Enhancing Equity in Elementary Education

Hosted by Dr. Sejal Patel (Director and Associate Professor, School of Early Childhood Studies), and featuring: Dr. Maria Karmiris  has been working as an elementary school teacher for the Toronto District School Board since 2002. She is also a sessional lecturer at OISE/UT and TMU. Luke Reid is a human rights lawyer and a social worker who has spent his career serving clients with disabilities. O...

Hosted by Dr. Sejal Patel (Director and Associate Professor, School of Early Childhood Studies), and featuring: Elder Joanne Dallaire sits as the Elder & Senior Advisor, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Toronto Metropolitan University; Chair of TMU's Aboriginal Education Council; Co-chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Directive, Co-chair of the 2021 Standing Strong Task Force and cur...

Hosted by Dr. Sejal Patel (Director and Associate Professor, School of Early Childhood Studies), and featuring: Yvonne Kelly is a Social Worker (BSW, MSW) with a focus on community and systems. She is currently a Community and Partnership Developer with the Inclusive School and Community Services Department of the York Region District School Board. Yvonne has 30 years of experience in community de...

Hosted by Dr. Sejal Patel (Director and Associate Professor, School of Early Childhood Studies), and featuring: Jodie Williams currently works as the Academic Coordinator for Indigenous Education with the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board and is the Past Chair for the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Association of Ontario.  She has been involved in land-based experiential learn...

Hosted by Dr. Sejal Patel (Director and Associate Professor, School of Early Childhood Studies), and featuring: Ilana David is a social worker with over 15 years experience working with children, youth and families in mental health, 2SLGBTQ+ community services and education settings. Through the Gender and Sexual Diversity team in the TDSB, Ilana provides a range of support and consultation servic...

In this episode of the Educational Equity Podcast, student host Jahiem Thomas is joined by a panel of Black advocates, students and professors who share their lived experiences, insights, and reflections on the meaning and significance of Black Joy in education through a podcast conversation titled, ‘ Melanin Magic’ . Panelists include: Coleen Dudley – Coleen is a first-generation Guyanese-Jamaica...

Hosted by Dr. Sejal Patel (Director and Associate Professor, School of Early Childhood Studies), and featuring: Melissa Jean-Baptiste Vajda: Csc Providence, with the creation of the Human Rights and Equity Advisor (HREA) role, has taken significant steps towards building a more equitable and inclusive school community. Since 2021, initiatives have included a review of policies and procedures throu...

Hosted by Dr. Sejal Patel (Director and Associate Professor, School of Early Childhood Studies), and featuring: Karen Murray is the System Superintendent for Equity, Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression in the Toronto District School Board. She most recently was the Centrally Assigned Principal for the newly launched Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement which is the first of its kind in publ...

In this episode of Enhancing Equity in Elementary Education, host Stephen Hurley engages in a thought-provoking Speaker’s Corner conversation with Pam Agawa, the Human Rights and Equity Lead for Keewatin Patricia District School Board. With her extensive background in education and recent experience working with the provincial government, Pam discusses the complexities and daily challenges of prom...

In this episode of Enhancing Equity in Elementary Education, Stephen Hurley interviews Karen Murray, a System Superintendent for Equity, Anti-oppression, and Early Years in the Toronto District School Board. Throughout this insightful Speaker’s Corner conversation, Stephen and Karen discuss the importance of equity work in education, Karen's book which provides practical examples from educators, "...

In this episode of Enhancing Equity in Elementary Education, host Stephen Hurley engages in an insightful Speaker’s Corner conversation with Ingrid Palmer, the founder of Focus on Ability and the Principal IDEAL Advocate at Realize. Ingrid shares about the importance of educational equity for students with disabilities, including her perspectives on inclusive practices and the role of language in...

In this episode of Enhancing Equity in Elementary Education, host Stephen Hurley engages in a powerful Speaker's Corner conversation with Atala Andratis, who is the Equity Lead for the Grand Erie District School Board. They discuss the meaning of and importance of equity in education, the need for dialogue when working to dismantle barriers, and creating inclusive environments for all students. At...

Hosted by Stephen Hurley (Executive Director at voicEd Radio) and Dr. Nicholas Ng-A-Fook (Professor and Vice Dean of Graduate Programs, University of Ottawa), who are joined by:  Kiera Brant-Birioukov - Kanyen’kehà:ka from Kenhtè:ke (Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory), Assistant Professor at York University. Kiera’s work and research are grounded in Haudenosaunee thought, educational theory, philosophy,...