Rena Upitis

Background

About Rena Upitis

For my entire career, I have been inspired by children and teachers as they work together to learn deeply and with meaning and joy. My collaborative projects involve both the arts and the natural world as I find these contexts to be extraordinarily powerful for considering local and global issues, for enriching the learning process, and for taking social action. I welcome opportunities to consult in the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and Europe, with the goal of empowering teachers and their students to make vibrant and lasting changes at this time of cultural upheaval in a changing climate. WHAT I OFFER • An energetic and creative approach to enlivening classroom life and enhancing academic outcomes for elementary-aged students and their teachers • An inclusive approach and culturally sensitive approach to curriculum planning and staff development as key pillars for educational practice. • Decades of experience teaching in schools and universities in Canada, the United States, Africa, Australia, and the Middle East. • NGO experience as Founding Director of Wintergreen Studios. ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada • Spearheaded arts programming for over Canadian children • Over $8 million in research funding • 8 books on teaching math and music • Over 125 journal and conference papers CORE SKILLS • Curriculum development using a variety of standards and structures (PYP, Common Core, Reggio, Steiner, Ontario Curriculum, inquiry-based and problem-based learning) • Participatory research design • Educational software development • Leader in establishing innovative learning communities including Wintergreen Studios, an off-grid education centre