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.
Jennifer Kil
Assistant Curriculum Leader
Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute
Jennifer Kil first saw the power of sport in a small, unexpected moment. At her first Barrier-Free track meet, she watched a student cross the finish line and do cartwheels from joy. “Watching students experience that kind of success made me realize that sports can be meaningful for athletes of all abilities,” she says. It was a lesson that has stayed with her throughout her teaching career.
As an Assistant Curriculum Leader at Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute, Jennifer has spent years creating programs that ensure students with and without disabilities can play, compete, and grow together. Her dedication was recognized earlier this year when she was named Special Olympics Educator of the Year. “These programs are a team effort,” she says. “Without the support of our Health and Physical Education staff, Special Education department, and school administration, none of this would be possible.”
Jennifer sees sport as a path to belonging. “Student success isn’t always about what happens in the classroom,” she says. “At Albert Campbell, Division 6 and Special Olympics Unified sports create friendships, confidence, and leadership. Everyone feels valued and proud to be part of the school community.”
Over the past year, her work has created lasting opportunities: she organized the largest Special Olympics school qualifiers in Ontario, led three teams to the provincial championships in Ottawa, and secured a NIKE Canada grant to support the Wednesday Evening Special O Transition program, giving students a chance to play together outside school hours. Most notably, she took five students to Puerto Rico to represent Team Canada at the Special Olympics Unified World Cup 3x3 Basketball. The men’s team won bronze, and the women’s team finished fourth against elite international competition. Albert Campbell also earned All-Province Unified School Champion recognition, one of only seven schools in Ontario to receive the distinction.
Through it all, Jennifer says her students are her greatest teachers. “Their bravery to try new things and willingness to have fun is something I learn from constantly,” she says. She hopes every student walks away understanding that inclusion matters, and that everyone has a role to play, whether on the court, on the track, or in their community.
For Jennifer, sport isn’t just a program or an award; it’s a way to ensure every student belongs.
