A year-end message from the Registrar

As the calendar year winds down, Linda Lacroix OCT/EAO, Registrar and CEO of the Ontario College of Teachers, reflects on a year of collaboration with regulatory and education system partners, progress on the development of new professional standards, and investments that strengthen the College’s certification processes.

Summary of October Council meeting

During the Council meeting on October 7, 2025, key updates were presented, including a quarterly report from Registrar and CEO, Linda Lacroix, OCT/EAO, and a briefing note on a proposed framework for a new leadership pathway for technological education, Indigenous ancestry and Indigenous language teachers.

Council approved a College bylaw amendment that allows the new Director of Digital Technology and Services position to act on the Registrar’s behalf in the event of a conflict of interest that prevents them from fulfilling their duties in the complaints, investigations and hearing processes.

Additionally, Council received a briefing note on the College’s plan to launch a multi-year Governance Enhancement Plan to further strengthen governance practices and align with emerging best practices.

Council also received a report from the Audit and Finance Subcommittee alongside the quarterly financial report for the period ending June 30, 2025, and the 2026 budget proposal.

In addition, the Selection and Nominating Subcommittee’s report was received, and their recommendations for Council and subcommittee appointments were approved. Reports from the Accreditation and the Standards of Practice and Education committees were also presented.

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

Meet our exceptional 2025 College scholarship recipients

We are proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Ontario College of Teachers Scholarship Program! Each year, the College awards four recipients with a $1,500 scholarship to support them on their path to becoming teachers who inspire their students.

These scholarships celebrate diverse accomplishments while highlighting the special qualities of exemplary teachers:

• Christine Clark, OCT, Trent University, recipient of the Joseph W. Atkinson Scholarship for Excellence in Teacher Education.
• Faduma Elmi, OCT,, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, recipient of the Ontario College of Teachers Primary/Junior or Junior/Intermediate Scholarship.
• Urooj Ahsan, York University, recipient of the Ontario College of Teachers Intermediate/Senior Scholarship.
• Julia Havey, Queen’s University, recipient of the Brian P. McGowan Scholarship for Resilience.

Visit the College website to learn more about this year’s recipients and the College scholarship program, including eligibility criteria and how to apply.

2025 Annual Meeting of Members

The College’s Annual Meeting of Members was held online on Wednesday, October 14 and was open to all OCTs and members of the public.

Council’s Acting Chair Tammy Webster, OCT, began the meeting by providing an update on 2024 College strategic priorities, including the Professional Advisory Addressing Hate and Discrimination, the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program and Council’s role in supporting meaningful policy changes.

Next, Registrar and CEO Linda Lacroix, OCT/EAO, provided an update focused on the College’s ongoing commitment to agile certification processes and key initiatives including the professional standards review and Focus on Teaching. These updates and more can be found in the College’s 2024 Annual Report, available now on oct.ca.

An update by the Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee Valerie Fontenelle, OCT, followed. The results of KPMG’s 2024 audit confirmed that the College’s budget was balanced, without the need to access reserved funds. As a result of sound fiscal management, the 2025 Annual Membership Fee was not increased.

Finally, the speakers answered questions submitted by attendees. Topics included how OCTs and members of the public can get involved in College governance, the College’s commitment to truth and reconciliation, publishing of discipline decisions and summaries and partnerships in the public education system.

The next Focus on Teaching report is coming this spring

We are grateful to all OCTs who contributed their voices and professional experiences to this year’s Focus on Teaching survey, which closed on October 20.

It is our hope that Focus on Teaching will strengthen the profession by providing key decision-makers with anonymized and aggregated data that can help them:

• address teacher supply and demand in Ontario’s French and English district school boards
• support equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the profession
• support career progression opportunities for OCTs
• continue to track the professional experiences of OCTs.

We offer a sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this year’s survey. The 2025 Focus on Teaching survey report will be published on the College website next spring.

New College website launching soon

The College’s public website, oct.ca, is our most visited digital touchpoint, connecting hundreds of thousands of people each year to essential information about applying to the College, professional learning opportunities, protecting students and other aspects of our public interest mandate.

To advance our strategic goals and uphold our commitments to responsive client service and transparency, the College has redeveloped our website to offer a seamless and intuitive experience for all users.

Meeting modern accessibility standards, the site’s enhanced functionality, streamlined navigation and updated, plain-language copy will help you quickly and easily find what you need. A new font, updated colour palette and inclusive imagery further elevate the user experience.

We look forward to launching the new site in early 2026.

Advancing professional standards for Ontario’s teaching profession

The Ontario College of Teachers is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Ethical Standards and the Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession to ensure they reflect the realities and priorities of education in Ontario today.

These standards are foundational to the teaching profession. They articulate the values, commitments and responsibilities that guide OCTs in their daily practice. They also serve as public assurance of professionalism, reinforcing trust in the integrity and competence of educators across the province.

To build a meaningful and relevant set of revised standards, the College has engaged extensively with interestholders. Over the past year, we’ve met with teachers from English, French, public and Catholic school systems, as well as First Nation schools and Provincial School Authorities. We have also consulted with parents and guardians, students and educational partners. The message is clear: refreshed standards need to speak to the evolving priorities of education in Ontario. They should be student-centred, grounded in human rights and reflect principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.

This summer, a writing team of OCTs began drafting refreshed standards based on these insights. One team member shared how they embody these priorities in their current practice:

“I advocate for equitable and sovereignty-affirming education, mentor emerging educators, and contribute to school-wide initiatives that strengthen community and learning. I approach my role with integrity, care, and a deep sense of responsibility, recognizing that my work shapes not only academic outcomes but also the social and emotional well-being of students. I commit to continual reflection, growth, and action to ensure my practice aligns with the evolving needs of my students and the profession.”

- Rana El Saadi, OCT

This statement captures the essence of the standards: a shared dedication to students, to professional excellence and to the future of education in Ontario. Together, we’re shaping standards that reflect who we are and who we aspire to be.

We invite you to stay informed about this important work. Visit oct.ca and check future issues of The Standard for opportunities to provide feedback.

Holiday office closure

Please note that the College will close at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24, 2025. We will return to regular business hours at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, January 2, 2026.