Educational Equity Podcast: Equity for Newcomer Students

Hosted by Dr. Nicholas Ng-A-Fook (Full Professor, Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa), and featuring:

Hortense Mvuemba est conseillère en engagement communautaire. Elle est impliquée dans les écoles du CECCE depuis 2002. Son rôle premier est d’assurer l’accueil , l’accompagnement et de promouvoir   les services du Conseil auprès des familles immigrantes et de créer des partenariat avec des organismes de la région afin de guider les nouveaux arrivants vers les services essentiels à leur bien-être et à leur intégration    

Étienne Parenteau est Directeur du Service de soutien à l’apprentissage – volet santé, sécurité et bien-être des élèves.  Il travaille au Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) depuis maintenant 24 ans.  En plus de voir à la sécurité et aux mesures d’urgence dans les écoles, il est responsable des initiatives systémiques en matière d’équité et d’éducation inclusive au conseil scolaire. Son équipe est composée d’une enseignante et deux travailleurs sociaux qui mettent en œuvre la stratégie intégrée en matière d’équité et d’éducation inclusive du Conseil en collaboration avec le personnel cadre et le personnel scolaire afin d’offrir un environnement inclusif, sécuritaire et bienveillant aux élèves dans les écoles.  La stratégie découle du Plan d’action ontarien pour l’équité en éducation.

Sita Jayaraman provides leadership to the Halton Catholic District School Board’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy as Senior Manager, Human Rights and Equity. Her role is to support student wellbeing and achievement by embedding human rights and equity in all functions of the Board. As a member of the Board’s senior team, she works to impact system-level decision-making through capacity building, data analysis and relationship building. Her focus has been on identifying and addressing systemically-based human rights and equity issues and build the school board’s capacity to ensure compliance with the Ontario Human Rights Code. Sita brings a deep commitment to social justice and over 20 years of management experience in numerous community-based and newcomer settlement organizations focusing on youth. She is also an accomplished trainer in organizational equity and inclusion and has taught in the Social Services Worker Program at Sheridan College. She is the co-author of “Immigrant workers in the immigrant service sector: segmentation and career mobility in Canada and Germany” published in the Transnational Social Review: A Social Work Journal. She holds a Master’s Degree in Immigration and Settlement Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University. 

Malini Singh is the Director of SWIS Regional Coordination (Ontario) at TNO – The Neighbourhood Organization. With an educational background in social work, psychology, and gender studies, she has more than 20 years of experience advancing newcomer settlement, community development, and equitable access to services. Previously, Malini managed TNO’s Newcomer Support Services and SWIS program for 19 years, leading innovative partnerships with schools, community organizations, and government stakeholders. In her current role, she works with over 40 settlement service provider organizations across Ontario to strengthen collaboration, professional development, and school-based settlement services. Malini is a recognized leader and frequent presenter on newcomer settlement, systems coordination, and cross-sector collaboration.

In this podcast, participants shared their perspectives on equity for newcomer students. The discussion was guided by the following questions: 

1. What are some promising approaches to enhancing equity for newcomer students in elementary schools (ages 4-13)?
2. What are some of the challenges that you/your organization has experienced in working to enhance equity for newcomer students in elementary schools?
3. In your view, what actions can be taken by education stakeholders in enhancing equity?

English and French transcripts for this podcast episode can be found on the ‘Podcasts’ page of the Educational Equity Symposium website.