It’s all about connection for Tigist Amdemichael (BEd’99). Her time at the Faculty of Education was marked by strong connections with peers, professors, and community. This thread of connection has continued across her career in K-12 education, as a seconded professor at York University, and now as the Dean of Academics at University of Toronto Schools.
As she reflects on the role of an educator, she draws from the memories, theory, and practice gained during her teaching degree. “I can’t think of very many people who would remember their Dean’s speech at their graduation, but I do” notes Amdemichael. One of the things from Dean Upitis’ 1999 speech that stuck with Amdemichael is that teachers always have to remember what it is like to be learners. “It’s this idea of always having an inquiring mind that’s curious” says Amdemichael.
Curiosity abounds in Amdemichael’s approach to teaching. She remembers an experience as a beginning teacher where she learned a new dance with her students to model how hard it can be to learn a new subject – in this case the subject she was teaching: science. Upon reflecting on her time as a new teacher she notes she was drawing from a strong foundation gained while at Queen’s.
When speaking about her experience, Amdemichael highlights the faculty members who shaped her current teaching practice: “The vast majority of instructors were really super committed to ensuring that our skillsets were the best that they could be.” Whether that was Dr. Cathy Christie teaching the teacher candidates in the manner she would instruct in the classroom, or Dr. Eva Krugly-Smolska showcasing the importance of theory and research, Amdemichael feels the program provided her with the basis to be able to accomplish all that she has in her career.
Amdemichael’s career includes classroom teaching, working as a curriculum leader, a learning coach, a learning innovation developer, and more. Throughout it she has not lost touch with those she graduated with who are also making their mark in the education field. Colleagues like Rosalie Griffith, who have become lifelong associates and friends. Amdemichael wants to impress on current students that the connections that you make at Queen’s “through this work are lasting.”
When asked what she hopes to see in the future of education Tigist muses “you know, I think of bell hooks who talks about education as a practice of freedom.”
“An education is to help a child self-actualize" she says. For Amdemichael, part of her job is looking at what barriers she can help remove to support that self-actualization process. “What you want is every child to lead themselves into what’s going to make them beautiful human beings.” Part of that support, she says, is preparing teachers to do that job.
“When I was a beginning teacher part of the reason why I’ve been able to do a lot is I got a lot of support” says Amdemichael. “So much of our job is relational and you cannot do it in isolation.”
Connections weave colourfully through Amdemichael’s past and present. Like the experience she had several years ago of running to catch the subway. A former student working the train recognized her, called her name, and held the train so she could get on.
Amdemichael still gets together with friends from her teaching degree who are now spread throughout Canada and the world. “For me, it’s all about the relations” she says. When reflecting on the role of the teacher she continues: “we’re in this journey and you get a chance to really deeply connect with people and help people move towards their goals.” That deep connection is apparent in how Amdemichael thinks about her role and the impact teachers can have on students and the world.