“Avis Glaze is truly a world-class leader in education.
I first met Dr Glaze on a visit to Toronto, Canada in 2005, and was immediately struck by her extensive knowledge of effective educational practices and her obvious dedication for the students, teachers and school communities in her jurisdiction.
Since that meeting, Dr Glaze has become a highly respected friend of the New South Wales Department of Education and Training. Together with colleagues in various leadership roles within our organization, I have had the pleasure of maintaining an ongoing dialogue with Dr Glaze about the foundations of high quality public education.
Dr Glaze’s authentic leadership over a number of years in relation to literacy and numeracy development and the provision of highest quality public education to all students, especially those from socio-economically disadvantaged and Indigenous backgrounds has proved inspirational to many of my colleagues in New South Wales.
I am thrilled to hear of Dr Glaze’s latest venture, The Avis Glaze Letters to Educators. I am sure that Dr Glaze will continue to inspire educators around the world with her personable, practical and passionate insights.”
“Dr. Avis Glaze is the consummate educator. Her insatiable love of learning, uncompromised high standards and ability to communicate her beliefs passionately to others makes her writing a scholarly and current source of reflection. Always creative and thoughtful, the Avis Glaze Letters to Educators inspire and engage us to deliberately pause and reflect deeply on our moral imperative: to educate all of our children!”
“As an international educator, Avis listens to all of the stakeholders in education - particularly those who work directly with students. She has never forgotten her roots as a classroom teacher. The Avis Glaze Letters to Educators represent a culmination of Avis' experiences. They affirm what we are doing well in our classrooms, motivate us to work towards continued student success and inspire us to become leaders in our schools.
Teachers will find these letters supportive of their work and applicable to their classroom practice. As a teacher, I know that I will use these letter to enhance my teaching and to help us all take our schools to new levels of effectiveness.”
“Avis Glaze is one of the most unique and powerful voices in character education. Her broad record of experience at the classroom, school, board, and provincial level is unparalleled and when combined with her impressive grace, eloquence, and intelligence produces a valuable and transformative speaker for educators about both the academic and character goals of all education.”
“On my visit to Ontario it was quickly evident that Avis is arguably one of the most progressive and knowledgeable thinkers in the areas of school and literacy/numeracy improvement. Her skills are varied and deep. Avis is an outstanding presenter, thinker, synthesizer, energizer and most significantly, leader of people. She willingly gives of her vast knowledge in a way that challenges thinking but also empowers others…
We would love to share your expertise and passion for improvement of student achievement…I would love to involve you in some conceptual work we are currently doing around literacy and numeracy improvement which has been significantly influenced by your good work in Ontario.”
“When considering the work of LNS in total, one predominant theme emerged: in partnership with school boards, there has been a significant shift in the future
of Ontario schools that is focused on enabling the success of all students. There has also been sustained improvement in student achievement.
These are major accomplishments... These efforts have had a positive impact in school boards and schools. LNS has created and sustained a “Sense of Urgency” that permeates the educational language being spoken throughout boards. This sense is not diminishing but rather is growing. At the same time, there is a general sense that the Ministry of Education, through the LNS, is providing much needed resources and opportunities that boards require to move their schools forward. Overall, the LNS is providing a valuable service, supporting the education of Ontario’s children. This model is effective and the service should continue.
...Dr. Glaze has been a public face of the LNS, providing a consistent and persuasive message across the province. This has resulted in strong “brand recognition” for the LNS, with a consistent message from a well-recognized and respected educator...”
“In their 2007 evaluation of the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat (LNS) of which I was the CEO, the evaluators, the reputable Canadian Language & Literacy Research Network (CLLRNet), concluded:
“When considering the work of LNS in total, one predominant theme emerged: in partnership with school boards, there has been a significant shift in the future of Ontario schools that is focused on enabling the success of all students. There has also been sustained improvement in student achievement.”
These are major accomplishments …. These efforts have had a positive impact in school boards and schools. LNS has created and sustained a “Sense of Urgency” that permeates the educational language being spoken throughout boards. This sense is not diminishing but rather is growing. At the same time, there is a general sense that the Ministry of Education, through the LNS, is providing much needed resources and opportunities that boards require to move their schools forward. Overall, the LNS is providing a valuable service, supporting the education of Ontario’s children. This model is effective and the service should continue.”
….Dr. Glaze has been a public face of the LNS, providing a consistent and persuasive message across the province. This has resulted in strong “brand recognition” for the LNS, with a consistent message from a well-recognized and respected educator...”
The work of the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat over the last three years has had strong measurable impact across the province. Educators at all levels have become increasingly focused on student achievement in reading, writing and mathematics, and all students and communities have benefited as a result. As well, the focus that you personally have brought to Character Education has strengthened the ability of Boards to address significant issues for students and their communities. You can feel confident that this momentum will not be lost, and that the progress that you have driven will continue.
Your leadership in these endeavours has been inspirational. At the same time, it has been results-oriented and very practical in its focus. In such a short time, you have left indelible marks of progress on system leaders, educators, students and parents. Education in the province of Ontario is significantly better because of your leadership, and because of the improvements in teaching and learning that have been brought about by the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat.”