Aileen Santiago

Aileen Santiago (they/them) is an equity resource teacher at the TCDSB with a background in languages, literacy, and social justice education. Born in the Philippines to Filipino and Chinese parents and coming to Canada at the age of 7, Aileen has some understanding of what it feels like to straddle different cultures, embrace shifting identities, and sit in the discomfort of learning how to unlearn. Aileen’s ongoing journey of reconnecting to Philippine Taga-Ilog and Chinese Fukien roots as well as lifelong questions around gender identity have led to curriculum writing projects, poetry performances, building the Fil-Can Education Network, grassroots activism, research in anti-racist and decolonizing pedagogies, and teaching at Niagara University for pre-service educators. Aileen’s poem “Phantom Pains” was recently published in Magdaragat, the first anthology centring Filipino/a/x Canadian voices. Aileen currently sits on the Diversity Advisory Board at OECTA as well as the advisory council at Kabangka, a youth-led organization supporting Filipinx-Canadian representation in multiple sectors. Aileen shares their story as a racialized, queer, trans Catholic non-binary immigrant settler who is always ready to learn in community with others.

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