How they will pay it forward: Here are our 2024 OISE Teaching Excellence Awards winners
Teaching is a core mission of OISE, so it is vital that we recognize excellence in this core area of our work.
Since 2005, OISE has recognized faculty and instructors who have made significant contributions to teaching and learning through its annual Teaching Excellence Awards. The winners are chosen by a committee of faculty, staff and students who face the challenging task of selecting the winners from a strong pool of stellar and deserving nominees.
View photos from the awards ceremony.
“This year's recipients of OISE's Teaching Excellence Awards dedicate themselves to creating better outcomes for their students, enriching their disciplines, and advancing our community’s commitment to meaningful teaching and learning," said Professor Erica N. Walker, Dean of OISE. "We are happy to recognize them today with our Awards of Excellence for their principled, thoughtful service.
“I want to congratulate this year's winners – Jeffrey, Ann, Kara, Mary and Gelareh – and I know that they will continue to make lasting impacts for years to come.”
The Dean’s Office extends special thanks to the 2023-2024 Teaching Awards Selection Committee for their hard work: rosalind hampton, Chloe Hamza, Katharine Janzen, David Montemurro, Jesse Sims and Nia Spooner, as well as Joseph Flessa, Associate Dean, Programs, who chaired the committee.
Below, we describe each award and its recipients. For each recipient, we asked one question: What does it mean to receive this award? How will you pay it forward?
David E. Hunt Award for Excellence in Graduate Education
Winner: Jeffrey Ansloos, Associate Professor, Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development
The David E. Hunt Award for Excellence in Graduate Education was created as a tribute to Professor David Hunt on the occasion of his retirement from OISE, to honour his 50 years of university teaching, and in recognition of his exceptional contributions to graduate education. The award recognizes faculty members for sustained contributions to teaching, supervision and mentorship of students in graduate education, and inspiring students to reach excellence in scholarship and become successful professionals.
Associate Professor Jeffrey Ansloos, a deeply ethical and compassionate scholar, is the Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Critical Studies in Indigenous Health and Social Action on Suicide.
An exceptional teacher and mentor, Professor Ansloos demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to his students’ learning and development. His careful and responsive pedagogical practice weaves in Indigenous pedagogies with mental health and disability justice and is reflected in his teaching evaluations and in the wellbeing of his students.
His mentorship consistently inspires his students, research lab members, and supervisees to produce the highest quality scholarship and to strive for research and methodological excellence
What does it mean to receive this award? How can you pay it forward?
Receiving the David E. Hunt Award for Excellence in Graduate Education is a profound honour that reflects not just my contributions but also the extraordinary efforts and commitments of my graduate students and our community learning partners. Their unwavering dedication to advancing social justice through rigorous research, lateral mentorship, and meaningful collaborations is the highlight of my work at the university. This award serves as a heartfelt acknowledgment of our collective endeavours and underscores the significance of lifting each other up in our learning. To pay it forward, I am inspired to bolster the transformative work of educational and health justice with my students and our lab by crafting a learning environment that nurtures creative solutions to complex challenges, encourages reflexive practice, and cultivates deep relationality.
Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership
Winner: Ann Lopez, Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education
The Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership recognizes OISE faculty members who have made sustained contributions to the advancement of teaching, broadly conceived, and to educational change and innovation within and beyond the Institute. Winners are chosen based on demonstrated ability to impact student learning by leading major initiatives that promote effective teaching, foster curricular innovation and pedagogical/professional development, shape education policy and practice, and contribute to research on teaching.
Professor Ann Lopez, an award-winning educator, has been an educational leader for 31 years, 14 of which have been at OISE, where she served in leadership roles from Program Coordinator and Academic Director, Initial Teacher Education, to Provostial Advisor on Access Programs, and founding co-Director of the Centre for Black Studies in Education.
As Provostial Advisor on Access Programs, Professor Lopez was instrumental in the development of the University’s access programming and strategy including the creation of the SEE U of T access program with the Toronto District School Board.
In 2022, Processor Lopez received the Ludwik and Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize, in the Influential Leader category, for her contributions to challenging injustices, inequities and discrimination in education and schooling.
Through her teaching and scholarship, Professor Lopez positively impacts student learning through her critical pedagogical approach including alternative forms of knowledge and epistemologies that challenge dominant paradigms. She has made an intentional effort to include knowledge from the global south to broaden her students’ knowledge and experiences on culturally responsive and decolonizing leadership.
What does it mean to receive this award? How can you pay it forward?
It means a lot to me to be acknowledged for contributions in the area of education leadership. It speaks to the impact of my work across various contexts. I have been in education for a long time at various levels—from K-12 classrooms to higher education. The work we do as educators in the area of educational leadership across all levels make a difference to the education and schooling experiences of students. I’d like to thank the students and faculty who took the time to write letters of support for my nomination. I will pay it forward by creating spaces where students can have leadership experiences and building meaningful authentic relationships in all aspects of my work.
Award for Excellence in Initial Teacher Education
Winner: Kara Dymond, Sessional Lecturer, Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning
The Award for Excellence in Initial Teacher Education recognizes outstanding contributions to teaching and learning in teacher education programs at OISE impacting the development of the next generation of excellent teachers. Winners are chosen based on demonstrated impact on teacher candidates, and the ability to foster enriching teaching and learning experience, as well as excellence in teaching and/or supervision in teacher education programs.
Dr. Kara Dymond, an exceptional teacher educator, has extensive experience with special education students – as a teacher and autism consultant – which continues to inform her teaching. In her practice, she integrates research-informed pedagogical practices and models effective strategies for mental health, self-care, and executive functioning that are just as crucial for teacher candidates in the Master of Teaching program as they are for their future students.
Dr. Dymond’s commitment to mobilizing her research for the benefit of the community speaks to her incredible dedication to ensuring that all students are given the support and tools they need to thrive. For example, she developed a comprehensive website and authored a book The Autism Lens: Everything Teachers Need to Connect with Students, Build Confidence, and Promote Classroom Learning to provide resources and strategies to help teachers understand neurodiversity and create inclusive classrooms. Dr. Dymond’s exceptional research-informed and learner-centered teaching, makes a lasting positive impact on teacher candidates.
What does it mean to receive this award? How can you pay it forward?
There isn't just one word to encapsulate how I feel, so here are a few: Flummoxed. Humbled. Grateful. Delighted. As an autistic/ADHD sessional lecturer, I derive so much inspiration and hope from conversations with teacher candidates about classroom neurodiversity and accessible education. My hope is to model the kind of teaching where everyone is expected and welcomed. Making my course accessible isn't something 'extra' that I do, or that teacher candidates can do, but is foundational to teaching. It's an honour that they have found our time together so meaningful to their own teaching paths – as I have to mine. I often think about the research that suggests we replicate how we've been taught unless we deliberately engage in reflective and reflexive practice. The beautiful gift of teaching is that we do leave ripples. On the one hand, teacher candidates experience inclusive, accessible education as learners in our course together; and, from their teaching lenses, they are challenged to reimagine possibilities for making their future classrooms sites of curiosity, collaboration, and compassion. Nothing brings me more joy than thinking of our myriad of ripples spreading as teacher candidates positively impact the learners in their care.
Award for Distinguished Contributions to Teaching
Winner: Mary Drinkwater, Sessional Lecturer, Department Leadership, Higher and Adult Education
The Award for Distinguished Contributions to Teaching recognizes OISE’s inspiring educators who have continually demonstrated a deep commitment to excellence in teaching, and have made outstanding contributions to teaching at OISE.
The student nominators for Dr. Mary Drinkwater have described her as an extraordinary teacher who consistently transcends traditional teaching methods, fostering an environment where creativity and critical thinking thrive. Her courses are not just academic pursuits, but journeys that encourage students to engage deeply with the material and with each other.
Her commitment to excellence in teaching is evident from her exceptional teaching skills in classroom and beyond. Despite the challenges with virtual environment, her strategic approach to online course design seamlessly integrates effective student engagement strategies creating a sense of community for her students.
Outside of the classroom, Dr. Drinkwater is always available and approachable to her students, striving to provide in-depth feedback on their learning and creating a supportive environment that is conducive to student growth and development. She is also committed to mentoring and supporting colleagues through collegial relationships and sustained educational leadership.
What does it mean to receive this award? How can you pay it forward?
Receiving the announcement that I had been chosen as the 2024 recipient of the OISE Distinguished Contributions to Teaching award was a great honour, a wonderful surprise and a tremendously humbling experience. I had been nominated twice previously, over the past 8 years, by other groups of students. I have been so touched by the comments and accolades shared over the years, by students, OISE faculty colleagues, U of T educational partners who I have worked with to support my Connecting Teaching and Pedagogy (CTAP) project, and international faculty colleagues who I have had the privilege to work with, learn from, and teach with over the years!
Since retiring in 2018, and returning as a Sessional Lecturer, I did not think that my teaching contributions would still be relevant in the selection process. Yet, it is the passion and deeply critical and creative engagement from the students I teach that truly continues to inspire me and further my belief that strong, engaged and passionate teaching really underscores the important role that both relationship-building and pedagogy can play in the learning process. Over the years, I have been in awe of the amazing collaboration, engagement and outside-the-box thinking that our OISE graduate students have demonstrated, both with their colleagues at OISE and with colleagues in other higher education institutions around the world, to contribute to knowledge-creation and re-creation, policy development and research.
During this exponential growth period in digital and educational technology, I believe that the development of scholarly and collaborative Communities of Practice (CoP) are incredibly important within institutions of higher education. Faculty need to come together formally and informally to dialogue about teaching and pedagogy, to support each other, and to share ideas, challenges and innovations. There are tremendous opportunities and also challenges and risks associated with some of these emerging digital and artificial modes of knowledge creation and dissemination. I look forward to contributing to OISE’s own collaborative CoPs, and continuing to build on the CTAP model to support further strides in teaching and engaged learning at OISE and beyond. It has been an honour to teach and serve OISE and its students, and I look forward, as I am able, to many more years of this incredible reciprocal engagement.
Award for Excellence in Continuing & Professional Learning
Winner: Gelareh Keshavarz, Facilitator, OISE Continuing and Professional Learning
Administered by the Office of Continuing and Professional Learning, the Award for Excellence in Continuing and Professional Learning recognizes course facilitators and instructors for outstanding contributions to teaching and learning in continuing and professional learning programs at OISE.
Gelareh Keshavarz is an educator with expertise in learning and program design, academic advising, teacher training and course development in the United Kingdom, Canada, Egypt, and Rwanda. In addition to being a course facilitator with OISE CPL, she is a Learning Consultant at the University of Toronto, and a faculty member at Seneca College.
Since joining OISE’s Continuing and Professional Learning in 2019, Gelareh has demonstrated exceptional course facilitation skills, and built an engaging, supportive and collaborative online community of leaners.
She demonstrates excellence in teaching utilizing culturally reflective and responsive instructional methods, using innovative materials and technology inspiring collaboration and learner engagement.
What does it mean to receive this award? How can you pay it forward?
One of the things that drew me to OISE and CPL, in particular, is OISE’s unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional service to our students. I feel fortunate to work with colleagues and leaders whose guidance and support have enabled me to succeed. This award is not just a recognition of my efforts but also a testament to the environment of excellence and learning that OISE fosters. Being a contributing member of this community is a highlight of my career.
I am inspired to strive for the best, continue sharing my newly learned skills, empower educators through generosity and pedagogy of care, and make meaningful contributions to OISE and the global community.
Find photos from the recent awards ceremony in their honour.