Board of Directors Candidates – 2022

Graziella (Grace) Sadler is an elementary teacher with the Toronto Catholic District School Board and is honoured to work with STAO to bring science resources and PD opportunities to Ontario educators.

Her 15+ years teaching experience began in Windsor, Ont. and spans Grades 1 to 10 including a 7-year Primary/Junior Science and Technology position. It was in this unique role where Graziella provided hands-on programming and enrichment opportunities for our youngest scientists. Graziella is the Judging Coordinator for the York Region Science and Technology Fair and has been a STAO member since 2013.

Candidate Statement of Interest:

I would like to express my interest in continuing on as the President Elect of STAO/APSO. My time as Vice President was exciting as I learned more about STAO as an organization and the wonderful volunteers who make STAO what it is: the leading voice in the advancement of science education in Ontario.

Louise Vaillancourt has been a teacher at the Ottawa-Carleton School Board for over 17 years teaching in both French and English. She is currently a K-12 Science and Numeracy Instructional coach for the OCDSB. Recently she worked as a Technology coach and consultant, promoting STEAM in the classroom, makerspaces and making coding accessible to all students. Beyond science technology, she is also passionate about Forest school and land-based learning.

Louise has been a proud member of STAO and is looking forward to giving back to the community. She would like to apply her experience in cross-panel, cross-curricular and cross-lingual experience to promote Science in all spheres of Ontario Education.

Candidate Statement of Interest:

I wish to join the STAO-APSO board of directors to be of service empowering science educators for the success of all Ontario students, building community connections and being a champion for science literacy. I have been a member of STAO-STAO for the majority of my teaching career, participating in activities, presenting at conferences, writing with various teams and as a member of the APSO French committee. I seek through leadership with the board to further the STAO mission and vision in the coming 4 years and continue my commitment to the organization and its members.

Dr. Andrew Pasternak has spent the last 20+ years working to bring early stage scientific innovations to market. He is currently the commercial director at GreenCentre Canada, a not-for-profit chemistry organization dedicated to advancing early stage CleanTech innovations being developed by early stage companies across Canada. He has worked in technology development and commercialization roles in a wide number of industries including pharmaceutical services, analytical instruments, drug discovery, medical devices, and “green” chemistry.

Andrew has a Ph.D. in biochemical engineering from Northwestern University and an MBA from the University of Toronto.  He sees the value of a strong science education which is so needed to solve the many challenges we face as a society.

Note:

Dr. Andrew Pasternak is moving into the open Board Secretary position as his term as Member-at-Large ends.

Michelle Tsui-Woods is the Associate Director of Operations and Development for k2i academy at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering. She is highly skilled in strategic planning, operations and development with experience working in the higher education, not-for-profit and financial services sectors.

She has a successful track record of developing and growing strategic relationship programs within large and complex organizations at a local, national and global scale, working closely with senior leaders and stakeholders. Michelle is passionate about inclusive and equitable STEM education.

Candidate statement of interest:

I am seeking a position of Board Member with the Science Teachers’ Association of Ontario (STAO). My professional experience is very much aligned to the goals and focus of your organisation and I would like to use the skills gained in over 10 years building and leading informal STEM educational organisations to support STAO to reach its strategic objectives.

I have been a Board Member for a number of community and professional organisations based in both Canada and the United States. I have experience in strategic planning, organisational operations, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), fundraising, and marketing and communications. Bringing alignment between board governance, organisational strategy, and operations is one of my key strengths. I thrive in complex environments and enjoy the challenge of building organisations and teams.

I believe that my experience, educational qualifications and skills will be of benefit and look forward to the opportunity to support STAO and its membership over the next few years.

Joseph Bishay has been teaching science one way or another for over 20 years, across the elementary, secondary, and post- secondary panels, in both the public and private school systems. After conducting research at The Hospital for Sick Children in the programs of Cancer & Blood Research and Developmental Biology, he began his teaching career as an instructor in the Health Sciences department at George Brown College.

Concurrently, he was the head instructor for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) at Kaplan International. He currently serves as a professor in the department of Biological Sciences and Applied Chemistry at Seneca College where he teaches microbiology, and also as faculty at Tyndale University, where he teaches first and second year biology courses.

As well, Joseph has had the opportunity to lecture at the Royal Ontario Museum on the topics of natural science and natural history. Alongside science, Joseph has extensive experience in information technology, including running his own I.T. consulting company, working as director of I.T. at a private elementary school, and serving as Information Officer in an education technology firm supporting over 1500 students. Joseph has been on the STAO/APSO Board of Directors since 2016 where he served as Secretary as well as sitting on a number of committees and taskforces.

Note: 

Joseph is moving from the Board Secretary position as his term has ended into the Member-at-Large position.