New to Teaching - Special Education, Part 1

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"Shannon's online presence was always positive and encouraging while at the same time she asked questions and challenged us to think critically about the topics and issues in guidance. "

I have worked with Lenna for a number of years and she is a very knowledgeable about Special Education. She has always been kind and understanding with not only her students but also her colleagues.

"Rocchina excels at establishing a welcoming, accepting learning environment that provides ample opportunity for risk-taking among her students. Her continual encouragement and support, combined with her willingness to lead by example, allows the adult learner the confidence to explore new strategies. Her students benefit from exposure to a diverse range of new approaches to leading and learning which serves to propel them out of their comfort zone and opens up their potential for future growth and challenges."

Julie Argouin, a French native speaker, brings many years of experience teaching French as a second language to students in Ontario. Right from the start, I knew I would learn a lot and it would be a course rooted in practicality and not just in theory. Julie took the the time to understand the needs of her audience and was able to tailor some aspects of the course to make the learning experience meaningful and relevant to each panel. Thank you for your sounded advice along the way.

Brian empowers educators to achieve more in the classroom using modern teaching tools and technology.

"Diane works in the Developmental Disability classroom at Poplar Road where she serves students with the highest tier of need in our Board. Her love for her students, and her determination to provide access to education, however challenging is truly inspirational" Nicole Miller, Principal at Poplar Road Jr. P.S.

It was such a refreshing experience to learn from someone who openly shared her expertise, wisdom and experiences from such a multidimensional perspective. She is such a driven, flexible, passionate and organized instructor who has a unique way of developing inspiring relationships with her students. Her positive attitude, sense of humour and approachable disposition plays an integral part in her ability to create a classroom culture that supports meaningful learning, fun engagement and an open space for vulnerability in order to grow. I have taken several AQ courses over the years including all three of Darlene’s Kindergarten AQ classes. I can confidently say that she is exceptional in her leadership role as a facilitator . She is extremely effective in her ability to motivate her students and to help build confidence by empowering them as lifelong learners with current and relevant pedagogy.

It all began in August 2016, when I was thinking about which AQ course to take. I have been following Joanne Babalis’ blog for a few years now and was always inspired by her teaching style, inquires and documentation. I was aware that Joanne taught the Kindergarten AQ and began to search if she was teaching in the 2016/17 year. Well to my advantage she was! So I decided to take her course. She taught a course that was hands-on and practical. The format of the course allowed you to really be a part of the learning and direct the learning towards your interests and wants (for example, as a PLC group you were given a choice to do a book study or plan various readings per week), just like you would do with your own students. The blended course was great because you were able to network with teachers from across Ontario in person and through social media (Twitter). It gives you an opportunity to connect with other teachers and share your thoughts, ideas and take them back to your own classroom. Joanne inspired me to grow in my journey and move away from the old and jump right into the new ways of delivering the FDK program. I have become more knowledgeable and confident to deliver a program that reflects the new Kindergarten document (4 frames, play based learning). Joanne really allowed us to think outside the box. She gave us many opportunities to share provocations, visit other classrooms and listen to many guest speakers. She really made sure that we were given a variety and always kept us thinking and wondering. After taking Kindergarten part 1, I made a decision to take part 2 and the specialist. I can now say that I have transformed my teaching style and incorporated many new philosophies into my classroom. I am more confident in delivering the Kindergarten program. Joanne has inspired me to be the teacher I am today. I am able to take risks and try new things in the classroom and not feel like it's not the right thing to do! I recommend my colleagues to take any course or workshops that joanne Bablis teaches because they will come out feeling inspired and ready to take on new challenges!

A quote that resonates with me is "When we say we don’t serve families, we only serve students, suggests that students come from nowhere/nothing”.

Barry Bedford, the course instructor, facilitated great conversations that allowed us to consider our beliefs and values in an honest, critical way. I would recommend this course to anyone interested in perusing administration. They would be fortunate to have Mr. Bedford as their instructor. Thanks Barry for sharing your stories and insights with us! Also, for challenging me to think about equity, my next steps and for helping to develop stronger personal leadership philosophy. Barry's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion -- and how these were covered in the course -- was inspiring for my professional practice. This was the best part of the course.

"I have known Ixchel as a colleague at the TDSB and currently as co-chair for the Faculty of Education Summer Institute. Ixchel is someone who inspires and motivates colleagues and students alike- she is a warm and genuinely caring person who values relationships and relationship building. She is very professional and sets high expectations for herself and those around her. As a colleague, I respect and regard her contributions, insights and strong work ethic."

Our instructor, Kristin, was wonderful. She was extremely knowledgeable, personable and helpful. Our group collaborated well and had a strong sense of community - which I attribute to Kristin. I really enjoyed this course and learned many new things. The "in the VP's chair" day was also very helpful. Overall, an excellent experience and I would highly recommend the York PQP course to any of my colleagues.

"Alberto Bernardi is a champion for all students and families. He gives everyone a voice."

I have the privilege of working with Jennifer on many FSL initiatives. Her interest in deepening her understanding of culturally responsive & relevant pedagogy underlines everything she does. She is passionate about empowering educators in creating learning that is relevant to the social identities and lived experiences of students. She is very friendly and approachable and forms strong professional relationships. I am fortunate to work with such a knowlegeable and passionate FSL educator!

"Ray is a very helpful and resourceful instructor. He put a lot of time, thought and care into his feedback. I was allowed to use my real courses to design activities for next year's teaching that helped me grow both as a teacher and as a learner."

Personally, I wanted to thank you once more for a great AQ course, I learned a lot from you. The resources you gave us are very practical and useful and I know I will use them this coming year. - Summer 2018 participant Thanks again for all your patience, generosity in sharing of resources, wealth of knowledge, and sense of humour. - Summer 2018 participant

Having you as my first mentor at YCDSB, sharing the same passion for teaching and the love of the French culture, made my first year of teaching memorable. No matter what your role (Teacher, Department Head or Consultant), you tirelessly serve others and build relationships and communities. Thank you for always having time to listen, encourage and value my own ideas and expertise.

Jonathon was very approachable, kind and encouraging. Jonathon cares for the success of all his students and goes above and beyond as an instructor to ensure students meet deadlines and can reach course goals.

"I thoroughly enjoyed coming to class each and every day, and engaging in the learning opportunities you created. You created a safe space to learn, question and collaborate. I have gained so much from you, the guest speakers and my colleagues. I look forward to implementing this one day in a Kindergarten classroom".

"A hard working student and passionate, aspiring teacher."

Kelly is a true professional who walks the talk. Makes time for her students, teachers and fellow administrators. I enjoyed hearing her scenarios and real life based case studies.

"Jennifer's communication was always positive, constructive, and inclusive." "Jennifer provided timely and meaningful feedback on my progress updates and submitted assignments."

"Brooke's courses are practical and engaging!"

David approaches student learning through building an inclusive environment that encourages student participation and interaction. His warm manner and enthusiasm for learning is infectious and motivating. After decades as an instructor he openly and conscientiously shares his wisdom and experience in a gentle , kind and informative way.

"Sheri’s program fully embraces the essence and intention of the FDK program. Students create their learning through carefully planned tasks and activities that are based on student interest and a culture of inquiry. Sheri’s classroom is a hive of activity through which students view themselves as capable and competent directors of their own learning as well as members of a collaborative and cohesive whole group on the same journey. The classroom environment provides a strong learning foundation that will support students growth and development in their early years, and as life-long skills. Sheri is a reflective practitioner, expertly leading the team in her classroom by collaborating on all aspects of the individual and group needs of her students, continually refining and rethinking programming based on formative assessments. She is adept at navigating the relationships with her team based on mutual respect, and shared responsibility. Sheri’s leadership extends beyond the classroom to our entire school in her role as the school’s literacy coach, through which she lends her expert pedagogical and programming expertise to all staff."

The instructors provided authentic and relevant activities that our students will be doing in the classroom. That was very valuable. Instructors were extremely knowledgeable and were available whenever I needed assistance. This was an A+ experience!! Thank you for the thorough and interesting course. It has made me feel confident that I could teach math tomorrow and plan an effective program.

"Thank you for allowing me to learn and grow as a teacher. I will miss you sense of humour and your integrity in always putting the students first. I am so glad I had the opportunity to learn from you."

"It was an overall great experience. Adam was a delight as an instructional leader. He was enthusiastic, present and encouraging and offered his expertise and feedback in a positive manner. I am walking away with confidence in the the subject area of coop and have transferable skills that will support me in whichever subjects I teach. I can honestly say he's been the most enjoyable prof I've had. Kudos, Adam!! Thank you for your kindness, and for your love of the subject. "

"Thank you, Charlie, for a wonderful experience in Special Education Part 2. Would definitely take a course with her or York U again!" "The feedback from the course instructor was useful in understanding and getting a full grasp of expectations. " "Charlie was an amazing course instructor. Always responded back to emails in a timely manner, always willing to help and provided feedback on lessons. Will definitely take another AQ with York U would love to have Charlie Craig again if she is teaching other AQ's." "Thank you SO much for answering all of my questions, so quickly, and for the rubrics, weblinks and the picture/website instructional sheet that you sent. I really, really appreciate it! This is the first time that I have experienced an AQ course where ALL of my questions have been answered, and where I feel that my individual needs are considered."

Charlotte’s passion for math and her belief that all students can be strong math learners is contagious! Charlotte shares an incredible depth and breadth of expertise and experience, in teaching and learning math. She is committed to supporting teachers in developing pedagogical knowledge and professional learning - through active learning opportunities that incorporate the effective strategies and resources that teachers can bring back to classrooms . . . We have thrived and gained confidence with Charlotte’s facilitation and support. We are grateful for Charlotte’s positive and encouraging approach, which has helped us to develop rich and engaging math programs for our students to become flexible mathematical thinkers, communicators and sense makers.

Linda engages adult learners by understanding their knowledge base, keeping the content relevant and encouraging them to explore by asking questions, collaborating and finding solutions on their own. She is an active listener and provides a safe and welcoming environment where each participant is not afraid to take risks. Linda offers immediate feedback and positive reinforcement. She will make subject matter interesting by using a variety of tools and strategies to engage all learners.

The instructor Lesley was fabulous and very knowledgeable on every topic. I wish she did all of the online AQ's! Reading Part 1 was very worthwhile. Lesley Davidson is an insightful and approachable instructional leader. She has so much to share and is always willing to take our opinions and expertise into account.

"Big shout out to Elisa. Her leadership of the course was excellent. Her tone was always supportive and encouraging. Her thorough responses to questions along the way was really helpful. I really appreciated the efforts she made to respond to my inquiries and all the meaningful assessment feedback she provided. I really hope to take another course with her again."

«Karen was an incredible instructor during this course! She acted as a facilitator who sparked many meaningful discussions, provided insightful thoughts and links for further reading, and shared her passion for teaching French as a Second Language Merci Karen!»

Passionate about her job, very knowledgeable about autism and really cares about the students

Robert's patience and commitment to student and teacher learning is inspirational.

Erin is a focused, caring, and supportive leader who is a strong advocate for students. She has an open and welcoming presence with parents and staff. Erin remains student-oriented and works with staff to consider numerous and varied opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning.

Greg’s professional and conscientious attitude permeates all that he does. Greg proved that not only can he work well independently but he is an excellent team member as well. His friendly disposition, professional approach, organizational skills and more importantly his compassion make him an excellent educator in a classroom.

According to candidates enrolled in my courses, the course delivery format is engaging, flexible and formative. Adults are actively engaged through dialogue, discussions, debates, presentations, role playing - from topics and readings taken from Moodle and from other relevant academic literature.

Andrea went above and beyond as an instructor for Dance, Part 1. She came to each virtual session with enthusiasm and energy, offered fantastic resources, modelled tangible lesson ideas, and built upon our ideas to make them richer for our students. I am most grateful for the mentorship that she extended to us even after the course was over.Her interest and assistance “inside the classroom” and beyond is a testament to the caring and high-quality leadership she provides in dance education.

Peter is a creative and innovative thinker who is an inspiration to his students, and fellow colleagues.

Tina was phenomenal. She was very approachable. The course work was very well layed out and manageable, having the weekends to "catchup" was helpful. We had many professional, engaging and meaningful professional discourse conversations. There are many strategies and resources to take away in this short amount of time. I can't thank you enough!!!!

Dom, amazing experience! You have made this learning experience rich, authentic, and engaging. Thank you for taking time out of your summer to lead us and encourage us on our journey. You truly made the course a great experience.

Sonal’s passion for leadership in education is evident in her daily communications with her colleagues and staff. As a Vice Principal, I was afforded the opportunity to be mentored by Sonal; the learning is on-going due to her abundance of energy and knowledge. Sonal is respected for being innovative, caring and motivational to her teams. A true asset to education in Ontario.

Most of what I learned in Special Education I learned through working with Victoria Goodwin-Duncan.

Your expertise was greatly appreciated, and as we continue to focus on success for all students, we look forward to opportunities to collaborate again in the future.

"Thank you for showing us that there is so much more to health and physical education (HPE) than rolling out a ball. My experience in HPE both at elementary school and high schools was not good. You have showed us and taught us how easy it is to create a includes physical education experience that promotes, safety, inclusive and authentic experiences for our students. I feel completely comfortable Teaching HPE now and am excited to do so. Thanks so much for your wisdom and passion and passing it on to us. I wish my HPE experience, as a student, was like what you taught us.

David, you were one of the finest. I have learned so much from you!

"Innovative content, interactive presentation, and non-judgmental. Great resources" "Continue making it a safe environment --> it helps all to have a learning stance."

Coming soon....

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for opening up a new world of possibilities that will make me a more effective and better teacher.

Christine was amazing as an instructor. She is so incredibly knowledgeable and she really tried to stretch our thinking. I think I am now a better / more aware classroom teacher because what I learned from her applies to so many of my students - not just ELLs. This course was uniquely practical. There was good theoretical learning but we planned lessons, tried them with our students, reflected and revised. I've taken so many courses where I have spent hours putting together amazing unit plans that will never be used. It was holistic in the sense that we learned about everything from policy, curriculum planning, needs of parents, technology etc. The course really helped me build insight and empathy. We really do need to be advocates for ELLs. Nothing that I can think of. Liked that we could work at our own pace.Readings, videos, resources were really good!Thank you for a great learning experience!

Laurie was a phenomenal instructor. She is not only incredibly knowledgeable and current on trends and issues in education; she did an excellent job modelling the instructional strategies she was teaching us. She was always accessible at any time of the day to answer questions and provide feedback. It was obvious that she was passionate about this course and wanted us to gain as much as we could from our time together. I cannot wait to take another course with her.

Thanks, Lee! You motivated and inspired me to do my best by giving such positive feedback every time. You are an amazing teacher and I would like to thank you for sharing such awesome resources which has helped me to gain immense knowledge…. Please do let me know if you plan to teach any other course as I would love to do it if you are the instructor.”

"Working with Leyla helped me make connections in Math to the whole child learner. We had fun and it wasn't intimidating. I never felt judged and learned so much with each coaching session. I use strategies she worked on with me and my students in all subjects. It was really eye opening to myself as a teacher and how I observed my students."

Georgia is an amazing instructor. Her knowledge base is quite extensive in all things regarding leadership and curriculum. Norms were set during our first class that promoted a safe and welcoming learning space where each participant was encouraged to ask questions and take risks in developing our critical thinking skills. Georgia made the subject matter relevant, interesting and practical by inviting guest speakers to share different views on hot topics in education.

"Shamsi's passion for fitness is unparalleled. She brings a wealth of theoretical and practical knowledge from both an educational, and health and wellness perspectives. She is a rising star within the TDSB Health and Physical Education department. She has a unique ability to bring the best out of her students in a fun and engaging manner. This is evidenced by the waitlists to get into her courses, and the overwhelming student and staff support for her school-wide wellness initiatives."

Al is such a great instructor. He doesn't throw knowledge onto you but gives you resources to explore and values your voice and contribution as an educator. A big thank you to Alki for preparing an interactive course that balanced theory and application. Alki is experienced, relaxed and knowledgeable. Alki was a mindful instructor who was able to allow good discussion, reflection and imagination to come out of the group. Well done, Alki and York University. This is PD at an excellent standard.

"I was very anxious about taking the course in the beginning, however the content covered and the patience of my instructors changed my mindset. I found several opportunities to implement my learnings into my current classroom." "The instructors were absolutely amazing and I would love to take another AQ with them. Part 2 here we come. They did a great job of taking away my math anxiety. I feel so much more confident when teaching math now."

"As a SERT, Community Class teacher and as he supports colleagues with technology and programming. He understands the In-School Team and IPRC processes, IEP writing requirements, and, knows and effectively implements differentiated instructional strategies for identified and non-identified students. He works collaboratively with school staff, community partners, and families. He works diligently to discover and access appropriate resources for students, families and educators."

“I enjoyed this online course in that it provided a significant amount of relevant information, practices and strategies that I will use as a primary teacher. It covered valuable curriculum content and assessment strategies that I had not come across in the past and that I will certainly incorporate in my classroom. I have taken a few online courses before. By far this has been the best one. I am also thankful for the instructor's ongoing feedback and positive remarks.”

Thanks again for everything during the HPE course over the summer. You pushed me out of my comfort zone, in a safe environment. Had an absolute blast and was sorry it was over!!

"... It was obvious that Diana's enthusiasm, many years of experience and personal connections in her community, played a major role in how informative, multifaceted and valuable this course was. We all learned a great deal from Diana, the positive learning environment she cultivated and from the dynamic course she created."

Being able to talk to Kristin after every class was invaluable. She was able to bring resources to class that could help me immediately, and I was able to get feedback once I needed it.

Chelle Martindale is an incredible Instructional Leader who has a genuine and heartfelt passion for Dance. She goes above and beyond, and is committed to helping candidates to develop both personally and professionally. She gives valuable feedback that challenges you to reflect, diversify, include, modify and to make Dance accessible, engaging and meaningful for your students. Meghan

This past year, I took two online courses at York relating to English Language Learners. The coursework was interesting, challenging and rewarding. I was exposed to and became more familiar with the various MOE documents as well as other fantastic resources to support ELLs in our classrooms and schools. Coursework was relevant and flexible; I was able to customize my assignments to reflect the unique needs that I have in my classroom. I have been able to implement and use what I learned through the readings, coursework and online dialogue to my classroom. I feel more confident in my ability to include, plan for, assess, and advocate for the ELLs in my classroom and school as I now better understand the theories around language acquisition and what strategies to use to support ELLs. I prefered the online component of the course as it allowed me the flexibility to continue to work full time. I liked the fact that the instructor provided us with timely feedback on posts and assignments and offered multiple opportunities to “meet” with others through video conferencing. I would recommend this course to anyone who teaches or supports ELLs. Tanya Kranc Elementary Teacher

I really enjoyed the course in terms of learning new techniques, learning from other's experiences, learning information from resources, learning by mistakes/correction method and learning by self directed goals. Excellent way to learn with active participation of instructor. I am so inspired with the course experience that I am planning to sign up for Primary Basic in near future.

I wanted to acknowledge our outstanding instructor, Kimberly Maybury. She facilitated this course exceptionally well, balancing the theoretical work with practical work, and supported all of the members of the class with consistent, relevant, and very useful feedback. It is clear that Kimberly has a great passion for her work and her passion was very motivational for me as a PQP candidate. Kimberly is an asset to the York University PQP team, and I sincerely hope that I will have another opportunity to work with her again, perhaps in a PQP Part 2 course in the summer of 2019.

"She was very professional and engaged throughout the course, providing constructive and timely feedback; raising pertinent questions and sharing helpful resources"

Without mathematics, there's nothing you can do. Everything around you is mathematics. Everything around you is numbers.

Our program requires a good team teacher and you are that and more. I like making improvements with you to our program so our students have the best chance at success.

OCT: I just wanted to thank you again. I loved this course and learned so much. I am inspired. OCT: I wanted to thank you for the Reading Part 1 course that I was lucky enough to take with you this spring. The truth is, I’ve never taken an AQ before, and never thought I would want to take one online rather than in person. Thank you for making this meaningful, and an enjoyable challenge, and for your support throughout this course.

Hello Rob I just wanted to say that I am extremely grateful to you. Your constructive feedback, helped me gain a good understanding of the course material, but more importantly, it helped me become more confident. A few weeks ago I had an interview and I walked in knowing what to expect. This is only because I took the two History courses that you led. Yesterday I got my answer, and I'm very happy to say that after years of trying, I finally managed to get on the supply list. I truly enjoyed my learning experience and I hope I will have the opportunity to learn with you again.

Laurie is a dedicated educational professional with years of experience in leading learning and professional development system wide. As a knowledgeable math expert, Laurie’s support in school wide math initiatives was invaluable to our schools and to myself as a school principal. Her gentle guidance, collaborative nature, and ability to know ‘just when to push forward‘ with staff and students alike was greatly appreciated as we we worked to meet our goal of improving math instruction.

I learned so much! This course made me think deeply about my image of the child and how it impacts my teaching. I appreciated Terie's support and continued encouragement to ask questions.

"Oldridge does a fantastic job of challenging our thinking in regard to math education!"

"You've helped me think differently about how to teach reading...how to teach literacy skills in all subjects."

"It was very comprehensive and I enjoyed the layout of the course. Instructors were excellent mentors and were very responsive. Content had a lot of resources to support the course work. Thank you for a well designed and interactive on-line course experience."

"I had Lana Parker for this course and credit her with coming up with sensible and well thought out assignments that were useful. She also taught wonderfully and engagingly, making this my favourite course by far. ... Lana stimulated interesting class and group discussions and interactions, while providing us with useful resources and information."

This was a great course that provided lots of learning and inquiry into the Library Learning Commons. I found the course engaging. The course blocks were spaced out well and I appreciated that I could work on the blocks in various order. The ILP was a great way to reinforce and develop how I collaborate with teachers. I also liked that we focused on current ideas and innovative practices. Thank you, Sue, for a great course!

Instructor was excellent and responded with feedback in a timely manner. The instructor was extremely flexible and understanding, he made the online learning space more engaging by giving the students the power to interact with one another freely.

"Most notably, in all that she does, and with everyone she helps, Jennifer does so in a humble and selfless manner. She does not look for recognition or praise from others for all the extra work that she does. Jennifer helps others because she has a big heart and passion for her profession. I only hope that one day I can become half as good a teacher and colleague as Jennifer Pescador. She inspires me to do my best everyday, in every way. "

... never thought I would laugh in math class ... Dan challenged my thinking about teaching from day 1 ... I was terrified of math. I am now much more confident and understand that I can do math ... course is classroom practical and Dan gives tons of possible lessons ...

"Thank you for all the help teaching this summer school math session - this was crazy helpful."

Adrienne's commitment to centering Indigenous Education while supporting student and educator learning is inspiring.

Joana is passionate about professional learning, and works collaboratively to ensure success.

This was shared after last year's class: "I also found that the A.Q. course touched on all aspects of the Physical Education program, which allowed us to learn how to be successful in all areas. We also learned a vast amount of hands on games and activities that we could do with our students which was so important. Not only did we leave with a tool bag of important information and resources, but also tons of physical activities that can be down anywhere that keep our kids at any age moving and having fun. We also had great speakers and presenters come, which was a bonus too. I found this course to be so influential to me and I am actually sad it is done. I have learned so much and have gained so much insight into the role that I am craving more. I feel lucky that I had the opportunity to learn from both Joe and Andy".​

I want to let you know the positive influence that you have had on my math thinking. A lot of my crucial math learning came from you. It is amazing how the skills that I have developed have made me a better math teacher and math lead at my school. It is incredible how often I refer to, and use the resources that I learned with you. You are amazing at what you do.

Renée made herself readily available to all. She gave great feedback and I really felt that she cared that we understood the material. She always provided thorough explanations to our questions. I would recommend anyone to take this course with her.

Perhaps what I admire most about Wendy is her ability to quickly establish trust and lead with the importance of relationships at the forefront. As a result, Wendy leads with both compassion and conviction. She is fierce in her resolve and humble in her approach which results in positive outcomes for students and families, even in the most challenging of situations. I have benefitted from her wisdom and counsel in so many situations, and marvel at her ability to get to the heart of any matter.

The level of personal feedback provided by the instructor was well beyond anything I have experienced before! She was an engaging and informed mentor, with the ability to hone in on my interests and guide me to areas of inquiry I would never have thought to explore! There were many aspects of the course that I found extremely useful. The rich and relevant resources were my favourite because I was able to apply many of them to my current teaching experience. I also enjoyed many of the activities and felt that they were well thought out and properly suited for the course. Carol was a great instructor she was clear and concise and her outlines and instructions were very well thought out and organized. She also provided very detailed feedback in a very timely manner, which helped the flow of dialogue and when it was time to make edits or revisions. Overall this course was a very pleasant and knowledgable experience.

This guy changed my perspective and approach to teaching entirely. Take this course, it will change you too. (Jeff Rosar)

"I have never taken an AQ like this before. Liam has changed how I see my work.... This course gave me permission to be better as a teacher and for the students I work and learn with."

Joe engaged candidates within the course to push their learning and strive for innovation. He always ensured that information and expectations were clear and contextual, and often would extend our learning by offering valuable resources and feedback.

1. “Real examples and stories shared by the instructor - that were honest, genuine and relevant. Opportunity for inquiry learning and classmates to construct learning together. Presentations on key topics were extremely comprehensive and provided excellent resources.” 2. “It was a wonderful professional learning experience. Mirella Rossi was inspiring in her coaching and directing. Again, I will state that the guest speakers were phenomenal and the simulation process was a fantastic "authentic" opportunity. My colleagues in the course each brought areas of expertise and everyone worked VERY VERY hard. I've gained so very much from the experience. Thank you!” 3. “Loved the balance of guest speakers, peer presentations and practical experiences. The instructor was inspiring!!!!” 4. “Instructor Mirella Rossi truly cares and was an accessible mentor. She was honest, reflective and challenged our thinking and statements. She always helped to frame the concepts into actionable steps.” 5. “There were multiple opportunities for professional dialogue and to learn from the expertise of the group through collaborative projects and presentations.”

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Shannon is a passionate educator who has a deep understanding of special education and its legalities. More importantly, Shannon effectively removes barriers for students and families as she makes deep connections with them.

"One of the best courses I have taken. Very hands on, lots of fun and lots of practical information"

"(Chris) very effectively learns with and from colleagues and others in the community of learners. He pursues and effectively shares knowledge about current thinking, trends, and practices in education with colleagues."

I ENJOYED THE COURSE A LOT. CHRISTINA IS JUST AMAZING IN ALL ASPECTS. RESOURCES I FOUND AS MOST USEFUL IN ADDITION TO THE INSTRUCTOR'S GUIDANCE AND FEEDBACK.

1) The instructor was extremely responsive, always replying within 24 hours and he was supportive of issues that came up while completing the course. I appreciated his flexibility, which helped me to finish the course. 2) The course structure is logical and predictable, making it easier to gauge how much time would be required for each component. 3) I valued the resources that were shared, by the instructor, by other students in the course, and by me having to locate resources as part of an activity. These are valuable course 'take-aways'.

“You’re an inspiration. I very much appreciate your thoughtfulness and humility.” “I really appreciated Lee’s facilitation, stories, leadership, and knowledge-sharing.” “You’re such an excellent facilitator.”

“Steven Silva is an incredible leader and educator. The way he ran the course made each day engaging, relevant, and allowed for us to reflect upon our strengths and needs as teachers. Not only did I learn how to be a leader in FSL but I re-learned all the aspects of strong teaching just through watching him lead the course. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity!”

I thoroughly enjoyed this course. Joanne was excellent about giving us useful feedback and guiding us along the way. I learned a lot from her as well as many of the other people taking the course. It had great content and I learned a lot.

It was a pleasure learning with Jennifer and Len (guest speaker)! Their joyful, hands in approach to teaching is refreshing and inspiring. I finished the course feeling ready to take on new challenges and excited try something new in the classroom. They are truly passionate teachers whose love for music education is contagious. By far, my favourite AQ thus far.

-"Thank you Jill! The class was very engaging and thought provoking." -"Course was engaging and provided many opportunities to grow as an educator. The instructor set the tone and allowed participants to learn in a caring, inclusive and respectful community." -"enjoyed the final ILP presentations, making it more casual and interactive." "-Learning through experience -Excellent workshops -Critical thinking - lots of wondering"

"Thank-you for an engaging experience. The content was relevant and it was easy to follow along. I enjoyed myself and learned interesting techniques, as well as points of view I hadn't considered."

I did not know what to expect for this course as it was my first ABQ. The course director was great and I had "a great experience, as well as making amazing relationships with other teachers. I always looked forward to coming to class and working out, playing games, and learning ways to incorporate it into my teachings."

“Jennifer is an experienced and passionate educator who places the needs and strengths of her students first and programs for optimal student well-being and success.”

Jen has a significant capacity to innovate, to collaborate within a team environment, and to lead with confidence and humility. She has the capacity to navigate the complexities of special education in these times of increasingly complex student and family needs. Jen brings deep understanding to the role of a Special Educator.

Thanks Andrea ! I appreciate the way you are presenting our course in a structured way . You made all the modules interesting . And most important thing you respond us back right away whenever we need your assistance .

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I want to say that the Instructional leader was amazing! He was motivating, inspirational and a fantastic role model for any HPE teacher or specialist! Daniele's knowledge & experience in the field of Physical Education definitely inspired me to continue learning and finish my specialist in H&PE.

"Exceptionally deliberate and purposeful. Sara's work is founded in a clear sense of the curriculum and in instructional strategies that benefit students." / "Progressive, forward thinking, and inclusive. Tirelessly committed to innovation and disruption of barriers to learning."

"Ryan is an enthusiastic, creative and supportive educator who brings leadership experience as an assistant curriculum leader, a coach and an AQ instructor of 10 years."

(From most recent course) Course instructor did a great job. Burns was very involved and always at the forefront of everything we did. He supported us through our learning and led us in the proper directions we needed. I am appreciative for the work that he did with us and how much we accomplished in a short but packed month! Thank you very much! Participant feedback was great and course instructor very helpful (I appreciated) The expertise of the course instructor The instructor; easy to contact, provided feedback, and was very fair and understanding. I liked that I could ask the Prof any questions I had... (I liked) Instructors immediate feedback

Loved the design of the course, the presenters in the synchronous learning were excellent and coincided with the learning module which consolidated the information being learned. The course ran efficiently and on time for the synchronous sessions Instructors, Renee and Matthew are knowledgeable. - Summer 2021 "I enjoyed learning from Matthew when I took Guidance and Career Education, Part 2 (via the TDSB) in the summer of 2021!"

You are awesome. Thanks for being so professional, supportive and resourceful but also being a human! It's nice not to feel so much pressure while learning. / / Thank you for your consistent support, encouragement, and feedback throughout the course. This was one of my most enjoyable AQ experiences, largely due to your guidance and flexible and understanding approach. You provided valuable insight and always shared your experienced perspective while allowing us to feel comfortable.

"Mark always has our backs and supports us as we determine our philosophy of education in the scope of the science department. His efforts inspire our efforts. His passion for teaching and learning inspires students' passion for school and strengthens their engagement. Definitely something to take pride in!"

Marcell has been known to provoke lively debates, speak from passion and laugh gregariously with students. He believes in fostering strong relationships with all of his students, whether they are new to education, or have years of service experience.

It was extremely useful to have Instructors who currently practice and have a range of experience. The shared approach of Principal and Employee Services Senior role (with the experience of Principal) was excellent and gave us the opportunity to consider actual practice. In conjunction with the above, the combination of professional readings with the practical group work, individual work, and different formats for all learning was wonderful. Thirdly, I felt directly supported and valued as part of the group and that made a big impact on me.

The best AQ course I've taken so far! Thanks to the wonderful instructors who did a great job running the course, providing feedback and being very knowledgeable.

Jen Wyatt modelled best practice in adult education and in creating a positive culture of deep rich thinking about complex issues that are foremost in our schools. She was the perfect instructor for our group. She listened and guided us through the modules in a professional manner that was also kind, caring and fun. This kept the group engaged and allowed us to be at our best.