Each year, Dyslexia Canada’s Educational Excellence Awards recognize those making a meaningful difference in the lives of students with dyslexia. These awards celebrate educators who embrace evidence-based practices, prioritize early identification, and work to ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn to read.
2026 marks Dyslexia Canada’s milestone tenth anniversary, and it is an honour to celebrate with this year’s remarkable group of award winners from across Canada.
Erin Mosher, Christine Gillis, Nicole Curry, and Jacqueline Markowski ignited a spark for practicing evidence-based reading instruction at Ocean View Elementary School, and nurturing that spark has led them to win the 2026 Dyslexia Canada Educational Excellence Award.
They were nominated by their peers at the primary-to-grade 3 school in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia, for their tremendous success in shifting practice toward evidence-based literacy instruction. Classrooms at Ocean View now benefit from these practices, thanks to their committed outreach to support staff in building their knowledge and capacity to strengthen literacy outcomes.
Reaching this impressive milestone started small in 2018. Erin explains that the team’s passion began organically when they realized that the reading instruction in their classes wasn’t working. “We knew we needed to make a change so that students would actually start reading,” she says. And with that realization, the spark kindled.
In their capacities as resource, early literacy support, and classroom teachers, they began researching other options for reading instruction. Structured literacy offered a more effective approach. This initial shift in practice was an eye-opening experience for the team. “Teaching kids to read was so much more than we had been taught to do,” Christine reflects while discussing the impact of their earliest interventions.
As other teachers were inspired by their committed outreach to share the effectiveness of evidence-based reading instruction and build capacity in other classrooms based on the success they were seeing with their own students, the team affirms, “It snowballed from there!”
The team’s whole-school approach to championing structured literacy has had an undeniable impact on student outcomes. Since Ocean View serves students from primary to Grade 3, the impact of this work is especially evident when students transition to Grade 4. The team shares that students leave Ocean View as stronger, more confident readers who are better prepared to meet the increasing literacy demands of later grades. They are able to read independently to learn new information, engage more fully with content across subject areas, and tackle grade-level complex texts with greater success. Most importantly, students see themselves as capable readers. As Erin explains, “They’re not just reading to read, they’re reading to learn things about the world around them, and it opens up all these doors for them.”
Beyond student outcomes, structured literacy also benefits teachers. Once the practice is adopted, teachers can plan their instruction, confident in knowing the foundation has been laid in the previous year. Nicole notes that the motivation only increases when an educator can go home at the end of the day and say, “I made progress today.”
As their work gained momentum, the team began sharing what they had learned with other educators. Jacqueline notes that many educators initially feel overwhelmed by the prospect of changing their practice.
“It’s important for teachers to understand what that looks like in practice within a structured day. How can you implement all these things from start to finish? It really feels daunting until you pull it apart and understand that a lot of it is intertwined, and it is really easy to put into your day.”
By sharing practical examples from their own classrooms, the team helps educators see that meaningful change is achievable and that evidence-based instruction can fit within the realities of a busy school day.
As this school year comes to a close, the Ocean View team will be moving into new roles and opportunities, carrying with them the lessons and successes they achieved together. Their time spent refining their knowledge and expertise in evidence-based instruction, whole-school capacity building, and a passion for improving student outcomes will serve their new schools and roles well. The spark they nurtured at Ocean View will be spread further and impact even more students and teachers across their region.
As Nicole says, “The more we do it, the better it’s going to get!”
Statements of Support
Hon. Brendan Maguire, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
“Congratulations to the outstanding team from Ocean View Elementary School on receiving Dyslexia Canada’s 2026 Educational Excellence Award in the Outstanding Team category.
This national recognition celebrates the dedication, collaboration and leadership of four educators and support staff who have worked together to ensure students with dyslexia and other literacy challenges receive the support and evidence-based instruction they need to succeed.
Their commitment to creating inclusive learning environments where every student can build confidence and reach their full potential is making a meaningful difference for children and families in their community.
On behalf of the Province of Nova Scotia, congratulations on this well-deserved honour. We are proud to celebrate your achievement and the positive impact you continue to have on student success.”
Hon. Barbara Adams, MLA Eastern Passage
“Congratulations to the outstanding team from Ocean View Elementary School on receiving Dyslexia Canada’s 2026 Educational Excellence Award in the Outstanding Team category.
This national recognition highlights the incredible dedication and teamwork that educators in Cole Harbour and Eastern Passage bring to supporting student success.
Your commitment to helping students with dyslexia develop strong literacy skills is making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families throughout our community. We are proud to see your hard work recognized on the national stage.
Congratulations on this well-deserved honour and thank you for all you do for students every day.”
Halifax Regional Centre for Education
“Halifax Regional Centre for Education congratulates Erin Mosher, Christine Gillis, Nicole Curry, and Jacqueline Markowski of Ocean View Elementary School on receiving the Dyslexia Canada Educational Excellence Award. This recognition highlights their efforts to advance their own literacy learning in order to support student success in reading. This achievement is worthy of celebration. The commitment to student success requires ongoing attention, reflection, and commitment. We appreciate Erin, Christine, Nicole, and Jackie’s contributions to literacy achievements in our region.”