Letter 1 - I am a teacher!

Education is the master key to future possibilities for students. It sustains our democracy and is our path to an inclusive, harmonious and prosperous future. It leads to a more civil society.

• affirms the importance of the role as teachers and validates what they do each day
• identifies some of their primary responsibilities in today's world
• challenges the profession to keep hope and optimism alive in schools and classrooms

Letter 2 - My Image of the Principal

This letter highlights the centrality of principals in education today and underscores the fact that many are already achieving success in their schools. It describes the principal's changing role and identifies some of the important themes related to current and future responsibilities. This is all happening in a context of expanding expectations and societal demands.

Letter 3 - Transforming Education: A Strategy that Works (Part 1)

Ontario has become one of the few places in the world that is achieving both excellence and equity. The improvement agenda has built consensus, engaged key stakeholders and provided the necessary supports, primarily through capacity building. This progressive approach has resulted in higher student achievement and increased public confidence in the education system

Letter 4 - Diversity: A Reality in Schools and Society (Part 1)

It is incumbent upon our next generation of educators to reflect upon the adage, "A society is judged by the condition of its most vulnerable." By seizing the opportunity to grapple with the issue now, we position ourselves to create the communities and countries we all want to preserve and help thrive.

Letter 5 - Diversity: A Reality in Schools and Society (Part 2)

How do we create inclusive schools if many of our students feel marginalized? What does it take to create truly inclusive schools where all students are part of the school community, feel accepted, experience a sense of belonging and are achieving success?

Letter 6 - Build Upon the Legacy

In this letter I share the essential lessons learned from the over 40 years that I have spent in education. Based on Convocation Address to the University of Toronto, June 2010.

Letter 7 - Transforming Ontario Education: Improving Secondary Schools (Part 2)

Letter No. 3 introduced Ontario's education reform strategy and focused on strategies to improve early instruction in reading, writing and mathematics. This letter focuses on the creation of a change strategy for secondary schools, "Student Success /Learning to 18," detailing what Ontario did to engage and support students, particularly those at risk of dropping out, and to boost graduation rates.

Letter 8 - Character Development: Education at Its Best

We all want our schools to foster positive attributes; to be the embodiment of caring and civility. We want them to be models of effective human relationships where students continue to learn what it means to be humane, empathetic and respectful. This letter shows that character development is too fundamental to be left to chance and that schools have an important role to play.

Letter 9 - Career Development: Preparation for Life

As educators, we prepare students for many roles in life, including a career that will enable them to be productive and self-sustaining citizens. For this reason, my interest in career education developed very early in my own career as I reflected on the key purposes of education. I continue to believe that career development is an essential component of a good education. This letter reviews some key theories of career development, identifies some research findings on the factors that influence career decision-making of young women and offers a few strategies as we prepare students for the world of work.

Letter 10 - In Praise of Kindergarten Teachers

I am always amazed at the difference between a four-year-old's knowledge of language, numbers and interpersonal skills at the beginning of the school year and the knowledge she or he has acquired by the end. In order to make this transformation happen, kindergarten teachers set high expectations, vary their teaching methods and engage students in productive learning tasks. They help students develop a love of learning that can last a lifetime. I salute and offer my congratulations to kindergarten teacher for their expertise and professionalism and for the pivotal role they play in our educational enterprise. This letter outlines the precise elements of an effective kindergarten program, drawing upon and highlighting the exemplary program that exists on Ontario, Canada.