Dr. Avis E. Glaze
International Education Adviser
Founding CEO, Ontario Literacy & Numeracy Secretariat
Former Ontario Education Commissioner
Over the years, Avis Glaze has worked with directors of education, superintendents, principals, teachers, parents, students, political and community leaders, curriculum developers and other education workers across the globe.
Avis continues to advance educational thought and discourse, promote innovative practices, support professional learning and engage in leadership development internationally.
She has worked in education systems in:
Australia • The Bahamas • Barbados • Bermuda • Canada • Cayman Islands • Colombia • Denmark • England • Finland • Germany • Ireland • Italy • Jamaica • Latvia • Mexico • New Zealand • Norway • Scotland • Singapore • South Africa • Sweden • The Netherlands • Trinidad and Tobago • USA • Wales •
“What a privilege it is to be an educator today! We now have access to an extensive knowledge base to help us resolve the seemingly most intractable concerns in our field. We are superbly equipped to use these new insights for further improvement. These are truly exciting times!” … Dr. Avis Glaze, University of Ontario Convocation Address.
“As a young girl growing up in Jamaica, I believed in the value of a good education. My philosophy was to reach for the stars and to achieve the highest level of education possible. At age 11, I remember wanting to do a master’s degree. I learned about a doctorate later on.” … Avis
Avis became the first K-12 educator to receive the Order of Ontario for her outstanding contribution to education. She has become internationally renowned as a thought-leader in the field of education and as the Founder and
CEO of Edu-quest International.
Avis works tirelessly to address and provide solutions to the many challenges that educators face today. At home and abroad, governments, organizations and school districts have hired her as consultant and adviser, booked her for workshops and seminars, and engaged her as a keynote speaker at conferences worldwide.
NEWS
In edinburgh, at the International Council
of Education Advisers’ Meeting
October 2025
Leadership by Design 2025 Convocation.
On June 28, Dr. Glaze was Keynote Speaker at the Leadership By Design (LBD) program which she helped create in 2016.
The program is specifically designed for Black and African-Canadian students, particularly those in Grade 10, who are interested in leadership and career development, especially in STEM fields.
Hundreds of graduates have completed their degrees. I was particularly impressed to see so many students pursuing non-traditional occupations in areas such as bio-medical engineering, other sciences, humanities and the arts. These highly motivated and civic-minded graduates are now giving back to their communities.
The Board of Directors and Trevor Massey, Chair, deserve special recognition for their unflagging commitment to leadership excellence. With the support of parents and volunteers, they are certainly validating and encouraging the talent that exists within our community.
FOND MEMORIES
Avis Glaze was invited to present a keynote address at the World Education Summit, March 22, 2022. Her topic was on how equity, social justice and empathy need to be embedded into the education system.
“It was such an honour to be invited; to share the stage with renowned educators from around the world; and, to speak to an audience of 50,000 plus from 87 different countries!”
Avis Glaze
In Norway, at the invitation of Queen Sonya, to speak to principals of schools with the Queen Sonya Award
SERVICES
“If you had money only to do two things, you should do this: improve your instructional effectiveness and build the capacity of your leadership cadre. According to research, these are two things over which school systems have control.” Avis Glaze
Organizations invite Dr. Glaze to review their progress on strategic priorities, identify gaps, propose solutions and identify areas for improvement. This process includes … MORE
Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada; James Bartleman, Lieutnant Governor of Ontario, Former Attorney General, Roy McMurtry and other dignitaries.
Avis featured in Education Week, Peter DeWitt’s Finding Common Ground, as one of 18 Women All K-12 Educators Should Know. “Dr. Avis Glaze is an international leader in the field of education. As one of Canada’s outstanding educators, she has been recognized for her work in leadership development, … MORE