Premier's Award for Teaching Excellence Goes to Trent Grad
School of Education and Professional Learning Alumna created environmental camp with Indigenous perspective
During a ceremony on May 4, 2011, at the Toronto Reference Library, Trent University alumna, Dawn White, received the Premier’s Award for Teaching Excellence presented by Premier Dalton McGuinty and Minister of Education Leona Dombrowski.
Ms. White was hired in 2009 to work at Port Perry High School in the Special Education Department and she immediately immersed herself in the life of the school. She works very closely with the First Nations community and has brought Native studies and special education together to infuse Indigenous pedagogy into the classroom. Ms. White also created the Indigenous Fusion Camp where environmental education is taught from Indigenous perspectives.
“Dawn was a passionately engaged teacher candidate and we are very proud that she has received this recognition,” said Dr. Jacqueline Muldoon, dean of the Trent School of Education and Professional Learning. “She has made many terrific contributions to her students and her school and will continue to do so.”
Reflecting on how Trent contributed to her success, Ms. White said, “I wanted to be somewhere that I could excel and follow my passion in Indigenous Studies. Trent has this magical way of drawing the best faculty and students to it. I was taught by the best and how to be the best.”
The Premier’s Award for Teaching Excellence recognizes educators and staff who are helping Ontario students realize their full potential. These awards were created by the McGuinty government in 2006 to celebrate teaching excellence in Ontario schools. Seventeen Premier’s Awards for Teaching Excellence were handed out this year. One hundred and twenty-five educators have received the award since their creation.