Congratulations to Dr. Yvonne Breckenridge, recipient of the 2025 Faculty of Education Academic Teaching Staff Teaching Award!

It is with great excitement that we announce Dr. Yvonne Breckenridge as the recipient of this year's Faculty of Education Academic Teaching Staff Teaching Award celebrating her commitment to equitable, transformative, and community-engaged education. Yvonne's teaching philosophy, deeply aligned with bell hooks' call to "reflect our joy in cultural diversity, our passion for justice, and our love of freedom," radiates through her course design, pedagogical practices, and nurturing relationships with students.

A central theme in Dr. Breckenridge's work is the commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, particularly by integrating Indigenous ways of knowing and pedagogy in all of the classes she teaches. She acknowledges the critical support of colleagues and the ATEP community in empowering her to take risks and decolonize her teaching. As an EDU 211 instructor, she moved beyond traditional lectures to use experiential learning, hosting Elders, and incorporating sharing circles. A student noted the profound impact of this approach: "I loved loved loved having the elders come in... The talking circles were very insightful and I found myself reflecting on them throughout the week."

Dr. Breckenridge meticulously designs her courses, aligning objectives with personal and professional growth. These practices were shaped by her introduction to Miyo-pimatisiwin (the good life) check-ins to reflect on learning and personal well-being, fostering a sense of belonging. The feedback underscores the value of these connections: "Yvonne had been one of the most kind professors I've had. Considering the difficult topics that are brought up in this class, Yvonne created a safe space for us to not only learn about the course but also for us to share our thoughts..."

Her mentorship style views preservice teachers as "junior colleagues," encouraging critical reflection and growth. This is powerfully exemplified by a student's post-course email about a challenging CSL (Community Service Learning) assignment: "BTW. You should know. .. (and this pains me to admit). But you were right about volunteering... I have since stayed on and continue to volunteer, unpaid, with them to this day."

Dr. Breckenridge's expertise in second language and multilingual education (EDSE 368/370 and EDSE 369) is applied to build inclusive literacy communities and equip future teachers with practical skills, such as using Language Benchmarks to support English language learners. She creates a supportive atmosphere where students feel safe to challenge themselves and grow professionally. One student beautifully captured the essence of her impact: "I felt very comfortable and human approaching Dr. Breckenridge when challenged with misunderstanding... I felt like I could be me in this course."

Dr. Yvonne Breckenridge embodies the spirit of transformative education, planting the seeds of justice, passion, and community that her students will carry forward into their classrooms and elevates the standard of undergraduate teaching in our Faculty.