My Biography
I am a passionate teacher-leader, social justice advocate, and experienced artist-educator, best known for my dedication to personal and societal growth. In 2007, I founded HOZA! Creative Mediation to create a dynamic platform for social justice education, inspiring people to make positive changes in their world. From 2007 to 2013, HOZA! engaged thousands of students annually through highly acclaimed workshops and performances.
As a graduate of the Artist-In-Community (ACE) Program at Queen’s University, I began my career in 1998 after earning my degree from Rhodes University in South Africa. Since then, I’ve worked as an international educator, collaborating with numerous School Boards in Ontario, NGOs, theatre companies, and corporations to facilitate learning and foster personal and professional growth through Creative Mediation.
I firmly believe that the creative process is a powerful teaching tool that can drive peaceful change in our lives and the world—a principle that anchors my work.
In Taiwan, my contributions to education earned me a certificate of excellence from the Ministry of Education, making me the only foreigner to receive this honor. In Canada, I was recognized with an Exemplary Practice in Education Award by the Toronto District School Board for my international literacy program, Getting to Know You, which in 2011 connected learners in Ontario with those in the Western Cape, South Africa.
As a member of the Ontario College of Teachers, I currently work as a classroom teacher with the Toronto Catholic District School Board. I’ve facilitated educational workshops across Africa, Asia, and Canada for clients such as Investor’s Group, TD Bank, The Toronto Public Library, The Bali Green School, The Royal Ontario Museum, Roy Thomson Hall, The Harbourfront Centre, The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (Canada), The City of Toronto, The School of Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre, and Free the Children.
I hold a Bachelor of Education, a Bachelor of Arts, and a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Educational Drama Theatre and Psychology. Currently, I am pursuing a Master’s of Education at Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax, Canada.
My Philosophy of Catholic Leadership in Education:
My Philosophy: Mr. Kevin Fell, O.C.T., B.E.D, BA (Hons), BA
I believe in education that is situated within an individual’s belief system and supported by their faith community. As a parent and as a teacher-leader, not only am I responsible for helping children acquire knowledge, but in guiding their decisions to act on their knowledge with morality. This results in Catholic Graduates who are not victims of knowledge, but rather capable citizens of God striving for what is good
School is the environment where students “rehearse for life”: a rich resource for knowledge, facilitated experience, experiential inquiry, coaching, mentoring successes and failures. Catholic schools and educators provide a school environment for those in a Catholic life.
Having benefited from a Catholic education in South Africa, teaching in the Catholic school system in Canada is a way for me to give back and share my faith journey openly, in my endeavor to support children in theirs.
I grew up in apartheid South Africa, graduating from secondary school on the eve of the country’s first democratic election. At a time when schools were racially segregated, I attended Loreto Convent, one of the very few schools where all children were included. I know first-hand the crushing effects of discrimination and poverty. In 2007 I founded HOZA! Creative Mediation. HOZA!, an award winning performing-arts company performed at corporate and community events, and in schools to over 35,000 students each year by a skilled team of performers and educators passionate about social justice. The name “Hoza” is an African word that we take to mean STOP, START or CHANGE. The mission: to help put a STOP to negative thinking and behaviors, and facilitate CHANGE that is needed to START living in a more socially just world.
As a qualified teacher, experienced educator and artist-educator, husband, father of three, and an active member of my parish I bring my living faith (my practice of prayer, giving thanks and celebration), my faith in action (my work in social justice advocacy) and my professional skill-set to help facilitate the acquisition of knowledge within the bounds of a joyful and responsible Christian Education.
My upbringing has instilled in me to respect the opinions and beliefs of others, follow God’s plan, and to ask for help and guidance when I need it. I continually give thanks for those things that I could never achieve on my own and appreciate my talents – and my responsibility to share them. In faith I strive to apply my skills and talents towards building capacity among youth, educators and the general public in order to positively affect world issues. I believe that nuanced individuals need the opportunity to thrive in an inclusive-community where they feel safe to express themselves and make mistakes. A challenging program that is rooted in current best practices will reach every student.
My Priorities:
Relevance: Building connection in time and place to the larger world and global communities by making connections, advancing policies, and situating learning within the context of the natural environment, home, school, parish, country and the world.
Safety First: Ensuring that the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of each individual are met.
Environment: Providing a Catholic school environment that is a living example of our Gospel values, is safe, inclusive and conducive to staff and students enjoyment and well-being, faith development and academic advancement.
Stakeholders: To ensure that the diverse needs of all stakeholders are met.
Communication: To ensure that effective two-way-channels of communication are in place to provide clear and timely communication between all stakeholders.
Collaboration: To collaborate with all stakeholders so as to ensure that the interests of participants are met in the best way possible.
Program: To plan and deliver a school program that consists of high quality multi-disciplinary activities that provide access, enjoyment and growth opportunities to all participants.
Accountability: To be accountable for the prudent use of resources in care of the common good.
Member of the Ontario College of Teachers
Kevin Fell 