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Governing Ourselves

Governing Ourselves informs members of legal and regulatory matters affecting the profession. This section provides updates on licensing and qualification requirements, notification of Council resolutions and reports from various Council committees, including reports on accreditation and discipline matters.

Elected Council biographies

Charles Dimitry Abraham, OCT

Charles Dimitry Abraham, OCT

Registration Number: 521172

French-Language Roman Catholic Board Secondary

Charles Dimitry Abraham has been a secondary school teacher with the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir since 2007. He also teaches at the Toronto Campus of the University of Ottawa’s faculty of education.

Prior to teaching he worked at the Public Health Agency of Canada. His Ministry of Education work includes working on the team to review the Spanish curriculum and developing a support program for students having trouble with mathematics.

Abraham has contributed significantly to his union, the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants francoontariens, around workplace standards and conditions, labour relations, program evaluation, school safety and student performance. He is a founding member of a volunteer organization that offers free tutoring to children from cultural communities.

Certified to teach in Ontario in 2007, he has a degree in dental surgery and a B.Ed.

Diane Ballantyne, OCT

Diane Ballantyne, OCT

Registration Number: 199568

English-Language Public Board Secondary

Diane Ballantyne teaches at the secondary level with the Upper Grand District School Board.

She has taught equity, history and social sciences courses, both in-person and online, as well as served as a department head and regional program chair.

Outside of the classroom, she serves as a staff adviser for the Amnesty International Club, co-created a unique social justice program and founded the Centre Wellington Community Dinner project, Building Community, One Meal at a Time.

Ballantyne developed curriculum for TVOntario, presents at numerous professional development conferences and has worked extensively at various levels of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, receiving its James Forster Human Rights Award in 2012.

Certified to teach in Ontario in 1995, she has a BA, a B.Ed. and an M.Ed.

Paige Bennett, OCT

Paige Bennett, OCT

Registration Number: 260875

Southcentral Region Part-time/Full-time

Paige Bennett is an instructional program leader with the Halton District School Board.

She has previously worked as a classroom teacher, Special Education resource teacher and co-ordinator, elementary and secondary vice-principal and instructional program leader in both the student services and school programs departments with the Halton DSB. She also worked for six years as the program director for Australia’s Charles Sturt University’s Ontario-based teacher education program.

Over her career, Bennett has participated in many Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario learning opportunities around leadership and effective programming. As a vice-principal, she was an active member of the Ontario Principals’ Council and remains an associate member. Certified to teach in Ontario in 1990, Bennett has a BA, a B.Ed. and an M.Ed.

Chantal Côté, OCT

Chantal Côté, OCT

Registration Number: 183358

French-Language Roman Catholic Board Elementary

Chantal Côté is a Grade 2 teacher with the Conseil scolaire catholique du district des Grandes Rivières.

She has previously taught students in Grades 2 and 3 and served as her school’s literacy and numeracy section head.

A member of various committees in her school, Côté initiated creation of its positive behaviour support program and headed its Teacher Learning and Leadership Program (Le Programme d’apprentissage et de leadership du personnel enseignant). She regularly participates in board and Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens training to refine her competencies and enrich her knowledge. She has also worked on and led many ministry projects and workshops, including exemplars and reviewing the mathematics and French curricula.

Certified to teach in Ontario in 1995, Côté has a BA and a B.Ed.

Irene Dembek, OCT

Irene Dembek, OCT

Registration Number: 403322

Northeast Region Full-time

Irene Dembek is an elementary teacher with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. She teaches all grades from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 in a rural school where all students are of Indigenous descent.

She has previously worked as an occasional teacher and taught the English component of a French Immersion program.

For many years Dembek has been active on various Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association’s elementary and occasional teachers local and provincial committees and has served as her school’s association representative.

During her time on Council, she served on the Accreditation, Registration Appeals, Editorial Board, Discipline and Nominations (now Governance) committees.

Certified to teach in Ontario in 1994, Dembek has a BA and a B.Ed.

Susan E.
Elliott-Johns, OCT

Susan E. Elliott-Johns, OCT

Registration Number: 106746

Faculty of Education

Susan E. Elliott-Johns is an associate professor and member of Nipissing University’s Schulich School of Education where she is a full-time teacher-educator and researcher teaching pre-service and graduate education and supervising graduate students.

Her research interests and professional goals focus on research into teachers’ and teacher-educators’ professional learning in contemporary contexts and the ongoing development of pedagogy and praxis.

She previously worked as a Junior Kindergarten to Grade 10 classroom teacher, literacy consultant and school administrator in schools in Québec, the Northwest Territories and PEI.

An active member of several professional organizations, Elliott-Johns provides leadership through workshops, conference presentations, keynotes and publications for teachers, administrators and teacher-educators across Canada, Europe, the United States and Australia.

Her most recent book is Leadership for Change in Teacher Education: Voices of Canadian Deans of Education (2015)and she co-edited Perspectives on Transitions in Schooling and Instructional Practice (2013).

During her time on Council, she served on the Accreditation (vice-chair), Standards of Practice and Education committees. Certified to teach in Ontario in 1989, Elliott-Johns holds a B.Ed., an M.Ed. and PhD.

Rebecca Forte, OCT

Rebecca Forte, OCT

Registration Number: 190614

English-Language Public Board Elementary

Rebecca Forte is a kindergarten teacher with the Toronto District School Board. Her professional approach focuses on outdoor education, experiential learning and growth mindset, particularly in mathematics.

She previously taught Grades 7 and 8 students and before joining the profession she earned a diploma in early childhood education.

Certified to teach in Ontario in 1991, Forte has a BA, a B.Ed. and an M.Ed.

Melissa Gaffen, OCT

Melissa Gaffen, OCT

Registration Number: 486722

Southeast Region Full-time

Melissa Gaffen is a full-time elementary teacher with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s curriculum services department working as an English as a Second Language itinerant teacher. She has taught all divisions, large classes, students with exceptionalities, English-language learners, split grades, students at risk and students from a wide variety of cultures, socio-economic backgrounds and family compositions.

Certified to teach in Ontario since 2005, Gaffen is a graduate of the Queen’s-Trent Concurrent Education Program and holds an Honours BA and a B.Ed.

Tim Gernstein, OCT

Tim Gernstein, OCT

Registration Number: 476805

Central Region, Full-time

Tim Gernstein is an elementary teacher with the York Region District School Board.

His first assignment was teaching a Junior Kindergarten to Grade 3 class in a two-room school in a Manitoba fly-in community in 2004. He has since taught in the Primary, Junior and Intermediate panels at four elementary schools in the York Region DSB, working as a supply, rotary, homeroom, reading recovery and regular classroom teacher.

Outside of the classroom he has run student leadership, drama, chess and dance clubs. He has served as a technology lead and worked on positive climate for learning and timetabling committees at his schools and is an active member of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario.

His community involvement includes serving as secretary-treasurer of a dropin site for homeless and socially isolated individuals living in west-end Toronto and previously serving on the board of his Lions Club chapter.

During his time on Council, Gernstein served on the Investigations and Editorial Board committees. Certified to teach in Ontario in 2004, he has a BA with Special Honours, a B.Ed. and an M.Ed.

Erin Glen, OCT

Erin Glen, OCT

Registration Number: 509564

Southwest Region Part-time/Full-time

Erin Glen is a learning support teacher for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 3 students with the Thames Valley District School Board working with students and families to best meet their needs.

She previously taught primary, junior and intermediate students in a variety of single and split-grade classes.

She has worked as a range finder and test scorer for the Education Quality and Accountability Office, an associate teacher and mentor, and currently serves as a member of her school’s mental health committee.

Outside of school she has volunteered for many organizations that provide education and support to those in need, including Collective Kitchen and Bridges Out of Poverty. Certified to teach in Ontario in 2006, Glen has a BA and an M.Sc. in education.

John Hamilton, OCT

John Hamilton, OCT

Registration Number: 253700

Principal/Vice-Principal

John Hamilton is an elementary principal with the Durham District School Board.

A career of over 25 years has provided many opportunities to serve students and communities. Beginning in the Toronto DSB and during more than two decades with the Durham DSB, he has worked as an educational assistant, occasional teacher, elementary teacher, vice-principal and principal.

Certified to teach in Ontario in 1994, Hamilton has an Honours BA, a B.Ed. and an M.Ed.

Jacqueline
Karsemeyer, OCT

Jacqueline Karsemeyer, OCT

Registration Number: 149514

Central Region Part-time/Full-time

Jacqueline Karsemeyer is a Special Education consultant with the Toronto District School Board, supporting kindergarten to Grade 12 students in 21 schools. She began in education as a French Immersion teacher, previously working as a children’s therapist. She is a trained mediator and psychometrist. Karsemeyer’s career positions include resource teacher for English/French Immersion, teacher with the Kindergarten Early Language Intervention program and course instructor at teachers’ colleges in China and Canada. She has been significantly involved in the TDSB’s Human Rights, Professional Development and Model Inner City Schools committees.

A union steward, Karsemeyer was seconded to the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario as executive assistant for Equity and Women’s Services. She represented ETFO on the Ministry of Education’s Urban Aboriginal advisory committee. Subsequently, Karsemeyer was seconded to the College’s Standards of Practice and Education unit as a program officer.

She has published on poverty in Voice magazine, on inclusion for Common Sense Press and on the arts in education for Pembroke Publishers.

During her time on Council, she has served on the Investigation and Standards of Practice and Education committees. Certified to teach in Ontario in 1994, Karsemeyer holds a BA, a B.Ed., an M.Ed. and a PhD.

Shannon Marcus, OCT

Shannon Marcus, OCT

Registration Number: 507760

Private School

Shannon Marcus has been principal of Durham Christian High School in Bowmanville since 2015. She previously taught French there, and before that English as a Second Language, French, and food and nutrition at Woodland Christian High School near Kitchener, as well as French at the American International School of Egypt.

During her time on Council, Marcus has served on the Finance (chair) and Standards of Practice and Education committees.

Certified to teach in Ontario in 2006, Marcus completed a BA/Program of Teacher Education and an M.Ed.

Mary-Anne
Mouawad, OCT

Mary-Anne Mouawad, OCT

Registration Number: 454903

Southwest Region Full-time

Mary-Anne Mouawad has been an elementary teacher with the Greater Essex County District School Board since 2002. Her professional experience spans over 20 years and includes teaching preschool, working as an educational assistant, and a Special Education and early years teacher. She has served as a member and vice-chair of the board of the Learning Disabilities Association of Windsor-Essex County, is a member of the International Dyslexia Association and has sat on the Windsor-Essex Catholic DSB’s Special Education advisory committee.

In her ongoing pursuit of professional knowledge and skills, Mouawad completed training at the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education in the Orton Gillingham Approach for struggling readers and writers. Certified to teach in Ontario in 2002, she has a BA, a B.Ed. and an M.Ed.

Sara Nouini, OCT

Sara Nouini, OCT

Registration Number: 417749

French-Language Public Board Elementary and Secondary

Sara Nouini is a Grade 2 teacher with the Conseil scolaire Viamonde. Since 1998, she has taught computer studies, art, physical education, French literacy and proficiency, and Special Education for francophones to students from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 6. She has served on the Education Quality and Accountability Office’s exemplar selection, test review and marking teams, worked as a resource teacher, an associate teacher and mentor, and served as a member or chair of school committees on bullying, social events, student success, Professional Learning Communities, numeracy, literacy, robotics, information and communications technology, culture, healthy schools and school councils. She has also served her Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens local.

During her time on Council, Nouini has served on the governance (vice-chair), discipline and registration appeal committees.

Certified to teach in Ontario in 1998, she holds a B.Ed.

Alicia Nunn, OCT

Alicia Nunn, OCT

Registration Number: 430834

English-Language Roman Catholic Board Elementary

Alicia Nunn has been an elementary teacher with the Halton Catholic District School Board since 2000, teaching Grades 1, 4, 5 and 6. Before that, she worked one year as an educational assistant. Nunn’s professional activities include holding the position of a Junior division special program team leader for 12 years, serving as a professional development and school-staffing board committee member and participating in her board’s leadership program. She has also served her Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association in various advocacy roles.

Outside of the classroom, Nunn has served as teacher lead for student council, talent show, EcoSchools and green team, has coached teams and served as her school’s pastoral animator. She has participated in many committees, including school improvement planning, scheduling, faith day and safe schools.

Certified to teach in Ontario in 2000, she has a BA and an M.Sc. in education.

Nicola Powadiuk, OCT

Nicola Powadiuk, OCT

Registration Number: 488168

Southeast Region Part-time/ Full-time

Nicola Powadiuk is an occasional teacher with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. Since 2002 she had built a diverse and enriching educational perspective that includes teaching in two public boards, at an independent International Baccalaureate school and overseas. A lifelong learner, she believes professional development is paramount to empower her to reach every student and as such, she is a Google Certified Educator.

She has been an active member of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario and the Ottawa-Carleton Elementary Occasional Teachers’ Association. Certified to teach in Ontario in 2005, Powadiuk has a BA, a B.Ed. and an M.Ed.

Stéphane Vallée, OCT

Stéphane Vallée, OCT

Registration Number: 262576

Northwest Region Part-time/ Full-time

Stéphane Vallée is a Grade 2 French Immersion teacher with the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board. His career began in 1993 in northern Ontario teaching French Immersion at different levels, including single and split grades, French as a First Language and Special Education. Commencing a career in a small town presented many challenges, yet those years were very rewarding and provided a strong, beneficial foundation and professional learning experience. Upon moving to Thunder Bay, he started teaching in the English system before accepting a position with the Consortium du Nord-Ouest as an educational consultant.

A few years later he returned to the classroom as a French Immersion teacher and has remained there ever since. These many years of varied experiences have been enriching, valuable and provided deep insight into the challenges and requirements of the teaching profession.

During his time on Council, Vallée served on the Accreditation Appeal, Discipline and Fitness to Practise (vice-chair) committees. Certified to teach in Ontario in 1993, he has a BA and a B.Ed. and was a certified DELF/ DALF examiner, reflecting his advanced French-language fluency and teaching proficiency.

Nicole van
Woudenberg, OCT

Nicole van Woudenberg, OCT

Registration Number: 285635

Southcentral Region Full-time

Nicole van Woudenberg is a Special Education co-ordinator with the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board. Her role requires her to liaise with ministry staff, collaborate with colleagues from regional boards and develop Special Education protocols and resources to support new and experienced teachers.

She has taught elementary grades and worked as a teacher-librarian, kindergarten through Grade 8 prep teacher, Special Education resource teacher and consultant. She has taught English as a Second Language in Europe during the summer, face-to-face and online Additional Qualification courses and delivered professional development to teachers in Africa and the Caribbean. Van Woudenberg is a frequent conference presenter and guest lecturer for university-level courses and an active member of her local Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association. She is dedicated to social justice causes, specifically access to free, high-quality education. Certified to teach in Ontario since 1998, she holds an Honours BA, a B.Ed. and an MA.

Ravi Vethamany, OCT

Ravi Vethamany, OCT

Registration Number: 285995

Northeast Region Part-time/Full-time

Ravi Vethamany teaches with the Rainbow District School Board in care and/or treatment, custody and correctional facilities’ Section 23 programs. He currently teaches secondary students in a northeast Ontario youth detention centre as well as secondary e-learning students across Ontario in collaboration with their public and Catholic teachers.

Bilingual in French and English, he has taught in northeast Ontario secondary and elementary schools for 10 years and has 20 years’ public education experience teaching elementary and secondary students in northeast, central and southeast Ontario.

Vethamany served as a member of the Ontario Health Professions Appeal and Review Board from 2008–10 and worked as a teacher assistant for the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Education from 2003–04. He has also been a program leader, professional developer and curriculum writer, Ontario Teacher Testing Program administrator and a researcher with Queen’s University. As a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, he was a legal aid lawyer from 1990–96.

During his time on Council, he served on the Standards of Practice and Education (chair), Executive, Discipline and Fitness to Practice committees.

Certified to teach in Ontario in 1998, Vethamany has an Honours B.Sc, an LLB, a B.Ed. and an M.Ed.

Stephen
Zimmermann, OCT

Stephen Zimmermann, OCT

Registration Number: 400190

Northwest Region Full-time

Stephen Zimmermann teaches history and law to secondary students in the Algoma District School Board.

He taught Grades 4 to 12 in the Yukon for five years before moving to the Soo in 2001, where he taught high school history, law, religion and philosophy.

He has served at the school level for the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation off and on since 2003. Federation service has given him tremendous professional development and awareness of trends and issues in education, which in turn have enabled him to better serve the profession and the public interest.

Certified to teach in Ontario in 1996, Zimmermann has an MA and a B.Ed.