From Business to the Classroom: How Jason Lay is Reimagining Learning for the Next Generation

Educator and entrepreneur Jason Lay blends real-world business savvy with student-centered teaching to create classrooms where students think critically, learn authentically, and prepare for the future.

When Jason Lay made the leap from financial services and marketing to education, he didn’t just switch careers, he transformed the way he saw teaching. Today, as Head of Business at Thornhill Secondary School in the York Region District School Board, Jason brings an entrepreneurial spirit and global experience into every classroom he enters. And in September, Jason will begin a new chapter as a Digital Literacy Consultant at YRDSB, where he'll support educators in building the future-ready skills students need to thrive in a digital world.

"I see my students as my customers," Jason shared on The LearnIt Podcast. "And I learn as much from my students as they learn from me."

Jason’s approach to education is as practical as it is personal. Whether teaching marketing, business, ESL, or special education, he designs courses rooted in student voice, real-life application, and future-ready skills. In his Introduction to Business course, for example, students build a summer company, complete with budgeting, branding, and even social media strategy.

"They can’t just go on ChatGPT and generate an answer," he explains. "They have to connect it to their own lived experiences, their passions, who they are."

This philosophy mirrors a broader shift in education. With the rise of AI and easy access to information, Jason argues that memorization and rote learning no longer serve students well. Instead, he champions project-based and inquiry-based learning. "The emphasis has to move away from tests and toward critical thinking. Application is key."

Feedback Over Grades

Another hallmark of Jason’s classroom is his emphasis on assessment as learning, an approach that prioritizes feedback over final grades. "Once you give a mark, students stop caring. But if you say, 'Have you thought about this?' you start a dialogue that deepens learning."

This feedback-driven model is echoed in Ontario’s Ministry of Education Growing Success policy, which emphasizes formative assessment and descriptive feedback as tools for promoting student growth.

"Teaching isn’t about saying, 'You must finish this by Friday.' It’s about meeting students where they are, understanding their needs, and helping them get better step by step."

Equity Through Entry Points

Jason’s background teaching diverse student populations, from Ontario to Beijing, has shaped his inclusive teaching style. His courses are open-level, which means a wide range of learners, each with unique strengths and gaps are in one room.

"It’s about giving students multiple entry points," he said. "If someone’s into gaming, I want to see how they can bring that into their learning. It’s about asset-based thinking, not deficit thinking."

The metaphor he uses is powerful: "You can’t get a fish to climb a tree. You have to help each student find the place where they can succeed."

Jason Lay on The LearnIt Podcast

Looking Ahead: The AI-Driven Classroom

Jason is candid about the growing role of artificial intelligence in education, both as a challenge and an opportunity. He’s already exploring ways to have students critically assess how AI might impact their own businesses and lives.

"AI will play a role in giving personalized feedback and tutoring. That frees up teachers to focus on what matters most: engagement, connection, and meaningful learning."

Still, he acknowledges a divide among educators, some eager to experiment, others hesitant to let go of traditional models. His take? Teachers, like entrepreneurs, need to stay ahead of the curve.

"Because I come from sales and marketing, I’m always asking, 'What are the trends? What’s changing?' That mindset drives me to keep adjusting, and I think that’s key in education today."

Systemic Challenges and the Teacher Shortage

Jason also sees systemic issues impacting the future of education, particularly around recruitment and retention. He believes the shift to a two-year teacher education program has disincentivized many capable professionals from switching careers.

"If I had a family and a mortgage, I wouldn’t be able to afford quitting my job to go to teacher’s college for two years," he explained. "There’s a real opportunity cost."

To combat the teacher shortage, Jason suggests structural solutions: a return to one-year programs, increased salary competitiveness, and more support for work-life balance to prevent burnout.

A Message to Fellow Educators

At the heart of Jason’s practice is a simple but powerful belief: teaching starts with connection. "The most important thing is to build relationships with your students," he says. "Everything else follows from that."

And for the many teachers trying to make sense of a changing world, Jason offers this reminder:

"All students can be successful. We just need to give them the right tools, the right space, and the belief that they can do it."