Discussion Points
- What does Ontario schooling do right and wrong?
- The case of Finland - Eeva Penttila
- The case of Grange Primary School, UK
Guests
Avis Glaze is known as an international leader in the field of education. She has been recognized for her work in leadership development, student achievement, school and system improvement, character development, and equity of outcomes for all students. As Ontario’s first Chief Student Achievement Officer and founding CEO of the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat, she played a pivotal role in improving student achievement in Ontario schools. It is her strong belief that all children can learn with the proper supports and effective teaching. Avis completed two Master of Education programs – one in educational administration, a second in guidance and counselling, and a Doctorate in Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. She also has training in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Advanced Facilitation, and the Assessment of Emotional Intelligence. She has taught at all levels of the K-12 education system, in rural and urban areas, in public and Catholic schools, and at the elementary, secondary, community college and university levels. She has worked as a classroom teacher, special education teacher, guidance
counsellor and secondary school administrator. Avis has been a superintendent of schools in several school districts, an Associate Director of Education with the York Region District School Board and Director of Education of the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. At the university level, Avis has been an Adjunct Professor. In 1994, Avis served as a Commissioner on the Ontario Royal Commission on Learning and had the opportunity to influence the direction of education in Ontario. Avis was chosen by the Canadian government to assist with educational reform in South Africa. She represented Canada at the UNESCO conference on Inclusive Education in Riga, Latvia. She is a recognized author of many publications and has received honourary doctorates from several Canadian universities. She has won more than thirty awards for outstanding contribution to education, including Educator of
the Year, The Distinguished Educator Award, the 2001 YWCA Women of Distinction Award, the Harry Jerome Award, the Sandford D. McDonnell Lifetime Achievement Award for Character Education, and The Order of Ontario. Avis is
currently a Professor in Residence in the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa. Her consulting company, Edu-quest International Inc. offers a wide range of services internationally. She consults with school districts, non-profit organizations and businesses to maximize talent and achieve results.
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Richard Gerver is the former headteacher at Grange Primary School near Nottingham, England. The school was leaderless for 18 months and threatened with closure when he took the helm. For seven years he redirected the teaching methods, got the kids engaged and learning and within 18 months had double their academic scores. His mantra was living, learning and laughing. Educators came from 130 countries to see what they had done at Grange. Richard has advised all levels of government including as an advisor to then Prime Minister Tony Blair. He is now a highly regarded motivational speaker and consultant to businesses and schools. He is also an author with his first book "Creating Tomorrow's Schools Today".
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Eeva is the Head of International Relations for the City of Helsinki's Department of Education. She has been an educator for over 40 years. Finland has one of the world's best education systems and has consistently scored in the top three countries in reading, math and science. But Finnish children do not start formal schooling until age 7, there are no standardized tests, there are no report cards in elementary school. They are the only country in the world where schools provide hot lunches by law. So it may come as no surprise that Eeva hosts more than 2000 curious visitors a year from all over the world.
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