York’s Faculty of Education, in partnership with the York Region Catholic District School Board, has officially opened its newest off-campus teacher education site in Richmond Hill.
Housed at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Elementary School, the Richmond Hill site strengthens the University’s presence and profile in York Region and is home to 65 teacher candidates enrolled in the primary/junior level.
Right: Paul Axelrod, dean of York’s Faculty of Education, and Susan LaRosa, director of the York Region District School Board, officially open the Richmond Hill teacher education site
“The opening of this site once again acknowledges our commitment to connecting with and better understanding the communities where our students will be teaching,” commented Paul Axelrod, dean of the Faculty of Education. “And it is also a sign of our strong relationship with the school boards in the area.”
The opening celebration, held Dec. 12, was planned by the students and staff at the site. It consisted of a slide show about the role that teachers play in the lives of the students and communities in which they teach, a musical selection by the Richmond Hill site teacher-candidate choir and a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the site.
Susan LaRosa, director of the York Region Catholic District School Board, reminded teacher candidates about the important role that they will play in influencing their students once they become teachers and also praised the partnership between her school board and York’s Faculty of Education.
Heather Sears, curriculum consultant with the York Region District School Board and coordinator of teacher candidate placements, also attended the event representing Bill Hogarth, school board Chair.
The Faculty of Education has 14 consecutive teacher education programs at 11 on-and-off campus locations in the GTA and surrounding area.