“The energy and passion these instructors have for their subjects, paired with their unwavering dedication to helping our learners succeed continues to inspire us year after year.” - SCS Dean Catherine Chandler-Crichlow.
Every year, the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies recognizes outstanding instructors who demonstrate excellence in adult education. The SCS Excellence in Teaching Awards are driven by nominations from learners who feel their instructors have gone above and beyond to deliver engaging, meaningful, and supportive learning experiences.
“The energy and passion these instructors have for their subjects, paired with their unwavering dedication to helping our learners succeed continues to inspire us year after year,” says SCS Dean Catherine Chandler-Crichlow.
“The nominations we receive from our learners make it very clear that education and support they provide is truly life-changing, and that’s something we’re incredibly proud to celebrate.”
The Excellence in Teaching Award winners for the 2024-2025 academic year are:
Alyssa Hatfield – Business and Professional Studies
Learners agree that Alyssa Hatfield in an inspirational instructor who truly loves teaching. She explains complex concepts in her User Experience Design courses in a clear and practical way, always connecting them to real-world examples, and provides thoughtful feedback and a supportive classroom environment to help learners succeed.
Julie Reid – Business and Professional Studies
Julie Reid is described by learners as an energetic, creative, and inclusive instructor, who goes above and beyond to ensure the learners in her Speaking Accurately classes are engaged, motivated, and supported. They share that learners continue to meet with each other and Julie after their course has concluded: a testament to her ability to foster a strong sense of community in her classes.
Andre Kostecki – Business and Professional Studies
Learners praise Introduction to Lean Six Sigma Methods instructor Andre Kostecki for his vast knowledge and experience, and his encouraging approach to teaching. He provides relevant, real-life examples that help learners connect the knowledge to their work and facilitates meaningful classroom participation.
Angela Glover – Arts and Science
In Angela Glover’s art history classes, learners discover a passionate instructor whose sense of humour, patience, and curiosity brings life to each of the artists and pieces she discusses. She goes the extra-mile to align her classes with current exhibits and organize gallery visits so learners can go beyond the classroom to experience the subject matter firsthand.
Kevin Hardcastle – Creative Writing
Kevin Hardcastle’s learners are impressed with his ability to adapt to the various needs and genres in his creative writing classes. His inclusive, kind, and accessible approach to teaching and his willingness to share his own experiences in the industry create the perfect environment for his learners to flourish.
Anouck Carsignol – Languages and Translation
Learners are delighted by Anouck Carsignol’s ability to both challenge and support them in her French language classes. They say she is an incredibly kind and encouraging instructor whose teaching gives them the practical skills they need, and that she goes above and beyond to make them aware of further learning opportunities outside of the classroom.
Wendy Peaker – Outstanding New Instructor
Wendy Peaker is recognized by her learners as an exceptional instructor who brings Industrial and Labour Relations to life through her depth of knowledge, passion, and real-world experience. With clear, insightful lectures grounded in real workplace examples, she creates an engaging and supportive learning environment where every student feels encouraged to think critically and apply theory to practice.
Ann Choi – Excellence in Online Teaching
Learners can sense Ann Choi’s love of writing shining through in every creative writing class she teaches. They say her insight into the publishing business helps them set realistic goals, her online classroom is dynamic and engaging, and her enthusiasm is contagious.
Jason Yarmolinsky – Career Impact Award
Jason Yarmolinsky has been teaching with SCS since 2016. His Internal Auditing learners consistently commend him for his ability to make complicated concepts and current industry insights easy to understand. They say he is passionate both about his subject, and about helping his learners succeed in their careers.
Congratulations to all of this year’s inspiring winners!
