Estelle Cohen has been the Trustee for the YRDSB for the past 4 years.

She graduated as a member of the Ontario College of Teachers and TESL Ontario (Teaching English as a Second Language). Her teaching experience is with the Windsor Board of Education as well as the Toronto District School Board in the public school, middle school and adult education departments. 

Estelle was promoted to a Program Manager of Adult ESL classes in the Toronto District School Board. She developed an extensive knowledge of negotiation, facilitation and mediation related to conflicts between administration, staff, students and outside organizations. This included involvement with grievances of union members of CUPE 4400 units B and C. She ensured that all requirements of the Collective Agreements were being met. Responsibilities also included staffing, supervision, evaluation of staff, financial reporting, staff training and curriculum support. 

Estelle has strong communication and presentation skills. She has given several workshops at professional conferences like CESBA (Ontario Association of Adult and Continuing Education School Boards Administrators). The workshops given, included, "Good Teacher, Better Teacher, Best Teacher”, “Instructor Evaluation: Finding Words and Techniques for Giving Constructive Feedback”, “I’m Losing It: Organizational Skills for Managers”, “Elephant in the Room: Dealing with Harassment in the Workplace” and “The Guru Buffet for Managers: Achieve an Enlightened Level of Leadership by Gaining the Wisdom of self-help Gurus and Great Leaders of the Past and Present”. 

Estelle has also completed extensive training courses in Cognitive Coaching through John Dyer Centre for Cognitive Coaching, as well as “Advanced Cognitive Coaching”, through Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Following an additional course, “From Conflict to Collaboration: Conflict and Anger Management Training”, she was invited to act as a coach and mentor for the participants of the following session. 

She has also benefited greatly from a course presented by St. Stephens Community House, on “Conflict Resolution”, a course on “Fierce Conversations”, by Susan Scott, a course delivered by Grant Bowers of the TDSB Legal Department, “How to Conduct an Investigation”, as well as a five day Alternate Dispute Resolution training course, offered to a select group of managers by the Toronto District School Board Human Rights Department. This course was followed by a three day course called, “Advanced Conflict Management Applied Skills Training Programme”. Estelle has since been asked, by the Human Rights Department, to give a workshop to TDSB Managers who were taking the Alternate Dispute Resolution course. She has also been invited to The University of Toronto, to present a workshop on Alternate Dispute Resolution to students attending the Law course. 

Estelle worked for several years for The Human Rights Department, in the area of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Investigation, involving TDSB staff in various departments, who were involved in conflicts and harassment claims. 

In each case, previous to the facilitation meeting, Estelle interviewed all parties involved, including the complainant and the respondent as well as supervising staff and witnesses, so that she could become familiar with all aspects and individual perceptions of the conflict. 

Throughout her management career, Estelle has worked in a multi-cultural environment where she has been given extensive opportunities to develop strong skills in facilitation, mediation and coaching. For Estelle, it has become not only a job, but a passion. 

Estelle is known for strong management skills, experience in the field of education, excellent communication skills, a balanced disposition, fairness, patience, positive outlook and determination to encourage individuals in conflict to move forward, to find solutions, and foster open, respectful communication.