Growing up in small town Saskatchewan was something that I did not appreciate fully until I moved away from home. Most of all I am grateful for the classical education I received at school, along with music and dance.
My first year university was a breeze compared to the rigours of completing all of the departmental exams at the end of my grade 12 year. There were no easy credits where I came from and I have to say that I was very inspired by my teachers throughout my education. Discipline and hard work were instilled in me from a very young age.
In a community of just over 1000 people, it is crazy to reflect upon the fact that we were a jazz, concert and marching band that played the half time show at the SK Roughrider games. I was also extremely lucky to have the Canadian Dance Teacher Association President as my dance teacher. We worked extremely hard and were Provincial Champions in dance and completed many dance exams. Swimming was another area where we excelled. As examiners said, we were among the best swimmers they had encountered.
After completing my BA at the University of Saskatchewan and saving enough summer money, I headed to Asia for 6 months on an adventure. It was in a Bangkok Guest house that I faxed my application to the University of Calgary and got into the BEd after degree program the following fall.
When I completed my BEd, I went back to Asia and worked for four years in Seoul, Korea. For three years, I was the Vice Director of a Language school. One of my roles was setting up the English education program for 20 elementary schools of approximately 1000 students each. My final year in Seoul was spent teaching grade 1 at Seoul Academy International School. I also worked in broadcasting and taught many private English classes. One of my private students was recognized as the top non-native English student in the entire country of South Korea. What a fulfilling experience as a teacher!
Shortly after coming back to Canada, I started a family and completed my MA in Counselling. While raising my kids, I worked as a guidance counsellor and teacher for the Calgary Board of Education, Foundations for the Future Charter Academy and Calgary Jewish Academy. Four years ago, I started my own business focused on developing English and Math competencies in children. Both of my own children were in French immersion and I saw a need for enhancement in their English literacy, so I decided to put the word out to parents in my community and have had wonderful success.
