I will be soon completing my secondment at SFU. I am currently seeking a new path to follow. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a leader in both my Science Department and at SFU so I have decided to explore the possibility of moving into an administrative position with the hopes that in addition to my leadership responsibilities, I will still have the opportunity to work with children in the classroom.
Personal leadership qualities:
- Organized - I have demonstrated strong organization skills as a Science Department Head. I organized meetings, managed our budget, maintained a connection between our department and the rest of the school, implementing school initiatives within our department and helped to build our timetable. As a Faculty Associate, I have worked with my partner teacher to build our module schedule, plan and implement workshops, and communicate clearly and professionally with both the school districts, SFU staff and student teachers.
- Passionate - I feel strongly that every child has the right to an education. I have demonstrated this by working closely with the learning support teams within schools to help best support our struggling students. I am also passionate about science and math education. Assisting students in building a strong sense of how to make sense of the world will enable them to make good decisions in the future. As a Faculty Associate, I have stressed the importance of finding our passion as educators; this passion will shine through in both our teaching and interactions with children.
- Authentic - I feel that it is important to have an open door policy and maintain an approachable demeanour with all staff and students. To do this we need to build genuine relationships that show caring and empathy. I have demonstrated this with both students and staff. I have also been fortunate to maintain strong relationships with both staff and students as a Faculty Associate. Team teaching and working with adult learners requires a Faculty Associate to recognize our own strengths and weaknesses, be vulnerable, and open minded. Building solid relationships with other people requires that we be true to who we are and find ways to authentically connect with others.
- Innovative - Being creative is at the heart of teaching. Finding alternative ways to reach students through classroom activities is an imaginative process. Being creative as a leader is also a necessary attribute. Finding innovative ways to connect with each member of a department can be challenging, but necessary for building strong collaborative environments. After working as a Science Department Head at Cariboo Hill Secondary for three years, I was moved to a larger school for my second term at Burnaby South Secondary. Starting over in a new school was an amazing experience. Initially, I was unsure of how I would find my place within a new experienced group of teachers, but we worked together as a team and I built new relationships with the teachers in the department.
