I am passionate about creating community and leading change using my diverse skills at the nexus of arts and education. A reflective, collaborative educator, I have demonstrated strengths and experience in various roles in the public education system for over 16 years. Additionally, I have extensive experience in higher education, teaching credit courses in English literature, ESL and essay writing in the college and university systems for over 10 years. In all of my roles in education, I have implemented research-backed practices in equitable and inclusive pedagogy, instructional design and assessment. I continue to hone my expertise in social-emotional and trauma-informed learning, culturally-relevant pedagogy, UDL, and arts-integrated curricula to affirm identity and foster belonging. I am an active advocate of children's literature, especially by IBPOC authors living in Canada, and have taught post-secondary credit courses in it at three institutions. I have also hosted author panels at Word on the Street in Toronto and the Toronto International Festival of Authors.A longtime participant in the arts, I have worked as an arts journalist in radio, tv and print. I am an accomplished, versatile writer who founded the all-ages arts e-magazine, SesayArts Magazine in 2012. I have a proven ability to listen actively and facilitate responsively with sensitivity, diplomacy and tact. I take pride in my history of building relationships and trust with colleagues and clients in multiple roles and contexts.