K12 Global Inc.

Jacqueline Eldridge Ed.D.

Jacqueline Eldridge is deeply committed to ensuring teachers have everything they need to help students succeed. Presently a lecturer and graduate supervisor for the University of Toronto Mississauga and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), Jacqueline’s impressive career as an educator has spanned three decades. Starting as a teacher in the elementary panel in 1978, Jacqueline has gained a wealth of experience teaching all grade levels in schools within the Ontario public and separate school system. Since 1997, she has been sharing her expertise with present and future teachers, both as a professor of education and as an author and speaker.

Her keen interest in empowering teachers through professional development is demonstrated in more than a dozen papers she has published that focus on increasing teacher confidence and competence. She is also an in-demand workshop presenter, she has contributed to books on education, and is the author of Instructors Manual: Teaching the Language Arts.

Jacqueline earned her Doctor of Education in 1996 from the University of Toronto; her Masters at Niagara University in 1990; and her Bachelors of Education from the Ontario Teacher Education College in 1979; and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario in 1978.

Dr. Barrie Bennett, PhD

Barrie is a cross-appointed professor to the undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE/UT). His research interest relates to how teachers intersect curriculum, assessment, and instruction, guided by how students learn. Dr. Bennett works with several school districts in Ireland, Australia, Canada and the United States, focusing on systemically designing powerful learning environments by integrating multiple instructional methods guided by what we know about how students and teachers learn. Dr. Bennett has taught at the secondary, middle, and elementary levels, with a focus on working with youth at risk. After 40 years, he also continues to teach in K–12 classrooms.

Dr. Bennett was named Educator of the Year for Ontario and was also nominated by OISE/UT for the University of Toronto President’s Teaching Excellence Award. His books include Classroom Management: A Thinking and Caring Approach, Cooperative Learning: Where Heart Meets Mind, Beyond Monet: The Artful Science of Instructional Integration, and Graphic Intelligence: Playing With Possibilities. He is a contributor to the anthology On Excellence in Teaching.

Laurie A. Fountain, BA, OCT

Laurie has been active in science and teacher additional qualification education for many years. As the Ontario Science Centre’s Head of Elementary Education, he developed and presented programs that made science exciting and relevant for students. Laurie has served on provincial Ministry of Education Committees, notably as Chair of the Ontario Software Acquisition Program Advisory Committee (OSAPAC), and was the Computer Consultant for the Trillium Lakelands District School Board, helping teachers use technology in their teaching practice. Recently, he led Additional Qualification online courses at Nipissing University, providing professional development for teachers.

A strong supporter of lifelong learning, Laurie strives to meet the needs of learners with differing learning styles. He understands how students in the computer age learn differently and he finds ways to make learning attractive and relevant.

Laurie has a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and is an Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT) qualified to teach all subjects to Grade 10. He has a Specialist’s certificate in the Integration of Information and Computer Technology in Instruction, and a Computer Science Qualification for Grades 10 to 12. He has been active in both the Elementary and Secondary panels.

Norah E. Fountain,
B.A., Cultural Studies

Norah is a hard-working advocate for equal access to education and technology, with a particular interest in education for special populations. As an elected School Trustee, Norah worked with her school board’s Aboriginal Education Committee to better meet the needs of First Nation, Inuit and Metis students.

She was also a regional delegate with the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, and advocated for additional resources and supports for special education. Norah has supported organizations serving students with learning disabilities, including the Integra Foundation, and the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario. She has been a member of the parent-led People For Education and has lobbied the federal finance minister directly as part of the Don’t Tax Our Schools effort. Norah also acts as an Alumni Ambassador for Nipissing University’s unique Studies in Culture and the Arts program.

Norah has been a full-time copywriter and journalist for over 20 years, and was a contributing writer to the Nova Scotia Ministry of Education’s reading assessment program. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Cultural Studies from Nipissing University and a Journalism Diploma with a specialty in Broadcast Journalism from the Humber College School of Media Studies & Information Technology.