Dr. Marianne A. Larsen
Dr. Larsen is an education policy expert specializing in public education systems, local and global education trends.
I believe in...
- public education
- the value of giving back to one's community
- caring for all of our living relations
- being the change I want to see in the world
- acting with compassion, care and integrity
ABOUT ME
Dedicated and Engaging Educator
I am a dedicated and engaging educator with over 30 years experience teaching diverse learners, across different local and global contexts (Canada, the U.S. and the U.K), at elementary, secondary and post-secondary education levels.
Love is at the heart of my teaching; love for learning, love for teaching and love for the students I teach.
Educational Researcher
A world known expert in comparative and international education focusing on research on education policy, teacher's work, the internationalization of education, and global citizenship education.
An education researcher skilled in conducting qualitative research studies using a variety of data collection tools.
A scholarly writer with an extensive output of publishing academic books, book chapters, journal articles, conference papers, and articles for professional magazines
Community Volunteer
I believe it's important to give back to the community you live in and that's why I've always engaged in volunteer work wherever I live.
I've volunteered in the following areas:
Þ education (elementary, secondary + post-secondary)
Þ peace, environmental and social justice
Þ anti-poverty, homelessness
Þ immigrant and refugee support
MARIANNE LARSEN'S EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
2004 PhD in Education
University College London, UK Institute of Education
Department: Lifelong Education and International Development
1999 MA (Distinction) in Education
University College London, UK Institute of Education
Department: Culture, Language and Communication
Ontario Teacher Certification(Registration #258110)
Additional Qualifications Courses
1997 Honours Specialist in Contemporary Studies, University of Toronto
1993 English as a Second Language (ESL), York University
1990 B.Ed. (Honours)
Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, Canada
Department: Education
1986 BA (Honours)
University of Toronto, ON, Canada
Department: History
MARIANNE LARSEN'S VOLUNTEER WORK
Johansen Larsen Foundation President
Thames Valley Parent Involvement Committee
Academics without Borders Volunteer
As President, my key responsibilities include board and stakeholder communications; oversight of grant application and program evaluation processes; distribution of funds; planning and chairing all annual general and board meetings; financial management; and acting as a spokesperson for the JLF, an organization committed to enhancing the lives of those marginalized in our communities (both human and animal) through inclusive initiatives that foster learning and well-being.
Academics without Borders Volunteer
Thames Valley Parent Involvement Committee
Academics without Borders Volunteer
I have been a volunteer with Academics without Borders, an organization that supports capacity building in Global South universities. AWB projects include a full range of university and college activities from expanding and improving existing institutions and programs to helping create new ones. The project was involved in was creating an internationalization strategic plan in collaboration with Karatina University in Kenya.
Thames Valley Parent Involvement Committee
Thames Valley Parent Involvement Committee
London Public Library ESL Mentor
The Thames Valley Parent Involvement Committee (TVPIC) supports, encourages and enhances parent engagement at the Board level in order to improve student achievement and well-being.
The committee consists of parent members, community representatives and staff who meet on a monthly basis during the school year to increase parent engagement, support school councils, and organize district-wide events. I have served as a parent volunteer and trustee representative.
London Public Library ESL Mentor
London Public Library ESL Mentor
London Public Library ESL Mentor
I am a qualified ESL teacher and have used my training as a mentor for English language learners in London. This program is offered through the London Public Library and matches up learners wishing to improve their English verbal skills with volunteers. The matched pairs have met remotely through the pandemic once a week for conversations. My tutor partners have all been from South America so far.
Climate Action London Team Member
London Public Library ESL Mentor
Circles Bridges out of Poverty Ally
The vision of Climate Action London is to embolden all citizens, communities and institutions in London and Middlesex County to meet and exceed London's Climate Emergency Action Plan targets by 2030. Most of my work with CAL is as a member of the coordinating team of Greening Sacred Spaces (London), an initiative to support faith communities who want to engage in greening activities to address the climate crisis.
Circles Bridges out of Poverty Ally
London Public Library ESL Mentor
Circles Bridges out of Poverty Ally
Circles® is a community initiative coordinated by Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes that is comprised of caring and compassionate individuals who meet to share information, support, resources, meals, and friendship. I was an Ally, a volunteer mentor who built intentional and genuine friendships with Leaders to help them build the resources and social capital to meet their own goals and get ahead.
MARIANNE LARSEN'S TEACHING EXPERIENCE
HIGHER EDUCATION TEACHING
SECONDARY AND ELEMENTARY TEACHING
SECONDARY AND ELEMENTARY TEACHING
Preservice /B.Ed. Courses Taught
a) Western University Faculty of Education (2005-2021)
· Social Foundations of Education
· Framing International Education in a Globalizing World
· Internationalizing curricula: Teaching for a global perspective
· Curriculum and Pedagogy in Elementary Social Studies
· Multicultural Education
b) Trent University School of Education
· History Curriculum Methods
· Socio-cultural Contexts of Schooling
c) University of Wisconsin (Madison) School of Education (2003)
· School and Society
Graduate Courses Taught (Western Faculty of Education) (2005-2021)
9715 – PhD Doctoral Seminar
9426 – MPEd Fieldwork/Research Project
9424 – MPEd Conducting Site-Based Research in Intercultural Settings
9203 – MA Globalization and Education
9514 – MA Comparative & International Education
9500 - MEd Power, Politics and Policy in Education
9577 – MEd Action Research
9600 – MEd Education Policy
9511 – MEd Canadian Education and Social Change
SECONDARY AND ELEMENTARY TEACHING
SECONDARY AND ELEMENTARY TEACHING
SECONDARY AND ELEMENTARY TEACHING
Public School Teaching
Volunteer Teacher (London, ON) 2016-2017 Social studies teacher in grade 5 class, Victoria Public School, TVDSB
Occasional Teacher (London, UK) 2000-2003
Substitute teacher in primary, middle and secondary schools in south, east and north London, U.K.
Secondary School Teacher (Toronto, ON) 1990-2000
Riverdale Collegiate Institute and City Secondary School, Toronto District School Board
Courses Taught: Senior Contemporary World Studies (Sociology, Economics, Families in Canadian Society, World Issues, Politics); Intermediate and Senior History; Geography; English and Media Literacy
Secondary School Teacher (El Paso, Texas) 1994-1995
Courses Taught: Intermediate World History and World Geography
Long-term Occasional Teacher (Toronto, ON) 1989-1990
Contact Secondary School, Toronto District School Board
Courses Taught: Canadian History, English
MARIANNE LARSEN, Thames Valley District School Board Trustee
SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE WORK
In October 2022, I was elected to serve as the Thames Valley District School Board trustee for London-based schools in Wards 2-6. In April 2025 the TVDSB was put under supervision by the Ontario provincial government, essentially preventing elected trustees from fulfilling their duties including advocating on behalf of
TVDSB SCHOOLS IN WARDS 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
WARD 2
WARD 2
WARD 2
Bonaventure Meadows P.S.
Lord Nelson Public School
Clarke Road Secondary School Princess Anne French Immersion P.S.
Prince Charles P.S
WARD 3
WARD 2
WARD 2
Cedar Hollow Public School
Chippewa Public School
Evelyn Harrison Public School
Forest City Public School
Hillcrest Public School
Montcalm Secondary School
WARD 4
WARD 2
WARD 4
Knollwood Park Public School
Lord Elgin Public School
Louise Arbour French Immersion Public School
Northbrae Public School
Sir John. A. MacDonald Public School
WARD 5
WARD 5
WARD 4
A.B. Lucas Secondary School
East Carling Public School
Jack Chambers Public School
Northridge Public School
Stoney Creek Public School
Stoneybrook Public School
WARD 6
WARD 5
WARD 6
Old North Public School
St. George's Public School
Orchard Park Public School
University Heights Public School
MY EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES
EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives aim to ensure that students who are marginalized because of their backgrounds find a meaningful place of belonging in our schools.
SCHOOL SAFETY
For effective learning and teaching to take place, everyone in our schools needs to feel safe, connected, and welcome.
RECONCILIATION
MUSIC AND ARTS EDUCATION
Reconciliation, which means establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous (settler) peoples, must be a guiding principle for all that is done at the TVDSB.
MUSIC AND ARTS EDUCATION
MUSIC AND ARTS EDUCATION
MUSIC AND ARTS EDUCATION
As a musician and art appreciator, I know that music and arts education enhances academic achievement, creative and critical thinking, social and emotional development, civic engagement, and equitable opportunity. That's why I support music & arts education in all our schools.
ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP
MUSIC AND ARTS EDUCATION
ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP
The climate crisis is real, but we must not give up hope. Schools and school boards can be environmental leaders in modelling how we can protect our environment. This can include encouraging safe and active travel to and from school, sustainability initiatives, and providing students with opportunities to be environmental leaders.
MEDIA RELATED TO MY WORK AS A TRUSTEE
NEWSPAPER, TV AND RADIO
Devon Peacock Morning Show 980 CFPL. 15 April, 2026. Ontario Scales Back Trustee Authority in Sweeping Education Changes.
London trustee, officials react to sweeping school board changes, 13 April 2026. London Free Press.
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-45-ontario-today#episodes (you can hear me at 20.30 and 34.40 minutes)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/trustees-student-family-support-offices-9.6979614
https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/tvdsb-staff-push-back-on-trustees-request-for-school-safety-data
https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/thames-valley-trustees-fret-over-poor-math-scores
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/no-cops-in-london-schools-1.7099439
Virtual Webinars/Podcasts/YouTube Videos
April 2026, Ford government changes leave cloud of confusion for TVDSB The Craig Needles Podcast, London. Ontario
October 2025 A TVDSB arrest and a TVDSB exit, The Craig Needles Podcast, London, Ontario
Sept. 2025 About International Education, Project Save the World. Toronto, ON.
August 2025 Ousted TVDSB Trustee on Ford Government's School Board Take Over, The Craig Needles Podcast, London, Ontario
March 2025 Stretching spatial theories: New ways of thinking of space and time in comparative and international education, Global Public Seminars in Comparative and International Education, University of Oxford
Feb. 2024 Internationalization in Global South Universities: A Case Study of Karatina University, Kenya, Faculty of Education, Western University
January 2020 Internationalization of Higher Education – Moving Towards Global Learning for All Keynote speaker for the Intercultural Competence Conference, Tucson, Arizona
October 2018 Internationalization and Higher Education: Barriers and Inequalities. Faculty Seminar, Western University
July 2016 Space in International Education Research. FreshED podcast.
February 2016 International Service Learning and Host Community Impacts and Insights. Campus Compact
Ford Government Changes Leave Cloud Of Confusion For TVDSB
Check out my most recent podcast with Craig Needles:.