Jean Collins is an excellent teacher and a very good problem solver. Her outstanding rapport with students is evidenced by the awards she has received. Besides the Descartes Medal, she was awarded the Descartes Foundation Teacher Recognition Award and an Edith May Sliffe Award for distinguished teaching.
Her career took her to a number of schools: Chapleau H.S., Forest Hills C.I. in Toronto, Richmond Hill H.S., Thornlea S.S. in Thornhill and the University of Toronto Schools. Jean speaks fondly of Thornlea which was her neighbourhood school, and where she taught her friends’ children and her children’s friends.
Jean spent many years as a contest marker and teaching at the Canadian Mathematics Competition seminars. She also volunteered with the International Mathematics Olympiad when it was held in Toronto in 1995.
Jean’s own education took place in several schools: Pickle Crow P.S., Logan P.S. in Mulgrave, Nova Scotia, Renabie P.S. in Renabie, Ontario; St. Joseph’s College in North Bay, North Hastings H.S. in Bancroft, and later the University of Western Ontario.
Cottaging, travelling, bridge, volunteer work, and golf are among Jean’s hobbies. She can see mathematics in many things; she enjoys quilt making, calling it “applied geometry”.