You inspired us in so many ways! The teachers' room was buzzing the rest of the week. Many teachers want to learn more and are slowly opening up to new ways of thinking about inclusion of students with special needs. You were truly a change agent and assuredly student centered. The Principal wrote a report on your visit to Jorma Kauppila (Education Dept) and I asked her to cc it to you as well. She was very pleased with your visit and was delighted that you related so wonderfully with the students and had taught 4 classes English lessons. You left a very positive image of Canada with them. She has emphasized a return visit to conduct more  professional development sessions as the neighboring districts want you to visit their schools. The name of the schools you visited in the district of Nousiainen were:
                on Monday Jan 23rd: the Nummi School, primary: grades 1-6 (Nummen koulu)
                on Wednesday Jan 25th: the Henrik School, secondary: grades 7-9 (Henrikinkoulu)
I hope and trust your visit to teaching at the university after your work with us was successful and pleasant and that you have a safe trip home. Wishing you all the best and God's greatest blessings in your work and personal life and will definitely be in touch. You provided me with hope that now my special education students will begin to be part of the whole school community and for them to be the best that they can be. I intend to continue to confer with you and avail of your knowledge which I will share with my colleagues. --------------------With warm regards, Kitos, Lisa Paavilainen -Special Education Director

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Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and expertise with us in Nousiainen. It was a great pleasure and privilege to get to know you and have you visit our school.
Here is a postcard sent to Dr. Ash by Frank Piddiss, a Superintendent of Special Education TCDSB in December 2011

December 06, 2011
Dr. Ashleigh Molloy

You are a great advocate for our cause, a blessing to our children. thanks Dr. Ash

Jun Enverga
Toronto Catholic School District Trustee
Member of Special Education Committee

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Michigan Transition Services Association
Annual Conference 2008
Session Evaluation ( this link)

Name of Session:  Inclusion:  Successes and Challenges Among Nations
Name of Presenter- Dr. Ashleigh Molloy
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Down Syndrome Ireland
Citylink Business Park
Old Naas Road, Dublin 12
Phone: 00353 (0)1 426 6500
Fax: 00353 (0)1 426 6501
Email: secretariat@wdsc2009.com
Website: www.wdsc2009.com

10^th W0RLD DOWN SYNDROME CONGRESS
Dublin - Ireland,
 August 19^th to 22^nd 2009 

1^st September, 2009 

Dear Dr Molloy . 

We would like to thank you for your very inspirational presentation and professional contribution to the World Down Syndrome Congress in Dublin.

 It  was greatly appreciated by professionals, parents and people with Down syndrome. Your presence enhanced our event and your passionate address educated delegates about “inclusion”.

 The Congress was a wonderful, memorable and very enjoyable gathering of people like you who work as advocates and educators in their communities.
We also made new friends and contacts which was an added blessing. 

Thank you again for all your help and support during the preparation and throughout the Congress.

With very best wishes 

Yours sincerely
                

Professor Hilary Hoey                  Mr. Pat Clarke

Chairperson Scientific Committee         WDSC2009  Chairman WDSC2009 Congress         

Director of Research Down Syndrome Ireland

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Sept 2009
"Hi Dr. Ash,
 
I am really excited to be in your course this term.  As I mentioned in class, you remind me of a few of the professors that I had the opportunity of getting to know well- when I completed  my masters degree @OISE.  Your humour and creative approach to teaching is rarely found but should often be duplicated @any School Board.

Thanks for being an inspiration to us all :)"
 
Kimberley   Fernandes-Elementary Teacher
Fr. Frederick Mc Ginn School-York Catholic District School Board.

******

Dr. Ash,

"The work that you do benefits society as a whole. It's an honour to spread your message to various people.   You entered my life and restored my faith in the kindness and sincerity of the human condition."  

Blessings,
Michael Suliman

*******

9/29/2009

Dr. Ash,

"Excellent  presentation last night Ashleigh… You brought up good points regarding regular classroom teachers and their responsibilities… We really need your expertise. Thanks for all you do for special needs children." -Marilyn Taylor

********

WYPEC Conference 2009-ParaEducators

Primary Program Leader

Summer Institute

Sixteenth  Avenue P.S.-joanne.babalis 

York District School District

November 12, 2006
Dr. Ash, 

"Lina and I had a lot of  fun putting it together. We both really enjoyed your class. We not only learned a great deal about  issues in Special Education but how important it is to have an instructor like you who is so passionate about what he does and brings that forth everyday.
Your enthusiasm is contagious."  

Rose V.

3/2010

Hi Dr. Ash,

  YOU ARE MY INSPIRATION!  Thank you for everything 
that you do and thank you for inspiring so many of 
us to get up off our butts and make a difference in
the world! --Franca Alongi-Peluso, Teacher
St. Emily CES-Woodbridge, Ontario
***************************************************

Dr. Ash--It was a great presentation! One that I would recommend for all Mary Ward teachers and TA's as professional development.--Andrew Farinha....
****** 
Yesterday I attended the session that was presented by Dr. Ashleigh Molloy and it was absolutely fantastic! --Erminia

2/2010

Dear Dr. Ash,
Thanks for all the knowledge, you are a very special man and I am extremley proud to say that you were my professor!!! Suzy Elster (Elementary public school teacher.)

12/2009
"Thank you for all that do to make the world a better place for everyone."--Marilyn Taylor--Member /Special Education Advisory Committee

******
11/11/2007

"Hi everyone ! 

I have been spending a lot of time with Dr Ashleigh Molloy. In September he was at my house for the DSA meeting. October, we were at the DSA Conference in Peterborough. 

November 4th I hosted the Doc at the Down syndrome conference held at The Children and Parent's Research Institute (CPRI) in London. Friday night, I was his guest at the awards banquet at the provincial conference of The Council for Exceptional Children. 

Ashleigh did receive Educational Leader of the Year. He has also been elected to the CEC board. By attending this dinner it became very clear that Dr Ash has a point. We all should be working very closely with the CEC as there is a lot of stuff we all could learn together. 

I was sitting with great group from Peel and the conversation was very enlightening. Dr Ash was sitting beside the Deputy Minister of Education. For 2008, I would recommend that we display at the CEC Conference in London (pending approval) I have not been fully aware of CEC in London but I guess I had better introduce myself. 

I have attached the kind words that were spoken about Dr Ash. "

Learning Together !
Randy Bilton-President
London Down Syndrome Association

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Inclusion Institute, Inc.
Wisconsin’s 16^th Annual State-wide Institute on Best Practices in Inclusive Education 

"October 4, 2009
"To Whom It May Concern, 

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Ashleigh Molloy was a keynote presenter at the 16^th Annual State-wide Institute in Inclusive Education, held in Wausau , WI on July 27-29, 2009.  He presented a wealth of information in his keynote and sectionals presentations.  Dr. Molloy’s experiences as a parent, educator, administrator and professor demonstrate his commitment to and knowledge of Inclusive Education.  We were blessed to have Dr. Ash with us for three days in Wisconsin!"

Cordially, 
Kim S. Beloin, Ph.D.
Kim S. Beloin, Ph.D.

Director – Wisconsin’s State-wide Institute on best Practices in Inclusive EducationDirector:  Dr. Kim S. Beloin    357 Juniper Court,     Grafton, WI  53024

E-Mail: Beloin@att.net    Phone: 414.881.8101  Website: www.BeloinandBrandl.com

********

 Ontario Council for Exceptional Children
51st Annual Provincial Conference
Educational Leader of the Year, Region 2
CEC Chapter 56

  Dr. Ashleigh Molloy

      "Ashleigh Molloy's power comes from his ability to get behind important issues and causes about which he is passionate. He then gives of himself until goals are met - until he gets it right!   He has a unique way of making individuals feel valued.
      Ashleigh offers a unique combination of professional and personal attributes that make him highly appreciated in professional groups.   Further, he is a delightful, articulate and dedicated individual who is well-liked by his colleagues.
     He constantly displays insight into the needs of students and has the experience and dedication to generate effective plans to best assist them in the pursuit of knowledge and skills development to the best of their ability.
     Ashleigh directs a highly effective leadership system within the Down Syndrome Association of Toronto, based on solid planning and organization. He demonstrates a talent for creativity and an enthusiasm for his work in the teaching profession.
      Through his passion, work ethic and long-term commitment to the field of special education, he is the essence of the Education Leader of the Year.
      Congratulations, Dr. Ash!"

Thunder Bay Regional Conference Forum

"Thank you, thank you, thank you for agreeing to be our keynote yesterday!

In reviewing the feedback sheets from yesterday, you were a resounding hit

with all who attended. "

Aimee Gerdevich

Conference Coordinator

Hello Dr. Ash,

"I feel highly obliged and thank you for your kind cooperation and your great help through out the Special Ed Part-1 course. It's been extremely nice of you to email me about my successful course confirmation on time. God bless you!

Please accept my thanks again for all the help you have extended to me. The memories of the good  time spent with you all shall remain fresh for ever. I feel very fortunate for having met such a good professor.
Miss you all so much!

Take care

Good luck!"
Ms Nafees .Khanam

"*****

Read OAPCE lifetime award letter to Dr. Molloy

February 15, 2010

Dear Dr. Molloy, 

I wanted to thank you for your presentation to our school community on February 11.  I received numerous emails and phone calls raving about your presentation. 

The participants were extremely impressed with your knowledge, caring demeanour, and interactive presentation.  Having heard you present in the past, I was not surprised to receive such positive feedback, but I thought you would appreciate knowing that your time and energy were most appreciated by all participants. 

Thank you once again for sharing your knowledge and experience with our parent community.  I am sure that those who were unable to attend will be searching for your future presentations after hearing the feedback from the group that attended. 

With appreciation,  Patricia Coburn
Principal -Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School
Scarborough, Ontario, CA

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Reflections:  Special Education Part 3 

The reflection on my new learning in this course is not based on readings of things I have done.  Rather it is based on my experiences observing my special education teacher of this course. He calls himself Dr. Ash. It is him personally that I want to write about, how he has influenced me personally.  I may not be able to write two pages because I do not want to ramble on after I have made the point. 

I have taught in Canada for 36 years continuously. During this time I have seen, experienced, and read a lot of different materials about teaching and have attended many workshops and taken a lot of courses.  I am not looking to praise Dr. Ash because I expect something from him – I know I will pass his course and I am not seeking promotion, I could have done this a long time ago. 

I am writing about Dr. Ash because he has simply moved me like perhaps no other teacher I can recall has in a relatively very short period of time or perhaps any time. I mean he has caused tears to come to my eyes a couple of times (I hid it) – once when he sang with us ‘skinny Marie ma rink, I love you’ or whatever the words are. The other time was when he showed us a video clip of the things he is available to do, presentations and so on, with his lovely wife and gorgeous daughter. Just to see him broadly smiling and interacting with his family did it to me.  

Coming from a science background, I am used to analyzing everything, looking for a reason for every thing, and I waited, as the saying goes for the other shoe to drop. I never saw it even though I paid close attention. I looked for his impatience with some one long winded, I looked for him to ignore some one. I never saw any. Instead he spoke of inclusion of the learning community and did truly include every one, especially those of us who came from a different culture or labeled ‘visibility minority’ – there was truly respect, appreciation and a body language expressing real caring, even for a man who has reached a very high level in his profession, a rare feature. 

Not only did he truly enriched my experience by being such a warm humanitarian, but he exposed us to some really neat tools such as the one with the animals: animal school where the kangaroo was a good runner but they wanted him tap dance – or what ever instead, he showed us ‘advice to my children’ which was hilarious, he taught us bridge building, he showed us The Twilight Zone with Mrs Janet Tyler, he taught us the meaning of inclusion, what it means to be a special education leader, he played simple games with us like stacking cups, told us neat stories, gave us fun little puzzles and showed us video of his work abroad and gave us his biography of his involvement with children with special needs, and many others. He brought in many experts in their fields to speak to us. 

While I have no idea how I will remember him five, ten or twenty years from now, my guess is it will still be with fond memories of someone very special who really seemed to have no real motive for doing good, other then to help others like he said. So ‘Mucho Gracias Dr’.  With kindest regards and fond memories. ---------George Dowar. Class of 2010.   

Dr. Ashleigh B. Molloy has been named an honored member in education by Princeton Premier.Dr. Ashleigh B. Molloy, director of the Transformation Education Institute, has been chosen for inclusion in the 2008-2009 Princeton Premier Registry.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – May 28, 2008 – Dr. Ashleigh B. Molloy is the director of the Transformation Education Institute, an organization that promotes respect for diversity and facilitates cross-cultural understanding in schools and communities.  As director, Dr. Molloy is primarily engaged in overseeing the organizations day to day operations.  This includes tasks such as project management, staffing, strategic development and administration.  He also acts in a practical capacity, instructing classes, consulting and presenting at international conferences, arranging workshops and creating curriculum.  He holds a Ph.D. in special education from Cambridge International University, with a focus in diversity and inclusive education, and has a diverse background in education which includes positions as principal, administrator and teacher within the school system of Toronto. In 2006, he received the Order of Ontario Medal for leadership in education and humanitarian outreach.  Additionally, Dr. Molloy has received letters of commendation from political leaders such as Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Aherne.  He is also involved with the disability community and works assiduously on their behalf. He is president the Down Syndrome Association of Toronto, vice president of the Down Syndrome Association of Ontario, Canadian representative of the Down Syndrome International World Congress and a representative for Down Syndrome Toronto.  His service initiatives have included working with Special Olympics and as chair of the Annual GALA for DSAT, a community fundraising event.  When Dr. Molloy isn’t directing the Transformation Education Institute or involved with any of his philanthropic undertakings, he enjoys reading the Harvard Business Review, playing music and being with family.   

In acknowledgement of his commendable career with the Transformation Education Institute, Dr. Ashleigh B. Molloy is being included in the 2008/2009 Princeton Premier Registry where he will be listed among the most accomplished professionals and leaders of industry from around the globe.

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WISCONSIN’S 16^TH ANNUAL STATE-WIDE INSTITUTE ON
BEST PRACTICES IN INCLUSIVE EDUCATION - July 2009

Our keynote speaker on Wednesday is Dr. Ashleigh Molloy, Director of the Transformation Education Institute and Education Professor at York University.  “Dr. Ash” has been involved with numerous education and humanitarian projects serving countries such as Ghana, Malawi, the Philippines, Mexico, and Ecuador. He has received many awards for his work in education from the national governments of countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. In 2007, Dr. Ash was designated as Educational Leader of the Year by the Council of Exceptional Children.  Dr. Ash’s career roles include experience as a principal, system-wide administrator in Toronto, elementary, secondary, and college teacher.  Dr. Ash is also the parent of a young adult with Down Syndrome.  In his keynote presentation, Dr. Ash will focus on developing an educational landscape that includes using strategies to support best practices for inclusion.  In a follow up forum, Dr. Ash will provide an interactive session focusing on the roles and responsibilities of effective paraprofessionals.  Dr. Ash holds special expertise in training paraprofessionals for their roles in supporting students in inclusive settings.