building caring & collaborative learning communities for humans to flourish in an ever-changing world
Professional Experience
July 2022 - Present
Executive Director, CAIS
Leading a small but mighty team of professionals to support Canadian Independent schools from Coast to Coast. Oversee accreditation to internationally recognized standards, support professional learning, and knowledge mobilization to support continual improvement in schools. Representing innovation and Canadian independent schooling on the world stage, and bringing global perspectives to improve ourselves.
August 2019 - June 2022
Senior School Principal: Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School
Working collaboratively with the school leadership team, I was responsible for the day-to-day organization and successful operation of the Senior School Division. In this leadership role, I worked collaboratively with staff, students and parents to ensure successful learning outcomes for the Alberta Diploma and the IB Diploma, manage student discipline and engagement, and ensure that the mission, vision, values and guiding principles of STS are reflected in the operating philosophy and social climate of the division. Successes and learning included more open and vulnerable conversations around diversity and inclusion; shepherding transition to online learning during COVID-19; working with a team to start summer school offerings for students, and introducing learning analytics for reflective learning and growth within the school community while making us part of an international network of schools. Our foci included helping students adopt entrepreneurial and hacking mindsets, advocate for their needs and "own their learning" a la Alan November to ensure that school serves students first.
March 2017 - August 2019
Head of Academics: University of Toronto Schools
As part of the school leadership team, I facilitated curriculum development and helped implement innovative practices to further UTS's strategic goals of transformative education for shaping leaders of tomorrow. This included overseeing the implementation of PowerSchool at UTS, introducing a new Mandarin course, organizing interpretation services for parents to increase engagement with non-English speaking communities, using learning analytics and benchmark ISA testing to review student successes in a global context. In addition, I supported the growth of the AP program at UTS as well as worked collaboratively with teachers and other staff to ensure that academic programs maintained rigour and showcased best practices based on educational research and Ontario Ministry of Education policies.
August 2016 - March 2017
Instructional Leadership Facilitator: University of Toronto Schools
Mentored new teachers and teacher-candidates; supported and developed community and research-based initiatives in education; worked with teachers and students to support innovation in classrooms; implemented problem-based learning approaches in a collaborative setting.
September 2010 - December 2017
Creative Writing Instructor: University of Toronto
Taught introductory class in creative writing: fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Edited and provided on-going support to young writers working on manuscripts. Mentored students and writers wanting to publish works. Collaborated with artists, actors and playwrights internationally.
July 2013 - July 2017
Director: Bright Lights in the Lab Summer Neuroscience Camp
As program director for the Bright Lights in the Lab, I led a team of innovative teachers, researchers and graduate students develop and implement a neuroscience curriculum to inspire and empower high school students through a hands-on, research-based science summer camp. I also worked collaboratively with our sponsor: Firefly Foundation as well as Dr. Feng from the collaborative program in Neuroscience to oversee the growth of the program from 20 students to over 100 students during this time. Duties included budgeting, hiring, training and overseeing staff, raising funds for scholarships, teaching and oversight of lab supplies and biological specimens.
September 2014 - August 2016
Department Coordinator, Science: University of Toronto Schools
As department coordinator, I led curriculum development and provided support to science teachers to help us meet the vision and mission of UTS as a team. In addition, I managed the budget and science resources including ordering and lab inventory of supplies for a lively and active science program.
September 2004 - September 2014
Science Teacher: University of Toronto Schools
A biology specialist, I started the AP Biology program at UTS as well as taught a wide variety of science subjects (grade 9, 10 enriched science, grade 11, 12 and AP biology, grade 11 physics). I helped update school labs to design-based labs as well as created custom textbooks for grade 10 science and AP biology in collaborative course teams. Pioneered the use of moodle as an LMS for classes both for blended and online only learning and used benchmark testing from Australia, UK and US to ensure that students were graded fairly and equitably in the classroom. Provided extra-help to support students struggling with as well as enrichment for students excelling at classroom content.
Awards
The Michael A. Copeland Memorial Award
Recognizes a staff member or student who by way of a specific act of project has made a difference for the well-being of the school. Awarded for work done during the COVID pandemic.
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School, 2021
Prime Minister's Award
National Level Teaching Excellence, 2015
The Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence honour exceptional elementary and secondary school teachers in all disciplines since 1994. Teaching Excellence Awards recipients are honoured for their remarkable achievements in education and for their commitment to preparing their students for a digital and innovation-based economy.
Class of 1999 Award
UTS Teaching Excellence, 2015
Awarded by University of Toronto students to one among UTS teachers with more than 10 years service who exemplifies good teaching and pedagogy in and outside the classroom.
Canada-US Fulbright Commision
Fulbright Student Grant
Excellence in scholarship, diversity, and community service are the hallmarks of the Fulbright Program. Fulbright Canada operates on the principle of reciprocal exchange and provides the opportunity for outstanding Canadian students to pursue graduate study and/or research in the United States.
Dayne Ogilve Prize
Finalist
The Dayne Ogilvie Prize is presented annually to a Canadian writer from the LGBTQ community who demonstrates great potential in the early stages of their career through an exceptional body of work.
J. W. Ansley Grant
Educational Research
Awarded by OSSTF, the J.W. Ansley Grant for Educational Research supports research projects of a practical nature which are topical and the results of which will primarily benefit the classroom practitioner and/or educational programs or curriculum.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Predoctoral Fellowship
The Pre-doctoral Fellowship Program promotes excellence in biomedical research by helping prospective researchers with exceptional promise obtain high-quality graduate education.
Education
September 2019 - August 2022
Doctor of Education: Educational Leadership
Western University
A cohort based program allowing working educators to complete a professional doctoral degree using frameworks of equity, ethics, and social justice to bring about solutions to complex problems of practice in educational leadership. Recognized by the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED), this program allows students to develop an Organizational Improvement Plan in the third year based on in-depth examination of the knowledge and practices associated with leadership in a school/system setting.
2018 - 2022
Certificate in School Management and Leadership
Harvard University Graduate School of Education
The Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML) is designed to provide preK-12 school leaders at all stages of their careers with frameworks, skills, and knowledge to drive change and to lead high-performing schools.
An innovative collaboration between the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and Harvard Business School (HBS), the program integrates distinctive capabilities from both schools, combining expertise in managing teams and organizations with a commitment to school and instructional leadership.
September 2003 - June 2004
Bachelor of Education: Biology & Science
University of Toronto
Trained to teach general science and biology to intermediate (grades 7-8) and high school (grades 9-12) students in Ontario using a combination of coursework and teaching placements in Toronto area schools. Certified to teach and lead in Ontario schools and member of the Ontario College of Teachers. [Link]
September 2000 - December 2002
Master of Science: Neuroscience
Brandeis University
Supported by a Howard Hughes Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, I studied the physiological of motor pattern generating networks and published my master's wrok in the Journal of Neuroscience. I was a teaching assistant to Dr. Eve Marder and the Nobel-Prize winning neurogeneticist Dr. Jeff Hall.
September 1996 - May 2000
Bachelor of Arts: Biology & German
Bowdoin College
Graduated Summa cum Laude and elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Completed a double major with honors theses in both Biology and German which were later published in peer-reviewed journals. Recipient of several awards and grants. Served as residential supervisor for students from sophomore to senior years.
Professional Learning
Conferences, Certification, & Training
2020
Leading People: Certificate of School Management and Leadership. [Harvard Graduate School of Education]
Alberta Principal's certification through University of Alberta [LQS]
CAIS Leadership Institute Modules: Accreditation, Faculty Culture, Governance. [LI]
Trauma-informed Return to School [SST]
Digital Threat Assessment workshop [SST]
2019
Leading Schools : Certificate of School Management and Leadership. [Harvard Graduate School of Education]
Canadian Assessment for Learning Conference (CAfLN), Delta, BC: co-presented with a teacher
American Education Research Association (AERA) conference, Toronto: attended with colleagues.
2018
Principal's Qualification Program, Part 2 [OISE]
Leading Change: Certificate of School Management and Leadership. [Harvard Graduate School of Education]
Member, AP College Board Ontario Provincial Council
Attendee, John Hattie's Visible Learning Conference, Toronto
Participant, ASB Unplugged, Mumbai, India
Participant, New Pedagogies for Deep Learning (NPDL), regional conference, Moncton, NB