Meet Tammy Webster, OCT, Acting Chair of Council

On May 16, 2025, Tammy Webster, OCT, became Acting Chair of College Council following the departure of Maria Vasanelli, OCT, to pursue other governance opportunities. Tammy is an educator, an equity leader, and has been a member of Council since February 2022. She is also a member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and the first Indigenous Chair of College Council. Get to know Tammy below.

What motivated you to join Council?

As a long-standing educator, I know firsthand how policy impacts classrooms and students. I wanted to be a voice for First Nations, educators, and students at the governance level and bring my professional experience to inform governance practices that support College operations.

How would you describe Council’s role in supporting student well-being in Ontario’s education system?

Understanding that Council does not manage operations, its role is to create conditions for effective, transparent and accountable regulation. Council plays a part in setting the strategic vision, ensuring statutory mandates of the Ontario College of Teachers Act and having fiduciary responsibility. Within this capacity, Council sets expectations around equity and reconciliation, as evident in the Strategic Plan, and can proactively respond to emerging needs that protect student well-being.

Can you tell us about your professional journey and your decision to become an Ontario Certified Teacher?

Becoming a teacher was not in the plan. I avoided it for years, as my mom was an elementary teacher and I knew what was involved — marking after hours, report card writing, parent interviews and calls, coaching and worrying about the students. Eventually, I understood that a good teacher can have a lifelong impact, which changes the world. While I didn’t want to change the world, I wanted young people to feel valued and appreciated and that if they wanted to be a part of a different world, they could be.

A teacher can have a profound impact on a student’s life. And if you get to teach them for a second year or build a relationship with their siblings or other family members, the impact of your kindness, thoughtfulness, and consistency ripples. I wanted to be that person.

You are a member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and the first Indigenous Chair of College Council. What does that mean to you?

It’s very hard to put into words what this means. It comes with recognition and inherent responsibility to honour those before me whose educational experiences remind me of what not to do. It is also daunting. Being the “first” can come with unnecessary expectations of what I can or ought to be doing. But I also set the path, direction and metaphorical bar for First Nations who come next. It is also a historic moment, and I am proud, thrilled and ready to step up.

Council meeting update

On June 12, 2025, Tammy Webster, OCT, led her first College Council meeting as Acting Chair.

Key updates were presented, including a quarterly report from Registrar & CEO, Linda Lacroix, OCT/EAO, and the new Professional Advisory, which focuses on addressing hate and discrimination.

Council received a report from the Audit and Finance Subcommittee and approved two recommendations from the subcommittee, which were to 1) approve a request from the Membership Services department for five full-time equivalents and 2) approve the retirement of a College mortgage with BMO-Bank of Montreal.

The Selection and Nominating Subcommittee’s report was received and their recommendations for Council and subcommittee appointments were approved. A report from the Registration Appeals Committee was also presented.

Council meetings are livestreamed on the College’s YouTube channel. Meeting summaries and related documents are posted on our website.

Designing safe learning environments for every learner

Students experience physical safety in different ways. Medical conditions, visible and non-visible disabilities, mobility considerations, and severe allergies can all shape how learners navigate and engage with their environment.

Creating safe learning spaces includes recognizing and responding to these diverse experiences. Safety is not only about preventing harm, it is also about removing barriers and supporting full participation in learning.

The College is reviewing the Professional Advisory on Safety in Learning Environments and we want to hear what guidance Ontario Certified Teachers (OCTs) need to best support student safety. Your feedback will help us develop an updated professional advisory that reflects today’s realities.

The 2025 Focus on Teaching survey is coming soon!

After two rounds of focus groups with OCTs between May and July, the 2025 Focus on Teaching survey is nearly ready for distribution. Thank you to everyone who shared feedback as part of the development process.

“Involving teachers in the survey development is both strategic and respectful of their professional expertise. Incorporating their perspectives from the outset enhances their role as key players in the education system, while ensuring that consultation tools accurately reflect the realities of the profession. This collaboration not only reinforces the relevance of the questions asked, but also fosters teachers’ sense of ownership and engagement. Such an approach contributes to building a more inclusive education culture that is rooted in the lived experiences of practitioners.”

- KCA, Focus Group Participant

Your input informed updates to the survey, which is intended to assist key decision-makers in Ontario’s education system by providing data that can help to:

• address the teacher shortage in Ontario’s French and English District School Boards,
• support equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the profession,
• support career progression opportunities for OCTs, and
• continue to track the professional experiences of OCTs.

In mid-August, all OCTs in good standing will receive an invitation from our partner, Forum Research Inc., to complete this brief survey. We encourage you to respond, as its value increases with each response and grows stronger over time.

Ongoing trend data is essential to understanding how teachers’ experiences are evolving and to supporting evidence-based decision making. For example, the College’s new Professional Advisory on Addressing Hate and Discrimination aligns closely with some early trends identified in 2024 data.

Stronger data supports better-informed decisions. We hope you’ll continue to contribute to this important effort.

2025 Annual Meeting of Members is on October 14

Join College leadership for our Annual Meeting of Members on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The online meeting is open to OCTs, applicants, interested education partners, and members of the public. Registrar and CEO Linda Lacroix, OCT/EAO, and Acting Chair of Council Tammy Webster, OCT, will provide updates on how the College works within its mandate to protect the safety and well-being of Ontario students.

The meeting will be hosted online with simultaneous French and English interpretation and optional closed captioning. The meeting will conclude with a Q&A session. Questions can be submitted in advance when you fill out your registration form. Details on how to register will be available soon.

Shipping to you, no matter what

Did you know that the Margaret Wilson Library offers a free shipping service for OCTs? Place a book on hold and we will ship it to you — free of charge and regardless of any potential shipping disruptions.

1. Log into your College account on oct.ca under Members.
2. On the left navigation pane, click Library.
3. Once on the Library, use the catalogue search box to search by subject, title or author. On the right navigation pane, you can also explore the book lists.

For tips on navigating the catalogue (and more!), visit the Margaret Wilson Library’s FAQs.

Still have questions? Contact the library team by email at library@oct.ca or toll-free (Canada and U.S.A.) at 1.833.966.5588.