About

Teresa Cole has worked in secondary education for eight years as a history and English teacher, department chair, teacher leader and administrative assistant in both urban and suburban settings. Her work in the classroom, school and graduate classes has specifically focused on ways to improve the quality of services and curriculum and instruction for underserved populations in regular and gifted education. She is passionate and committed to social justice, and has a keen interest in policy development and advocacy that works to create equitable access and opportunities in education. She has extensive leadership experience working as an administrative aide, a member of advisory committees and School Improvement Leadership teams creating strategies to meet the needs of students, staff and the community through data collection and analysis. She has created and implemented action research projects in order to assess and improve classroom and school practices.

In 2015, she was nominated and won an REB Award for Teaching Excellence. According to their website:

"Established in 1988, the R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence recognizes public school teachers who distinguish themselves by their inspiring classroom performance. The program is based on the belief that a positive educational experience at the elementary, middle and high school levels helps children form positive life-long habits toward learning and discipline."

Through a nomination process, approximately 15 outstanding teachers are selected each year to receive cash grants to support professional development activities. Award recipients have earned graduate degrees, climbed mountains, traced their ancestors and met peers from around the world - all to reignite their own passion for learning and to pass it on to their students.  

Teresa's proposal was to improve research and writing instruction by traveling to England, France, Germany and Italy to study ancestral culture and history. This blog is part of her proposed dissemination proposal. You can also follow her via Instagram @tacolerva