Les Asselstine
Julia Balaisis
Elizabeth Bardswich
Miriam Bardswich
Bob Barton
Linda Booth
David Boyd
Kathy Broad
Anne Burke
Gerry A. Campbell
Evelyn Clarke
Pat Clifford
Sandie Cond
Cathy Costello
Mike Coughlan
Robert Cutting
Glen Downey
Rose Fine-Meyer
Sandra Fryer
Jim Giles
Kathy Gould Lundy
Donna Guerra
Jan Haskings-Winner
Dalton Higgins
Eddie George Ing
Ben Katz
Joe Keenan
Robert Knuckle
 		Jill Maar
Isaac MacEachen
Elaine MacRae
Judy Martin
Heather Miller
Suzanne Muir
Deborah Nyman
Ian Parker
Shelley Peterson
Rod Peturson
Robert Piotrowski
Lorna Reevely
Sherri Rinkel-Mackay
Paul Rose
Jennifer Rowsell
Andrea Roy
Ken Dawson-Scully
Jackalyn Scroggie
Michelle Shalton
Elizabeth Siegel
Greg Smith
Barry Stagg
Maria Staring
Rosanne Swalwell
Larry Swartz
Mary Lynn Tessaro
Penny Uniacke
Kathleen Wills
Les Asselstine
Les is currently a part-time instructor with the Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario. In this role, he shares his enthusiasm for teaching and science with teachers who are starting their careers. During a lengthy career, Les has taught at several different grade levels in elementary schools, developed curriculum, conducted teacher workshops, and written student texts for math, science, technology, and social studies. In addition to writing and teaching, Les still enjoys making presentations and conducting workshops across Canada.  Back to top
Julia Balaisis
Julia Balaisis is an instructor of the Additional Qualifications courses in Dramatic Arts at OISE/UT and a drama and co-operative education teacher for the York Catholic District School Board. As an educational writer, Julia has been published on issues ranging from teaching in role to electronic mediated learning as well as having authored numerous curriculum resources. With a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, membership in Canadian Actor's Equity, training as a Psychotherapist, and increasing skill in Argentine Tango, Julia's diverse interests integrate into all her endeavours.  Back to top
Elizabeth Bardswich
Elizabeth Bardswich has worked for Inco Metals Company in Copper Cliff, Ontario for the past thirty years and is a freelance writer. She is a graduate of Laurentian University and is actively involved in her Union. She teaches the Women's Leadership Development Course for the Steelworkers.  Back to top
Miriam Bardswich
Miriam is retired as Head of History at Lorne Park Secondary School, with the Peel Board of Education. She entered the publishing business with a teacher's guide for McGraw Hill's Echoes, and has co-authored two books and three teacher's guides in the Canadian Heritage Collection, published by Rubicon Education. While acting as Project Editor for Learning Through Literacy, she remains Project Editor for the Canadian Heritage Collection and the BOLDPRINT series.
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Bob Barton
Bob attended McMaster University and, after a career in teaching and with the Ontario Ministry of Education, became a professional storyteller in association with the Storytellers School of Toronto. He has been a feature teller at festivals across North America, including the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. Bob is a recipient of literacy and reading awards and is best known for his book on storytelling, Tell Me Another.  Back to top
Linda Booth
Linda Booth has been a teacher for over twenty-five years. During this time, Linda has taught in primary, junior, and middle schools. She holds specialist certificates in Primary Education and Special Education. She has implemented and coordinated general assessment procedures and served as liaison between teachers and parents regarding the evaluation, assessment, and placement of students in appropriate programs. Linda served as a classroom consultant and contributor to several language arts series produced in Canada. Linda conducts workshops and seminars dealing with topics such as literacy, ESL, special needs students, and program planning.  Back to top
David Boyd
Currently, David is the Director of Online Services at Appleby College in Oakville, Ontario, where he also teaches the Senior One Media, Information & Technoculture course and the Senior Two Writer's Craft course. He is the author of numerous novels for children and young adults, including the popular Wordsy and Jess Adventure series, and Bottom Drawer, nominated for the Governor-General of Canada's Award for Children's Text. He has published extensively on issues and ideas evolving out of new technologies in education for Apple Computer Inc. and The Master Teacher, and is a recipient of the Prime Minister of Canada's Award for Excellence in Teaching.  Back to top
Kathy Broad
Kathy Broad is Director of the Elementary Initial Teacher Education Program at OISE/UT and has been a teacher and administrator in the Bluewater District School Board teaching in primary, junior, and intermediate divisions. As an educational writer, Kathy has been published on issues ranging from literacy, leadership, special education, assessment, integrating the arts to parental involvement and communication. With a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, Kathy continues to learn about teaching and learning from her students every day.  Back to top
Anne Burke
Anne has been an Arts/Literacy Educator for ten years, and has worked with a number of school boards in Canada. She has taught English and Language Arts in the intermediate and secondary classrooms. Currently, she is a curriculum consultant and is creating a new arts document for the Department of Education in Newfoundland and Labrador. Anne is actively involved in theatre and music, and is the Education Director of a Canadian professional theatre company. This past year, she has been working on her Ph.D. in Literacy and Adolescent Learning under the supervision of David Booth. Anne brings with her a wealth of knowledge on how the arts can inform children’s literacy.  Back to top
Gerry A. Campbell
An early start in a career as a dramatic arts and media teacher meant that Gerry has been involved with dozens of stage productions. He wrote, produced, and directed the musical Starstruck, produced and directed Godzilla! The Musical with Jon McCurley, and directed the black comedy Billy and the Monsters at Toronto's Factory Theatre. Gerry is also an active director of musicals and Scottish 'Pantomimes' for school, amateur, and semi-professional theatres. Now retired from teaching, Gerry is currently acting coach and advisor to the alternative performance group Polecat Productions.  Back to top
Evelyn Clarke
Evelyn has been teaching high school history with the Peel Board since 1982. She currently teaches at Lorne Park Secondary School. She has a B.A. in history/politics from the University of York in England and an M.A. and Ph.D. in History from McMaster University in Hamilton. She was born in Scotland, but grew up in England, where she taught high school from 1970 to 1974. She came to Canada for a year off in 1974 and never left.  Back to top
Pat Clifford
Pat is co-founder of The Galileo Network and has an extensive teaching background that includes Grades 1 to 12, university undergraduate and graduate classes, and a wide range of teacher in-service topics related to curriculum, school improvement, and leadership. She is a recipient of numerous awards for both research and teaching practice, including the 1999 Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence. As a teacher-researcher, she has published in scholarly journals such as Harvard Educational Review and The Journal of Curriculum Theory. Along with Dr. Sharon Friesen and Dr. David Jardine, she co-authored Back to the Basics of Teaching and Learning: Thinking the World Together. She has a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Administrative Studies from the University of Calgary.  Back to top
Sandie Cond
Sandie was a teacher of English and art before she retired as a secondary school principal from the Limestone District School Board. She has been involved in curriculum and professional development throughout her career with an emphasis on learning styles, reluctant learners, leadership planning and development, and teacher education and practice. She graduated from Trent University and received her Masters Degree from Queen's University where she has also taught the Honours English ABQ. Sandie is now concentrating on her passion for acting, painting, and photography, with a little writing on the side.  Back to top
Mike Coughlan
Mike Coughlan is currently a literacy coordinator for three junior high schools in the Halifax Regional School Board, in Nova Scotia. He has taught English, social studies, and science at the junior-high level for 27 years, and holds a Masters of Education Degree in Reading from Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax. He has published articles in Language Arts about performance-based assessment, and on issues surrounding encouragement of change in teachers' practice. He co-authored a cross-curricular study unit for Cochrane Entertainment based around their movie, Pit Pony.  Back to top
Cathy Costello
Cathy is a Curriculum Coordinator supporting literacy for students at risk in York Region District School Board. An educator for 30 years, she is the co-author of two textbooks with Harcourt Canada – Reading and Writing for Success and Reading and Writing for Success Senior. Cathy has participated on provincial writing teams for literacy resources including Think Literacy Cross-Curricular Approaches and the Reaching Higher resource package. She is a popular keynote and conference presenter.  Back to top
Robert Cutting
Robert has been an educator for over 30 years, and is currently a Program Consultant for the Durham Catholic District School Board. He has been an author of educational books since 1973. Through Robert's interest in his Kanien k' haka (Mohawk) ancestry, he weaves storytelling into many of his presentations to give a unique perspective on everyday life. Robert and Denise, his wife of over 30 years, have three children and one grandson.
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Glen Downey
Glen Downey received his Ph.D. in English from the University of Victoria in 1998, and previously earned both his B.A. and M.A. from McMaster University. He completed his B.Ed. at the University of Western Ontario in 2001, and is currently the Curriculum Chair of the English department at Appleby College in Oakville. Before coming to Appleby in 2001, Dr. Downey taught in the English Department at UBC, where he was awarded the Ian Fairclough Prize for Teaching. Dr. Downey has several scholarly publications and has presented papers at a number of international conferences. He lives in Oakville with his wife, Jayn, and his sons, Will and Sam.  Back to top
Rose Fine-Meyer
Rose Fine-Meyer is Curriculum Leader for History, Social Sciences, and the Arts at Humberside Collegiate. She teaches history and is an active staff member. Rose is the author of several Canadian history books, including two books in the Canadian Heritage Collection and Unfolding Power designed for the grade 10 history program. Rose is enrolled in the Doctoral program at the University of Toronto where her specialty is in Canadian history. Her M.A. thesis examined Canada's sponsorship program of the Vietnamese refugees in the late 1970s, and her expertise lies in the combined areas of Canadian women's history and Canadian immigration. Rose currently serves as Chair of the Ontario Women's History Network (OWHN). She leads workshops on effective history teaching, including the fall conference of OHASSTA.  Back to top
Sandra Fryer
Sandra Fryer has been teaching for the past 16 years, and has been learning for even longer! A common thread throughout Sandra's teaching, whether to nine-year-olds, adults, and anyone in between, has been her passion for helping students communicate their understandings effectively in their own unique way. This interest has led Sandra to be involved in several writing and review projects, some of which have focused on her History background, and all of which involve Sandra's active interest in world issues and current events and trends.  Back to top
Jim Giles
Jim is an elementary educator with the Toronto District School Board. He has been an instructional leader for the Ontario Arts Education Institute at the Royal Ontario Museum and an instructional leader for OISE/UT. For two summers, he taught an integrated Arts course at the Haliburton School of the Arts as well the Summer Institute for ETFO. Jim has been honoured with the Hilroy Fellowship for innovations in teaching, and was nominated for the Toronto Sun's Teacher-of-the-Year award. He holds a Bachelor of Music and a Masters of Education, and continues to publish articles on the importance of Arts in Education.  Back to top
Kathy Gould Lundy
Kathy is the Course Director of the Fine Arts program at York University, Faculty of Education. Kathy is on secondment from the Toronto District School Board, where she is District-wide Coordinator of Dramatic Arts and Dance. While she was at the board, she taught teachers how to use drama and dance as teaching methodologies within an inclusive curriculum. Kathy has coordinated the writing of a number of curriculum documents including THE TREASURE CHEST: Story, Drama and Dance/Movement in the Classroom, a curriculum resource for elementary teachers; and Curriculum in Motion, a videotape and package made in partnership with the Danny Grossman Dance Company. Kathy has recently published her first book, What Do I Do About the Kid Who…? Fifty Ways to Turn Teaching into Learning.  Back to top
Donna Guerra
Donna is an educator and an Equity Instructional Leader with the Toronto District School Board. She has previously served as Co-ordinator of what was then the only youth services centre in Durham Region, where she created programs for youth based on health, social, recreational, and educational issues. Donna has been a contributing writer and fashion editor for Ember Publications, Canada’s first Black women’s magazine. She recently completed her first young adult novel, along with an accompanying music CD. She is also the author of several children’s books of poetry. Currently, Donna is pursuing a Masters in Education at York University, and is completing the second book in her young adult novel series.  Back to top
Jan Haskings-Winner
Jan is currently the Curriculum Leader for History, Geography, and Family Studies at Woburn C.I. She has been teaching at the high school level for twenty years, five of which she served as department head. She has taught everything from English to Math to Special Education with the Toronto District School Board, the Victoria County School Board, and the former Timiskaming Board of Education. During the summer she teaches at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (OISE/UT), and in 2003 was the recipient of the Status of Women Leadership Award for Mentoring.  Back to top
Dalton Higgins
Dalton Higgins is a Toronto-based broadcaster, journalist, and author who specialises in music and popular culture. As writer/host of BPM TV's "Urban Groove" and regular contributor to CBC Radio One, Higgins co-managed the Canadian chapter of NYC-based youth web organization Shine. Author of the popular tome about life as a VJ at Canada's Music Station, MuchMusic (Much Master T, ECW Press), Higgins is also a National Magazine Award nominee whose work has appeared in everything from American music "bibles" The Source, Vibe Magazine and Amazon.com to Canadian periodicals Saturday Night, Now Magazine, The Toronto Star, and Quill and Quire.  Back to top
Eddie George Ing
Eddie has a fine arts degree and is a recipient of the University of Toronto's Principal's Award and the Gordon Cressy Award. He graduated from the Institiute of Child Study in 1998. He worked as a Special Education Behaviour Teacher then returned to OISE/UT to complete his M.A. Eddie is currently working as a grade 4 Teacher at Howard P.S. in Toronto and mentors new teachers. He has authored a hand-printed book titled Think...Thought, and has co-authored a book with a former student, Ellen Shaw, titled What I Think Matters. Eddie lives with his wife Jill in Toronto. Bugs! is inspired by a 10-year-old student named Ray Sylvestre.  Back to top
Ben Katz
Ben Katz is entering his fourth year of study at McMaster University in the combined honours Arts & Science and Economics programme. Ben has a passion for both writing and athletics as he has seen success both in the classroom and on the court. He is a member and captain of the Varsity Basketball team at McMaster and was recently selected 1st team league all star and team co-most valuable player. Ben has played basketball his entire life and has represented Ontario on Junior provincial teams in 2000 and 2001, and has been a member of the Canada Basketball talent pool since 2002. Ben has given back to the basketball community as he runs an annual Basketball Camp, Concrete Hoops, for under privileged children in Toronto.  Back to top
Joe Keenan
Joe works for the CBC as an Associate Director in live television production and an Associate Producer for Current Affairs Programming. As an avid cyclist, commuting everywhere by bike, Joe is in a self-proclaimed war against cars. His relationship is a love-hate one however, as he has been obsessed with cars his whole life and has been ripping around in a yellow convertible 1979 MGB for the last 15 years. Joe attended the Etobicoke School of the Arts and the University of Calgary's Technical Theatre program. He spent two years in Germany and Austria working and learning German.
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Robert Knuckle
Robert Knuckle has a B.A. in English, and a Masters in Education from the Ontario Institute in Studies for Education. He was employed in secondary school education for 35 years. Since retiring as a vice-principal in 1992, he has written six books on true crime, three books for children, an Actra award-winning radio drama for the CBC, three screenplays for television movies and two plays which have been produced at major theatre venues. Back to top
Jill Maar
Jill, in her 15 years of teaching experience, has held a variety of leadership positions including classroom teacher, adjunct professor, and curriculum consultant. Jill is currently Curriculum Coordinator with responsibility for the Junior Literacy and the English as a Second Language portfolio. She continues to travel nationally and internationally, talking to teachers and administrators about the needs and supports required for bilingual learners.  Back to top
Isaac MacEachen
Isaac MacEachen currently works as a Literacy Coordinator in three junior high schools with the Halifax Regional School Board. He taught at the elementary level for 12 years and worked as an elementary/junior high resource teacher for 16 years. Throughout his career, Isaac maintained a keen interest in literacy learning through personal study, as well as in-service leadership with his school board. He recently co-authored two of the BOLDPRINT series of books published by Harcourt.  Back to top
Elaine MacRae
Elaine, English teacher and librarian, has been with the Halton District School Board for 16 years. She is married and lives with her two sons in Waterdown, Ontario. Her love of literature began with a special edition of Grimm's Fairytales, a gift from her mentor grandfather. Elaine has written one other book for Rubicon Education on Canadian Literature.  Back to top
Judy Martin
Judy is currently an education consultant with the Galileo Educational Network Association. Her current role is as a mentor for educators in inquiry based teaching and integration of Information Communication Technologies. Her experiences as a teacher include kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Judy has particular expertise in implementing inquiry across all core disciplines and integrating ICT to extend and enhance students' learning.  Back to top
Heather Miller
Heather has been a teacher for all grades K-OAC, an administrator in both elementary and secondary panels, a consultant, and the Arts Coordinator with the York Region District School Board. She is currently an instructor in the intermediate/senior preservice program at York University. In the summer, Heather teaches courses for teachers at the Haliburton School of the Arts - Sir Sandford Fleming College and runs Art Start for Teachers. During the school year she provides in-service workshops for school districts across Canada. Heather is the author of the Teach Art Curriculum series (Mackay Miller Education), Visual Arts - Primary documents of 20th century Canada (Rubicon Education), and the aesthetics chapters of Philosophy: Questions & Answers (McGraw-Hill Ryerson). A popular conference presenter, Heather is known for her practical, hands-on workshops focusing on literacy through the arts.  Back to top
Suzanne Muir
Suzanne Muir is the Diversity Coordinator for the Halton District School Board. She has worked in elementary school education for the last ten years as a teacher librarian. In 2004 she was awarded the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario Anti-bias Curriculum Award. She develops inclusive curriculum and resources and presents workshops on building organizational capacity for enhancing diversity competence to many social service and private organizations. She is the mother of Zayd and Haytham who tire her out with their endless energy but inspire her every day. She believes strongly in the power of story to engage and motivate people towards an equitable society.  Back to top
Deborah Nyman
Deborah is a secondary Dramatic Arts/English teacher with the Toronto District School Board. As well, Deborah is an instructor of the Dramatic Arts Additional Qualifications Courses at OISE/UT. Deborah has written and implemented curriculum documents for the Ministry of Education, TDSB, and the Council of Directors of Education.  Back to top
Ian Parker
Ian graduated from Queen's University with a B.P.H.E and B.A. in Health Studies. For two years he was a teacher and mentor at Appleby College, Oakville, before receiving a B.Ed. from OISE/UT. He has been a snowboarding instructor as well as a sport trainer for children and athletes with special needs at Variety Village in Toronto. Currently Ian lives in Whitehorse, Yukon, where he teaches Language Arts to grade seven students at Christ the King Elementary School, and works with the Health Promotion Unit on youth tobacco-use prevention. Ian still finds time between teaching to do all the things he moved to the Yukon for: backcountry snowboarding, mountain biking, trail running, and paddling.  Back to top
Shelley Peterson
Shelley Peterson is an associate professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. A former elementary classroom teacher in Alberta and assistant professor at the Ohio State University at Lima, Shelley now teaches, conducts research, and writes articles and books about literacy instruction and assessment  Back to top
Robert Piotrowski
Robert is an educator and freelance writer. He began his teaching career in adult education and currently teaches English and ESL at the secondary level. Robert's stories and articles have appeared in numerous publications over the last ten years including comic books, magazines, and educational texts.  Back to top
Rod Peturson
Rod is currently Superintendent of Education with the Greater Essex County District School Board in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, where he is responsible for curriculum implementation, staff development programs, computer technology, community partnerships and a number of elementary and secondary schools. Throughout his thirty plus years in education, Rod has served as a consultant to school districts, Ministries, and Departments of Education across North America. Rod is a prolific writer, conference speaker, workshop leader, and an outspoken advocate for school libraries. Rod was the 2004 recipient of the Administrator of the Year award from the Ontario School Library Association.  Back to top
Lorna Reevely
Lorna has been a teacher and librarian for the Peel Board and also in Nigeria, China, and the Solomon Islands. Working outside Canada has given Lorna some wonderful opportunities to learn about other cultures and to travel well off the beaten track.  Back to top
Sherri Rinkel-Mackay
Sherri works as an educational consultant for Galileo Educational Network. She has taught and learned from Kindergarten to Grade 7 students. Her teaching practice is radical, in the original sense of the word: deeply rooted in the wisdom and traditions of ancient ways of knowing the world. Sherri is a passionate learner of the languages of the earth and myth.  Back to top
Paul Rose
Paul Rose is a high school Drama and English teacher with the York Region District School Board. Areas of interest include media literacy, character education, directing plays, popular culture, and modern history. He enjoys travel, theatre, documentary films, basketball, table hockey, water Frisbee and the Canning Lake dock in the late afternoon. He lives with his wife and two sons in Richmond Hill.  Back to top
Jennifer Rowsell
Jennifer is a lecturer and researcher in language education for the Department of Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning at OISE/UT. She completed her Ph.D. in Language and Literacy Education at King London, University of London. She has co-authored a book on literacy-based school change with David Booth. She is currently co-authoring a book on applying the New Literacy Studies in elementary classrooms with Kate Pahl, University of Sheffield.  Back to top
Andrea Roy
Andrea has been an elementary teacher since 2001 in the Toronto District School Board. Prior to teaching, she worked as an Associate Producer at Cambium Entertainment, a company responsible for such popular children's television series as The Elephant Show and Monster by Mistake. Andrea attended OISE/UT for her B.Ed. She also received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario, and a post-graduate B.A.A. in Radio and Television Art from Ryerson University.  Back to top
Ken Dawson-Scully
Ken obtained his Ph.D. in 2003 at the University of Toronto specializing in Neurophysiology. He is currently working in the Department of Biology at the University of Toronto as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Ken began publishing his research during a B.Sc.H. in Biology at Queen's University, where he also received his M.Sc. in Neurobiology. Ken has taught extensively at the University level in the subjects of Zoology, Physiology, and Genetics while publishing several articles in scientific journals.  Back to top
Jackalyn Scroggie
Jackalyn has been a teacher, department head, and principal of a large secondary school in the Toronto District School Board. As a school principal, she worked to get the support of the whole school community for literacy education. She is currently Program Co-coordinator for the Toronto Principals’ Centre.  Back to top
Michelle Shalton
Michelle is a Grade 3 teacher at St. Luke Elementary School in Oakville, Ontario. She has served on several committees such as the Special Education Team and the EQAO Strategic Planning Team. She is currently the Primary Leader for her school. Michelle recently received her Masters of Science in Elementary Education.  Back to top
Elizabeth Siegel
Elizabeth Siegel is a freelance editor in St. John's, Newfoundland. She has a Journalism degree and has been involved in the publishing/media world for over 15 years. Her past experience includes starting up and running Write On: A Newsletter for Young Canadian Writers and Readers and working as the Editor of OWL Magazine.  Back to top
Greg Smith
Greg has spent the last four years as an English, special education, and drama teacher at William Lyon Mackenzie C.I. in Toronto. He has a B.A.H. from Queen's University and a B.Ed from OISE/UT. Greg began his teaching career at Attagutaluk High School in Igloolik, Nunavut where he taught a practical/co-op program for at-risk students.  Back to top
Barry Stagg
Barry is a lawyer and storyteller. He co-authored two BOLDPRINT books, Play Ball and Slapshot! Baseball came into his life when, at the age of nine, he became a fan of Mickey Mantle and the New York Yankees. And hockey is bred into the bone of every youngster in Boswarlos, the small Newfoundland town where Barry was born.  Back to top
Maria Staring
After many years in the corporate world as both a translator and media marketing executive, Maria Staring is a second-career teacher who has followed her heart back into the classroom. Multilingual, and with an internationalist perspective, Maria keeps busy trying to inspire her students to become literate, responsible global citizens.  Back to top
Rosanne Swalwell
Rosanne Swalwell retired from education in 2004 after 26 years as an elementary school teacher primarily with the Halton District Catholic School Board. During her career, Rosanne taught from Grade 1 through to Grade 8, was a Special Education Resource teacher as well as a teacher-librarian. She was among the first group of teachers in Canada to be trained as a Reading Recovery teacher and served in that capacity for seven years. Rosanne concluded her career at the Board level assisting with implementation of the Ontario Early Reading Strategy in Halton Catholic elementary schools. At present, Rosanne is co-chair of the ‘For the Love of Literacy’ conference held annually in Halton.  Back to top
Larry Swartz
Larry is currently an instructor in the elementary preservice program at OISE/UT where he also the principal of Dramatic Arts Additioinal Qualification courses. Larry has been a classroom teacher for over 25 years. He is the author of a number of teacher resources for teachers including The New Drama Themes, Classroom Events Through Poetry and Literacy Techniques (revised addition). Larry is a popular speaker at conferences presenting sessions on such topics as Choosng and Using Children's Literature, The Talk Curriculum, Shared Reading, Bulllying and Learning through Drama.  Back to top
Mary Lynn Tessaro
Mary Lynn is a coordinator and instructor in Initial Teacher Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Mary Lynn has extensive teaching experience and has worked with students from grades one to eight. She has also taught graduate and Additional Qualification courses. Mary Lynn conducts workshops for teachers on topics such as literacy, mentoring and induction, and action research. She completed her Ph.D. in Literacy at OISE/UT.  Back to top
Penny Uniacke
Penny Uniacke is a grade eight teacher at St. Luke Elementary School in Oakville, Ontario. Most of her teaching career was spent in Montreal where she was the chairperson of various school board committees. Penny received a Commerce degree from Vanier College in Montreal, and then a Bachelor's Degree in Education from McGill University. Penny has also appeared on a TV program in the US, discussing the various technology-based projects her school was participating in to promote the integration of technology in the classroom. Penny is currently the Intermediate Leader for her school.  Back to top
Kathleen Wills
Kathleen has been teaching English for 12 years in the Dufferin-Peel CDSB. Not only does she love literature, theatre, and comedy, Kathleen is also an avid outdoor enthusiast.  Back to top