A Student's Story | A Donor's Story | William Waters

A Student's Story 

 Needs Based Scholarship Realizes Student's Dream

“When I received the call that I had been awarded the Vari scholarship that would pay for my entire university education, I broke down immediately and cried.” Dong-Ling Chen

Dong-Ling dreamed of becoming a teacher ever since, as an at-risk student, a teacher helped her turn things around. With the support of the Vari Scholarship, established by The Honourable George and Helen Vari, Dong-Ling’s dream of becoming a teacher was realized this past year when she graduated from OISE.

 “Scholarships have the potential to change people’s lives and make dreams come true.” says Dong-Ling.

While a student at Victoria College and then at OISE, Dong-Ling gave back to the University community. She started an education magazine, now published twice a year, and became President of the Student Teachers’ Union at OISE. Dong-Ling plans to work with at-risk students, she will be an outstanding teacher.

Support from individual donors and through OISE’s annual fund appeal have helped many students like Dong-Ling. 

A Donor's Story 

Giving through the annual fund appeal is just one way alumni can help transform a student’s life. Alumnus Henderson (J. Glenn) Scott chose to create a gift to OISE through his estate.  OISE has been Scott’s “intellectual and professional home” for more than 40 years.  By 1965, he had completed his B.Ed., M.Ed. and EDD in education theory at U of T, followed by appointments as a faculty member and administrator at the then newly established OISE.

To recognize the positive impact OISE and its faculty had on shaping his academic career, Dr. Scott has made plans for a legacy gift, which will establish The George Flower Award for Advanced Studies in Education. Dr. Flower was OISE’s director of graduate studies during Dr. Scott’s time as a graduate student.

“I was extremely privileged both to study under the supervision of George Flower and to be his colleague in teaching and administration during OISE’s formative years,” Dr. Scott says. “This is a most gratifying and nurturing way to recognize a positive influence in one’s life.”

Dr. Scott’s story is just one of many that show how anyone planning ahead can have an extraordinary impact on the future. Thanks to donors who have made a gift through their estate plans, countless life-changing opportunities have been created for OISE students, researchers and faculty members.

For more information on ways you can give visit our website.

William Waters Initiatives in Urban Education

Through a generous donation to OISE from Dr. William Waters, three initiatives were established to improve the quality of programs and teaching in the urban classroom:

Scholarships | Teacher-in-Residence | Symposium
 

The William Waters Scholarships in Urban Education

In 2011, OISE offered four $30,000 scholarships to promote excellence in teaching in the urban classroom. Each of the scholarship winners is an experienced teacher working in an urban classroom, who is currently registered in a full-time Master’s program.

“Schools don’t operate in isolation from social, political, and economic dynamics of the world outside.  As a teacher working in an urban school in Toronto, I know that I’ll be able to offer my students so much more if I am committed to learning about those dynamics and advocating for more equitable practices and policies both inside and outside the classroom.”

Melanie Willson, 2011 William Waters Scholarship recipient.

 

The William Waters Teacher-in-Residence in Urban Education

The William Waters Teacher-in-Residence in Urban Education is a two-year secondment to teach in OISE’s Initial Teacher Education program, focused on teaching and learning in classrooms and schools in urban contexts. 

                                     Vanessa Russell (PhD) is the current William Waters Teacher-in-Residence in Urban Education. For the past two years, she was the Curriculum Leader at an alternative school and taught a social justice course through the arts for s ome of the most underserved youth across the TDSB. She has worked as a teacher educator at both York and OISE and the focus of her doctoral work was ethical questions related to teacher-student pedagogical relationships.

She has held a number of leadership positions in the Equity Department of the TDSB and has been the teacher/coordinator of Canada's only dedicated secondary classroom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students.

 

The William Waters Symposium on Urban Education

The annual William Waters Symposium on Urban Education is a public lecture that brings together experts in the field with local teachers, faculty and the William Waters scholarship students, to expand our understanding of how teachers work effectively with students in inner city schools.  

The 2012 William Waters Symposium is entitled, Activism in Education: Pushing Limits in Increasingly Conservative Times and features guest lecturers James A. Banks and Judy Rebick.

Visit The Centre for Urban Schooling for more details and updated information.