After completing my final practicum at DP Todd Secondary in Prince George, and graduating from UVic in May 2017, I immediately got hired as a TTOC in the Prince George School District. I worked for a couple weeks as a TTOC in a variety of schools and subject areas. Near the end of May, I received a contract to teach French 8 and English 9 at College Heights Secondary until the end of the school year. This was both challenging and rewarding, as neither French nor English are my teachable subjects, but it helped me gain valuable experience. After travelling through Europe over the summer of 2017 I was planning on TTOCing for the 2017/2018 school year. However, during the first week of school I got a job offer to teach Grade 5/6 at Quinson Elementary, a tier 1 inner city school. After a lot of deliberation, I decided to accept the position, as I believed I would gain even more valuable experience and have a better chance of landing a contract in either PE or social studies the next year. My year teaching elementary was the most challenging and also most rewarding experience of my young career. I was able to work with children of all different abilities and levels, while improving my classroom management. I also continued to coach Jr. Boys Basketball at DP Todd.

I survived my year in elementary, and in June 2018 I was interviewed for and received a full-time continuing contract, teaching PE and social studies at DP Todd Secondary. This was the school I completed my final practicum at and had already developed meaningful relationships with many students. That year felt more like “coming back,” rather than starting a new job. During the 2018/2019 school year, I coached both the Jr basketball and volleyball teams. I was rewarded for my commitment to coaching with an Athletic Director block for the 2019/2020 school year. I looked after numerous teams and coached Sr boys’ volleyball and Jr boys’ basketball. I am looking forward to continuing my teaching and coaching career at DP Todd for the foreseeable future.