This week, five teacher candidates, along with TEO staff and faculty, attended WestCAST, the annual education conference for western provinces. Hosted this year by Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Education, the event provided an invaluable platform for exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, and fostering professional growth.
A big round of applause to teacher candidates Tia De Groot, Tanya Hutchinson, Molly Klassen, Jenny Oikawa, and Chase Thomson for their active participation in WestCAST! Providing support and leadership were Associate Dean Karen Ragoonaden, TEO Director John Yamamoto, WKTEP Coordinator Lori Barrett, and Program Managers Greta Bartsch, Jody Billingsley, Tricia Murray, Hazel Ryan Sheehan, Graham Setters, and Dr. Sonya Woloshen.
Congratulations to everyone for their contributions and dedication to advancing education!
WestCAST 2025 UBC Presentations:
- Greta Bartsch, Jody Billingsley, Dr. Karen Ragoonaden, Hazel Ryan Sheehan, Graham Setters, and John Yamamoto – “Creating a Sense of Belonging in Teacher Education”
- Tia De Groot – “Integrating Indigenous Pedagogies: A Pathway for Beginning Teachers”
- Molly Klassen, Jenny Oikawa, and Chase Thomson – “Queering the Classroom: Supporting 2SLGBTQ+ Students by Resisting Heteropatriarchy”
- Dr. Sonya Woloshen and Tanya Hutchinson – “Ethical and Responsible Use of GenAI in Education: Hands-on Exploration for Educators”