| Michael Ernest Sweet | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 23, 1979 Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Occupation | Educator, Writer, Non-profit Executive |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Genres | Essay, Poetry, Journalism |
|
www.michaelernestsweet.com |
|
Michael Ernest Sweet is a Canadian educator, writer and non-profit executive.[1]
He holds a bachelor in independent studies from St. Mary's University, a bachelor of education from Nipissing University's Schulich School of Education and a master of arts in educational philosophy from Concordia University. Additionally, Sweet has been conferred a diploma in drama education from Stonebridge College and a graduate certificate in differential learning from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
In 2003, Sweet founded the educational non-profit Learning for a Cause which published and promoted young writers and their sociopolitical work until 2010 when the initiative was taken over by Youth Fusion Quebec. The organization received endorsements and support from noted celebrities such as Candy Spelling, Martin Sheen,[2] David Suzuki, Justin Trudeau, Farley Mowat, Roberta Bondar, Max Keeping, Alex Colville and others. Sweet and the Learning for a Cause Initiative published and promoted more than 1,000 student writers between 2003 and 2010. The initiative is credited with breaking significant ground in the area of classroom publishing in Canada and has inspired countless other schools to take up the challenge.
Sweet and his innovative teaching have been featured regularly on CTV, CBC Radio, Vermont Public Radio and in such publications as the Montreal Gazette,[3] Canadian Teacher Magazine and 34th Parallel. CTV News Ottawa, in a 2008 interview, called Michael Sweet a "visionary teacher". In 2008 Concordia University's The Journal featured him as one of their Great Grads.[4] and in 2009 Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper recognized Michael's contributions to education with a Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence.[5]
Sweet is the author of dozens essays, poems, articles and short fictions.[6] Among the noted writings are Citizenship for Some, a groundbreaking essay on public schooling and sexual diversity and the poem Nude which placed in the International Ultra-Short Contest at the University of Main, Machias in 2006. His writing has also been featured among the pages of the famous Evergreen Review from Grove Press. Nude, Dances with Love and Down to Earth are among his many authored and edited books.[7] Michael Sweet is also a regular contributor to Canadian Teacher Magazine and CJAD News Talk Radio.
In 2008, Sweet was appointed to the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. He has also been inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame - Wall of Fame - in the United States and awarded a 2009 NCTE High School Teacher of Excellence Award (although he publicly declined acceptance of this award).
Most recently Michael Sweet was chosen as a national finalist for a Governor General's Award for Teaching Excellence in Canadian History.[8] He is also profiled in both the Who's Who in the World and the Canadian Who's Who as an educator of influence.