Marc Dubeau the Tech Teacher Redefining What’s Possible in High School Classrooms
How Marc Dubeau turned a passion for gaming and teaching into a cutting-edge STEM program that’s inspiring students across Canada.
Marc Dubeau doesn’t just teach high school students how to use technology, he teaches them how to create with it, lead with it, and change the world through it. Over his 25-year career at Osgoode Township High School in Ottawa, Marc has transformed traditional classroom learning into an immersive, industry-connected experience where students build real games, publish them on Steam, and even compete in esports tournaments. And he’s not stopping anytime soon.
“I like people,” Marc shared on The LearnIt Podcast. “Young people are a source of energy and inspiration. A lot of what I do has been inspired by something I saw a student do, and I went in that direction.”
From Chickens to Code: A Curious Mind at Work
Marc’s journey to education started on a farm in Eastern Ontario. Growing up in a large francophone family, he was the responsible child who took care of the family’s hobby farm. “Thirty chickens, 25 rabbits... I had my job,” he recalled. But while he initially dreamed of becoming a doctor, he realized early on during hospital work that he was more drawn to energy than illness. The classroom, it turned out, was the right operating room.
He didn’t begin his career teaching technology, far from it. Marc taught history, civics, economics, French, and geography before eventually becoming the "super tech teacher" he is today. That flexibility has defined much of his teaching philosophy. “As a teacher, you might be asked to do things you didn’t think you would. Sometimes you try it and hopefully you figure it out.”
Game On: Building Real-World Projects with Students
Marc’s classroom is part lab, part studio, and part startup. His students have developed fully functional games - Little Johnny Goes Home and Little Johnny Watermelon Smash, published them on Steam, and even composed original music for the experiences. They’ve built VR simulations, cinematic trailers, and 3D concept art, all using industry-standard tools like Unreal Engine.
“I take risks a lot of teachers don’t,” Marc said. “Sometimes I try things I don’t know how to do. It’s a co-learning model, we figure it out together.”
His program has garnered international attention. In 2022, Marc received the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence in STEM, and in 2020, his class was awarded a $25,000 Epic MegaGrant to develop VR experiences. That same grant helped him participate in a virtual production course with top VFX professionals from Avatar and Avengers: Endgame. “There I was, a high school teacher, learning alongside the biggest names in the industry,” he recalled. “It was humbling and it showed me how much more there is to learn.”
Esports and SHSM: Creating Belonging Through Innovation
Beyond game design, Marc has expanded his programming into new territory: esports. His team recently became Ontario’s provincial champions in Marvel Rivals. He sees it as a complement, not a competitor to traditional athletics.
“It caters to a different group of kids. I call them geeks, and that’s a compliment. They’ll probably make four times more money than everyone else,” he laughed.
The foundation of this innovation is Ontario’s SHSM (Specialist High Skills Major) program. “It gives us the freedom to do big things, without asking 18 people for permission,” Marc explained. He’s used SHSM funding to invest in game design, music production, and 3D animation, creating what he calls a “dessert platter” of digital skill development that students can taste before specializing.
Marc Dubeau on The LearnIt Podcast
Rethinking Respect and Student Engagement
What makes Marc’s classroom tick isn’t just the tech. It’s the human connection. “The first few days of class, we don’t even touch the equipment,” he said. “I get to know who they are, what they love, what they want to do in the future.”
His strategy is deeply relational: stand at the door to say hello and goodbye, turn off screens to reconnect, and model integrity in everything. “You’re not their friend, you’re their teacher. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be kind and have fun.”
He emphasized that respect isn’t demanded, it’s earned. And it starts with believing in students, even those others might overlook. One of his most memorable projects came from a student with autism who struggled in every class except Marc’s. That student went on to study game design at Vancouver Film School.
A Sharp Take on Systemic Challenges
Marc didn’t hold back on what’s holding education back: “There’s too much bureaucracy. More people above us, but less money in classrooms.”
He expressed concern about teachers avoiding AI by reverting to pen-and-paper assignments. “You need to integrate it. Students will use it anyway. Use it to teach problem solving, creativity, and ethics.”
He encourages teachers to stay current with industry trends. “You don’t have to master everything, but show students what’s out there. Relevance matters.”
A Teacher Who Stays Humble and Hungry
Despite his accolades and national recognition, Marc remains grounded. He calls himself a dynamic teacher, always evolving, always learning. “What you teach is important, but who you are is more important,” he said. “Integrity, honesty, character. That’s the foundation of everything.”
