their various needs, yet does not let their challenging circumstances deter her from equipping them with the concepts and skills which will aid their future success. Pushpa holds high expectations for all students and challenges them through differentiated instruction. Her results are impressive. Within this context her students often scored Education Quality and Accountability Office of Ontario (EQAO) results that were far above those of the board and province.

In 2022 Pushpa received an award from the Ontario Association for Mathematics Education (OAME). It was awarded to Pushpa for Exceptional and Creative Teaching in Secondary Mathematics in Ontario.

Get in touch!

Ottawa Catholic School Board
570 Hunt Club Road
Ottawa, ON K2G 3R4
613-224-2222

Sang Moo Lee: The guidance and the tools to succeed in STEM

Sang Moo Lee: The guidance and the tools to succeed in STEM

Year: 2022 — Province: Ontario
Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Sang Moo Lee

The Linden School
Grades 9 to 12, Math and Computer Studies
Toronto, Ontario

"Sang's commitment to connecting science and math education to cultural and social justice issues makes learning especially relevant and engaging for the next generation of students."

Principal.

Sang is a passionate and creative educator and an unstoppable advocate for marginalized voices in math, technology and engineering. He is helping to address the chronic underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, notably in coding.

Teaching Approach

Sang has devised highly creative ways to support students' skills development – uniting the love of technology with the psychology of learning. Notably, he is the recipient of the Biggar Hedges Technology award from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education for technology integration in the classroom. His innovative use of technology helps his students think out loud, allowing them to record their conceptual understanding of problem-solving in math, and allowing other teachers to understand that thinking.

In the classroom

Sang allows students to hone skills in a highly engaging format, leading directly to practice. For instance, his Estore application allows student to practice skills related to financial literacy by calculating taxes and discounts in a realistic setting. He takes a highly conceptual subject like math and brings it to mean something concrete for all to understand.

His classroom is a safe space. He takes particular care to ensure that barriers related to anxiety and inexperience don't prevent his students from continuing in STEM beyond the minimum requirements of the Ontario curriculum. He models the importance of risk-taking using a class "mistake counter" that celebrates the process of stepping out of one's comfort zone and actually awards grades to the process of making attempts to solve different and new problems. He helps build resilience in front of sometimes difficult challenges.

Exceptional Achievements

Sang firmly believes that learning to code not only prepares young minds for our increasingly tech-driven world, but also promotes creativity, helps students gain problem-solving skills, and improve their academic performance. While it may be difficult to believe that young people can learn the intricacies of coding, it should be remembered that that computer programming is a language. Teens are great at absorbing new languages because of their mental flexibility and limited inhibitions. With this as a backdrop, Sang creates a classroom culture that welcomes students of all levels and perceived abilities. He has led a number of students who medal in math contests, get admission to prestigious universities, and win prizes in hackathons.
Sang has dedicated his career to anti-oppression pedagogy and infuses his lessons with issues of social justice. These connections help students understand not only the math but also the importance of numeracy and scientific literacy in shaping world events. For instance, he will provide insight into the Chernobyl accident by explaining the math behind the half life of radioactive isotopes. Or he will describe the math behind current issues like inflation and poverty. He really prepares young people to be citizens of the world.

Get in touch!

The Linden School
10 Rose Hill Avenue
Toronto, ON M4T 1G5
416-966-4406
Facebook: @lindenschool
Twitter: @TheLindenSchool
Instagram:@lindenschool

Daphne McMenemy: Technology at the service of creativity

Daphne McMenemy: Technology at the service of creativity

Year: 2022 — Province: Ontario
Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Daphne McMenemy

St. Christopher Separate School
Grades 1 and 2 – Math, Language, Social Studies, Science, Arts, Religion
Mississauga, Ontario

"Daphne is an innovator and a creator; she is passionate about what she believes and knows about teaching and learning and works daily to embody that in her interactions with others. She provides support, direction, guidance, and learning opportunities wherever she can, which is the ultimate goal for all educators – to inspire others to be life-long learners, to discover new experiences and to build on individual strengths."

Principal

Daphne is an elementary educator, author, and speaker. As an educator for the past 17 years in Ontario, she has created opportunities for children to explore learning in innovative ways. Using STEM to engage children as young as kindergarten in discovering learning through computer science, she develops numeracy, literacy, and computational thinking skills through creative exploration and inquiry.

Teaching Approach

Daphne consistently uses digital technologies to foster creativity and support student learning outcomes. She prides herself on being able to provide tasks and activities that have multiple entry points. This approach allows her to meet students where they are while encouraging them to move forward. Her lessons follow the "low floor, high ceiling" model meaning that all students can find success while extending their own learning. Not only does this approach support students with learning disabilities, but it also creates a learning space that is stimulating for all students.

In the classroom

Daphne starts building and developing develops numeracy, literacy, and computational thinking skills with children as soon as they enter school. She immediately generates the curiosity to explore and understand concepts. She supports even the most hesitant learners in building confidence in their abilities and engaging in the learning process. Daphne is committed to building relationships, appreciating each individual, and finding opportunities to engage and motivate students in creative, innovative ways.

Exceptional Achievements

Beyond the walls of her classroom, Daphne supports her colleagues through professional development sessions during the school day, with after school workshops, and through weekend EdCamps. This past year, she was the keynote speaker at Manitoba's largest educational technology conference B.Y.T.E. (Build Your Teaching Experience). Her latest venture provides her with an extensive creative outlet as Managing Director of Code Breaker Inc. where she illustrates and edits books written by educational thought leaders from across the country and the globe.
Daphne's picture book series was created to teach the importance of introducing students to coding and computational thinking. She uses the character and book series to teach readers about females in STEM. Gracie, the titular character, was named after Grace Hopper, an American computer scientist known for her trailblazing contributions to computer programming. The series introduces a second female character in the third instalment, Edie, who is named after Edith Clarke, a mathematician known for her ground-breaking inventions and contributions to the math community as a female. These characters empower young women to blaze their own trail, something which Daphne models daily.

Get in touch!

St. Christopher Separate School
1195 Clarkson Road North
Mississauga, ON L5J 2W1
905-822-0721
St.Christopherlnfo@dpcdsb.org

Cara Webb: Leaving no child behind

Cara Webb: Leaving no child behind

Year: 2022 — Province: Quebec
Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Cara Webb

Talmud Torah Azrieli Elementary School

Grades 3 and 4 – Mathematics and English
Montreal, Quebec

"As parents we hope our children will be well educated academically, but more importantly be confident, kind and contributing members to society as a whole. Any student who is blessed to be in Miss Cara's class will not only experience the most remarkable academic year, but will also grow to be such individuals, learning lessons to last a lifetime."

parent

Cara has been teaching at Talmud Torah Azrieli Elementary School since 2017 and has had an impact not only in terms of the academic success of her students but also in bringing a greater spirit of inclusion and compassion to the school.

Teaching Approach

Cara's teaching approach is based on one key principle: bringing each child to reach their optimal potential. She achieves this by creating an environment of inclusion and compassion and by ensuring that no child is left behind. Her innate ability to connect with students, truly understand them and assure that they feel considered and important has helped them not only as learners but also as people in society. Her talent in differentiation allows students to feel safe and excited to take risks, and to learn in their individual way.

In the classroom

Cara's classroom is a space where each student feels safe and where they can absorb the subject matter at their own pace. She actively encourages all students to freely express themselves and ensures that they feel validated, normalised and included. She has a way of meeting the children at their age level while treating them like smart and equal individuals whose opinions matter. This feeling of importance is foundational for positive self perception and provides confidence as they become responsible citizens.

Cara's classroom is certainly about learning but she invests an equal amount of energy and time teaching students kindness, empathy and citizenship. She uses every opportunity to make connections between subject matter and its relevance to her students and the world. This reflects her concern to develop the person as a whole. Acquisition of academic abilities must be accompanied by the acquisition of societal abilities. Cara provides this holistic educational experience to her students.

Exceptional Achievements

Cara is an advocate of environmental education. She teaches the students about the
environment both in the classroom and also in the Personal Enrichment Program (PEP) during lunch. She teaches the students about the earth and how their presence and life choices could positively affect the environment. From a school wide Earth Day celebration, to a green team that shows good recycling habits, the children are becoming cleaner, less wasteful and kinder to mother nature. She prepares her students to take on their role as contributing members of society and as citizens of the world.

Get in touch!

Talmud Torah Azrieli Elementary School
4840 St. Kevin
Montreal, QC H3W 1P2
514-739-2297
admissions@azrieli-tth.ca