Author: Matea Tuhtar

Charlotte Mason and Angela Mills are the driving force behind Portage Teachers’ Association’s newborn book initiative, a program that provides a free book to babies born in Portage la Prairie through a partnership with the Portage District General Hospital Foundation.

For Janelle Houle, teacher, artist, and jig dancer, sharing her Métis heritage with her students is something she models every day. Houle believes exploring culture is not something you just learn about, it’s something you celebrate and carry with you.

Jacqueline Tabios believes culture belongs in the classroom every day. As a Filipino Canadian educator, Tabios creates spaces where students feel “seen, heard and valued,” while helping them celebrate their identities and learn from one another.

Robert George believes supporting students starts with relationships. As a school psychologist, he works alongside teachers and families to help students succeed academically, socially and emotionally.

For Julie DeGroot, occupational therapy is all about helping students thrive. Her fascination with human anatomy and the brain is what drew her to occupational therapy, but her love of kids is what inspired her foray into the school setting.

Nature is at the heart of everything Suzanne Simpson does. As a runner-up for the Susan Langley Earth Steward Teaching Award aimed at Canadian educators engaged in environmental education is a well-deserved recognition for the work she is passionate about.

In Kelsey Halldorson’s classroom, students introduce themselves in Ojibwe, sharing who they are, where they are from, their clan, and how they are feeling. For some, it’s a connection to a part of themselves they are beginning to discover.

For Randi Paton, the idea behind her debut picture book Donut You Dare (Say That Out Loud) didn’t come from years of careful planning – it came from her three-year-old with no filter. “My daughter was definitely the inspiration for this.”

For Kathryn Laframboise and Jonathan McPhail, helping students uncover stories in Winnipeg’s Exchange District led to a powerful school-wide project, and national recognition through the 2025 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Film class isn’t just teaching students about cameras, scripts, and editing software. For James McLellan, filmmaking is a great way to support student mental health by fostering cooperation, confidence, and a sense of belonging.

Rebecca Chambers and David Wall are helping lead the Winnipeg Free Press Media Literacy and Learning Project, a collaboration designed to build media literacy across all grades and subject areas.

Porfiria Pedrina has never been one to walk away from a challenge. Now as a vice-principal in Winnipeg, her journey into Manitoba’s education system is a powerful reminder of what persistence, advocacy, and a deep belief in equity can accomplish.

Jennifer Wiebe has always been committed to fostering equity in her classroom. A recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence, Wiebe has been instrumental in shaping inclusive practices, including developing one of Winnipeg’s first Gender Sexuality Alliance clubs.

Tawny Lanigan begins each school year helping students reflect on who they are, where they come from, and how they connect to the land. Through a personal land acknowledgement project, students explore identity, history, and belonging in a meaningful way.

Ezra Reimer’s guiding philosophy is: If a system works for the ADHD brain, it will work for everyone. Instead of creating separate accommodations for students, he redesigned his class structure so he and his neurotypical and neurodivergent students benefit equally.

For more than two decades, Joel Swaan has dedicated his career to teaching, leadership, and advocacy in education. As MTS Vice-President, Swaan is driven by a commitment to transparency, inclusion, and trust.

Growing up on a farm just outside Somerset, Manitoba, Lillian Klausen learned early the values of hard work, community, and connection. Now at the helm of MTS, Klausen is energized by her role and the team she’s building.