TDSB & Me is a staff storytelling series that celebrates the people who help our schools and workplaces thrive. Each profile recognizes the everyday leadership, creativity, and care that shapes our system and supports student success.
Tynesha Hibbert
Elementary Teacher, Castlebar Junior School
Tynesha Hibbert has been with the TDSB since 2015, but her love of working with young people began long before she stepped into a classroom. After years spent working at summer camps and coaching children in sports, she knew she wanted a career where she could make a difference in the lives of children.
“On paper, my job title is teacher,” she says. “But in reality, I am a mentor, a coach, an advocate, a safe space, and sometimes just the person who fixes a broken hair tie during recess.”
There’s rarely a quiet moment in her school day. She may start the morning coaching a team, spend the day teaching in the classroom and lead an extra Physical Education and Health class, then use her lunch hour to run the Young, Black, and Gifted Club, meet with the Caring and Safe School Committee, coach another team or simply connect with colleagues. Whether she’s on the court, in the classroom or helping create spaces where students feel seen and supported, Hibbert brings the same energy and enthusiasm to every part of school life.
But for Hibbert, the heart of the work is always the students.
“I love being with the students; learning from them, learning with them, and watching their minds grow over time,” she says. “There’s nothing quite like the feeling when former students come back to visit and reconnect.”
One moment in particular helped shape how Hibbert sees her role. During recess, a young Black student who wasn’t in her class came into the school crying after another student had pulled out her hair tie and made fun of her hair. Hibbert sat with her, fixed her hair, and helped her feel secure again. Seeing the student’s relief was a turning point.
“It completely grounded me in my value and worth here,” Hibbert says. “Every day, I push myself to be that strong, reliable role model, not just for Black students, but for every single child who walks through our doors.”
For Hibbert, creating a sense of belonging also means giving students opportunities to lead. Through the Young, Black, and Gifted Club, students helped organize their school’s first Black Heritage Month Assembly, while another class took on an I-Think challenge focused on addressing racism in their community. Watching students turn their ideas into action is what makes these moments especially meaningful for Hibbert.
Her advice to others joining the TDSB is simple: get involved, try something new, and build a community. And through it all, she says, don’t forget to have fun.
“Students feed off your energy,” she says. “When I bring joy, positivity and a lighthearted attitude into the school, everything else just falls naturally into place.”
