Community is at the heart of education. What and how students learn directly reflects our communities and the many societal factors that play a role in the individual and collective learning experience.

As a nurturing ground for future educational leaders, the Faculty of Education at 91亚色 recognizes this profound role that the community plays. By creating an inclusive learning environment with expert educators passing along their direct experience working with diverse populations and designing culturally relevant pedagogy, our aspiring educators are equipped with the practical knowledge and cultural sensitivity needed to make a positive impact on their own students, both inside a classroom and in the world beyond.

And for alumni like Korina Thomas-Reynolds, co-founder of Roots to Routes Academy 鈥� an independent school offering high school credits specifically designed for minority students 鈥� and one of 91亚色鈥檚 Top 30 Under 30 for 2023, it was her time at 91亚色 that helped her understand the important role she and her classmates play in addressing the disconnect between schools and the communities they serve.

By mobilizing mutually beneficial community partnerships as vehicles for experiential learning, the Faculty is bridging academic and scholarly work with real action, allowing students to put their education into practice in non-traditional ways as more than educators, but as mentors. For example, through , 91亚色 students help youth from low-income families or who are newcomers to Canada overcome traditional barriers and support their success as students. Opportunities such as this contribute to our students鈥� preparation as aspiring educators and put them up close and personal with the world their future students will soon venture into themselves.

Throughout all that we do is also a pervasive and sustained commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization. As outlined in the new Five-Year Strategic Plan (2023-2027), the Faculty of Education engages in meaningful research that takes marginalized perspectives into account and is built upon social justice to contribute to the improvement and betterment of the world around us as we evolve our understanding of learning and teaching.

One powerful way this commitment has manifested at the Faculty is through the . Inspired by a beloved teacher who came to Canada from India and re-accredited at 91亚色 to continue her passion, the award is given out annually to first-year students who are new to Canada or the first in their family to attend postsecondary education and who demonstrate financial need. By carrying on Mrs. Ahuja鈥檚 incredible legacy and celebrating the many unique stories of our students, the award and its recipients will be drivers for ongoing positive change in education.

To celebrate the Faculty鈥檚 50^th聽anniversary and the many ways our leaders are supporting the future leaders in education, we have created聽a new four-part video series聽showcasing our bold leadership in education which helps create more just communities.

The post Learn how 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Education is inspiring tomorrow鈥檚 educational leaders and changemakers appeared first on Faculty of Education.

Dr. Kate Tilleczek has been appointed Research Advisory Council Chair at . Pathways to Education is a charitable social innovation supporting youth in low-income communities to graduate from high school and build the foundation for a successful future. The Pathways to Education Research Advisory Council is an advisory body of accomplished Canadian researchers, subject-matter experts, and experienced community leaders and practitioners in the fields of youth learning and development, educational attainment of youth living in contexts of disadvantage, school-to-workplace transitions, and community-based programming.

Tilleczek is the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Young Lives, Education &  Global Good and a Professor in the Faculty of Education at 91亚色. She is the founder and Director of the where she and her team employ international, interdisciplinary research into how young people navigate sustainable wellbeing in the digital age and how education could better support these efforts. In addition to her new role as Chair at the Pathways to Education Research Advisory Council, Tilleczek is Editor in Chief of and serves on the advisory committee at the and the executive committee of the at 91亚色. Tilleczek is the recipient of several research and education awards, including the for her work with/by/for marginalized youth and education policy and practice.

鈥淲e are honoured and delighted to welcome Dr. Tilleczek as Chair of the Research Advisory Council,鈥� says Pathways to Education鈥檚 Director of Research and Evaluation, Dr. Konrad Glogowski. 鈥淒r. Tilleczek鈥檚 experience leading a variety of research projects in education with, for, and by young people as well as her expertise in theory and method for participatory and decolonized approaches to youth outreach and engagement will be a strong asset for our organization. Her extensive expertise in youth social development, education and wellbeing will provide the leadership and critical insights needed to further strengthen our work in the area of research, measurement, and reporting.鈥�

鈥淔or almost two decades, Pathways to Education has been an inspiration to those who work with youth in Canada and around the world,鈥� says Tilleczek. 鈥淭hey have demonstrated how to support and empower young people and their communities in achieving high school graduation as a crucial step in forging brighter futures for Canadian youth and society. The award-winning Pathways Program has been developed and sustained through research and evidence to understand what works best and what should come next as the lives and contexts of youth living in low-income communities shift. I am so pleased to assist with the important work of the intergenerational volunteers who make up the Research Advisory Council of Pathways to Education.鈥�

Pathways to Education is a national, charitable organization breaking the cycle of poverty through education. Its award-winning program is creating positive social change by supporting youth living in low-income communities to overcome barriers to education, graduate from high school, and build the foundation for a successful future. Through the collective power of partnerships, Pathways to Education鈥檚 innovative program is preparing youth for tomorrow.

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