Congratulations to our Literacy Leaders of 2025!
The Literacy Leader of the Year Award is a prestigious honour that acknowledges the dedication and expertise of Ontario educators. With sweeping changes to Ontario’s Language curriculum, leadership in literacy is needed now more than ever! This award recognizes those educators who have made significant strides in ensuring all students realize their right to learn to read. These individuals serve as beacons of inspiration, guiding the way toward a brighter, more literate future for all.
The Literacy Leaders Awards were presented at the IDA Ontario’s Literacy and Learning Conference on Sunday, April 27, 2025.
Winner: Angeline Humber
Teacher Consultant in the Greater Essex County District School Board
Angeline Humber has been a tireless advocate for structured literacy in French as a Second Language (FSL). Recognizing that FSL students also have the right to learn to read, Angeline proactively reached out to UFLI to collaborate on developing an open-source version of UFLI for French Immersion, resulting in the creation of Son-au-Graphe. This program has provided much-needed structured literacy resources to French Immersion educators across Ontario and beyond. Angeline’s leadership extends beyond program development; she has worked diligently to support FSL educators through professional development opportunities, ensuring that they have the tools and knowledge to support their students’ literacy growth. Known for her kindness, humility, and gentle nature, Angeline’s unwavering dedication to equity and her ability to foster strong relationships with educators have made her an invaluable leader in the FSL community. Her work continues to inspire and transform literacy education for French Immersion students.
Winner: Lori McCaw
Special Assignment Teacher for Literacy at the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB)
Lori McCaw has been instrumental in the board’s pioneering efforts to implement structured literacy long before the Right to Read report. Lori led the way in building foundational literacy practices across the board, including early reading screening and coaching for Tier 1 and Tier 2 instruction. Despite the challenges of being the sole literacy lead and working with limited resources, Lori has consistently delivered high-quality, tailored professional development for educators across 37 schools. She has supported hundreds of educators in embracing structured literacy and guided them through data interpretation, ensuring that every student has the support they need to succeed. Lori’s leadership has been key in ensuring that ALCDSB remains at the forefront of literacy education in Ontario.
Winner: Janelle Rowlatt
Special Education Resource Teacher at Allenby Junior Public School
Her colleagues say she is “an unrelenting force” whose passion for structured literacy and equitable reading instruction is inspiring real change across her school. This year, Janelle has led the implementation of Acadience Reading Screening school-wide, helped create a digital data wall to inform instruction, developed targeted intervention groups for Grades 1–3, and supported the adoption of structured literacy by modelling lessons, team-teaching, and providing professional development. Known for “asking hard questions” and pushing for decisions that align with best practices, Janelle is a fearless advocate for her students and a catalyst for systemic change. Her patience, deep knowledge, and unwavering belief in every child’s right to learn to read have transformed mindsets and strengthened literacy practices in her school.
Winner: Angela Stefanato
Teacher in the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board
Her colleagues highlight her passion for structured literacy, her commitment to equity, and her exceptional ability to reach every student she teaches. Angela became one of TBCDSB’s first certified Acadience mentors, helping train all K–2 teachers across the board in screening, while also supporting them in setting up effective interventions. She created practical, ready-to-use resources — including a “Week at a Glance” guide for structured literacy in both primary and junior classrooms — to make implementation easier for her fellow teachers. As Angela says, “I get to be a primary teacher. It’s the best job in the world” — a reflection of the joy, purpose, and care she brings to everything she does. Her tireless work, often done on her own time, has strengthened literacy instruction across her board and changed the future for hundreds of students.
Meet the Speakers at the Navigating Dyslexia Family Conference!
We are thrilled to announce the incredible lineup of speakers for the upcoming Navigating Dyslexia Family Conference, presented by IDA Ontario. This full-day event, scheduled for Friday, April 25, 2025, at the Delta Hotels Toronto Airport & Conference Centre, will provide invaluable insights and practical strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators supporting students with dyslexia.
What Can you Expect?
This year’s conference brings together experts from diverse fields, each offering unique perspectives on dyslexia and related topics. Attendees will leave equipped with knowledge to advocate for their children, access effective interventions, and foster self-esteem and mental health in their learners. Here’s a glimpse into what you’ll gain from each speaker:
Dyslexia Demystified
Speaker: Todd Cunningham
Todd will break down the complexities of dyslexia in an accessible and engaging way, empowering parents with the foundational knowledge needed to better understand and support their child’s learning journey.
Inspiring Confidence and Supporting Grit in Dyslexic Children
Speaker: Daniella Green
Learn how to nurture resilience and confidence in children with dyslexia, helping them develop the skills to overcome challenges.
What’s Changed? Understanding Instructional Shifts in Literacy
Speaker: Lee-Ann Lear
Discover the latest evidence-based practices in literacy instruction and how they impact teaching strategies for students with dyslexia.
Defending Your Child’s Rights: A Legal Perspective
Speaker: Wade Pozimoka
Gain an understanding of the legal rights of students with dyslexia in Ontario and how you can advocate for equitable support and accommodations in schools.
Disability Tax Credit for Families: Claiming the Benefits You Deserve
Speaker: Stefanie Ricchio
Learn how to navigate the process of accessing the Disability Tax Credit and other financial resources available to support your family.
Impactful Advocacy: Supporting Your Dyslexic Child’s Success in School
Speaker: Alicia Smith
Get practical tips and strategies to effectively advocate for your child’s educational needs, ensuring they receive the support necessary for success.
Why Attend?
This conference offers a unique opportunity to connect with experts, discover tools and strategies, and build a supportive community. Whether you’re navigating the initial diagnosis of dyslexia or looking for ways to advocate more effectively, these sessions will leave you feeling informed, and empowered.
Register Today
Seats are limited, so don’t miss your chance to join us for this impactful day. Register now to secure your spot!
Together, we can make a difference for students with dyslexia across Ontario and beyond. We can’t wait to see you there!
Join us for Read October!
What is Read October?
To celebrate Dyslexia Awareness Month in October, Read October raises money through sponsored read-a-thons to raise dyslexia awareness. Funds go directly to public libraries across Ontario.
Did you know?
To raise awareness about the early signs of dyslexia and offer support to families across Ontario, IDA Ontario provides library staff training, grants for decodable books, and informational sessions for parents and caregivers. Since 2020, 305 grants have been awarded! Check out all the libraries who received funds here!
We need your help
Join the read-a-thon and raise money for dyslexia awareness!
Go to readoctober.com/donate. Click Create a Fundraiser.
Ask for donations from family, friends and colleagues.
Find new books to read.
Fill out the reading log and share on social media. Don’t forget to tag #readoctober.
Literacy and Learning Educator Conference
Coming together to advance the right to read
Join us in improving the lives of children who struggle to learn to read. Our sold-out 2023 and 2024 conferences were resounding successes, uniting educators and dyslexia advocates across the world.
The Literacy & Learning Educator Conference will focus on supporting educators and other relevant professionals with the knowledge and practice to provide structured literacy instruction in a school setting. Geared toward educators, session topics will focus on reading development, instruction, intervention, and assessment.
Designed for Parents and Family Supporters
The Navigating Dyslexia: A Family Conference will focus on supporting parents and caregivers of students with dyslexia. Sessions will focus on dyslexia, how to advocate for children, diagnosis and effective interventions, and supporting students’ self-esteem and mental health.
The Navigating Dyslexia: A Family Conference will be a 1-day event on April 25, 2025.
Price: $150
For more information and to register, please click below.
If you are interested in attending the conference, but do not have the means to pay for the registration, please contact us at conference@idaontario.com.
This on-demand course is a flexible way to learn more about effective instruction of decoding and spelling.
Aligned with Strand B: Foundations of Language of the Ontario Language Curriculum, participants can move through the videos, activities, and quizzes at their own pace. It includes how to teach basic and complex phonics, spelling, strategies for reading and spelling multi-syllable words, and basic morphology; these are all elements of the Word Recognition strand of Scarborough’s Reading Rope.
Fee: $75 and available indefinitely for everyone.
Group registrations are available for school boards and organizations that want to train their educations. Click the “Group Registration” button to apply.
Free course access is provided to full-time students in an education-related program and educators working in First Nation schools. Students must provide proof of transcript.
Les fondements essentiels à l'enseignement de la lecture, de l'écriture et de l'orthographe
Pour les enseignants en immersion et en français langue première
Le cours Les fondements essentiels à l’enseignement de la lecture, de l’écriture et de l’orthographe comprend quatre modules et aborde les notions fondamentales qui font partie intégrante d’un enseignement explicite, systématique, structuré, cumulatif et progressif qui est essentiel pour que tous les élèves puissent apprendre à lire et à écrire (orthographier).
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4 modules
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Durée: 15 heures
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Accès: illimité
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Apprentissage virtuel sur demande
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Pour les enseignants en immersion et en français langue première
Frais : 75 $ et accès illimité pour tous le monde.
Individues : Veuillez vous inscrire en cliquant sur le bouton d’inscription ci-dessous.
Possibilité d’inscription de groupes : Pour inscrire votre groupe, veuillez remplir le formulaire d’inscription de groupe. Les groupes doivent être composés de 5 personnes ou plus. Il n’y a pas de rabais.
Étudiants : Tout individu qui étudie à temps plein dans un programme connexe à l’éducation ou à l’orthophonie et qui est appelé à travailler avec les élèves de niveau scolaire peuvent s’inscrire gratuitement. Cette membriété donne accès à tout le matériel, y compris les vidéos, les documents, les activités d’apprentissage et les mises à jour qui viendront au fil du temps.
ONlit.org
ONlit is a comprehensive hub for empowering educators to provide evidence-based systematic and explicit instruction aligned with the new Ontario Language and Français Curricula.