2011 Premier's Award of Excellence in Leadership - Teacher.

John Atherton is an innovative, stimulating and visionary educator. He has a reputation as an outstanding mentor who inspires and drives teachers and students to be their best and to love and share their learning. During his time as an instructional leader at the Toronto District School Board, he established the GTA Physics Teachers' Alliance. In 2007, John launched the “Eureka Conference” which was attended by 600 classroom teachers – an event described by many science teachers as the most useful professional development event they ever attended.