Teachers receive ATA awards for graduate research

The Alberta Teachers’ Association is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 ATA Doctoral Fellowships in Education and the Nadene M. Thomas Graduate Research Bursary.

2025 ATA Doctoral Fellowships in Education 

This year’s recipients of the $15,000 doctoral fellowships are Joshua LaFleur and Sana Waseem. 

LaFleur, a learning specialist with Rocky View Schools, received the fellowship to support his research on building inclusive, culturally responsive school communities. Specifically, his doctoral work explores how playful learning and community-building strategies can support students with English as an additional language, particularly in suburban and rural schools. LaFleur aims to help create school environments where all students feel seen and supported by designing scalable approaches that reduce absenteeism and boost academic outcomes. 

Waseem, a learning leader with the Calgary Board of Education, is excited to research ways to improve the well-being of female leaders in education, particularly those who are racialized. Through her research, Waseem hopes to inform the development of policies that improve the support, retention and promotion of these leaders, and lead to greater organizational diversity and effectiveness. 

Nadene M. Thomas Graduate Research Bursary

This year’s recipient of the $5,000 graduate bursary is JJ Ondrus.

Ondrus, a veteran high school physics and mathematics teacher, is currently completing a master of education at the University of Lethbridge. Her capstone project explores educational leadership through the metaphor of quantum mechanics — specifically, the concept of holding two truths simultaneously, such as being both a leader and a manager. Grounded in case studies, her research focuses on parent engagement as a strategy to improve student attendance and attitudes, with special attention paid to address challenges experienced by students from vulnerable or marginalized groups.

The ATA Doctoral Fellowships in Education and Nadene M Thomas Graduate Research Bursary are awarded annually to active members pursuing advanced degrees in education at recognized public universities in Canada. Successful recipients are selected for exemplary teaching and leadership, contribution to the ATA and public education, academic achievement and the potential impact of their research.

The application deadline for both awards is February 28 each year. 

Find out more at https://teachers.ab.ca/scholarships.