November 2024: SD 83 UDI and Building Relationships with Students – Leyton Schnellert
Leyton Schnellert is the kind of teacher I want to be. He truly loves the vocation, loves his students, and sees the potential for greatness in everyone. He has a gift for building relationships with his students and making UDI accessible for all teachers. Leyton has has lots of practical tools in his toolbox to implement in classrooms of all ages, and has a wealth of stories to inspire. I would be hard pressed to find a lecturer who is more student-focused than Leyton.
February and March 2025: SD 73 Aboriginal Leadership Training Conferences – Dr. Dustin Louie
Dr. Louie presented both an imperative for action as an Indigenous educator and an intellectual framework to implement that call. I found his presentation comparing Indigenous writers’ perspectives on decolonization to be eye-opening – knowing that there is room in decolozination for a plurality of perspectives is freeing. His workshops were inspiring, intellectually stimulating, and heartwarming. After his workshops, I feel more confident about Indigenizing my practice.
March 2025: TRU Re-Storying Education: Decolonizing Your Practice – Carolyn Roberts
Carolyn is a dynamic, funny, and inspiring educator who makes me want to do big things in the classroom. Her journey as an educator is complex and speaks to my journey as an Indigenous educator trying to find my teaching identity. I found her experience reframing the cultural lens for topics that have always been taught from a settler perspective to be paradigm shifting. I would love any opportunity to learn from her in the future.
May 2025: Provincial Intermediate and Middle Years’ Teachers Association Spring Conferance, Cheakamus Centre, Squamish
Immediately after my second practicum, I am attending the myPITA Spring Conference in Squamish. I am registered to attend Beauty of Coping with Sheldon Franken, and Longhouse Experience: Indigenous Knowledge, Legends, and Land-Based Teachings with the Cheakamus Centre. I am excited to spend a weekend with other educators at this amazing outdoor learning centre, informed by Ch’iyákmesh cultural teachings.