ABCDE recognizes exceptional individuals at the annual Teacher Education Roundtable with the Teacher Educator and Education Advocate Awards:
The TEACHER EDUCATOR is awarded to someone at the school or university level who has distinguished themselves in partnering with a teacher education program in B.C. For example, a nominee may have provided exceptional mentoring of pre-service teachers for a number of years and/or may have been actively involved in partnership discussions or leadership on improvements to a post-secondary teacher education program.
The EDUCATION ADVOCATE is awarded to someone who has distinguished themselves as an advocate for Education. A nominee for this award might be one who has written thoughtful analyses of education or teacher education and/or who has consistently provided strong support for BC Education.
2025 AWARDS
2025 Emerging Teacher Educator Award Winner
Melanie Wong, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Teaching, UBC
Dr. Wong has quickly become an innovative and influential teacher educator in British Columbia. As an Assistant Professor of Teaching at UBC’s Faculty of Education, her leadership in course design, digital pedagogy, and commitment to equity and decolonization has already left a lasting mark on the field.
She has co-developed and led ground-breaking courses like Place-Based Literacies and Digital Media Literacies, bringing together decolonizing frameworks and cutting-edge technologies—including Makerspaces, virtual reality, and AI integration. Her work ensures that teacher candidates, including those in rural and remote communities, have access to dynamic, research-based, and inclusive learning experiences.
Dr. Wong has also been a key driver in transitioning UBC’s BEd program to hybrid delivery, increasing accessibility across the province. Her dedication to equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenous rights is not just theory—it’s woven into every course she teaches and every initiative she leads, from the UBC K–12 Literacy Community of Learners to professional development networks across BC.
And perhaps most importantly, her students speak of her as an exceptional mentor—someone who brings passion, care, and clarity to every interaction. She’s not only preparing educators for today’s classrooms, but inspiring the kind of reflective, justice-oriented leaders we need for tomorrow.
2025 Education Advocate Award Winner
Vandy Britton, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Program Chair, School of Education
Dr. Britton’s career stands as a powerful testament to what it means to lead with courage, compassion, and commitment to truth and reconciliation. As a teacher educator at the University of the Fraser Valley, she has consistently centered Stó:lō worldviews, Indigenous rights, and decolonization in her teaching, scholarship, and advocacy.
Whether creating impactful courses like Taking Action – Reconciliation for Residential Schools through the Witness Blanket, co-designing the Indigenous Studies Certificate, or developing multi-grade curriculum kits to teach about residential schools and decolonization, Dr. Britton has inspired real, measurable change. Her work has not only touched classrooms across BC, but also continues to empower teacher candidates to see education as a tool for justice.
Dr. Britton is also a tireless collaborator—leading projects alongside First Nations, bringing diverse voices into teacher education programs, and shaping policy conversations across the province. From the Nisga’a practicum experience to the Equity Backpack and support for SOGI inclusion, her advocacy reaches all corners of educational equity.
In addition to her university work, for the last several years Dr. Britton has also been the ABCDE rep to the BCTC. She has negotiated the many complexities of the Ministry of Education, the BCTC, the TRB and the 9 TEPS in BC in her work.
What sets Dr. Britton apart is not only the breadth of her contributions, but the integrity and intention behind them. She leads with purpose. She acts with humility. And she pushes us all to do better.