Faculty Member: Jeff Kuntz Date of the Observation:

Elaine McPhee
Stefanick, B.A., B.Ed., Monday, September 25, 2017 through to
Observer: MDE (ISTEP-13 Project Manager Friday, September 29, 2017
for Lakeland College and formerly
the Chair of Literacy and Essential
Skills at NorQuest College)

Project Name: Improving Skills Training for Employment Program (ISTEP-13).

Brief Description of Project:
This International Project, working with the Tanzanian Vocational Education Training
Authority (VETA) began in March 2016. In collaboration with Lakeland College, NorQuest
College supported the outcomes of the ISTEP-13 project to support our Tanzanian partners in
developing a remedial curriculum for learners entering the VETA System who were struggling
with academics.

Areas of Focus Number: 2. Creates engaging, relevant, and motivating learning experiences
for learners
As part of a two-week mission to Canada, four Tanzanian teachers participated in teacher
training at NorQuest College (September 25 – September 29, 2017) and at Lakeland College
(October 2 – October 6, 2017).
Jeff organized activities and learning experiences for the four Tanzanian teachers during the
NorQuest College training week related to planning for learning, classroom culture,
classroom technology, engaging students through interactive learning strategies, working
with students with disabilities, career counseling, assessment for learning, inclusive
education, and Canadian teacher observations. Of these topics, Jeff led the “Planning for
Learning”, “Classroom Culture” and “Assessment for Learning” topics/presentations.
However, it should be noted that in organizing these various learning experiences, there was
a significant amount of work in the background, which went far beyond Jeff’s responsibility in
preparing and delivering the three presentations. This “other” work related to:
 Ensuring relevant and impactful learning activities through questions/surveys to the
Tanzanian teachers prior to their arrival
 Jeff created a highly engaging, relevant and motivational week for the Tanzanian
teachers
 Creating a schedule which would engage and motivate the learners
 Modifying lessons/presentations based on Jeff’s understanding of the Tanzanian
context and realities of highly limited resources
 Working with the NorQuest College teachers who were involved in working with the
Tanzanian teachers to support their understanding of the Tanzanian context
 Having morning and end-of-day touch point meetings with the Tanzanian teachers—
reviewing concepts learned and creating a space to discuss questions or concerns.
Jeff created a highly engaging, relevant, and motivational week for the Tanzanian teachers.
So much so, that the Tanzanian teachers again and again expressed their delight and
excitement that Jeff would be travelling to Mwanza College (northern Tanzanian and the site
of the Remedial Curriculum pilot) in January 2018.

Areas of Focus Number: 11. Consults and collaborates with internal personnel and other
departments as needed
As part of organizing the September 25 – 29 Tanzanian teacher training week, Jeff worked
with many stakeholders, whether this was the Associate Dean of Foundational and
Intercultural Studies, Chair of and numerous teachers in Academic Upgrading, support
service units (Counselling, Learning Strategies, English Language Learning), to bring together
a highly interactive and impactful week of learning for the Tanzanian teachers. In addition,
the other unintended but very powerful outcome was the personal connections made by the
Canadian and Tanzanian teams through working together and ultimately exchanging ideas
and emails.
Jeff was also present during and supported the several opportunities when NorQuest
Executive (Jodi Abbott, Norma Schneider, and Jonathan Robb) joined our training sessions to
bring greetings.

Areas of Focus Number: 12. Contributes to a learning culture that encourages continuous
learning, reflective practice and peer support.
Much of Jeff’s work in the start-of-day and wrapping-up-of-the day activities involved
continuous learning (what had the teachers learned? Where might they go for further
information or support), reflective practice (how would they apply what they
learned/observed today in their context?), and peer support (Jeff encouraged sharing of
information between the Tanzanian teachers, but also created significant pathways for the
teachers to engage and stay connected with their Canadian counterparts.
It has been my privilege to have worked with Jeff as he participated in the April 2017 and
January 2018 missions to Tanzanians. Always, a thoughtful observer and highly organized
individual, it made my job managing the project so much easier!
During the September 25 – 29, 2017 teacher training at NorQuest College, I observed Jeff “in
action”—he was organized, sensitive, passionate about his work, creative, high energy, and
demonstrated immense teaching and facilitating skill sets.
NorQuest College is extremely fortunate to have a faculty member who embodies all the best
of teaching excellence.