The Importance of Teachers
It’s good to be back in Ontario. As a military family, we’ve moved many times across the country over the years. Last year, we settled down to stay in the Ottawa Valley in Eastern Ontario. Pembroke is where I grew up and I feel fortunate to be able to call the smallest city in Ontario my home. Both my children are enrolled in local schools with my teenage daughter attending the high school I went to 20 years ago.
Teachers are a HUGE part of a child’s development. For myself, I’ve had many teachers over the years that have helped shaped me into the person I am today. Mr. Vijay, my high school English teacher, once told me that I should consider studying English in school and that I had a real talent. Mrs. Higgins, my grade 7 teacher, was there to help me when I needed to talk about some of the issues I was having.
The teacher who stands out to me the most is Mrs. Stoneman, my grade one teacher. She went above and beyond to help me, a shy little girl who had just transferred to a new school. She nurtured my love of reading by giving me books to bring home and letting me come in early to class so I could get comfortable. I’ll never forget her kindness. She made me want to learn as much as I could and do well. I believe her taking me under her wing boosted my confidence and motivated me to strive to do my best, always.
I even saved a letter she wrote me.
Today’s teachers are regulated and governed by the Ontario College of Teachers, the self-regulatory body that licenses teachers in Ontario. You can’t teach in Ontario public schools without their certification. They ensure that teachers have met the academic qualifications, have the required practical experience and adhere to high professional standards. The College is also responsible for accrediting more than 50 full and part-teacher education programs in 18 university of education faculties in Ontario!
Having the OCT designation means that teachers have met a high professional and ethical standard. You can trust that children are in the best hands to learn and grow.
The Ontario College of Teachers exists for the benefit of the kids and is, in fact, mandated by law through the Ontario College of Teachers Act. This piece of legislation allows them to self-regulate the teaching profession in Ontario and also holds them accountable to the public and ensures transparency.
Their website is full of helpful information if you want more in-depth information. I personally loved the Find A Teacher tool. It allows you to search and find teachers in Ontario public schools. You’ll be able to access a teacher’s qualifications, the date the teacher was certified, their status, and disciplinary history, if any.
Right away, I searched my daughter’s grade six teacher with her first and last name. I also looked up a few of Olivia’s high school teachers.
I was curious to see if my favourite teachers were still teaching. Most of them were retired, but there was a couple still active. It’s a handy tool so make sure to try it out!
As a mom, I glad that the Ontario College of Teachers is looking out for the best interests of my children. I want them to have the best education possible and grow into smart, well-rounded individuals. Parents play a big role, but so do teachers! It’s good to know that the Ontario College of Teachers is there for us.
To learn more, please visit Ontario College of Teachers and subscribe to their free newsletter, The Standard.
Who was your most memorable teacher and why?
Disclosure: I was compensated for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.
I was a military brat as well but didn’t have to move around too much since dad retired when I was on 9. I agree with you that Teachers are a HUGE part of a child’s development
My most memorable teacher was my 10th & 11th grade English teacher. He literally took some book that we were supposed to read, threw them all in the trash and gave us all Stephen King books. It changed my whole view on reading.
This post makes me wonder what some of my old teachers are up to these days. I hope most of them have retired by now, I just realized I’m pretty old myself!
I wish Alberta had a Teacher Search Tool… There were a handful of teachers through my school years that I would love to find and thank personally for the impact they made in my life and the path that they lead me down. Most memorable being my 2nd Grade Teacher, my 6th Grade Teacher and two teachers from High School for Social Studies and English.
My most memorable teacher was my first grade teacher. I remember that I was crying in school every day for a month when school started. She comforted me and guided me all the way.
I think it’s so important to remember teachers and everything that they do for kids. Great post!
Teachers are very important, they can almost be like second parents to some kids, and huge role models to most. I don’t feel teachers get the recognition they deserve, they have very difficult jobs!
I live in the USA, I have not heard of these before. I have no idea if we have this program here, but we should if we don’t! Teachers are the best start to the learning of the world or can be the worse! I remember my favorite teacher who helped me a lot, and I remember the teacher that would go out of her way to hurt me. With this we would have never had that teacher in school.
A very enjoyable read Stacie. I believe that teachers are over-worked and under-paid for what they do! One of my sons is a teacher in England and when I see the hours he works, I’m surprised he’s still teaching! It might not be for too much longer though as he’s told me he’s pretty sure that he can’t survive the stress for too long (he’s been teaching for only 2 yrs). When it’s time for the children’s report cards he’s up until 2-3 am getting them all done in time. It’s definitely a tough job and considering what an influence they have on children definitely not appreciated enough.
My most memorable teacher was my grade 1 teacher Mrs.Kirk. I remember being so upset, crying and not wanting to leave my mom and sister. She was so comforting and sweet the whole year. She truly was special.
Teachers are such important people in our childrens lives
I have had a few teachers in all of my education that made an impression on me. Sometimes the ones that were more strict were the ones I felt really helped me out to get through school.
I think we all remember some teachers that went that extra mile and could see your potential. Do this day, I remember a couple that encouraged me.
Teachers certainly can help out a lot. Right now my youngest has been having a hard time in school. I think her assistant teacher has really helped her out a lot. She’s lucky to have a couple teachers there with her. The teacher does an amazing job of making sure she is feeling comfortable.
Teachers are so important. I can remember several teachers that had a positive impact in my life.
It’s really cool that you can look up teachers. I had a couple of French teachers that helped me a ton. They were awesome!
We often times forget how much of an impact teachers have on our children. They impact their lives and learning greatly.
It is awesome to know that there are teachers like this out there. Teachers can be a huge part of a child’s life.
I feel so bad for teachers. They are so under appreciated.
Teachers are so important in our kids lives. They don’t get the credit that they deserve.
What a cool resource! My second grade teacher, Ms. Bardon was a life changer. She inspired me to become a teacher myself!
Teachers have such a profound impact on a child’s development! You have to recognize their hard work!
My most memorable teach was Ms. Lewis in fourth grade. She got me to love reading and ever since then you will always see me with a book in my hands.
I definitely think teachers deserve a lot of respect and appreciation. They can really make a difference in a kid’s life. One of my most memorable teachers was my 8th grade science teacher. His class was fun and he always told funny stories about his twin sons. Years later, when I was in high school, I met his sons and ended up marrying one of them! Now 28 years later, we are still married, with four kids, and my former middle school science teacher is my father-in-law.
I would love to go back and visit with a few of my high school teachers. I will have to look them up and see if they have retired.
Being a teacher is one of the most important jobs there is. I am always thankful for all the hard work my kids teachers do.
I would love to see my grade ten homeroom teacher again to catch up. She was always available for the kids to go and talk to her if something was going on.
oh cool is this. my most memorable teacher was actually in my 12th grade year. he totally changed my perspective on life and I started to believe that I was actually smarter than I ever thought. I still think about him all the time.
When I was in high school, my English teacher had a huge impact on me. She inspired me to be a writer!
Teachers do not get the praise and recognition they deserve. My favorite teacher and mentor was in High School and she lead me to where I am today.
Teachers could not be more influential in our lives. For generations, teachers have been the unsung heroes who have had a hand in building the basic intellectual abilities of all the world’s greatest leaders, Nobel prize winners and every other man and women who have made a difference in our world. It’s about time that teachers get the recognition they so honestly deserve.
I had a teacher in 9th and 10th grade that really made an impact in my life as a student. She really cared and took the extra effort to show me how to succeed as a student.
I have had wonderful teachers and others that weren’t and it’s true that they affect you, in both good ways and bad. It’s important to support the good ones so they keep on doing great things!