Learning from industry leaders
Our faculty members in the School of Early Childhood Education come from multiple disciplines and have extensive backgrounds in such fields as:
- Teaching
- Child care administration
- Special education
- Health promotion
- Community development
They aren’t just teachers: they maintain deep connections in their field at all levels, from research to advocacy to leadership roles.
For example, Early Childhood Education professors regularly publish articles in the IDEAS journal, an industry publication that focuses on the emotional wellbeing of children. They also work on steering committees and boards to shape new policies and laws regarding childcare education. To stay current in their field, faculty also complete graduate and post-graduate programs and ongoing collaborations in the community, academia and government. They are recognized nationally for their efforts.
Internationally, faculty members have been involved in early childhood development projects in Jamaica, China and Cuba, strengthening professional development opportunities for students and faculty.
Download the video to find out more about George Brown Faculty and their expertise in Early Childhood Development (Read the text version of the file)
Patricia Chorney Rubin
Patricia Chorney Rubin is the Director Community Services and Early Childhood at George Brown College, a position she has held since 2002. Patricia came to the College in 1984 when she joined the team as an Early Childhood Educator. She has collaborated with others in the department in the area of Lab School development and has been the Manager of many of the Lab School teaching childcare centres operated by the college. Patricia has taught and coordinated in both the full and part-time Early Childhood Programs. Patricia was appointed to the Ontario Government's Best Start Expert Panel on Human Resources in the Early Childhood Sector (2007). In 2009 Patricia led the launch of the Bachelor of Applied Arts in Early Childhood Leadership at George Brown College. Patricia obtained a diploma from Sir George Williams University, and a B.A. in Early Childhood Education from Concordia University.
Rita Barron
Rita received her B.A.A. in ECE from Ryerson and her M.Ed. in Special Education from O.I.S.E. Rita joined the full time program in 1990 after teaching in the Continuing Education program for 10 years. Rita has worked in child care and also with children who have special needs and their families. She has also worked for the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services as Child Care Advisor and in the field of children's mental health where she provided consultation and training to child care professionals.
Kimberly Bezaire
Kimberly is an Early Childhood Educator and researcher, whose teaching career includes work in early years settings, labschools and kindergarten classrooms, as well as teacher education programs in British Columbia and Ontario. With an interest in child development, she earned her Early Childhood Education Diploma (1989), and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology at the University of Windsor (1991). Her graduate studies focused on Early Childhood Curriculum with a Masters of Education at the University of Victoria (2000) and PhD at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Toronto (2009). She is a published author in early literacy, play, and the arts, as well as an educational consultant, appearing on TVOntario’s Gorilla Parenting, and Your Voice. Providing numerous professional workshops and keynote addresses, Kimberly was also a panelist speaker at the 2009 R.W.B. Jackson Lecture titled: Early Learning in Ontario: A conversation on the implementation of Charles Pascal's recent report to the Premier of Ontario – advocating the importance of children’s ‘classroom play’.
Maxine Brown
After obtaining a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Guelph and then a post graduate diploma in Assessment and Family Counselling from the Institute of Child Studies, University of Toronto, Maxine worked as a teacher in a preschool program for children with special needs for five years. She also has experience as a consultant in a clinic for children with cognitive deficiencies and as co-ordinator of an integrated creative arts program for children with physical disabilities. Maxine joined the College in 1986.
Rachel Brophy
Rachel is a Registered Early Childhood Educator and graduate of George Brown College’s ECE program. She has designed and taught drama and art workshops for children, volunteered as a fitness coach for women and youth, facilitated family resource programs and worked as an ECE with a variety of age groups. Some of Rachel’s most significant teaching experiences were the years she spent living and working in Nunavut & Nunavik. In the north, Rachel collaborated with two different Inuit communities to organize and teach a college level ECE program to local residents. She has also worked internationally as a program coordinator & facilitator for Youth Leadership Workshops on the island of St. Lucia. Rachel has a BFA in Theatre and a MA in Early Childhood Studies both from Ryerson University. Her master’s research focused on Aboriginal Early Childhood Education in Canada. Currently, she is PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Education at York University where her doctoral research combines literature, psychoanalytic theory and representations of childhood to examine adult-child relations. Areas of interest: early childhood curriculum, the role of the adult in early childhood education, emotional relationships to teaching and learning and questions of diversity, equity & human rights in ECE.
Karen Chandler
Prior to her full-time faculty position at George Brown College, Karen had experience working with children, families, and professionals in early childhood, recreation, education, and mental health environments. She demonstrates leadership at the national, provincial and local levels with professional organizations, research and social policy development. Karen is the co-author of two textbooks - Administering Early Childhood Settings and The Whole Child. Her undergraduate education focuses on early childhood education completing credentials at Ryerson and Canadore College. Karen's graduate work in Assessment and Counselling was completed at the University of Toronto.
Maria Ciampini
Maria Ciampini has earned her PhD from the University of Toronto, in the Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Department., a Masters of Education degree in Foundations of Teaching and Learning through Brock University, a B.A. in Early Childhood Education through Ryerson University, and a Diploma in Early Childhood Education through Humber College and her Early Childhood Education Certification from the A.E.C.E.O. Her teaching background is varied. She worked with many levels of adult learners including students enrolled in E.C.E. program at George Brown College, Ryerson University’s Early Childhood Education (E.C.E.) Program; in the York / Seneca joint program; and in Seneca’s E.C.E., E.C.A. (assistant) and Apprenticeship program. Maria spent ten years in the role of the Director of the ECE Lab School at Seneca College and played an instrumental role in the development of the Lab School’s permanent site and program at the Newnham Campus of the college. Prior to teaching adult students she acquired a background of extensive experience in a variety of children’s programs in the role of supervisor and early childhood educator.
Bernice Cipparrone
Bernice Cipparrone has been in the field of early childhood education for almost thirty years. She graduated from York University with a B.A before receiving her Diploma in Early childhood Education from Seneca College. After working in the field for several years in various capacities including Director for a multisite organization; she returned to school to complete graduate studies at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Child Studies. Bernice then worked in children’s mental health specializing in infant mental health, trauma as well as healthy child development. In addition, during her professional and person time she has been committed to creating inclusive accessible communities. Bernice has developed three cultural competence evaluation tools for the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. These tools have been well received by the community which led to a number of local and national presentations. Bernice also worked at a Senior level for the Ontario Trillium Foundation (an agency of the government of Ontario) for three years while she was an instructor with George Brown College in the ECE continuing education department since 2000 before becoming full-time faculty in 2011.
Lora Hamilton
A George Brown College graduate of the ECE program, Lora worked at three college lab schools designing curriculum for all age groups from infants to kindergarten children. She facilitated creative play workshops and taught courses in the E.C.E. continuing Education department before joining the E.C.E. faculty as a Field Instructor.
Gail Hunter
Gail's educational background includes a B.A. in Social and Political Thought, an ECE Diploma, a Certificate in Psychology of Human Relations and a Certificate in Teaching and Training Adults. Her ten years of child care experience includes both teaching and supervisory positions. Gail held the position of Child Care Program Advisor with the Toronto Board of Education and in that capacity she facilitated workshops, centre start-ups and worked closely with centres located in school facilities. Gail joined the ECE Faculty at George Brown College in 1991 as coordinator of the Winter Intake ECE Program.
Palmina Ioannone has 20 years of experience working with young children, families, and early childhood professionals in various settings including schools, childcare centres and family support programs. She has a PhD in Human Development and Applied Psychology with a Specialization in Early Childhood Education from the University of Toronto/OISE, a M.A in Child Studies from Concordia University and a B.A in Psychology from McGill University. Palmina has taught a variety of early childhood education courses in Ontario and Quebec. Prior to her full time position at George Brown College, she taught at Ryerson University in the Early Childhood Education Department. In addition, Palmina has extensive experience in supporting students in field practice. Palmina has been involved in a variety of applied research projects in Canada and the U.S. including numerous studies on parenting for Invest in Kids and the Toronto First Duty Project - a pilot project integrating kindergarten, childcare, and family support through schools.
Palmina is a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE). Her special interests include parenting, school, family and community partnerships, and early childhood teacher education and professional development.
Zeenat Janmohamed
Zeenat Janmohamed is a professor in the School of Early Childhood at George Brown College currently on secondment as the executive director of the Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development at the University of Toronto. Zeenat’s expertise includes systems integration, professional education, early child development; advocacy, policy and governance; and diversity, equity and inclusion. Zeenat’s area of doctoral research is focused on examining the experiences of diverse parents in early years settings.
Suzette Jones
After completing her ECE at George Brown College, Suzette worked as a playroom teacher at five of the College Lab Schools over the next fifteen years. She was assistant supervisor at three of the centres while also teaching extensively in the Continuing Education Program. Suzette recently joined the ECE Faculty as a Field Instructor.
Mary Lou Lamont, ECE, BAA, MT
Mary Lou began teaching at George Brown College in 2006, after completing her Masters of Teaching at OISE/UT. She also achieved her Bachelor of Applied Arts in Early Childhood Education from Ryerson University, and her Early Childhood Education certification from George Brown College. Mary Lou has devoted over 25 years as a child care professional in a variety of environments, obtaining practical experience via increasingly responsible roles. The environments included College Lab Child Care, workplace settings, and community-based centres, while her roles ranged from participation as an ECE team member, to training staff and student ECEs and ECAs, to supervising child care centres, and finally to coordinating multiple centres. For many years, Mary Lou sat on the Child Care Advisory Board representing centres in the former City of York, as well as serving on various ad hoc committees addressing child care issues. Since joining George Brown, she has been active supporting students in the College’s highly regarded ECE and ECA programs in the classroom, tutorial, seminar and field-placement settings
Monica McGlynn-Stewart
B.A. (Toronto), D.C.S. (Diploma in Child Study, Primary/Junior Teaching Qualification, OISE, Toronto), M.ED. (Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, OISE, Toronto), Ph.D. (Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, OISE, Toronto)
Monica is a former elementary teacher with the Etobicoke Board of Education and co-founder and principal of The Abelard School, an independent school in Toronto. She has also worked as a consultant and facilitator for social service and educational organizations including the Metro Association for Family Resource Programs. Prior to joining the George Brown Faculty in January 2012, she was an Instructor and Faculty Advisor in the School of Early Childhood Education at Ryerson University for 7 years. For nearly 20 years Monica has researched, presented, and published on many topics including teacher action research, reflective practice, student engagement, and literacy learning and teaching. Currently, she is researching the Full-Day Early Learning Kindergarten teaching teams in Ontario.
Shelly Mehta
Shelly Mehta is obtaining her PhD in Developmental Psychology and Education at OISE at the University of Toronto under supervision of Dr. Janette Pelletier. Shelly's dissertation focus is on children's experiences in the full-day kindergarten program and in the Peel Best Start Program. Shelly received her Master's in Child Study and Education (M.A) at OISE/UT and her thesis focused on young children's perception of their own skin tone and the skin tone of others. Shelly obtained an honours Bachelor of Science (BSc) specialist degree in Psychology; her undergraduate thesis focused on tactile memory differences between visually impaired persons and non-visually impaired persons. Shelly is a certified primary/junior teacher in Ontario (OCT) with additional qualifications in special education and primary education. Shelly is also a registered early childhood educator (RECE) with College of Early Childhood Educators. She has actively been involved in various research initiatives at OISE/UT for over 8 years; some of these projects include: Shaken Baby Syndrome Project with Dr. Richard Volpe, The Balanced Literacy Diet Website with Dr. Dale Willows, TV Ontario Kids Fun For Families Literacy Program with Dr. Janette Pelletier and TVO, Toronto First Duty Project with Dr. Carl Corter, and through an internship with the Atkinson Center, completed a research project/report examining the experiences of internationally trained early childhood educators. Shelly has been a part-time instructor at Seneca College teaching Psychology and has numerous experiences teaching children and adults; with particular focus on individuals with various exceptionalities and English Language Learners in numerous settings. Shelly has taught for George Brown College for the past few years and continues to be a member of several organizations in the city of Toronto. Shelly continues to be involved in various research projects and organizations pertaining education.
Barb Pimento
Barb's educational background includes an Early Childhood Education Diploma, an Infant-Toddler Certificate, an honours B.A. in Psychology and a Masters in Health Science (Health Promotion). She has been involved in this field since 1975, and has taught a range of courses at Lambton College (Sarnia) and George Brown. Her focus has been in the area of health promotion. Barb has co-authored three editions of the Health textbook used in ECE programs across Canada entitled Healthy Foundations in Early Childhood Settings.
Beth Stockton
Beth graduated from University of Toronto with a degree in Sociology and English literature. She then completed her ECE at George Brown College. With a background in recreation, Beth worked as a playroom teacher with school age children at George Brown College lab school for seven years. During this time she presented workshops on school age curriculum and was active in school age advocacy. Over the next five years Beth was a manager at three of the GBC Childcare Lab Schools. She completed her Masters of Education in Adult Education in 2007. Beth began teaching part-time in Early Childhood Education in 1995 and has recently joined Early Childhood Development faculty fulltime.