My core beliefs about education have been shaped by my experiences as an educator over the last 20+ years. I have been fortunate to be involved in many different roles in the K-12 education system, including positions as a district leader, a district coordinator, a school counsellor, an online teacher, and a secondary school teacher. While my ideas about education have changed over time, my commitment to learning, well-being, and growth has not.
My Values
One of my favourite authors and teachers is Brené Brown. Her definition and beliefs about values (indeed, much of her work) speak to me as an educational leader. Leaders live into their values in ways that make it clear to everyone we work with what we hold most important. Values bring clarity and intention to my behaviour and decision making, in both my personal and professional life. They help me walk my talk. The following values guide all of my actions as an educator:
LEARNING Creating the conditions for both staff and students to continuously seek, share, and apply new knowledge and skills is at the heart of all that we do as K-12 educators. I am what Joyce and Calhoun (2010) would label a "gourmet omnivore" when it comes to my professional learning. Gourmet omnivores actively seek out and generate professional learning opportunities for themselves and for others. They are proactive and inquisitive, and they continuingly integrate new information and research into their pedagogical understandings. Encouraging and supporting life-long learning for students and staff is central to my work. WELL-BEING Both educator and student well-being are essential elements for effective learning. A culture of wellness for the entire school leads to healthier communities, resilient adults, and students more likely to reach their full potential. When school staff are given the support and tools to model positive well-being everyone benefits. CREATIVITY I am at my best when I have avenues to express my creativity, usually through writing, design (thank you, Canva!!), and creative thinking. Knowing that the act of creating can also build our resilience is an even better reason to get creative (Brené Brown as cited in Trespicio, 2016). I love this idea that creating and making can lead to learning and well-being. It absolutely does for me! GROWTH I look for opportunities to grow as a person, educator, and leader. I also really enjoy helping others grow, too. Working collaboratively with people who wholeheartedly embrace continuous improvement inspire me and challenge me. Little by little and day by day we can grow into the people we want to be. |
My Educational Interests
- transformational coaching and leadership
- organizational coaching
- cooperative and collaborative professional learning models (coaching, mentorship, collaborative inquiry, action research, PLCs, etc.)
- deep learning: learning that gives students opportunities to "...gain competencies and dispositions that will prepare them to be creative, connected, and collaborative life-long problem solvers and to be healthy, holistic human beings" (Fullan & Langworthy, 2014, p.2)
- social emotional learning and wellness
- digital professionalism
- digital literacy
- digital citizenship
- blended and online learning
My Background
- I am a Certified Organizational Coach, having completed University of British Columbia's Organizational Coaching Certificate program.
- I have degrees from Carleton University (BA), University of British Columbia (BEd), and Vancouver Island University (MEd).
- I have two post-graduate diplomas: one in guidance studies from UBC and one in online learning and teaching from VIU.
- I was part of UBC's first Social Justice cohort during my Bachelor of Education program.
References:
Fullan, M. & Langworthy, M. (2014). A rich seam. How new pedagogies find deep learning. Retrieved from https://www.michaelfullan.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/3897.Rich_Seam_web.pdf
Joyce, B. & Calhoun, E. (2010). Models of professional development: A celebration of educators. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Trespicio, T. (2016). How creativity can make you more resilient. Huffpost. Retrieved from www.huffpost.com/entry/how-creativity-can-make-you-more-resilient-_b_7269406