James Potter Public School - Peel District School Board
Brampton, ON
After ten years in the business world, I remember Leslie expressing: “I don’t feel like I am contributing anything to the world.” So with family support, she worked toward her dream of becoming a teacher. She studied for 18 months, while working full time, parenting, and travelling 90 minutes from home each Friday evening to achieve her MSEd . As a volunteer in her classroom 16 years later, I have observed her be dedicated, innovative, and committed to her students and profession. Her goal has always been to provide an environment that makes learning fun and relevant. Whether it has been accessing outside resources to introduce students to the plant science, familiarizing students with the pioneer era by having antique items brought into the classroom, or providing clay to make a bowl similar to those of our First Nations peoples, she makes learning experiences meaningful and memorable. She has been a mentor to junior teachers, a leader on her grade team, and a volunteer in school-wide projects, including managing the school Instagram account. She accomplishes this with grace and positivity, making her admired in her school community by colleagues, students and parents. I believe she can truly now say she is making a difference.