The Korean-Canadian Educators’ Network is an association of teachers, administrators and settlement workers from the Greater Toronto Area who have gathered together with the common purpose of reaching out to the Korean-Canadian community, its children and its parents, with the intent of informing and empowering them with facts and resources in the Ontario educational system.

The Korean-Canadian Educators’ Network was formed in the summer of 2005 due to a recognized need by Settlement Workers in Schools that first-generation Korean parents needed support in understanding the Ontario education system and parenting in Canada. It was apparent that recent newcomers were experiencing great difficulties adjusting to school expectations (social and academic). In addition, there is a need to educate parents on the cultural gap in raising their “Canadian” children. That is, although their children are Korean-Canadian, they are raised in a Canadian context, making it difficult for Korean parents to relate and understand in the best way to discipline, support, and raise their children.

This unique network of settlement workers in schools and professional educators allows the network to identify the issues raised in schools by first-generation and newcomer parents through the settlement workers’ needs assessments. Moreover, having professional educators working within the system (TDSB and private school system) allows this network to inform parents and students about standard policies, procedures and expectations.