Ms. Walentyna Karcz has been a staple at Collingwood since 1994, coming from Europe as a young teacher with a sense of adventure. Now, 31 years later, she's hanging up her hat – but not without leaving a large impact on our School and the hundreds of students she taught along the way.

A beloved teacher of Economics and Physical Geography, Karcz is known as a no-nonsense teacher with high expectations, but who would do anything to help her students succeed in her courses. She is consistently travelling on student trips and always makes an effort to find and meet with alumni wherever she goes. Current students and alumni often cite her as the reason why they fell in love with economics or geography. Her dedication has earned her a reputation as a teacher who truly shapes her students into curious, critically-thinking young adults. 

We asked Ms. Karcz to tell us about her time at Collingwood – read below to find out the legacy she hopes to leave behind.

1. Looking back on your time at Collingwood, what are you most proud of?

Making students passionate about economics!

I’m incredibly proud of the strong AP Economics program I’ve built over the years. My students consistently score well above the global, national, and provincial averages in both AP Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. But more than the numbers, I’m proud of the way this course has helped shape thoughtful, informed citizens—young people who understand the world around them and their role in it.

Each year, I hear from students who tell me how much this course changed the way they see the world. Many even choose to pursue economics in university because of the foundation they built in high school. What truly makes me proud is their curiosity, their hunger for knowledge, and their growing understanding that knowledge itself fuels even more curiosity. Whether in economics, physical geography, or history, I’ve always aimed to ignite a passion for learning. That, to me, is the heart of education.

2. What would you like your legacy to be after you have departed Collingwood?

I hope that I helped establish a very strong AP Economics programme, and economics remains one of the most popular courses, as it has been for the past 30 years, and that the Economics Club—the longest-running student-led club at Collingwood (since 2012) —continues to foster curiosity and economic literacy for generations of students to come.

I hope that the Physical Geography program continues to thrive, inspiring students to explore the wonders of our planet and recognize our shared responsibility in protecting it—often through small, meaningful acts. 

3. What advice would you give to someone just beginning their career at Collingwood?

If you think teaching is an 8-to-4 job, you might be in the wrong profession. Especially at the start, you'll need to dedicate countless hours to becoming an expert in your subject area and preparing engaging, thoughtful lessons. Yes, you get generous holiday time—but evenings and weekends during the year are often filled with learning and planning.

Be authentic. Don’t pretend to have all the answers; students are incredibly perceptive and will quickly see through it. Show your human side. Laugh at yourself. Learn from your students—they're often far more insightful than we were at their age. And when a student acts out, remember: there's usually a reason behind that behavior. Take the time to talk with them. If you expect hard work from your students, you must model it yourself.

As well, tell insightful stories relevant to the content instead of another lifeless powerpoint. The students come to hear you teach - not an AI.

4. What are you looking forward to in your retirement?

I’m excited to travel outside the busy summer season—cycling through Puglia in July simply isn’t fun! I already have several trips planned and look forward to learning Italian. I’m also eager to expand my involvement in volunteer and charitable work. And of course, I’ll continue to enjoy hiking, cycling, pilates, and pickleball.

5. How did you begin your career at CW - when, what role, your experience at the time? What courses have you taught?

I was hired by Mr. Baldwin, a charismatic Headmaster who, in 1994, was looking for someone to teach both geography and economics. I held master’s degrees in both fields. It was July—there were no students around—so he brought me into a classroom and asked me to teach him something. I chose to explain how Eratosthenes calculated the Earth’s radius. He was so impressed that a social studies teacher could apply mathematics that, despite my heavily accented and broken English, he hired me on the spot.

That first year, I taught five different courses at once: Social Studies 9 (covering the French, English, and American Revolutions, among other topics), Social Studies 10 (Canadian history of the 18th and 19th centuries), Social Studies 11 (20th-century Canadian history), Physical Geography 12, and AP Economics. Of those, only Geography was something I had taught in English before—during my time teaching IB Geography in Poland. I had never taught history or economics before, and I was often just one lesson ahead of my students. Those were challenging years—especially with a newborn daughter at home. I also served as the sponsor teacher for the ski team and led many school trips to Europe, South America, Asia, and Central America during my time at Collingwood.

For over 23 years, I’ve been an AP Reader for AP Microeconomics.

Although I served as department head for a few years, I eventually stepped down to focus entirely on teaching. The classroom has always been where I feel most at home. Being around young people has given me endless energy and joy. I will miss my students more than I can express.

We'll miss you too Ms. Karcz!