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2024 Faculty of Education Year in Review

December 12, 2024

As we close out the fall semester and look ahead to 2025, here’s a recap of some of the top highlights from 2024.

Milestones & Celebrations

A Bright Start to the New Academic Year

In September, the Faculty celebrated the academic year with an inaugural welcome day event, bringing together new and returning students, faculty, and staff for a day filled with laughter, conversations and new connections. 

NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR FUTURE INCLUSIVE EDUCATORS

In August, a new transfer agreement was announced between SFU and Douglas College for students in the Classroom and Community Support program, marking a significant milestone in advancing inclusive education across British Columbia.

FRIENDS OF SIMON FIELD TRIP RETURNS TO SFU!

In May, after a five year hiatus, the Friends of Simon Field Trip returned to SFU! More than two hundred K-12 students from across the Lower Mainland came to the Burnaby campus for a day of learning, exploring, collaboration, and new friendships. 

Celebrating Community and French-Language Education

In October, École Gabrielle-Roy was honoured as the Faculty of Education's Legacy Gift recipient, celebrating its role in fostering academic excellence, cultural pride, and bilingual leadership coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs (OFFA).

Honouring Hazel Trembath Elementary School

In June, Hazel Trembath Elementary School was honoured as the Faculty of Education's Legacy Gift recipient, recognizing its resilience and innovation after a devastating fire displaced its students and staff

Faculty Stories

Empowering Autistic Youth with Decreased Sound Tolerance

In November, Elina Birmingham, in collaboration with Siamak Arzanpour from Applied Sciences, received a $500,000 TD Ready Commitment grant to develop an AI-powered app to help autistic youth with decreased sound tolerance.

Demystifying Academic Writing: An Accessible TL;DR Guide

In April, a video series launched with Joel Heng Hartse, featuring tips from his book TL; DR: A Very Brief Guide to Reading and Writing in University, designed to help students and instructors navigate the complexities of academic reading and writing.

Amy Parent Receives Distinguished Academic Award 

In March, Sigidimnak Noxs Ts'aawit Amy Parent  was recognized with the Ehor Boyanowsky Academic of the Year Award from the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of British Columbia (CUFA BC). 

Enriching Environmental Education

During the week of September 18, David Zandvliet, was recognized as Scholarly Impact of the Week for his work on the Two-Eyed Seeing for Science Education (TESSE) Framework.

2024 Media Roundup

Media and publications featuring the Faculty of Education faculty, staff, and students in 2024. 

Student & Alumni Stories

Wrestling, Education, Olympics and The Inspiring the Next Generation

Justina Di Stasio, Olympian, world champion wrestler, and Professional Development Program (PDP) alumnus, achieved her dream of competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics while inspiring others with her resilience and passion for education. 

From Inner-City Support Worker to Inspirational Teacher

Ashley Bodnar’s journey from student support worker to Professional Linking Program alumnus highlights her dedication to fostering meaningful student connections through her innovative, inquiry-based approach.

Teacher of the Year: Shaping Communities for Positive Change

As an English First Peoples teacher and equity advocate, Rick Kumar, Surrey's 2023 Teacher of the Year and PDP alumnus empowers students and drives meaningful change in schools and beyond.

Leadership Rooted in Culture

Sandeep Kaur Glover, a PhD candidate in Arts Education has been awarded the Kris Magnusson Emerging Leaders Graduate Award. This award recognizes leadership and a commitment to transformative education.

Continuing an SFU Legacy

Emma Tuck's journey is one of inspiration, perseverance, and dedication, deeply connected to her family's legacy. Her mother's positive experiences and accomplishments at SFU played a pivotal role in inspiring Emma to follow in her footsteps.

Education Community

Celebrating Educators and Creativity

In celebration of World Teachers’ Day on October 5, murals featuring over 125 canvases from faculty, staff, students, and community partners were displayed at the Surrey and Burnaby campuses. This collaborative initiative honours educators, fosters connections, and serves as a lasting symbol of gratitude and collective spirit.

Fostering International Educational Ties

The Faculty strengthened its global partnerships this year by hosting educational leaders over the summer from bilingual schools in Madrid and doctoral students from The Education University of Hong Kong. Led by the Office of International Education, these initiatives foster cross-cultural understanding, professional development, and international collaboration.

3MT Faculty Heat Competition

In April, the Faculty hosted the 2024 3MT: Faculty Heat competition, with Jeannie Kerr as MC and Pooja Dharamshi, Ana Maria Navas Iannini, and Cristiano Moura serving as judges. Emmeline Hoogland and Olessya Akimenko represented the Faculty in the 3MT SFU Finals, following enthusiastic participation from the audience and recognition of all competitors.

IDEAS PODCAST

Innovative Dialogue in Educational Approaches and Scholarship (IDEAS) is a series of podcasts created by and for graduate students as a platform to showcase their research practices. The series features graduate students from diverse disciplines at different points in their research, sharing their challenges, accomplishments, and experiences. 

Indigeneity

Sacred Fire: Honouring Our Children

In September, Professional Development Program Education 400 students gathered for the Sacred Fire: Honouring Our Children event, part of Indigenous Education Week. The event, led by the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) provided students with a space for meaningful engagement and dialogue with survivors of Indigenous Residential Schools. 

A Living Space for Reflection, Learning & Reconciliation

In 2024, the Indigenous Garden, located on the unceded traditional territories of the Səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), and Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations, evolved as a space for reflection and rememberance through various events and initiatives.

Supporting Decolonization and Understanding in the SFU Community

Sigidimnak Noxs Ts'aawit Amy Parent’s groundbreaking film series highlighted the power of storytelling to advance reconciliation and decolonization at SFU. In partnership with Jeannie Kerr, the series expanded its impact through research and curriculum development, fostering deeper connections to land-based education and Indigenous sovereignty within the SFU community.

Virtual Spaces

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

In December, the Faculty highlighted the leadership of Elina Birmingham. Supported by a $500,000 TD Ready Commitment grant, her collaborative project is developing an innovative app to aid autistic youth with decreased sound tolerance.

Convocation Virtual Space

Throughout 2024, the Faculty celebrated the incredible achievements of our graduates. The Virtual Space showcases a vibrant collection of stories, photos, videos, and messages, bringing the joy and inspiration of Convocation to life for everyone.

Interational Day of Education

In January, the Faculty supported the theme of "Learning for Lasting Peace" through impactful programs and partnerships. Highlights included collaborations with SFU Reach and the award-winning Friends of Simon program.

World Poetry Day

In 2024, to celebrate World Poetry Day on March 21, education students and faculty shared their poems. Their submissions, along with poetry books and classroom resources curated by Adena Brons from Fraser Library (SFU Surrey), were made available to inspire and support our community.

Share Your Story in 2025!

Whether you've achieved academic excellence, made a difference in your community, or embarked on a journey of self-discovery, we want to hear about it. Share your excitement, flaunt your achievements, and unleash your inner educator!

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