Annie Kidder is the Executive Director and a founder of People for Education. Formerly a theatre director, Kidder became involved in public education in Ontario in the late 1990’s and since then has become an expert on education policy and funding. She regularly provides advice to policy-makers and government, and her writing on education has been published in a range of media. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Ontario Principals’ Council 2004 Outstanding Contribution to Education Award, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation 2005 Public Education Advocacy Award, and in 2018, an honourary doctorate from York University. She has spoken at conferences in Canada, the United States, Europe, Africa and South America.  She is regularly quoted in the media as an expert on education issues. She lives in Toronto.

Guided by a background in the arts and a love of film, Jasmine believes that research can be used to tell a powerful story and has the potential to incite hope for change. Her research interests concentrate on queer youth, 2SLGBTQ+ inclusive education, equity in schools, and community-engaged research. She is passionate about making research more accessible, while working toward an equitable public education system where all youth have the opportunity to succeed. Jasmine holds an MA in Educational Leadership and Policy from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, a BA in Sexual Diversity Studies from the University of Toronto, and a BFA in Film Production from York University. Her master’s thesis explored teacher experiences of Day of Pink in Ontario schools.

Having previously worked in education-related research across sectors in England, Scotland and Sri Lanka, Kaushi Attygalle strives to take an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the complex issues facing public education today. Her experience working in vastly different contexts and settings has allowed her the space to take a comparative view of education and thoughtfully apply that knowledge to local contexts. Prior to joining People for Education, Kaushi worked at the Youth Research & Evaluation Exchange, based at York University, engaging in equity-based education and youth sector research. She is passionate about the role of the arts in creating space for transformative learning both in and outside the classroom and continues to contribute to various arts-based education projects in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where she grew up. She holds a Master of Arts in Education from the Institute of Education, University College London. Outside of work, Kaushi enjoys hiking, is a film and theatre enthusiast, and a full-time foster to rescue dogs in Ontario.

Krish is a recent graduate from Wilfrid Laurier University. Having majored in Communications & Media Studies, he currently works with People for Education supporting communication and marketing-related tasks. Growing up attending various types of schools, Krish has a personal interest and nuanced perspective on Canadian education and its current standard(s).  

Born in Maple, Ontario and raised in a Guyanese-Bengali household, Krish attributes many of his goals and skills to his upbringing. Having always had a knack for creating, Krish also began a music production business at the end of 2020, which he currently operates in his free time. As a result of the effort he has dedicated to this passion, Krish has even been lucky enough to work with various major artists/creatives, have many unique experiences, and travel across the world, recently returning from a work trip to Los Angeles, California.  

Kymberly is a creative professional passionate about using her skills in design and communications to advocate for a more inclusive world. She is particularly interested in supporting equity in education as well as poverty alleviation through financial inclusion.

Kymberly has an interdisciplinary educational background, including a BA in Anthropology with minors in Communication Studies and Social Entrepreneurship from McGill University. She also completed an MA in Design for Social Impact from Paris College of Art (Formerly, Parsons Paris).

Outside of work, Kymberly loves to dabble in creative hobbies like painting, ceramics, and creative writing. She is also an avid traveler, ever curious about cultural differences and seeking to immerse herself in unfamiliar environments.

Robin has worn many hats in the field of education: classroom teacher, policy researcher, published author, and curriculum designer. She joins People for Education after spending seven years at the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, where she supported pan-Canadian policy and data development in collaboration with all 13 provinces and territories. Her research interests focus on social justice, fostering community among racialized teachers, and the potential of public education to prepare future generations to build and thrive in an equitable society. She holds a PhD in Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning from the University of Toronto, a MA in French Literature (donc elle est bilingue et vous invite de lui contacter en anglais ou en français) from McMaster University, a BEd from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, and an Honours BASc from McMaster University. Located in Toronto, she spends her free time trying to keep up with her two kids.

Sharon is a passionate communication professional who believes that words have the power to motivate and inspire people to take action and that’s what drives her work. She is keen about working towards creating a more equitable society, be it promoting access to education for children of marginalized communities in India or advancing women-owned businesses in Canada through supplier diversity.

Sharon has a Masters degree in Communication from Leeds Beckett University in the United Kingdom. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and learning more about food and recipes from other countries. Luckily her husband is a big eater! She loves to write (mostly inspired by her own life growing up in a small town in India), go on walks and explore the neighborhood with her family.

Having worked in various roles across the nonprofit and education sectors, Stephanie is passionate about what happens behind the scenes to bring transformative action to life. Stephanie was born in Brantford, Ontario and moved to Mexico City with her family as a young girl. She attributes her passion for social progress to her multicultural upbringing. She holds a double major in International Development and Political Science from the University of Toronto Scarborough, and upon graduating worked in the nonprofit sector representing a variety of international, national, and local nonprofits in her work in fundraising. She recently graduated from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education with her Master of Education and is eager to help transform public education in Canada in becoming more accessible and equitable for all students and communities. In her spare time Stephanie is an avid reader, painter, and volunteer.