This fall, the Faculty of Education at 91ÑÇÉ« will welcome one new faculty member.
"We are thrilled to have Gillian join us," said Faculty of Education Dean Lyndon Martin. "Her research addresses current issues in education and will add to the ways in which the Faculty is making a difference in the lives of young people in the GTA and beyond."
Gillian Parekh
Gillian Parekh is an assistant professor joining the Faculty of Education. She has an upcoming nomination for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in the area of disability, inclusion and education.
Parekh's primary research focusÌýexplores structural barriers in accessing qualityÌýeducation, particularly for students with disabilities. PreviousÌýto her appointment toÌý91ÑÇÉ«,Ìý​she held a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Postdoctoral Fellowship with the Centre for Urban Schooling at theÌýOntario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. While at U of T, she conducted both quantitative andÌýqualitative research on students' experiences ofÌýbelonging and exclusion​ in school, exploring trends aroundÌýaccess to programming and pedagogical approachesÌýemployedÌýinÌýtheÌýclassroom.
Throughout herÌýPhD in critical disability studiesÌýand work as a research coordinator with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), Parekh investigatedÌýtrendsÌýand consequences associated withÌýacademic streaming and special education. In light of the disparate opportunities afforded to diverseÌýracial, class, ability,Ìýand gender identities, and the significant implications regardingÌýacademic success, she isÌýnowÌýlaunching two research projects that will track and measure distinct de-streaming initiatives taking place within the TDSB. One project focuses on the inclusion of students in special education across approximately 50 elementary schools, andÌýtheÌýother is anÌýinitiativeÌýaiming to de-stream Grade 9 courses at the secondary level.
Her work has beenÌýpublished in theÌýCanadian Journal of Education, Canadian Review of Sociology, Disability and Society, Canadian Diversity,ÌýandÌýAssociation for Childhood Education InternationalÌýas well as has been taken up byÌýmany local and national media newsÌýoutlets.
Parekh lives in Toronto with her two daughters, Isla and Kaia, and her partner, Neil.