Kaylah came to WKTEP (Elementary cohort) by way of Creston after hearing about the program by word of mouth and through her research online for BEd programs. She has a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Conservation, majoring in Science and Management from UBC Vancouver and a Bachelor of Education (WKTEP).
Q1. What is your background?
Historically, mostly Scottish. On my mom’s side John Cooper was the first to come to North America. He worked for the HBC and eventually was a Red River settler. On my dad’s side Stephen Hopkins was the first to come over, first on another boat (arriving in 1610 and staying in Jamestown to 1614 and again with his family on the Mayflower in 1620.
Career: [I had] many different work experiences ranging from Parks Canada, researcher for the UVic ethnoecology lab working with Indigenous elders in the NWT, to making brooms here in the Kootenays.
Q2. What inspired you to go into teaching and why is rural education important to you?
I have a wide variety of life experiences to share and I see it as a valuable career where I can both have stability in my life and give back to the community.
Q3. Do you have a favourite educational topic/class that you especially love, or one that made an impression on you?
Science was my most comfortable with my educational experience but I pull ideas from all of them now that I am teaching.
Q4. Have you encountered any challenges or learning curves and if so, how did you overcome them?
Learning that it is okay not to mark everything and increase their self and peer reflection quality through scaffolding and practice.
Q6. What was your biggest takeaway from practicum?
Work life balance is essential.
Q7. What is the one piece of advice you would like to give to a potential WKTEP student?
Get outside as much as possible. Make time for your wellness or you will be forced to take time for your illness.