Susan Jagger
Principal Investigator
Susan is an Associate Professor in the School of Early Childhood Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. Prior to beginning graduate studies in education, Susan was an elementary school teacher in British Columbia and London, UK. Her research interests include environmental and science education, learning gardens, place-based education, community mapping, children’s participation in curriculum and research, and arts-informed research methods.
Projects:
Community Mapping
A Poststructural Uprooting of the School Garden
Planting Seeds for Change
Empowering Young Citizens
Breanna Ashdown
Research Assistant (2021 – present)
Breanna is from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, where she loves to be outside – whether it’s the beach, the mountains, or the forest. She graduated in Fall 2020 with a BSc in Biology and Microbiology and is currently studying in the University of Calgary’s Master of Pathologists’ Assistant program.
Projects:
Empowering Young Citizens
Emma Bozek
Research Assistant (2023)
Emma is a PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University, studying within the Early Childhood Education Lab. Grounded in developmental psychology perspectives, Emma’s research interests focus on understanding the social and emotional behaviours in the early years settings. Additionally, she is interested in child-centered approaches to working with children at-risk, and quantitative methodologies. In her free time, you’ll find Emma playing board games, watching Big Brother, or learning a new sport (this summer it was sailing!).
Projects:
Empowering Young Citizens
Meghan Hayward
Research Assistant (2016 – 2019)
Meghan completed her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. While studying at Toronto Metropolitan University, she also worked at Toronto Metropolitan University Day Camps for 6 years, culminating in her role as Seasonal Camp Coordinator in 2019 and 2020. Meghan completed a postgraduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from Seneca College in 2020, and now works as the Assistant Director at Bayview Glen Camp. In her spare time, Meghan loves to hike, kayak, and spend time with the rescue dogs from Paws Above Rescue, where her mom is the Adoptions Manager.
Projects:
Planting Seeds for Change
Empowering Young Citizens
Leah Shoemaker
Research Assistant (2019 – 2020)
Leah is a Registered Early Childhood Educator in Ontario who started their career in the Columbia Valley, British Columbia, before relocating to Tkaronto/Toronto. Her focuses include questioning power and centering joy in early learning spaces and curriculum, advocating for decent work for early childhood educators, and honouring children’s rights. Leah’s published writing revolves around feminist research methods, children’s relationships with plants, and early childhood education theory.
Projects:
Empowering Young Citizens
Children's Ecologies 