TDSB & Me is a new 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.
Stephen Wong
Secondary Teacher
Northern Secondary School
After more than 30 years working full-time in tool design and engineering, while also teaching part-time at Seneca College in a related field, Stephen Wong realized his greatest reward came from seeing young people light up with curiosity and confidence.
“After each class, my son would say, ‘You look really happy,’” he remembers. That small comment shaped a career change and led him to a classroom where curiosity, creativity, and learning take center stage. At Northern Secondary School, Stephen transformed the environment, creating opportunities for students to discover their potential and explore STEM in hands-on ways.
He turned a former storage room into the school’s first robotics lab, raising funds to equip it with 3D printers, a laser cutter, CNC machines, robotics kits and tools for prototyping and experimentation. It is in this space that students tackle open-ended projects, test ideas, and learn that creativity and collaboration are as important as technical skills.
Stephen also helped found and oversee the Knight Owls robotics team, now more than 60 students strong. He organized sub-teams in design, manufacturing, programming, and outreach, encouraging peer mentorship and giving students ownership of their learning. The team’s inclusive culture invites families to participate as well.
One winter afternoon stands out in his memory. The team had travelled to a distant practice field to prepare for the FIRST Robotics Competition, only to find the heating had failed in the bitter cold. Rather than calling it a day, the students pressed on, testing and refining their robots. Stephen dashed to a nearby store for self-heating pads so they could continue. “The determination and adaptability I saw that day reminded me of why I do this work,” he says.
Beyond the classroom and robotics lab, Stephen has expanded STEM opportunities across the system, mentoring educators and developing programs for elementary students and youth from diverse cultural and community backgrounds. He believes the future of STEM education lies in equipping students with both hands-on skills and critical thinking to use new technologies confidently.
Stephen’s dedication has earned him the Prime Minister’s Certificate of Excellence and the TDSB’s Excellence Awards. More importantly, it has left an enduring mark on his students. By trusting them, challenging them, and giving them space to grow, he shows that one teacher can ignite curiosity and purpose in generations of learners.
