For Teens and Parents/Caregivers
Join us for a special discussion with Dr. Haidi Yao. The workshop will focus on helping high school students develop strong learning habits, make informed choices, and prepare for university and beyond.
Discussion topics include:
Dr. Yao's experience as an education scholar and author
Dr. Zhaoling (Heidi) Yao, PhD is an educator and the founder of DeRin Education and AboutRead.com. A graduate of the University of Waterloo, she has more than 20 years of experience in education. Through her work with children and families, as well as one-on-one educational consulting, she has gained a deep understanding of the challenges families face as children grow, learn, and prepare for their future.
Heidi believes that every child has their own strengths and dreams, and that parents and educators can play an important role by providing guidance, encouragement, and support. She is a strong advocate for reading and its role in helping children develop concentration, vocabulary, critical thinking, empathy, and a lifelong interest in learning.
She is also the author of Little Dog, Big Wisdom, a parenting book inspired by her life with her dog, Oreo. Through everyday stories, the book explores parenting, responsibility, emotional well-being, resilience, and the importance of understanding and companionship.
Beyond education, Heidi is a dedicated half-marathon runner and believes that sports can help young people develop discipline, perseverance, teamwork, and confidence. She enjoys sharing practical ideas and experiences with students, parents, and the broader community, and has delivered educational talks and presentations on a variety of topics. She is passionate about helping young people build strong learning habits, make thoughtful choices, and prepare for university and life beyond high school.
Accessibility Accommodations: We strive to make our programs welcoming and accessible for everyone. If you have any accessibility needs, accommodation requests, or questions about participating, please contact us at wplprogramming@wpl.ca and we'll do our best to support you.
Photography Notice: Please note that photographs and videos may be taken at this event and may be broadcast, reproduced, and/or made available in print or online. For individual or small group photos, staff will make attendees aware of their presence and will ask permission before taking photos.
For larger public events, please note that by attending, you are consenting to the use of your appearance, image, and voice in print or digital productions created by the Waterloo Public Library for promotional use only. Please speak to library staff at the event if you’d like to be excluded from any photo/video.
Staff: Min
Located on the west side of Waterloo, the John M. Harper Branch shares a building with the Stork Family YMCA. It features soaring ceilings, dedicated study space (including 3 bookable study rooms), a large Community Room and an outdoor courtyard.
