Educator Stories

Below are a series of stories from phenomenal educators across Canada.

We hope their stories inspire you as much as they have inspired us.

Are you integrating environmental inquiry or bringing an Indigenous lens to your practice? Sharing stories is an integral part of our professional inquiry. To contribute your story to this growing library of educator stories, please contact naturalcuriosity@utoronto.ca

Aug 19
3 min

Amanda Zhang

Fostering Reciprocal Relationships: Amanda Zhang's Journey in Inclusive and Experiential Education Amanda Zhang's journey as an educator...

Jul 23
8 min

Rebecca Seiling

Rebecca Seiling is a passionate educator and founder of Nature Connect. Partnering with the City of Kitchener, she leads enriching forest...

Feb 8
3 min

Laura Whittaker

Environmental Educator Laura Whittaker helps run a small nature preschool called Wind Ridge Schoolhouse in Duluth, MN off of Lake...

Jan 15
2 min

Educator Story Revisited – Chris Dube's Story One Year Later

Every year Natural Curiosity celebrates exemplary teachers through our National Edward Burtynsky Award for Teaching Excellence in...

Dec 3, 2023
3 min

Daniel Kunanec

Assistant curriculum leader and teacher of the Emerging Green Technologies and Environmental Stewardship program at Don Mills Collegiate...

Nov 7, 2023
3 min

Amanda Humphreys & Jessie Sawyers

Junior school educators and current Grade 1 teachers at the Bishop Strachan School in Toronto, ON, Amanda & Jessie share their pedagogies...

Jul 7, 2023
5 min

Ryan Andersen

Ryan Andersen is an elementary classroom teacher at Sprucecourt Public School in downtown Toronto, who has been on a journey with his...

Jun 18, 2023
3 min

Ingrid Dabringer

Digital learning experience designer, founder of AdaptED, and former arts educator, Ingrid’s latest learning tools focus on building...

Jun 18, 2023
3 min

Kelly Fricker

Primary teacher and liaison between staff, administration, and parent council at the High Park Alternative School in Toronto, ON, Kelly...

Jan 4, 2023
3 min

Lee Silden's Story

OISE 2nd Year Teacher Candidate (Master of Teaching) I chose to attend Natural Curiosity’s First Story Tour “Buried Waters: Storying...

Nov 28, 2022
4 min

Patrick Gale's Story

Creator of the ECO Academy at Edward Milne Community School (EMCS), an immersive program that weaves together interdisciplinary learning...

Jun 18, 2022
3 min

Maria del Carmen Farquharson’s Story

2022 Co-Winner of Natural Curiosity's Dr. David Suzuki Award for Excellence in Pre-Service Environmental Education Maria grew up in Peru,...

Jun 17, 2022
3 min

Sandra Dukarm’s Story

2022 Co-Winner of Natural Curiosity's Dr. David Suzuki Award for Excellence in Pre-Service Environmental Education Sandra is a 5th-year...

Jun 15, 2022
4 min

Linda & Carmelina's Story

2022 Runner Up for Natural Curiosity's National Edward Burtynsky Award for Teaching Excellence in Environmental Education Linda Ryan and...

Jun 15, 2022
4 min

Meera, Joanne, Aleesha, Isabelle, Sarah, Rhonda & James' Story

2022 Runner Up for Natural Curiosity's National Edward Burtynsky Award for Teaching Excellence in Environmental Education The Glenlyon...

Jun 15, 2022
4 min

Chris Dube's Story

2022 Grand Prize Winner for Natural Curiosity's National Edward Burtynsky Award for Teaching Excellence in Environmental Education Chris...

May 11, 2022
3 min

Hongliang Hu's Story

Honourable Mention for Natural Curiosity's National Edward Burtynsky Award for Teaching Excellence in Environmental Education Hongliang...

Aug 20, 2021
11 min

Jennifer Baron & Towana Brooks' Story

2020 Grand Prize Winner, Natural Curiosity's National Edward Burtynsky Award for Teaching Excellence in Environmental Education...

Jun 8, 2021
3 min

Ellen Jamieson's Story

2021 Runner Up for Natural Curiosity's Dr. David Suzuki Award for Excellence in Pre-Service Environmental Education In reflecting on my...

Jun 8, 2021
3 min

Taylor Simon's Story

2021 Runner Up for Natural Curiosity's Dr. David Suzuki Award for Excellence in Pre-Service Environmental Education Environmental...