FEATURE
The Next Generation of Teaching: How Young Educators are Transforming Hamilton Classrooms
HAMILTON – March 24, 2025 – At 7:30 a.m., Michelle Ngung walks into her brightly decorated elementary classroom at Westwood Elementary School. The room hums with energy even before the day begins—colorful posters line the walls, student artwork is proudly displayed, and a cozy reading corner invites young minds to explore new worlds. Across the city, Leanna Melchiorre is setting up for her first period English class at Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School, where her students are preparing to analyze contemporary literature through the lens of social issues. These two young teachers are part of a wave of educators in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) who are redefining what it means to teach the younger generation of students.
A New Approach to Learning
With nearly half of HWDSB’s teaching staff having joined in the last decade, the district is experiencing a significant generational shift in education. Younger teachers like Michelle and Leanna are bringing fresh ideas, student-centered learning methods, and a passion for real-world relevance to the classroom.
“I never wanted my classroom to feel like a place where kids just sit, listen, and take notes,” Michelle said. “Learning should be active, engaging, and, most of all, meaningful. My goal is to make sure my students feel seen, heard, and excited to learn.”
This shift is making a difference. According to a 2024 HWDSB survey, Grade 3 students reported feeling more engaged in classes that incorporate interactive and student-led learning. Additionally, the survey also found that these students were able to improve skills in reading, writing and mathematics by 5%, 7% and 9% respectively.
From Textbooks to Hands-On Learning
Michelle’s approach to teaching goes beyond traditional lesson plans. In her Grade 4 classroom, math is taught using real-world examples—budgeting for a class party, measuring ingredients for a baking project, or analyzing statistics from a local sports game. Science lessons include outdoor experiments, and history is explored through storytelling and role-playing.
“I want my students to understand how what they learn connects to their lives,” she explained. “Instead of just memorizing multiplication tables, we build things, solve problems, and work together. When they see the purpose behind what they’re learning, they become more invested.”
Her methods align with research showing that hands-on, inquiry-based learning has been linked to increased student retention and performance, with studies showing that students in such environments have a 92% retention rate compared to just 32% for those in traditional lecture-based settings (Khasawneh et al., 2023).
Meanwhile, in the high school hallways, Leanna is taking a similar approach, but with older students. “The traditional way of teaching English—where students read old texts, write essays, and move on—wasn’t working for everyone,” she said. “I realized that if I wanted them to engage, I needed to connect literature to their real lives.”
In her class, Shakespeare isn’t just a historical relic—it’s a lens through which students examine modern relationships, power dynamics, and social justice. Essays are replaced with multimedia projects, student-led discussions, and even creative storytelling using social media formats.
“Last semester, my students rewrote scenes from Macbeth as text message conversations,” she said with a laugh. “They had to capture the tone, emotion, and themes—but in a way that felt natural to them. The results were incredible.”
Innovative teaching isn’t always easy. Michelle and Leanna have both faced challenges in introducing their methods. Some parents worry that non-traditional teaching styles won’t prepare students for standardized tests. Older colleagues sometimes question whether these methods are as effective as traditional approaches.
“There’s always going to be resistance when you challenge the norm,” Michelle admitted. “But when I see my students thriving, asking questions, and getting excited about learning, I know we’re doing something right.”
Beyond Academics: The Teacher as a Mentor
One of the biggest changes young educators are bringing to HWDSB classrooms is a focus on the whole student—mental health, emotional intelligence, and real-world skills. Teachers today are not just educators; they are mentors, role models, and sometimes even confidants.
“In today’s world, students are dealing with so much—social pressures, mental health challenges, uncertainty about the future,” Leanna said. “We can’t just teach subjects; we have to teach resilience, empathy, and confidence.”
To support this, HWDSB has introduced new professional development programs focused on social-emotional learning, mental health awareness, and trauma-informed teaching.
The Future of Teaching in Hamilton
With education evolving rapidly, the role of teachers is shifting as well. HWDSB is embracing this change by launching mentorship programs where early-career teachers are paired with experienced educators, creating a collaborative environment that bridges generational gaps.
“This isn’t about replacing old ways with new,” Leanna emphasized. “It’s about combining the best of both—keeping the structure that works while integrating new ways of thinking. The end goal is the same: giving students the best education possible.”
Michelle agrees. “Education isn’t just about academics—it’s about preparing kids for life. If we can make learning meaningful, engaging, and relevant, we’re setting them up for success, no matter where they go next.”
As Hamilton classrooms continue to transform, one thing is clear: the next generation of teachers isn’t just following the curriculum—they’re reshaping it for a new era.
For more information on HWDSB’s education initiatives, visit www.hwdsb.on.ca
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Contact:
Hareem Sattar
Communications Manager, HWDSB
Email: hareem.sattarl@hwdsb.ca
Phone: +1 905-555-7890
About HWDSB:
The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is the public school board for the city of Hamilton. Established on January 1, 1998, via the amalgamation of the Hamilton and Wentworth County school boards, the board currently operates 93 elementary and secondary schools.
The board has approximately 50,000 students in its 93 neighbourhood schools.In addition to the programming offered at 80 elementary and 13 secondary schools, a number of alternative programs focusing on sports, academics, science, arts and languages are available.
