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Faculty of Education News Bulletin

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Top Stories
Resources for Faculty
Program Office Updates
New Publications
In The Media
News From the York Community
Events

Top Stories

Order of Canada recognizes lifetime of achievement for retired University Professor - When the Governor-General’s staff phoned Don Dippo to inform him that he’d been named to the Order of Canada, the retired University Professor of Education at York University thought someone was pulling his leg. Unsurprising to anyone who knows Dippo, the invitation was real and celebrates his life’s work as a champion for access to education. Read more

New digital platform supporting online well-being launches this spring - A first-of-its kind digital wellness platform, created at York University’s Young Lives Research Lab, will launch this spring to help Canadians navigate the challenges and complexities of the internet and social media. Read more

PEX Interview: In conversation with…..Ricardo Tranjan - Ricardo Tranjan from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives talks to Lana Parker, Associate Professor at the University of Windsor and member of the Public Education Exchange (PEX), about funding of public education in Ontario. Ricardo provides a brief history and overview of the Ontario government's approach to funding public schools, highlighting that the amount has decreased significantly since 2018 (once inflation is taken into account). Ricardo and Lana discuss implications of underfunding public schools for education and democracy. Watch video

Prevention of Youth Homelessness: International Conference - Held Monday, February 24 to Wednesday, February 26 at the Westin Harbour Castle, the conference will feature researchers, service providers, experts with lived experience and thought leaders from Canada and around the world, highlighting research that showcases evidence-based solutions to youth homelessness. The conference is presented by A Way Home Canada and the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness as the summation of their Making the Shift Networks of Centres of Excellence grant. Learn more

Assistant professor Natalia Balyasnikova, MEd student Mercedes Veselka and Hilary McGregor (Masters student, Development Studies) co-authored an article titled “Canada’s cuts to newcomer English language programs puts communities’ well-being at risk” in The Conversation Canada. Read article

Assistant professor Gail Prasad spoke at the Language Advocacy Day 2025 (#LAD25) event titled Stories That Advocate: Embracing the Role of a Language Ally which took place on February 21

Assistant professor Molade Osibodu was one of the keynote speakers at the FIELDS Mathematics education research day which took place on January 25

FESA Employment Fair - The Faculty of Education Student Association (FESA) hosted its Employment & Recruitment Fair on January 25, connecting aspiring educators with potential employers and career opportunities. Attendees engaged with school boards, education organizations, and community partners, gaining valuable insights into job prospects, application processes, and career pathways. The event provided a space for networking, resume-building, and exploring diverse roles in the field of education. With a strong turnout and meaningful conversations, our future educators left feeling informed and inspired for the next steps in their journey

Meet your 2024-2025 FESA Council - The Faculty of Education Student Association (FESA) is the heartbeat of the undergraduate education student community. Made up of passionate student leaders, FESA not only represents education students but also plays a key role in enriching their university experience. Read more

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Resources for faculty

Tips for eclass: Adding a Grade item
A grade item is a space where you can enter grades into the gradebook but without having anything handed in to you (no artifact to grade). This is particularly useful if you want to give a grade for participation/professionalism or some sort of performance, like a presentation

Visit our IT resources page to view all videos

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Program Office Updates

York U Sign in hallway

Academic Programs Office

Transition to the Profession Day - Year Two B.Ed students participated in our Transition to the Profession Day on Tuesday February 18. Organized by our Teacher Education Liaison Committee (TELC) and in collaboration with our Federation partners, students participated in presentations and a panel discussion to support their next steps in preparing for the teaching profession

Female Student with York Sweather

Graduate Programs Office

Upcoming Event

  • Creative Risks: Navigating Ethics in Arts-Based Research with Children and Young People
    Friday, March 7, 2025 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. | Online via Zoom
    Join us for a lively conversation about the ethical considerations—practical, philosophical, and creative—that emerging and established scholars bring to their arts-based research with children and young people. Featuring the perspectives of artists and university researchers, alongside two graduate students—one just beginning their research, and the other nearing the end of their dissertation project—discussants will share their thinking about ethical frameworks when planning a research project with children and young people
    Learn more and register

‘Office Hour’ in the Grad Lounge - The 2024/2025 incoming Doctoral cohort are hosting an 'office hour' in the grad lounge (Winters Room 113) at 4:00 p.m., most Tuesdays. All are welcome! Contact James (jamesth@yorku.ca) for more details

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program Office

Admissions for 2025-2026 - Applications opened December 15 and will close on March 21. Following this, files will be reviewed and short-listed applicants interviewed. The goal is to send acceptance letters by the first week of May

TDSB Students on Campus - On February 10, 9 deaf students from the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and their teachers joined our Language and Literacy class on campus. Our teacher candidates worked with the students, assessing language, reading, and writing. The TDSB students also had the opportunity to share their experiences as learners in inclusive settings, with a focus on how they used technology for access

Upcoming Webinars - On February 6, the DHH program hosted a webinar on The Science of Reading: Application to Deaf Learners. There were 60 attendees from around the province. A second session will take place on February 27 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. where the presenters Connie Mayer (professor in the DHH program) and Beverly Trezek (University of Wisconsin-Madison), will focus on addressing the questions submitted by attendees after the first session. Registration details are available here

Research Office

Congratulations to our colleague professor sava saheli singh for being awarded the 2024-2025 Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) Research Grant for Emergent Issues and Priorities

Upcoming Funding Opportunities:

Nominate a colleague for the following:

Professional Learning Office

Congratulations to Instructional Leader Diana Maliszewski on being awarded the Angela Thacker Memorial Award for her contributions to the advancement of teacher librarians. Read more

NEW: French Language Enhancement course - This new course is a series of 3 interactive modules that will help both current and aspiring FSL teachers deepen their writing, listening, and speaking skills within the framework of language development, FSL pedagogy, and curriculum expectations. Learn more

Mathematics Proficiency Test (MPT) Resource Hub Subscription - Whether you’re new to Ontario or newly trained in Ontario and need to pass the  Math Proficiency Test, the York U MPT Resource Hub is here for you. This online subscription provides:

  • Assurance with up-to-date test information released by the Ministry of Education (MoE), The Ontario College of Teachers (OCT), and EQAO
  • Guidance through curated study resources that have been correlated to math concepts and pedagogy covered in the test. Find practice tests with solutions
  • Empowerment enabling you to self-assess your knowledge and understanding and then create a personal learning plan
  • Flexibility with unlimited access for 90 days from the date of purchase

York students receive access to a version of the subscription for free in their 2nd year Learn more

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New Publications

Professor Celia Popovic has co-authored the following articles with colleagues:

Associate Professor Vidya Shah was a guest co-editor of a special issue of Education Policy Analysis Archives titled Transforming School Systems: Questions of Power, Resistance, Equity, and Community- In challenging the dominance of education reform from the Global North, the issue examines how schools are governed and organized in different parts of the world. The collection of 6 articles, (4 in English, 1 in Spanish, and 1 in Portuguese), attend to power, history, local and regional contexts, multiple ways of knowing, and sociopolitical dynamics in their analysis

Publications

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In The Media

Her mother was struggling with dementia. Then she had an idea that transformed her–and other isolated seniors in the GTA
Assistant Professor Natalia Balyasnikova was quoted in the Toronto Star December 26

Island educator surprised and thrilled by Order of Canada induction
Professor Emeritus Don Dippo was quoted in Victoria News December 22

TDSB to rename three schools following controversial board decision
Professor and Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora Carl James was quoted in The Toronto Star February 21

Kaneff Tower

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News from the York Community

Nominate an inspiring alum for York U’s 2025 Alumni Awards - The accomplishments of York University alumni that reflect the University’s mission to educate and empower future changemakers will be recognized this fall during the 2025 Alumni Awards.

Nominations are now open for the prestigious annual awards that celebrate outstanding alumni who have achieved the extraordinary and made remarkable contributions to York University and the community. Learn more

Nominate student leaders for Tiffin Award - A university encompasses more than academics alone – it is the passionate teachers, the dedicated staff and the students who go above and beyond to help make their community a more welcoming, inspiring place. The Robert J. Tiffin Student Leadership Award recognizes those students, whose leadership has contributed to the growth, development and vitality of York University. Learn more

Discover York Academics – Join York’s CV tool for faculty to showcase their academic work online. Learn more

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Events

Wednesday, February 26, 2025
12:30 p.m.
Faculty of Education Students Association (FESA) Office
116 Winters College

Join us on Wednesday February 26th at 12:30 as we kick off our Gratitude Tree activation in front of the Faculty of Education Students’ Association office. The Tree will then be left up for a week for members of our community to add their own notes of gratitude and to read the other gratitude statements! This activation is a part of York’s pan-university #YUGood Stressbusters Fest taking place Feb 24 – 28 and is open to all students and staff to participate in.

Please spread the word and let your students know!

Gratitude Tree:

Gratitude has the power to uplift, connect, and inspire! As part of York University's #YUGood initiative, the Faculty of Education invites you to share what you're grateful for on our Gratitude Tree. 

Whether it's a professor, a mentor, a learning experience, or a moment of kindness, your words will help cultivate a culture of appreciation within our community. 

Simply write your note of gratitude and add it to the tree located by the Faculty of Education Students’ Association Office to spread positivity and encouragement. 

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We appreciate the opportunity to consider written articles/submissions from faculty and staff for the Faculty of Education blog on the home page of our website at https://www.yorku.ca/edu/ and for future issues of the Faculty of Education News Bulletin. All written submissions:

  • must be related to the Faculty of Education and/or its programs
  • can include personal and fun articles

Articles need to be submitted in Microsoft Word for consideration. Please send articles directly to edbulletin@edu.yorku.ca

Tell us what you think of the ED News Bulletin. We would love to hear from you.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this edition of the Faculty of Education News Bulletin.

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