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Centering student voice and culturally responsive practice听
The TDSB Equity Department continues to embed equity as a core foundation of instructional excellence, advancing the Multi-Year Strategic Plan through professional learning, community partnerships, and culturally responsive practices. By centering student voice, affirming identity, and fostering belonging, these initiatives strengthen both classroom and system-wide learning environments.
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Professional learning linking with community
Collaborations with students, staff and community uplifted student voice, identity affirmation, and belonging.
Educator feedback highlighted deeper understanding of systemic barriers, greater confidence in using culturally relevant resources, and increased ability to centre student voice in planning and assessment. Community collaborations enriched family-school relationships, showcased diverse funds of knowledge, and created inclusive听classrooms, ultimately fostering student belonging, achievement, and well-being in alignment with School Improvement Goals and MYSP priorities.
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Combatting Hate & Racism Lead Teacher Initiative
During the 2024-2025 school year we initiated the Combatting Hate and Racism (CHR) Lead Teacher initiative. CHR Lead Teachers is a voluntary program situated within the Student Leadership component of the Combatting Hate and Racism Student Learning Strategy. Each TDSB school was asked to nominate a CHR Lead Teacher as the school鈥檚 representative and liaison. Lead Teachers brought awareness, curriculum connections, and professional learning opportunities to their staff and students.
The collective work began in the Fall of 2024 when 300 CHR Lead Teachers gathered within FOS groupings to share their plans and journeys for the school year. A total of 500 CHR lead teachers, administrators, and senior team members gathered again in February and March 2025 for a professional learning opportunity to deepen their understanding of the ways we can affirm student identities while building collaboration and striving for excellence.
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Empowering student voices
From January to June 2025, TDSB schools advanced from gathering student voice data to actionizing it as authentic student leadership. With support from Student Equity Program Advisors (SEPAs), student-led initiatives such as the One Love Midtown Black Student Conference, Friendship Circle Collectives, and Queer Youth Justice Labs transformed data into strategies that challenged racism, promoted solidarity, and upheld culturally responsive and equity-driven practices.
These initiatives empowered students to lead courageous conversations, create artistic and educational platforms, and build cross-cultural and identity-based alliances, ensuring that student perspectives informed school improvement, equity planning, and system-wide change.