2019 Winning Teachers

September 24, 2019

OTIP (Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) have recognized three outstanding Ontario teachers with the OTIP Teaching Award for excellence.

On Tuesday, September 24, the following educators received the OTIP Teaching Award.

2017 Winning Teachers

September 26, 2017

OTIP (Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) have recognized three outstanding Ontario teachers with the OTIP Teaching Award for excellence.

On Tuesday, September 26, the following educators received the OTIP Teaching Award:

Emily Alexandra Seiling

Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate & Vocational School, Waterloo

Emily Alexandra (Alex) Seiling, a teacher at Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate & Vocational School, received the OTIP Teaching Award in the Beginning Teacher Category.

Alex is a French Immersion teacher of family studies, civics, Canadian history, careers, and families in Canada. Her approach to teaching is practice, based on reflection as well as collaboration. This practice brings constant changes to her approach to student learning as well as innovation. Alex’s compassion and understanding of her students’ needs are reflected in her approach.

And her students are the beneficiaries. Alex forms partnerships with community groups, teachers and educational stakeholders to provide experiences for her students to develop their leadership abilities, to increase their civic awareness and to promote a global perspective.

As stated in her nomination for the award, “Her interactions with students are always characterized by sensitivity, reflection, and action to resolve and help.”

Natalie Morgan

Brooklin High School, Brooklin

Natalie Morgan, a teacher at Brooklin High School, was honoured with the OTIP Teaching Award for excellence in the secondary teacher category.

Natalie is the Head of Guidance as well as a co-operative education and peer tutor advisor.

Natalie is a teacher who not only assists students with timetables and career choices but more importantly, prepares them for leading productive lives. She assists students in making personal choices and coping with everyday life. Through leadership programs, support groups and assistance to marginalized students, students realize that Natalie is someone who respects them as they are and someone, they can count on to help them, no matter the issue.

As stated in her nomination, Natalie’s “true exceptionality is in the care and compassion she shows to students and parents in need.”

LeRoi Newbold

Africentric Alternative School, Toronto

LeRoi Newbold, a teacher at the Africentric Alternative School in Toronto, received the OTIP Teaching Award in the Elementary Teacher Category.

LeRoi teaches special education and French as a second language but the contributions to education go far beyond this. LeRoi’s focus on social justice in the classroom has inspired and engaged students to realize that they have the power to make a difference. Among many achievements, LeRoi has designed the Afrocentric/Black affirmative curriculum, developed resources for using transformative justice within the classroom, and partnered with other schools to share resources and provide teacher training on anti-Black racism. Most notably, LeRoi founded the community-based program, Toronto Freedom School, to teach children about pride and histories of Black resistance.

As stated in LeRoi’s nomination, “Leroi’s contributions to curriculum development and Black-centred pedagogy stand out in the field of education in Canada.”