September 10, 2026Excellence in Action: Feature #1 | Ms. Ashley Bryden

Excellence in Action: A Series
Inside the Classrooms of Aberdeen Hall

What does exceptional teaching actually look like in practice? In this series, former High School Principal Grant Ozechowski visits classrooms across all three divisions to observe authentic, everyday learning and ask students directly what makes their teachers great. Each feature highlights how our faculty bring the core pillars and key actions of Aberdeen Hall’s Strategic Direction to life.
 

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." When Maya Angelou said these words, I doubt she was thinking about Pre-Calculus 11, but when Ashley Bryden starts planning a math lesson, I guarantee she has them in mind.

Everyone should spend an hour in Ashley’s class—not just to see what a master teacher looks like, but to experience the culture of belonging she creates. A class with Ms. Bryden is like putting on your favourite slippers, pulling on your fuzziest sweatshirt, and eating homemade macaroni and cheese all at the same time. It’s safety, encouragement, and a genuine, caring learning community where relationships define success. It would be a worthwhile class even if there was no math being taught. Fortunately for us, this class has math, and plenty of it. Nobody loves math more than Ashley.

Today, she starts the lesson with a pre-test; the students are learning elements of the unit circle. There are a few questions to fill out on the front, but as Ms. Bryden soon mentions, if the students want to challenge themselves, they can flip over the page and tackle the more complicated question on the back. She tells them that these concepts are new, that they are reaching ahead into more complex content, reminding them that it’s all going to be okay. It’s challenge by choice, but it’s also an exemplary model of responsive, differentiated instruction and personalized learning in action.

Pencils start scratching, heads bent in concentration. That’s when the Bryden magic starts to do its work. She sprinkles it liberally as she moves from student to student—never stopping, always present. A quiet nudge here, a gentle hint there, each student interaction carefully designed to meet them where they are and empower each learner to reach their full potential. It’s relentless nurturing grounded in our commitment to knowing every student.

A couple of minutes later, a hand shoots up and a question is raised. “I appreciate that you are wondering out loud,” she says, “but let’s wait until the Bryden pep talk is done to address that.” The students know they will get their answer, but they need to try first, building the resilience and curiosity necessary to tackle complex challenges independently.

True to her word, a few minutes later the signature “Bryden pep talk” commences. The aforementioned questions are sorted out, of course, but the pep talk is so much more. It’s a reminder that every class matters, and that every lesson has value. It’s a time to energize, inspire character, and share personal stories. She calls them pep talks, but Ashley might be underselling what they really are: intentional investments in student growth and potential.

For her students, each Bryden pep talk is proof that their teacher sees their struggles, that she hears their questions, and that she is beside them on the journey. It recognizes their achievements, celebrates their efforts, and models the pursuit of excellence as a personal standard. It’s a part of the lesson where she reminds them that her teaching is deeply personal—she knows them as individual learners, not just as recipients of the curriculum. It helps her push harder, build effective scaffolds, and hold high expectations within a supportive, values-driven environment. Today’s pep talk ends with a core commitment: “There are six lessons left in the year. We’ll be working diligently right to the end. I owe you this much.”

Ashley’s classes are more than lessons in factoring and unit circles; they are a masterclass in relationship building and community connection. Her students trust she has deep subject mastery, that’s clear. But they are buoyed by the knowledge that she truly sees each one of them. As one student shared:

"She knows my goals even when I might not, she’s always offering tutorials, and somehow, she always knows where to find me. And it’s not just me, I see her doing it for my friends too."

I left that day confident that the students in Ms. Bryden’s classes will master a lot of mathematical principles during the next six classes as they edge their way towards summer vacation. But I am even more confident that as they grow into capable, resilient, and compassionate citizens, they will never forget how she made them feel along the way. Maya Angelou—and our Aberdeen Hall community—would be proud.