Today was my final day as a School Associate, as my fantastic student teacher completed her final practicum today. I have been incredibly fortunate this year to have worked with such a talented and passionate pre-service teacher for both her 401/402 and 405 practicums. Being a School Associate has been an incredibly rewarding and introspective journey into my own professional career. Mentoring and collaborating with a student teacher has fuelled my own reflective behaviour on my practice and journey as an educator. Taking on a student teacher as I returned to school myself gave me a fresh perspective on my own views of education and the benefits of collaboration in teaching.

I am reminded so often when working with pre service and current teachers that the profession of teaching is a journey and no matter the number of classes you've taught or years of service, good teachers are open to change and new ideas. Good teachers continually put effort into creating meaningful and engaging learning opportunities for our students appreciating and teaching to the distinct dynamics every different class brings. My own journey in the undertaking of a Masters degree is really not so different than my student teacher's journey in PDP, just in another place on the continuum of experience. No where was that more abundantly clear than when we discovered that we were both submitting reflections to the same SFU Professor who happens to be heavily involved with not only my Masters cohort, but the PDP Playworks module as well. Lesson to be learned? Where there is Active Living and Health Education, you just might find Stephen Smith :)

While is was sheer coincidence, the fact that I was paired up with a student teacher from the Playworks module was an incredibly advantageous fit. It allowed for a deeply rooted focus in health, active living, and the built environment - supported by our university studies and propelled by our common interests, experiences, and passions.

While many a tear was shed today, and it may sound overly sentimental; I truly feel that while I may be saying goodbye to a student teacher, I am welcoming a colleague. Congratulations Angela! You are a skilled, passionate, and talented teacher who touched the lives of every student within our class and greatly benefitted the school community. I wish you the best of luck on the continuation of your teaching journey, no matter where in the world it may take you.

And just to lighten the mood, or in case you thought after spending so many months together we started to look a little alike...

I'll let you try to decide if I'm a giant or she's a shrimp :)