In this conversation, Pino Buffone shares his journey from being a child of Italian immigrants to becoming the Director of Education at the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. He reflects on his upbringing in a bilingual household, the importance of education instilled by his parents, and his experiences navigating the education system as a multilingual learner. Pino discusses the challenges of literacy, the value of cultural exchange in education, and his commitment to fostering international partnerships to enhance educational opportunities for students. In this conversation, Pino Buffone discusses the importance of equity in education, emphasizing the need for equitable access, experience, and outcomes for all students.

This episode is brought to you by ⁠Education Perfect⁠, a complete teaching and learning toolkit built to support Canadian classrooms. Education Perfect empowers educators to track progress, personalize learning, and support purposeful practice. Its tools are flexible and designed to help Canadian teachers amplify their impact in the classroom. See for yourself and book a free demo today at ⁠educationperfect.com⁠.

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Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Sponsor Message – Education Perfect
[00:01:11] Introduction to Pino Buffone
[00:03:30] Pino’s Current Role and Background
[00:05:00] Returning to the District as Director
[00:06:55] Italian-Canadian Upbringing
[00:08:24] Resilience and Resourcefulness from Family
[00:09:52] Childhood and Cultural Integration
[00:11:37] Early Love for Languages and Internationalization
[00:12:35] Discovering Father’s Illiteracy
[00:14:02] Reflections on Jacques Demers and Literacy
[00:16:07] Immigrant Housing and Literacy’s Impact on Perspective
[00:17:17] Cultural Nights and Celebrating Newcomer Talents
[00:18:28] Shaping Educational Approaches for Multilingual Learners
[00:19:43] Choosing Teaching Over Family Trade
[00:21:35] Health Canada and Diplomatic Career Considerations
[00:22:56] Last-Minute Acceptance to McGill Teachers College
[00:24:01] Para-diplomacy and International Education
[00:25:13] Global Partnerships: China and France
[00:27:14] Future Partnerships and Environmental Learning
[00:28:28] Education as a Global Shared Endeavor
[00:29:36] Why International Exchanges Matter
[00:30:34] Writing About Equity and AI Reflections
[00:32:23] Equity of Access, Experience, and Outcomes
[00:34:47] Elementary and Secondary Pathways
[00:37:10] Redesigning Programs to Foster Equity
[00:38:16] From Policy to Procedure: Practical Equity
[00:39:22] Subtle Systemic Barriers in Practice
[00:40:28] Embedding Equity into Daily Practice
[00:41:26] Formal and Informal Professional Learning Networks
[00:42:54] Managing PLNs Amidst Teacher Shortages
[00:43:52] Holistic Learning Beyond Curriculum
[00:44:59] Balancing Urgency with Systemic Change
[00:46:13] Integrative Thinking and Emerging Technologies
[00:47:16] Future of the Flipped Classroom
[00:48:38] Industry Partnerships and Student Engagement
[00:49:42] Using Real-World Tools in Classrooms
[00:50:40] Letting Students Design Their Learning
[00:51:50] Restructuring Graduation Credit Models
[00:53:25] More Electives, Fewer Compulsories
[00:54:38] School Choice Based on Student Interest
[00:56:16] Hybrid Learning and Industry Integration
[00:57:13] Media Recommendations: Sacred Economics and The Black Crowes
[00:58:57] Closing Credits and Acknowledgments