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News you can use from the Ontario College of Teachers
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College members set the standard for great teaching
This issue of The Standard looks at the mission statement, values and strategic priorities set by College Council, our new public awareness initiative, and how our members are setting the standard for great teaching. The Ontario College of Teachers is focused on continuing to inspire public confidence in the teaching profession.
How? Through exemplary teachers. See our profile on Samantha Leonard, for example.
We would also like to draw your attention to our events section. The College is meeting parents and members of the public across the province as part of our public awareness initiative.
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At the College
Since 1997, the Ontario College of Teachers has regulated the teaching profession in the public interest.
A 37-member Council governs the College and is responsible for developing and approving policies that regulate the teaching profession in Ontario. Council meets at least four times a year.
At its March 27-28 meeting, Council further strengthened the College’s mandate to serve the public interest by approving a mission, values and strategic priorities for the College.
Read more about this here.
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What’s a mycologist?
Have you heard or seen our public awareness advertisements? You might recognize them through the children’s voices talking about “setting the standard for great teaching”? Perhaps the eye-catching print advertisements have drawn your attention to the link between various professions and children’s hopes to excellence in teaching?
Our public awareness initiative aims to enhance your understanding of the work of the College.
The Ontario College of Teachers regulates teaching in Ontario by licensing teachers, setting high professional and ethical standards, approves teacher education programs and investigates and hears complaints about members.
The College serves the public interest and ensures teachers in Ontario receive the right tools to help our students achieve great things.
A number of popular online bloggers have reported on the qualifications teachers working in Ontario’s publicly funded schools must have in order to teach. The newest blog post, “Why Ontario Teachers Rock!” can be seen here.
Want to learn more? Go to www.oct.ca |
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Specialist program helps to boost graduation rate
Launched in 2006 for Grade 11 and 12 students, Ontario’s Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Program has more than 42,000 students enrolled, exploring 19 occupations from agriculture, aviation and aerospace to forestry, justice, community safety, emergency services and transportation. The program is credited with helping to drive up Ontario’s high school graduation from 68 per cent to 83 per cent over the last decade.
To support the SHSM program, the College is developing technological education qualifications for teachers to provide them with the opportunity to gain a greater depth of knowledge in their area of expertise – such as Agribusiness, Agriculture and horticulture – just to name a few. Please click here to learn more.
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Public Deputations
The College’s Council has approved a one-year pilot program to accommodate public deputations at Council meetings and the Annual Meeting of Members. As many as two deputations may be scheduled for each meeting, for a maximum of 10 minutes per deputation. Do you have a topic related to the College’s work that you would like to present to Council members? If so, please complete our online form to submit your request to the Chair of Council at least 15 days prior to a scheduled Council meeting.
Council deputations may be delivered in English or French. For more information, please email us at outreach@oct.ca.
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Exemplary OCT teaches at-risk students to dream big
With compassion and ingenuity, London-area teacher Samantha Leonard, OCT (Ontario Certified Teacher), is helping First Nations students find success at high school. Teaching in a one-room school, Leonard works with 14-18-year-old students in two-hour blocks of individualized tutoring and self-study.
Leonard was recognized for her unique approach in 2013 with the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. To learn more about Leonard and her unique approach, watch her new Exemplary OCT video and read our latest issue of Professionally Speaking.
Ontario has many exemplary teachers like Leonard. The Find a Teacher section of our website enables parents, the public and members to see the qualifications and academic degrees of Ontario’s highly qualified certified members.
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College Events
As part of our public awareness initiative, the College is meeting parents and members of the public at various events throughout the province to enhance understanding of the College’s work.
Ontario Universities Fair
September 19-21
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Word on the Street
September 21
Queen’s Park Circle in Toronto
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Help fund teacher education scholarships
Every year, the College funds three scholarships to support prospective teachers and you can help!
Donations accepted
This program helps provide financial support to exemplary teacher candidates such as 2013 recipients Shyla Pogany, Jennifer Cook, and Emma Dunn. A donation to the scholarship program would be gratefully accepted.
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