Faculty of Education

Each year, the Students’ Teacher Recognition Reception (STRR) celebrates the people who shape not just what we learn — but who we become.

This year, B.Ed. graduate Alex Di Lello was selected by UM Education to honour two educators whose impact has stayed with her far beyond the classroom.

Alex spoke about Mr. Hitesh Raval, a high school teacher who showed extraordinary compassion during one of the most difficult times in her life. After experiencing a brain injury, school became overwhelming. Mr. Raval didn’t just support her learning, he advocated for her, stood by her, and made sure she never felt alone. “He didn’t just care about what his students learned — he truly cared about us.” [Untitled design (32) | PDF]

She also recognized Professor Peter Sdrolias from the Faculty of Education, whose teaching modelled what it means to truly listen and teach with intention. By adapting his courses to reflect student needs and guiding them as they entered the profession, he helped future educators not only prepare for teaching — but imagine the kind of teachers they want to be.

Congratulations, Alex, and thank you to all the educators who leave a lasting impact on their students’ lives.

We're celebrating outspoken voices working to advance equity and representation in education, like Shawn Darby, PBDE Coordinator and Professional Partnerships Undergraduate at UM Education, who appeared on the Teach Loud Teach Proud to discuss what it really means to show up authentically in the classroom.

Listen here: https://loom.ly/2agofss

UM Education was proud to host the Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education (CSSHE) conference here in Winnipeg - an important opportunity to bring together a national community committed to advancing higher education.

Hosting this gathering created space for meaningful dialogue, new partnerships, and deeper connections across institutions, disciplines, and perspectives. By welcoming scholars and educators from across Canada, we helped foster conversations that not only reflected on current challenges, but also inspired collaborative approaches to building more equitable and inclusive learning environments.

We’re proud to celebrate this year’s Undergraduate Research Award (URA) recipients from UM Education! These outstanding students will spend the summer working alongside faculty mentors on meaningful, innovative research projects.

✨ Oluwatofunmi Layi-Babatunde will work with Dr. Xiaoxiao Du to explore how educators use multiliteracy teaching strategies (visual, digital, and language-based) to support student learning.

✨ Katherine Magne will work with Dr. Michelle Honeyford to explore place-based literacy practices, focusing on the relationship between water, writing, and community.

✨ Savannah Newans will work with Dr. Michelle Honeyford & Dr. Jen Watt to examine how educators teach about water (in)justice and relational approaches to place-based learning.

✨ Andrea Pelletier will work with Dr. Joe Curnow to study participatory action research with climate organizers, focusing on community engagement and social change.

✨ Joanne San Juan will work with Dr. Merli Tamtik to examine how equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) policies are informed and implemented in post-secondary institutions.

✨ Madison Tucker will work with Dr. Xiaoxiao Du to study teachers’ perspectives and pedagogical approaches to supporting multiple literacies in the classroom.

No longer Future Teachers. Officially Forever Teachers! 💙💛🤎

In celebration of National Indigenous History Month, JAADDE has invited Maclane Cardinal, recipient of the 2025 Guiding the Journey Indigenous Educator Award, to share his perspectives and practices on embracing Indigenous knowledge through land-based learning on June 8.

Date: June 8, 2026
Time: 12:30pm-1:30pm
Location: Room 200

Title: Embracing Indigenous Knowledge: Perspectives and Practices in Land Based Education
Speaker: Maclane Cardinal (M.Ed.), Indigenous Studies and Theatre Arts Teacher, Pembina Trails Collegiate

Drawing from my M.Ed. thesis, ongoing research, and reflexive teaching practice, I share my lived experiences as an Indigenous teacher and teacher researcher. My work examines how Indigenous-led land-based learning meaningfully engages both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students while fostering relational forms of learning. I discuss collaborations with communities and students that center responsibility, relationality, and reciprocity within land based programs. I invite continued dialogue on how Indigenous knowledge systems and traditions can be authentically and sustainably integrated into K–12 education.

𝘑𝘈𝘈𝘋𝘋𝘌 (𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦, 𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘪-𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘺) 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 a𝘥-𝘩𝘰𝘤 c𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘤𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢/𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘺, 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺.

🎓 CLASS OF 2026 STUDENT SERIES: Cameron Dyck, B.Ed. (Access Program)

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀?
In my time in the Access Program, I greatly appreciated the smaller class sizes, which allowed me to build stronger relationships with my teachers. What I appreciated most, however, were the resources and support services the program provided. The free tutoring was especially helpful whenever I needed extra support with my coursework.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?
One thing I love about teaching is the opportunities it provides. Last year, it gave me the chance to teach in the UK for four months, and next year, it has allowed me to accept a teaching position in Melbourne, Australia.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲?
For the rest of this academic year, I have a term position teaching Grade 1 and providing literary support for grades 3 to 5, but then I am off on my next adventure.

𝗔𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲?
My mom, who is a teaching assistant, is working on her own Bachelor of Education degree!

Find more Access success stories on UMToday: "Ready to heal and educate others" by Extended Education.