Elementary: A podcast from the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario

L'Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA), Ontario School Board Council of Unions (CUPE-OSBCU), and Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) — each served notice to bargain on employer bargaining agencies, and informed the provincial governme...

Political Action Conference keynote speaker Lana Parker on protecting and defending public education.

Crystal Garvey on the impact that race, culture, systemic barriers, and the way they intersect affect mental health treatment and the need for systemic changes.

Dr. Maria Vamvalis on artificial intelligence, climate justice, and critical thinking.

A panel discussion about Designated Early Childhood Educators (DECEs) and the work that they do. Panelists are Samia Javed, a DECE and a PhD candidate studying the work of DECEs; Cheryl Yoworski, a DECE in the Waterloo region; and Waterloo region teacher Tracy Sims.

A panel discusion on the state of special education in Ontario. Ricardo Tranjan is a political economist and senior researcher with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, or CCPA, and Carolina Aragão is the researcher for the Ontario office of the CCPA. Jennifer Pinder brings her expertise as a Special Education Resource Teacher in the Waterloo Region District School Board and co-author of t...

On August 11, 2025 President Karen Brown opened the ETFO Annual meeting, where delegates receive reports of the officers and committees, elect officers, and receive financial statements. Delegates also debate and vote on motions .

Joe Pitawanakwat on teaching and learning about Indigenous plants and their uses in Anishnaabek traditional medicine.

Dr. Phil McRae is associate coordinator of government research at the Alberta Teachers' Association. He studies and speaks on the use of AI in Education.

ETFO's release of a report on alarming special education funding gaps in Ontario.

James Wardlaw and Denise Hammond work in ETFO's Communications and Political Action service area. They examine what is ok for educators to talk about in the workplace when it comes to elections, campaigning, and opinions about politics. For more resources on elections, go to buildingbetterschools.ca .

An interview about the value of play-based learning. Dr. Kimberly Bezaire researches play literacy, family play, team-building in Kindergarten, toddler education, and how educators can document and assess play.

Dr. Alan Corbiere has focused his work on the history of Anishinaabe peoples and Anishinaabe language. In this podcast, he discusses Anishnaabek language learning and reclamation.

Dr. Alan Corbiere on the history of wampum from an Anishnaabek perspective. Dr. Corbiere teaches in the History Department at York University where he holds a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous history of North America, and he is a visiting fellow at Harvard University.

Author and activist Habiba Diallo has a call to action for educators in her book #BlackInSchool.

President Karen Brown speaks to the delegates at the ETFO 2024 Annual Meeting.

Carolyn King on the Moccasin Identifier Initiative, a tool that calls attention to the history of Indigenous peoples across Ontario.

Educator and author Matthew R. Morris speaks with Elementary about his book Black Boys Like Me, and how educators can effectively support Black male students.

Two speakers on countering anti-2SLGBTQ+ hate. MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam talks about anti-trans protests. Lawyer Kelly Doctor from Goldblatt Partners LLP, speaks on the rights and responsibilities of educators in creating safer spaces and stopping hate. To learn more about creating inclusive spaces, you can listen to Season 2, episode 13: Building inclusive spaces for 2SLGBTQ+ students and families.

Since 1997, Erika Shaker has been monitoring corporate involvement in public education. She is the Director of the National Office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. She spoke at ETFO's 2024 Political Action Conference.

Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Labour Congress Larry Rousseau, and Hamilton and District Labour Council President Anthony Marco on solidarity and labour councils.

An interview with one of the key figures in ETFO's history, former ETFO First Vice-President Susan Swackhammer.

Four local leaders share organizing success stories. Speakers included President of the Kawartha Pine Ridge Occasional Teacher Local President Jen Deck, Hamilton-Wentworth Teacher Local Chief Negotiator Cindy Gangaram, Near North Teacher Local President Rob Hammond, Halton DECE Local President Amy Korzack. The panel was moderated by ETFO organizer James Wardlaw.

ETFO President Karen Brown's opening address to ETFO Annual Meeting 2023 Transcript: Transcript:  Hello colleagues, and welcome to ETFO's 2023 Annual Meeting! I have to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to all of you for your dedication to public education. Our 83,000 members deserve thanks and recognition for the amazing work they have done to support students over some very difficult year...

Two ETFO members, Barry Van Dompseler and Dr. Melissa Sky, on how teachers and education workers can work to create supportive, inclusive environments for 2SLGBTQ+ students and families.