Rossana De McCormack Why I Give

When Rossana De McCormack joined the Collegiate in 2000, there was no formal Spanish curriculum or existing roadmap on what was needed to establish language lessons. Despite these shortfalls, what McCormack remembers most about those early years is the endless possibilities and potential for what a Spanish program might look like at her new school.

“Those first Spanish classes were offered outside the regular timetable, held later in the day and developed under a special contract that allowed me to design everything from scratch,” says McCormack. “Drawing on my prior experience in curriculum development, teacher training, and language education, I worked to create a program rooted not only in aspects like grammar and vocabulary, but culture, communication, and realistic human connections. Over time, those early classes became part of the Collegiate’s regular schedule, and will hopefully continue after my tenure ends.”

McCormack’s life leading up to the Collegiate spans both continents and cultures. Originally from Peru, she completed her Bachelor of Education at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú before continuing her studies in the United States where she earned a Master’s Degree in language development and deaf education from Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. Before moving to Canada, she also spent five years in Peru working on a Canadian-funded international development project creating educational materials and training for teachers. It is through this line of work that McCormack was able to build her connection with Canadian educators and their institutions—connections that would eventually lead her to the Collegiate.

“My academic interests have always been driven by a central question that I regularly ask myself: how do people learn language, and how does language shape who we are?” says McCormack. “That question has helped guide my work across many different settings—from teaching students of all ages, learning American Sign Language, and working at the Manitoba School for the Deaf. Some of the work I’m most proud of are my contributions to the development of Spanish-language Province’s distance education programs at a time when those initiatives relied on cassette recordings or mailed materials. Thankfully we now have better technology at our disposal, but the goal remains the same: improving access, inclusion, and meaningful communication.”

At The Collegiate, McCormack was able to ground her professional life and develop long-term programs in collaboration with her Colleagues for her new students. “It’s my professional home,” she says. “A place where I could be myself and continue growing.”

“One of my most meaningful contributions has been the development of international exchange opportunities, particularly with schools in Peru.” says McCormack. “These exchanges allow students to experience Spanish as a living language, spoken in classrooms, homes, hospitals, and communities. For many of my students, the experience has been transformative. Some have even written letters to children in Peruvian hospitals years before visiting them as part of the program…completing a powerful emotional and educational circle.”

A keen attendee at alumni gatherings, McCormack often reconnects with former students who are now teachers, physicians, artists, and professionals working with newcomers from international communities. “Seeing students I once taught in Grade 9 now thriving in their careers is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching.” says McCormack. “My personal philosophy has always emphasized that learning a language is not about perfection or grades, but about connection. In my classroom students are encouraged to engage with culture, geography, history, and one another to develop their skills. Mistakes are part of this process and curiosity is essential. The goal is not just fluency, but empathy too.”

McCormack goes on to note how special the sense of community is at the Collegiate between students, faculty, and staff. She speaks warmly of supportive colleagues, interdisciplinary collaboration, shared intellectual curiosity, and a working culture that values people as individuals. “It is a place where academic rigor coexists with kindness, where students are known, and where different is good.”

After more than 25 years of teaching at the Collegiate, McCormack’s legacy as an educator and language specialist has been woven into the fabric of the school and the programs she helped build. Her work reminds us that education is not just about what is taught, but about how people are seen, supported, and inspired along the way.