Welcome to the School of Education and Professional Learning.
Welcome to Nojogiwanong, known as the city of Peterborough, the ancestral territory and homelands of the Michi Saagiig Anishnaabe, that connects us to Curve Lake First Nation, Alderville First Nation, Hiawatha, and Mississauga’s of Scugog Island First Nation. I offer my gratitude to First Peoples for their care for, and teachings about our earth and our relations.
It is my intention to live as a good relative. I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of you. I am excited to begin my term as Dean, here at Trent University in the School of Education and Professional Learning. I am very excited about what awaits you, whether you are one of our Teacher Education Stream, Bachelor of Education, or graduate students, we offer a diverse range of professional attainment in Education that connects learning and professional development to the critical work of social justice, Indigenous Knowledge infusion, sustainability, and fostering a more loving and humane world. Our faculty and instructors are dedicated to their own continual growth to provide learning experiences that are responsive to provincial policy initiatives in K-12 curriculum, innovative assessment practice, new technologies, and building inclusive and caring classrooms and communities for all learners.
There are many exciting ways, both inside and outside of the classroom, in which you can engage in the important work of Education while at Trent. This summer I became very inspired by the life and writings of John Lewis. As a Black man and Civil Rights activist, he never lost hope in the power of the human heart to foster love across communities and cultures, despite enormous resistance and hatred. The commitment to experiential learning and anti-oppression is a signature pedagogy in the School of Education that fosters ongoing reflection and experimentation outside of conventional knowledge systems. We are a creative bunch and invite you on this journey as we work to develop new approaches and responses to important work of teacher education and professional learning. Please take the time to explore our website and all we have to offer. You will be inspired!
Warm regards,
Sarah Twomey