Field Study in Sápmi (Norway), 2022
Mervi Maarit Salo is an educational leader, curriculum specialist, artist, researcher, and community advocate based in Toronto, Canada. Her work spans K–12 public education, curriculum policy, arts education, STEM and digital learning, Indigenous education, public-sector leadership, and northern and Indigenous studies.
Mervi currently serves as a Principal with the Toronto District School Board. She previously held a system-wide leadership role as Centrally Assigned Principal for Instructional Innovation and Equitable Outcomes, overseeing K–12 portfolios in Mathematics, Science and Technology, STEM and Robotics, and The Arts across one of Canada’s largest public school boards.
She also previously served as Centrally Assigned Vice-Principal for Indigenous Education at the TDSB Urban Indigenous Education Centre. Her professional and scholarly work is grounded in a long-standing commitment to equity, curriculum innovation, Indigenous education, cultural transmission, and the role of public education in creating more just and responsive learning systems.
Education and Teaching
Mervi’s academic background includes graduate study in Governance and Entrepreneurship in Northern and Indigenous Areas through the University of Saskatchewan’s Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and UiT The Arctic University of Norway, through the Centre for Sámi Studies. Her studies focus on Indigenous governance, northern policy, Sámi studies, public policy, cultural transmission, language revitalization, and comparative Indigenous education.
She also holds degrees in Education and Visual Arts, with additional undergraduate and graduate study in Music, English, curriculum, teacher development, languages, history, Indigenous studies, environmental science, traditional arts, screenwriting, and emerging technologies.
Her teaching experience spans K–12 education, teacher professional learning, postsecondary Additional Qualification instruction, and guest teaching through institutions including the University of Toronto and York University. Across these contexts, her work has focused on curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, arts education, inclusive learning, Indigenous education, and educator leadership.
Professional Experience
Mervi has more than 25 years of experience in education, including school leadership, system leadership, provincial curriculum policy, professional learning, and program development.
In addition to her work with the Toronto and Peel district school boards, she has served as an Education Officer in the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Curriculum and Assessment Policy Branch. Across these roles, she has led and supported curriculum implementation, policy development, professional learning, system-wide programming, school improvement, Indigenous education initiatives, digital learning, arts education, STEM learning, and equity-focused change.
As an Education Officer, she contributed to curriculum policy development and implementation, including work connected to The Ontario Curriculum: The Arts. As a system leader in the TDSB, she supported large-scale portfolios in Mathematics, Science, STEM, Robotics, and The Arts. As Centrally Assigned Vice-Principal at the Urban Indigenous Education Centre, she supported city-wide Indigenous education initiatives, Indigenous language programming, student success supports, professional learning, and community partnerships.
Earlier in her career, Mervi helped launch CyberARTS, a specialized interdisciplinary arts and technology program, reflecting a long-standing interest in media arts, digital learning, creative technology, and curriculum innovation.
Photo by Mervi Salo of Elder Dr. Duke Redbird at UIEC
Research and Publications
Mervi’s research and writing connect education, governance, arts, Indigenous studies, policy, law, STEM, digital technologies, and decolonial practice. Her scholarly work includes book chapters, peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, case studies, applied research, and public-facing writing.
Her current academic interests include Indigenous governance, Sámi studies, cultural transmission, Indigenous education, curriculum policy, northern studies, visual sovereignty, digital storytelling, and the role of arts and education in sustaining language, identity, and community knowledge.
She has presented at national and international conferences and has contributed to research and knowledge mobilization through university, school board, and community partnerships, including SSHRC-funded research collaborations.
Photo by Mervi Salo at UiT Centre for Sami Studies (Sesam)
Creative Projects
Mervi is also a multidisciplinary artist, curator, musician, and arts educator. Her creative practice includes visual arts, media arts, film, ceramics, metalwork, painting, sculpture, leatherwork, beading, weaving, music, and emerging technologies such as robotics, coding, and micro.
She has participated in group exhibitions, completed private commissions and book illustrations, curated arts projects, and supported youth and Indigenous voices through creative programming. Her arts practice and educational leadership are closely connected: both are grounded in storytelling, cultural expression, interdisciplinary learning, and the power of creative practice to build understanding and community.
Photo by Mervi Salo of Detail of traditional decoration of drum
Recognition and Service
Mervi’s work has been recognized through awards, scholarships, grants, and professional honours. These include the National Art Education Association’s National Art Educator Award, McMaster University’s Humanities Special Achievement Award and University Medal, the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy entrance scholarship, a UArctic north2north mobility scholarship, the ETFO Multimedia Award, the Ontario Association of Art Galleries Educator Award, Indspire recognition for Successful Practices in Indigenous Education, and an Indigenous Language Fund Grant from the Ontario Ministry of Education.
She has held leadership and service roles in education, arts, Indigenous education, and professional associations, including Past-President of the Ontario Art Education Association, former Chair of the ETFO Provincial Standing Committee for the Arts, Board member of the Canadian Network for Innovation in Education, and elected Chair of North American SámiSearvi.
Mervi has presented at Canadian, North American, and international conferences, including the UNESCO World Conference on Arts Education. Her work continues to bridge education leadership, research, policy, Indigenous education, arts practice, and community-engaged learning.
Photo: UNESCO 2nd World Conference on Arts Education (Korea).
About
Mervi Maarit Salo is an educational leader, curriculum specialist, researcher, and multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto, Canada. Her work bridges K–12 public education, curriculum policy, Indigenous education, arts education, STEM and digital learning, northern studies, and community-engaged scholarship. Explore her work in education leadership, research, writing, presentations, teaching, and creative practice.
Contact
- Mon - Sun
- Appointment Only
Located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
mervisalo | at | gmail.com