Focus on Teaching Conference
Celebrating faculty excellence
Excellence in teaching and engaging students in learning is both challenging and exciting. The Focus on Teaching Conference (FOTC) has traditionally provided a forum to:
- celebrate the work of teachers in a fun, engaging and rewarding way;
- dialogue with colleagues from across disciplines;
- engage in informed and constructive conversations related to the complexities of teaching and learning; and
- share strategies and insights that increase teaching and learning effectiveness.
Celebrating our achievements
About the Focus on Teaching Conference
Now, more than ever, we want to recognize all the ways members of our СŶƵ community work together, create and share knowledge, and connect learning.
Each year, the Focus on Teaching Conference brings together our СŶƵ community to share practices, experiences and insights about learning and teaching. Faculty and students continue to work together to explore new learning and venture into amazing futures. Join us in sharing innovative ideas and developing new passions that re-invigorate our teaching practice and our lives.
We’re excited to support and inspire our community of teachers and celebrate as we recognize all the ways we work together, create and share knowledge, and connect learning inside and outside the classroom.
Teaching Excellence Awards
About the awards
ճTEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARDrecognizes innovative and creative teaching approaches of our inspirational educators at СŶƵ. The award celebrates СŶƵ peers, or teams, who:
- Demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their teaching practice and in facilitating student learning; or supporting teachers and teaching excellence; and
- Inspire the larger teaching and learning community at СŶƵ through sharing of practice, mentoring, or otherwise providing support to colleagues.
Criteria
СŶƵ educators regularly exemplify excellence in teaching and embody the competencies associated with the(visit thefor more information).
The Teaching Excellence Award celebrates educators who strive to grow their practice in these competencies and, in so doing, offer students learning experiences that honour student diversity, respect student needs, support student success and contribute to a culture of belonging at СŶƵ.
We have amazing peers who should be celebrated. As you submit your nomination, please express how your nominee aligns with one or more of the roles of faculty as described in theСŶƵ Faculty Competency Framework.
The commitment to excellence can be in one or several of the following competencies:
Innovative faculty are DESIGNERS. They design courses, classes, teaching and learning activities, and assessments in order to facilitate student learning. They recognize the importance of mapping courses for students and use evidence-informed pedagogy/andragogy to inform their practice. They recognize the importance of universal design, creating spaces of belonging, and sharing with peers in order to positively impact the teaching ecosystem.
Faculty who are excellent designers do the following kinds of things:
- Intentionally create universally designed teaching and learning activities.
- Integrate innovative and active teaching practices to engage students.
- Guide students and facilitate student learning with scaffolded, mapped and woven teaching and learning activities.
- Cultivate student learning by using evidence-informed, authentic opportunities for practice.
Innovative faculty are RESEARCHERS. They inspire curiosity and motivate students to ask questions. They offer opportunities to practice critical analysis and problem solving. They explore evidence and best practices in their disciplines and in the profession of teaching. Faculty use research to stay connected and to keep current and transform the experiences of other faculty by sharing their experiences.
Faculty who are excellent researchers do the following kinds of things:
- Integrate opportunities for students to engage in critical inquiry and problem solving.
- Seek credible, relevant information to authentically appeal to students.
- Guide students in critical appraising processes.
- Embed new learning into existing teaching practice.
Innovative faculty are INCLUSIVE PRACTITIONERS. They are emotionally attuned to the needs of learners and use empathy as a lens for their practice. They plan teaching and learning with integrity and work to identify inequities and injustices that may impact student success. They inhabit a growth mindset space and are open to knowledge outside of their disciplines to empower their students. They understand the importance of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging work and see indigenization as a key priority to transform post-secondary education.
Faculty who are excellent inclusive practitioners do the following kinds of things:
- Use a growing array of skills to respond to a multi-faceted learning environment that ensures space for safety, challenge and growth.
- Foster a commitment to community standards and values while maintaining empathy and fairness.
- Cultivate opportunities and model risk taking in your teaching practice.
- Foster a learning environment where all are empowered to see their own agency and voice.
Innovative faculty are CHANGEMAKERS. They approach their interactions with students using an empathetic lens. In their courses, they support students in using this lens to identify inequities in our communities. From this perspective, faculty offer opportunities for collaboration and leadership as student practice changemaking in order to graduate not only amazing practitioners but also amazing community members.
Faculty who are excellent changemakers do the following kinds of things:
- Use empathy when creating course-related materials, course schedule, and teaching and learning activities.
- Build student ability to collaborate by intentionally focusing on relationships.
- Scaffold opportunities for your students to practice sharing leadership.
- Embed experiential learning opportunities for students to practice changemaking.
Innovative faculty are DIGITAL NAVIGATORS. In their work, they create opportunities for learning that are innovative and supportive of learners and learner needs. They seek out digital solutions that best fit each teaching context. Tools are chosen with purpose and with consideration for all aspects of learning. These faculty share their skills in the support of peers impacting the teaching and learning digital ecosystem of СŶƵ.
Faculty who are excellent digital navigators do the following kinds of things:
- Skillfully incorporate ed tech based on careful consideration of pros and cons from learners’ perspectives.
- Iterate your digital solutions and try again when something doesn’t work.
- Make decisions about learning technologies based on ethical considerations.
- Leverage education technologies available to connect and/or engage students.
Innovative faculty are COLLABORATORS. In classrooms, faculty promote collaboration and teamwork to share knowledge and improve student learning. As professional educators, faculty connect with peers in professional learning opportunities and in institutional teams and utilize a growth mindset for professional growth and development that spans their entire career. They connect with partners within and outside of СŶƵ to create exciting opportunities for students.
Faculty who are excellent collaborators do the following kinds of things:
- Establish positive and trust-based relationships among students and colleagues.
- Weave emotional intelligence into their course design and delivery.
- Engage in collaborations and gather feedback to grow teaching practice.
- Offer opportunities for students to practice respectful communication.
Innovative СŶƵ faculty are REFLECTORS. In their work they will invest time in thinking about their teaching practice. Faculty will explore aspects of their teaching and plan for productive and transformative change. In this work, they will also take the time to evaluate the changes they have enacted to continually develop and grow their practice. They will also share their successes and failures in order to help peers.
Faculty who are excellent reflectors do the following kinds of things:
- Collect feedback about teaching practice as part of an ongoing cycle of reflection.
- Analyze feedback to set intentions and make changes.
- Prioritize and enact changes to teaching practice.
- Intentionally incorporate reflection (process and product) into your teaching practice.
Innovative faculty are MENTORS. They recognize the value of relationships and spend energy building relationships. These faculty reach out and across and engage with others in meaningful ways. Being a mentor means, at times, being a coach, a leader, and a keeper of different types of knowledge.
Faculty who are excellent mentors do the following kinds of things:
- Actively engage in partnerships for the betterment of teaching and learning experience.
- Support mentees in goal setting and clarifying objectives.
- Participate in leadership opportunities.
- Incorporate various types of knowledge into their practices.
Eligibility and process
1. All college professors, librarians, technologists and counsellors are eligible for these awards. Consideration may be given to members of the College community who have demonstrated extraordinary levels of support to teaching and learning at СŶƵ. The nominator must be СŶƵ faculty, administration, or support staff member.
2. Each award will have no monetary value.
3. Past recipients of a Teaching Excellence Award are not eligible for nomination for the next five (5) years.
4. Nomination submissions can be completed by using theand should include the following sections:
- Nominee information
- Description of the nominee’s teaching practices and impact on the larger teaching and learning community at СŶƵ based on the criteria noted above – please directly align to the competencies, and
- Supporting evidence, in the form of at least three testimonials from three different people (i.e., colleague, manager, community member, past student) describing and supporting the nominee’s exemplary demonstration of award criteria.
5. Select members of the CTL and the Teaching Excellence Committee (TEC) will independently review the submissions and rank the nominees. The recommended award winners will be determined from these rankings.
2024 Teaching Excellence Awards recipients
Congratulations to our inspiring winners!
Sherry LeBars
Since 2012, Sherry has been a vital member of the Veterinary Technician and Veterinary Assistant team. According to her nominators, she exemplifies inclusive teaching. Sherry consistently goes above and beyond to ensure every student feels seen, valued, and supported. Whether it’s offering extra study sessions or connecting students with necessary resources, Sherry cultivates a safe learning environment for students to thrive. It’s clear that her students’ overall well-being and academic success are her top priorities.
Through her creative teaching methods, students not only meet learning goals but also become active participants in their own education, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the subject matter. Her students have noted how she makes learning enjoyable. Her ability to foster a safe space encourages students to freely ask questions and learn without fear of judgement. Her words of encouragement and genuine care have made a world of difference in her students’ lives.
Sherry’s leadership style is collaborative and innovative. She has built bridges between the Veterinary Technician and Assistant students, fostering deeper connections and ensuring cross-disciplinary learning opportunities. She has also championed enhanced experiential learning opportunities for these groups, increasing shadowing opportunities for students to apply their learning to real-world experiences that build confidence in their abilities. It is evident that her valuable contributions to curriculum development of these programs have led to better-prepared graduates who are ready to excel in their field.
Sherry’s deep commitment to teaching and learning has profoundly enhanced the success of the Veterinary programs and the success of the student experience at СŶƵ. As remarked by one student, “the energy and love she invests into teaching has a big impact on her students.” Another student highlights Sherry’s exceptional attitude in the classroom as being “the best”. Echoing the high praise from Sherry’s students, another emphasizes, “Sherry is a true definition of what a teacher is”.
Tracy Mitchell-Ashley
Through her dedication to changemaking and her innovative approaches to teaching, Tracy Mitchell-Ashley has become the epitome of Teaching Excellence. Her commitment to fostering student success, coupled with her unwavering passion for fostering social connection amongst colleagues, sets her apart as a beacon of inspiration within the college community. Tracy’s teaching exemplifies the transformative power of compassion and collaboration. Her facilitation gifts shine with students in the classroom and with faculty through her work in the Centre for Teaching and Learning.
In the classroom, Tracy seamlessly combines kindness and incredible insight, empowering students to achieve their fullest potential. Whether offering them support or words of affirmation, she instills in students the courage to embrace each moment. With her students, she inspires curiosity, strives for inclusion, and models true collaboration.
Tracy’s impact extends far beyond the classroom. In her role at the Centre for Teaching and Learning, she is a champion of innovative and inclusive teaching practices. She models teaching practices that are rooted in changemaking – encouraging faculty to embrace inclusion in their approaches, methods, and evaluations. In her collaborative endeavors to ensure students at СŶƵ feel belonging, she, in turn, fosters a sense of community the faculty.
Tracy’s colleagues define her in words such as “leader”, “advocate” and “friend”. One of her colleagues states that “Tracy embodies a mentor that develops relationships by breaking down boundaries and providing spaces that embrace a sense of community, inclusion, and belonging.”
Tracy is a passionate and transformative leader that continues to inspire countless individuals, across all campuses, in diverse classrooms, and within numerous departments. Through her unwavering dedication, she continues to model collaborative leadership, leaving a mark on staff and students alike. As her nominator aptly states, “Tracy’s excellence is not brief, or fleeting – but longstanding, and ever-present.”
Stephen Waller
With an open heart and a generous spirit, Stephen embodies teaching excellence through his collaboration, mentorship, and friendship – all aimed at inspiring students and enriching their learning experiences in the Community Safety programs. Stephen is renowned for generously sharing his wisdom, resources, and time with everyone around him. His position as a Coordinator extends his impact both within and beyond the classroom.
In the classroom, Stephen relentlessly pursues innovative learning opportunities for students. As a professor, he is described as “high energy” and supportive, consistently striving to create an environment where students feel empowered to grow both academically and personally.
To provide students with engaging lessons that foster critical thinking and real-world application, he collaborates with external partners across a multitude of fields, including law enforcement, public safety management, mental health professionals, the Canadian Armed Forces, and more. He has also been a leader in the FlexCDP program where he has developed mindfully-designed, user-friendly, student-centered, accessible, and engaging courses for his students to enjoy.
As his colleagues state, “Stephen understands that collaboration among faculty members is rooted in the belief that collective expertise and diverse perspectives can lead to enhanced learning experiences for students”. In his role as a coordinator, he not only mentors and guides faculty, but also routinely goes above and beyond his coordination duties. He spearheads events, nurtures relationships with community partners, and coaches faculty in their course development.
Words that have been used to describe Stephen include “enthusiastic”, “intelligent”, and “industrious”. Stephen has also been described by his nominators as “not only a great colleague, but a wonderful friend”. He goes the extra mile for his colleagues, students, and the СŶƵ community. He builds and sustains meaningful connections with those around him, consistently serving as a friendly face for both faculty and students to turn to in their times of need.
Past award recipients
Arthemise Lalonde
Sue Lemmon
Amanda Quibell
Richard Rinaldo
Anthony Tilotta
Jennifer Varcoe
Jarrod Otterman
Hanna Shrolyk
Danica Vukmirovic
Clem Bamikole
Daphene Francis
Eleanor Gittens
Janette O’Neill-Scott
Jill Esmonde
Larry White
Marilyn Nigro
Marilyn Watson
Mary Dobson
Rob Davidson
Hairstyling team
No conference
Gail Hussey
Kelly Duggan
Lynn MacKinlay
Mary Spencer
Randi Dermott
Rich Freeman
Steve McDonald
Baking and Pastry Arts team
Terry Hrynyk
Rhonda Bell-Allen
Gisele Beausoleil
Cindy Korpatnicki
Nicole Barbato
Daniel Travers
Joachim Schimdt
Toni Cano
Sam Bilamjian
Michael Agema
Amy Goruk
Samantha Sullivan Sauer
Terry Heittola
Sarah Hunter
Alanda Theriault
Deb Witmer
Jaret Wright
Brandy Mullen and Thea Jones
Tamara Fisher-Cullen
Anne-Marie McAllister
Scott McCrindle
Avinash Thadani
Katherine Wallis
Jill Dunlop, Karen Bell, Suzie Addison-Toor, Josh Barath
Michele Baron
Ross Bigelow
Jill Esmonde
Martha MacEachern
Susan Stott-Hood
Kim Stubbs
Bonnie Lee Clarke
Joy Martin
Barry Weese
Lydia Crawford
Catherine Dewhurst
Kath Gradwell
Jack Lesage
Lianne Smith Stow
Catherine Wareham
Kathy Weatherall
Bryan Hunt
Debra Morrow
Susan MacNeal
Anthony Borgo
Steve Miller
Joan Morgan
Jeff Walther
Terry Bell
Karen Halliday
Nancy Noldy-Maclean
Ruthann Krant
Rob Theriault
Ruth Yole
FOTC 2024
Mirko Chardin
Mirko Chardin is ‘s Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer. Before joining Novak, he was the Founding Head of School of the Putnam Avenue Upper School in Cambridge, MA. Mirko’s work has involved all areas of school management and student support. His greatest experience and passion revolves around culturally connected teaching and learning, recruiting and retaining educators of color, restorative practice, and school culture.
He is also a race, diversity and cultural proficiency facilitator & leadership coach for the Aspire Institute at Boston University’s New Wheelock College of Human Development and Education and is a Virtual Module Content Provider and In-Person Technical Assistance Provider for the Dept. of Ed.’s Inclusive Practice Academy.
He is a principal mentor for the Perone-Sizer Creative Leadership Institute, a former Trustee at Wheaton College and is an active hip-hop artist. Mirko presents both locally and nationally on issues of cultural proficiency, equity, Universal Design for Learning and the use of personal narratives. He is also the co-author with Dr. Katie Novak of the bestselling “Equity by Design: The Power and Promise of UDL“.
FOTC 2024 – Highlights of Inspiring Growth
Watch the highlights of “Inspiring Growth” at our 2024 Focus on Teaching Conference!
FOTC 2023
Michelle Hillier
When was the last time you really felt like your authentic self? This question trips so many people up. But remembering when you last felt truly at “home” with yourself can have a remarkable impact in your work and life. During Michelle’s interactive virtual keynote, she’ll share her personal journey of recovery and provide actionable takeaways to inspire the audience to find happiness within themselves. Using personal reflection, mindfulness and intentional movement, she’ll have us zooming into our authentic self – the self you may have lost along the way. Get curious and come home. Your inner flame hasn’t gone out.
Biography
Finding her own personal has transformed Michelle’s life. Her inner flame, which was either a pilot light or a blazing inferno, is now a controlled blaze. She’s been on her own intimate healing path of recovery since 2017 from double hip replacement surgery, alcohol use disorder, grief, and a marital separation which has created a deeper sense of compassion and understanding for herself. Essentially, a road to self-love. It’s Michelle’s desire to create experiences for others that hold space for them to find their own Breath & Fire within life’s journey. Over the last two decades, Michelle has been a sought after educator, speaker (TEDx) and published author/content creator. She has transformed millions of lives with her message through large crowd presentations, workshops, trainings, content creation and one-on-one coaching and experiences. Her work has spanned a broad range of industries taking her internationally with her message.
Michelle is a dance and movement specialist, wellness and recovery coach, certified yoga and fitness teacher, mindfulness/meditation teacher, and former professional dancer. She has seamlessly merged all her passions, skills, qualifications and personal experiences to create to share with individuals, groups and organizations.
FOTC 2023 – Highlights of being Better Together
Watch the highlights of everyone being “Better Together” at our 2023 Focus on Teaching Conference!
SLT Fieldside Chat – FOTC 2023
In this playful and informative video, our senior leaders discuss the present and future of the educational experience at СŶƵ.
FOTC 2022
Sarah Rose Cavanagh
Sarah Rose Cavanagh is the Senior Associate Director for Teaching and Learning in the Center for Faculty Excellence at Simmons University, where she also teaches in the Psychology department as an Associate Professor of Practice. Before joining Simmons, she was an Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience (tenured) at Assumption University, where she also served in the D’Amour Center for Teaching Excellence as Associate Director for Grants and Research.
Sarah’s research considers the interplay of emotions,motivation, learning, and quality of life. She is author of The Spark of Learning: Energizing the College Classroom with the Science of Emotion (2016) and upcoming Our Monsters, Our Selves: Encouraging Youth Mental Health with Compassionate Challenge (2022). She gives keynote addresses and workshops at a variety of colleges and regional conferences, blogs for Psychology Today, and writes essays for venues like Literary Hub and The Chronicle of Higher Education. She’s also on Twitter too much, at @SaRoseCav.
Fireside Chat with Dr. MaryLynn West-Moynes and Kevin Weaver
We sat down with our past president Dr. MaryLynn West-Moynes and incoming president Kevin Weaver to ask them some hot questions while eating even hotter wings!
