Surprise Jane Witte scholarship to provide OISE doctoral students with the boost to deliver on their education

For Jane Witte, it was a warm summer gathering to celebrate the end to a rewarding and impactful career in education. For her son, Zach Witman, and his husband Michael Witman, it was the surprise to honour a lifetime of service. 

Through a generous, endowed $250,000 gift from Zach and Michael, OISE announced the establishment of The Jane Witte Scholarship at the University of Toronto, which will support exceptional doctoral students at OISE – whose research will advance education and help shape the future of teaching, learning, and educational leadership. 

This scholarship, announced during her Aug. 7th retirement party at OISE, honours Jane’s distinguished career in education and her lifelong commitment to teaching and learning – a revelation that left Jane, Michael and Zach in tears during the ceremony.  

“I've always tried to be there for everyone.  My passion is caring for kids and supporting those that care for kids,” said Jane, an award-winning educator who has substantial experience teaching at the elementary, secondary, college and university levels – including at Brock, Queens and Western Universities. “I feel my journey led me to different places, from a classroom teacher to a faculty instructor, to teaching in a different country, to teaching special education supporting students at the system level.  

“It's been very rewarding.  “The variety of experiences I have had in education have made me a better educator and person.”

Jane, an alumna, once worked at OISE, training teacher candidates, she has done similar work at Brock and Western. She provided consulting services to connect agriculture to the Ontario and Canadian curriculum with Agscape, formerly Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. 

She supported curriculum implementation through work with Ontario Ministry of Education, Ontario Directors of Education, as well as being part of the author team for several Family Studies text books. She provided AQ Instruction at Western, Queens and Brock Universities.  

Her career has taken her many places, but to establish this scholarship at U of T and OISE – a place close to her heart, her son and his husband – was an easy decision.  

“I think it's the foremost educational institution for educators in Canada, and Michael and I are also alumni of U of T,” said Zach, who earned his degree from the Rotman School of Management. “Since U of T gave Michael, my mother and I so much, that it was a no brainer to launch the scholarship at U of T.” 

Jane feels the deep love from her son and son-in-law, a level of selflessness in them that makes this scholarship that much more incredible. We are lucky to have Michael in our family, it is wonderful to see the two of them together, they are both amazing and the ways in which they support each other is heart warming.  

OISE, a nationally and internationally regarded institute of learning and research, is one of the world's most research-intensive faculties of education in the world. The institute is a community of innovators, collaborators and leaders that have been advancing education, human development and professional practice globally for over 100 years – including that of Jane Witte.  

“We've all had at least one person who changed our lives with their wisdom, kindness, and encouragement. For so many students, colleagues, and educators, that person is Jane Witte,” said Professor Creso Sa, Acting Dean of OISE. “Jane, thank you for your unwavering commitment to education and for the countless lives you have shaped along the way. And to Zach and Michael, thank you for your extraordinary generosity. 

“Your gift has transformed Jane's passion for education into a lasting legacy,” he adds. “Through the Jane Witte Scholarship at the University of Toronto, generations of PhD students at OISE will carry forward her commitment to advancing education through research that strengthens teaching, learning, and educational practice.” 

Sim Kapoor, director of OISE’s Office of Advancement, Communications, and External Relations, adds, "What moved me most was Zach and Michael's clarity of purpose. They didn't just want to celebrate Jane's retirement — they wanted her impact to continue through the doctoral students who will shape education for decades. That vision is what philanthropy at its best looks like."

The party, with the announcement in tow, was a boisterous affair, with laughs and happy tears shed. Mallory Witte, her daughter, and Sheldon Witte, who has been married to Jane since 1980, were unaware of the announcement until it was announced – but they’re quite pleased with it all. 

“Once we knew it was happening, it was great. It was awesome,” said Sheldon. “Very well deserved. Definitely caught us off guard because we weren't thinking anything like that was possible – we were just planning to have a good weekend with Zach and Michael.” 

For Mallory, the surprise is a welcome home, a continued homage to a person who has given so much to others including her – “I wouldn't be where I am today [without her],” she said. 

Mallory’s sentiment reflects the importance of educators which The Jane Witte Scholarship represents.