As an instructor with Trent’s School of Education for 17 years, Professor Bente Graham has felt and adapted to many changes facing educators over the past couple of decades. All while ensuring her students would be successful upon completing their Bachelor of Education degree. It is this dedication that has led to Prof. Graham being named the recipient of the inaugural Decanal Awards for Teaching Excellence in Education.  

An award that goes beyond the classroom

The Decanal Awards recognize Trent instructors who passionately inspire and engage their students and embrace creative and innovative methods to support learning and creative thinking. 

Those who have either worked with or been taught by Prof. Graham, know that her passion for education and her students is at the forefront of everything she does. One nominator stated that, “Prof. Graham is attuned to the need to use a variety of multimodal strategies that model and demonstrate excellent pedagogy to teacher candidates (TCs) who then understand and have engaged in this pedagogy so that they too can draw on and apply these instructional strategies in their own teaching.”  

Within the School of Education, support from instructors like Prof. Graham continues after you graduate. 

“TCs respect Prof. Graham immeasurably and seek out her advice after class and well after they have graduated. I have had numerous conversations with students that she has taught whereby the TC has praised her pedagogy and been so grateful for all the support she generously has given them,” shared another nominator. 

A pillar within the School of Education

Having been a part of many transitional moments in education, Prof. Graham leaves the School of Education recognized as a pillar, having made a tremendous impact on all of those she met, that will be felt for years to come. As a course mentor for Supporting Literacy and Learners with Special Needs, along with the Primary/Junior Language and Literacy course, Prof. Graham’s retirement will certainly be felt by all. Another nominator commented, “All I can say is that I have never met an educator more dedicated, caring, passionate, focused, ethical, current, concerned, hard-working and uncompromising in her quest for teaching excellence than Prof. Graham.” 

“Prof. Graham is utterly committed to our teacher candidates, to Trent University, and to the community in which we live and work. She leaves an impressive legacy reflected in the impact she has had upon so many TCs over the past 17 years, who now bring that shared learning to students in classrooms across the province each day”, says acting dean of education, Claire Mooney. “She will be sorely missed by everyone within the School of Education, we are immensely grateful for everything she has contributed, and we wish her well in her retirement.”