Pre-Service Teacher Education

By Kate Hargreaves 

While Canadian and Chinese culture may appear very different, visiting scholar Dr. Guifang Cheng says there are more commonalities than she expected. 

An associate professor in the Faculty of Educational Technology and Media at China's Liaocheng University, Cheng has been working with researchers in UWindsor's Faculty of Education since July.  

Her first visit to Canada has also introduced her to local traditions, including celebrations of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and Canadian Thanksgiving. 

By Kate Hargreaves 

For visiting scholar Dr. Min Fan, one of the biggest surprises about Canadian elementary education has been the relatively limited presence of artificial intelligence (AI) in her daughter's classroom compared to schools in her native China. 

By Kate Hargreaves 

Being a teacher is about more than getting kids up to speed on their reading, writing and math. 

Teachers also support students as they solve problems, build relationships, set goals and manage emotions. 

These skills are part of social-emotional learning (SEL), which takes place every day in elementary and secondary schools. But PhD researcher Elizabeth Szymanski (BA, ECE, BEd, MEd) says that teacher candidates don’t necessarily feel prepared to take it on. 

By Kate Hargreaves 

In his three decades in education, John Ulicny has seen it all. 

“Or...” he laughs. “You think you’ve seen it all in 34 years.” 

Starting his teaching career at the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (WECDSB) in 1992, the three-time University of Windsor alumnus is set to take over as the board’s director and chief executive officer this August. 

By Kate Hargreaves

Sarah Julius is used to balancing a lot.  

A recent graduate of the University of Windsor’s concurrent education program in psychology and early childhood education, Julius (BEd, BA, ECE ’26) crossed the stage in June to receive two degrees and a college diploma. 

Guest submission by Yuhan Deng, PhD candidate, Faculty of Education 

Four teacher candidates and two doctoral students from the University of Windsor are participating in a 12-week Mitacs international reciprocal learning internship in China.

This experience is strengthening their confidence in teaching through enhanced global competence.

By Kate Hargreaves 

The University of Windsor’s Alumni Stadium was bursting with spirit, cheers and...ducks as the Faculty of Education’s LEAD service-learning classes hosted hundreds of local children for the annual LEAD Legacy Project Challenge Cup. 

LEAD — which stands for Leadership Experience for Academic Direction — is a service-learning course first introduced by Dr. Geri Salinitri in which second-year teacher candidates volunteer in schools to work with educators to support student success programming.

By Kate Hargreaves 

Sherri-Lynn Soumis’s mentor used to tell her to “pay it forward” whenever she could. 

As a high school English teacher, Soumis is doing just that as an associate teacher, mentoring University of Windsor teacher candidates through their practice teaching placements. 

Soumis explains that she takes inspiration from her own associate teachers who left a lasting impression on her. 

By Kate Hargreaves 

Randy Beardy never imagined himself becoming a teacher.  

“I’m kind of a rebel at heart,” he laughs. “If you tell me to do something, I have a hard time doing it.”   

Rather than following in his mother's footsteps — also a University of Windsor BEd alum, Beardy (BA Psychology ’17, BEd ’24) says he wanted to become a football coach. 

By Kate Hargreaves 

While having your dad teach at your high school may sound like a nightmare to some, for Brett Bjorgan, it was an inspiration. 

“My dad is a secondary physical education teacher, and my high school experience was great having him there as a mentor and making sure I was doing the right thing and staying in line,” he says.