Michael Walker

2026 Educator Honouree

Pictured standing outside of Aurora, Ontario’s Rick Hansen Public School, Michael Walker’s warm, welcoming smile and playful music greets and connects with many students beyond his own classroom every day.  As an educator, Michael knows that when the kids feel seen, heard and valued they feel better about themselves.  As a primary music teacher, Michael made quick fun of learning more than two hundred and fifty student names using music and immediately engaging his audience.

Recalling his own childhood and student years, Michael says, “I did not love school.”  The everyday pressures and confusion of youth, being a twin meant constant comparisons between Michael and his brother Andrew, and to top it all off, his mother was a teacher and principal in York Region.  “None of what I went through compares to what kids these days are trying to navigate daily.”  The empathy of his own experiences growing up in school, with his acute awareness for what the kids might need ‘in the moment’ are what really set Michael apart from other humans.  He doesn’t want the students to look up to him – they don’t have to – he’s ready to meet them where they are at, eye-to-eye.  To see them, and accept them as they are, on that day, in that moment, and whatever the struggle or concern, “We figure it out together.”

Making a difference in his own classroom is assured but is never enough for Michael or the students at Rick Hansen Public School.  Mr. Walker (Michael) gives a considerable amount of his personal time to the students by making himself (and his music) available to them outside at recess or often serenading some of his older students in the lunchroom just to make sure they still feel the love.  He has whole-heartedly given his personal time to run the Lunch Music Program, the Ukulele Club, the school choir.  In 2019 he wrote a song for the kids called Ring Those Bells.  They (he and his students) turned into a performance and holiday fundraiser through Pay It Forward that generated more than $2,000.00 for Inn From the Cold Newmarket.

Michael lives each school day with great intention to be consistent and reliable in how he shows up for all the students.  Quite often, that just means listening to them. 

For more information on Michael’s music, please visit:  https://mtwalkermusic.com/ and also check out M.T. Walker on Spotify.

Story Credit:

Meave Mastracci is the Owner of Ascend Services and a community-focused writer with over 25 years of experience helping local businesses grow. She specializes in community engagement, community give-back initiatives, and improving online presence through social media marketing, website design, Google verification and management, and the development of printed promotional materials. Her work—both in writing and business—champions good people, good businesses, and good organizations.  Contact: mmastracci@ascendalliance.ca