Shelley Neal

Year: 2016 – Province: Ontario

Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Shelley Neal

Bloorview School Authority
150 Kilgour Road
Toronto, Ontario  M4G 1R8

Principal: Wendy Howes
School telephone: 416-424-3831
School email: school@hollandbloorview.ca
School website: http://www.bloorviewschool.ca

Subjects and grades taught: Teacher-librarian, Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12

Shelley Neal shares her passion for learning with young children receiving physical therapy and medical care in conjunction with their schooling, as well as students in all grades in rehabilitation following surgery or trauma.

Teaching approach

Mrs. Neal sees the children she teaches as valuable members of society with valuable gifts to offer, and strives to help each student succeed, regardless of how that success is measured. As teacher-librarian, Mrs. Neal works to creatively complement and extend what children are learning in the classroom.

Outstanding achievements

  • Champions widespread technology use: investigates and tests leading-edge hardware and software to see how it might help students with various disabilities; employs technology in the classroom to provide and enhance student access to the curriculum; trains all staff on a variety of standard and specialized software.
  • Transformed the school library from a cold and uninviting location to showcase technology to an inviting location for student-centred learning that can take place on the floor and in specially designed furniture.
  • Spearheads social outreach projects, such as Sleeping Children, providing beds for children in Africa, and garners enthusiastic participation from children facing considerable challenges themselves.
  • Designed a literacy program in collaboration with the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Team at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital: works weekly with students and their parents on basic writing and research skills, as part of the transition back to the regular school system.

Rave reviews

"I not only trust Shelley with my child but treasure the time she spends with him. … I trust that she will expose him to many different, interesting, and rich tasks that will hopefully foster in him the same attributes of his wonderful teacher."

Parent and Special Education Teacher

"Nothing is ever too much for her to offer to help. If a colleague speaks of a need, even in passing, you can be sure Shelley's response will be, 'How can I help? Let's make it so.'"

Nominator