EDUCATOR award
For empowering individuals and strengthening our community through outstanding contributions to education and lifelong learning.
Award Presented By: Darryl Fletcher, President, Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
EDUCATOR NOMINEES
Jo Atlee
Professor Jo Atlee is an internationally recognized computer science researcher, educator, and advocate for equity in STEM at the University of Waterloo. As Director of Women in Computer Science (WiCS) and founding director of Canada’s first joint Software Engineering program, she has transformed both curriculum and access to education. Her work has increased participation of women and gender-diverse learners while building inclusive, supportive learning environments. A recipient of the 2023 CS-Can Lifetime Achievement Award and one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women, she has dedicated her career to empowering learners and advancing education at local, national, and global levels.
Leia Minaker
Dr. Leia Minaker is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo and inaugural Director of the Future Cities Institute founded by CAIVAN. A public health scholar with a PhD from the University of Alberta, she focuses on designing healthy, sustainable cities. Since joining Waterloo in 2016, she has become a highly respected educator known for innovative, interdisciplinary teaching, collaboration and mentorship. Leia teaches large undergraduate courses, supervises graduate students and develops experiential learning opportunities that connect students with industry and communities. Her work extends education beyond the classroom, empowering students to address real-world challenges.
Kelsey Neumann
Kelsey Neumann is a grade 4 English teacher at K-W Bilingual School, the girls' volleyball coach, and the grade 3-4 cross country coach. She has been teaching since March 2020. She has mainly taught Grade 4, but has also taught Grade 7 math and science, and teaching placements in high school physed. Miss Neumann completed her teacher training in New Zealand. She is passionate about helping students grow academically and personally. She thinks it is very important for students to have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities and stay active, and she loves athletics.
Catherine Newell Kelly
Cathy has dedicated more than three decades to transforming education at the University of Waterloo and has built a career defined by innovation, vision, and a deep commitment to student success. She played a key role in transforming distance education from cassette-based correspondence to interactive online learning and helped shape Ontario’s digital learning ecosystem through supporting the creation of eCampusOntario. Through her leadership and mentorship, Cathy has expanded access to education, fostered inclusive learning environments, and empowered generations of learners and educators, leaving a lasting impact on how knowledge is shared and experienced.
Tham Nguyen
Tham Nguyen is the visionary founder of Smartizen, one of Ontario’s first Whole Brain Education Centers, dedicated to transforming early childhood education through science-backed learning methods. With over 13 years of experience at multinational companies like NielsenIQ, Shopify and Uber Technologies, Tham brought a wealth of knowledge and transitioned from corporate leadership to education entrepreneurship, driven by her passion for empowering young learners and supporting aspiring educators. Her ambition is to change the world through creating future leaders by providing a holistic development early in their life.
Nicole Puffer
Chef Nicole is a culinary educator dedicated to building food confidence and food literacy through hands-on learning. After completing her culinary training in 2011, she combined her love of cooking with a passion for teaching. Through inclusive workshops in schools and communities, Nicole empowers youth and adults of all abilities to explore new foods, understand nutrition, and develop practical kitchen skills. Her engaging programs create safe spaces for curiosity and discovery. Participants build confidence and independence. By bringing food education into classrooms and community spaces, Nicole is helping shape a generation that feels empowered to cook and pursue lifelong learning.
Mackenzie "Kenzie" Redmond
Kenzie is an educator who taught my son in daycare. She was the first person who cared for him that wasn't a member of our family yet she treated him as one of her own. She adores being an educator, it's absolutely her passion and calling. She was set to move to a daycare in Elmira last year and 2 days before, she found out she has Acute AML Leukemia. This diagnosis has made her pause her dedication to teaching children to receive treatment to hopefully cure her. She dreams of returning to the classroom to resume her passion.
Dr. Kelly Robb
Dr. Kelly Robb is the Director of Product and Innovation at The Kintec Group and an Adjunct Faculty member in the Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education at Wilfrid Laurier University. With a PhD in kinesiology and a career spanning academia and clinical practice, she is recognized for translating biomechanics and neurophysiology research into practical education that improves care. A dedicated supervisor and mentor, Dr. Kelly Robb supports a wide range of undergraduate and graduate students through thesis work, directed studies, and research training, fostering confidence, curiosity, and independence. This past year, she has helped lead the re-development of Kintec’s Education and Training programming—strengthening internal clinical education and raising standards across the organization. She also teaches in Western University’s Pedorthic Diploma Program and delivers educational content designed for both the general population and the medical community.
Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream in the department of Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering and was the inaugural Associate Dean of Outreach, Equity and Diversity (2021-2025) in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo. A chemical engineer by education with nearly two decades at Waterloo, she has shaped the undergraduate student experience from first-year advising to convocation, created STEM outreach programs reaching over 30,000 youth annually, championed the decolonization of engineering, and built lasting traditions like the Waterloo Engineering Pin Ceremony. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA-ACEG), a licensed Professional Engineer, and a former University of Waterloo Senator.
Shel Secrett
Prior to becoming a constituency assistant in Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife's office, Shel Secrett, had an accomplished 24 year career in childcare, where she made a lasting impact on the lives of countless children and families. When people - especially children - feel seen, valued, and supported, they don’t just belong; they flourish. Shel is a Registered Early Childhood Educator and a certified Forest and Nature School Practitioner who has taught at Conestoga College, mentored other educators as a pedagogical consultant and worked for 16 years at Emmanuel at Brighton Child Care Centre in Waterloo. She is most well known her Rainbow Families workshops that she presents throughout Ontario to support 2SLGBTQIA+ visibility in the early years.
Meredith Woodwark
Dr. Meredith Woodwark is an Associate Professor in the Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources Management at the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University which she joined in 2014. She is an expert in leadership behaviour, the role of teams, and management education. Her teaching has been at the undergraduate, graduate and executive leadership levels in organizational behaviour, leadership, management consulting, and experiential learning. Meredith is also an experienced, certified project manager (PMP). Prior to academia, she worked in the public sector as a senior manager in health care, utilities and higher education.