My Dad’s Metaphors

Me and My Dad

This blog is about teaching and learning.  When I left my 15-year teaching career in public schools two years ago to pursue other avenues in the field of education, I did not expect that one of my biggest supporters would be my dad.  He has been phenomenal and continues to surprise me each day.  For the past two years, he has taught me three lessons… which I kindly call “The Metaphors.” With much laughter and love, I encouraged my dad to write about the metaphors.  In the end, I thought I would honour him instead and share his wisdom on my edu-blog.
* Metaphor #1: The Big Wheel... You can’t move the wheel all by yourself.  You are kidding yourself.  Get help.  Work with others.
* Metaphor #2: The Frog in the Well… When you look up, you can only see the sky.  Get out of the well and look beyond.
* Metaphor #3: The Bus Stop… Don’t dwell on the bus you missed.  There are other buses going to your destination.  Thanks dad… your metaphors guide my pedagogical journey.

Hawaii International Conference on Education 2013

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

Aloha.  Dreams do come true.  I was so fortunate to have my proposal peer reviewed, be accepted to present a workshop, and be able to attend the 2013 Hawaiian International Conference on Education (HICE) in Honolulu, HI.  Ever since I started my Educational Leadership Doctoral program at SFU in 2008, I fantasized about going to HICE.  I was not quite sure how to go about it and if I had anything worthy to present.  In the meantime, I had encouraged my SFU EdD sub-cohort buddies from the Sunshine Coast to embark on the same academic adventure.  At the conference, there were 1300 educators from 30 countries.  All three of us presented.  The reason I went to Hawaii was to present my research and gain experience.  In the end, I walked away with so much more.  I met so many awesome people, had great conversations, and inspired by other people’s research.  Thank you to the HICE organizers and volunteers.  Loved the conference and will come back again.  Mahalo. 

Happy New Year 2013

January 1, 2013 – Gibsons, BC – Photo by Lynnette Robinson

I am grieving.  Goodbye 2012.  You have been very good to me.  I have learned so much and have much to learn.  This makes me hopeful.  In 2012, I was fully immersed in my role as school trustee with the SD46 Board of Education.  I chair the Education Committee, I liaise with West Sechelt & Halfmoon Bay Elementary PAC’s, and I am a member of the BCSTA Education Committee.  I love the people I meet and I enjoy talking about education and student learning.  Lucky me.  Furthermore, I appreciate the conferences and meetings I attend to learn more about education and student learning.  Best of all, I am an educational leader.  For many years I desired to learn more about leadership and my experience as school trustee has put much of my SFU doctoral coursework into practice.  I have a greater understanding of educational leadership and its complexities.  I feel fortunate and honoured to work with the people I do at SD46 and SFU.  Other 2012 mentionables would be completing my Certificate in University Teaching and Learning at SFU, presenting at conferences, working with the BCAMT, tutoring with “Younghusband Consulting” (aka. YH Math Rules), assisting with the SFU MEd Surrey Cohort, and joining the Gibsons Paddle Club.  In 2012, I found the courage to try.  I found my self-worth.  I found the strength to pursue my life’s purpose.  On December 30, 2012, I said good-bye to my hero, Dr. Geoff Madoc-Jones.  Today, I say hello to prosperity, love, and life.  I feel restored.  I feel whole again.  I feel like myself.  Thank you 2012.  I am back.  This year, I am engaged in my research, my dissertation, and my academic work.  Happy New Year 2013.  Moving forward.

The Turkey Tour

Merry (Belated) Christmas everyone… It was a The Turkey Tour.  We went to a hat-trick of households to celebrate Christmas.  The Turkey Tour begins on Christmas Eve at my parents’ place in Burnaby.  My twin brother was visiting from Toronto, my sister and her family live in Vancouver, my parents, and my little family gathered at the condo to feast on a turkey smorgasbord.  My mom used to cater.  It reminded me of the good old days in Prince Rupert.  The meal was fabulous and my 9-year old daughter was obsessed about making a Christmas tree (from paper) to ensure that Santa would arrive at the condo (and not at our home).  My parents decorate their home with Christmas cards so making a tree out of paper was the least she could do.  Santa did arrive.  Success.  After our 5am gift opening ritual and 7am nap, Christmas Day proceeded with waffles and leftover ham for breakfast.  Then, we were off to Maple Ridge for Turkey #2.  This was my husband’s aunt’s place.  Auntie Debbie, Serge, Randy’s cousins, aunts, uncles, and us gathered on the farm to have another exceptional meal.  The meal started off with cannelloni and ended with turkey, lots of fixings, and raspberry short cake.  Loved connecting with family and enjoying good food and wine.  We stayed overnight and spoiled with another homemade breakfast of pancakes.  Tasted great with a huge cup of coffee.  Yum.  We started to venture back to the Sunshine Coast with hopes of doing some Boxing Day shopping en route.  Big mistake.  There were line ups to enter parking lot, nevertheless park, go into the mall, and shop.  We quickly aborted the mission with hopes of arriving early for the 120pm ferry.  We arrived in Horseshoe Bay at 1245pm and missed the ferry by 60 vehicles.  We weren’t even close.  No biggie.  We had fish and chips at Troll’s and caught the 330pm (delayed) ferry back to the Sunshine Coast.  The last stop of The Turkey Tour was at  Barry’s house in Davis Bay.  Barry is my sister’s father-in-law.  I love this guy.  My sister, her little family, 2 of 3 her husband’s siblings and spouses, little Lucas, and us were there.  No turkey tonight… we had lamb.  It was super yummy and a nice change from turkey.  It was great to spend the Christmas holiday with family… to eat and be merry.  Hope that you had an equally wonderful turkey dinner(s) too… Ho, ho, ho.

Letting Go

Do you ever feel like you’re just done with it?  No more.  You’re done.  In fact, you just want to move on.  I am so there.  I’m beyond turning the page or starting a new chapter.  I am opening a new book.  I’m just done with this book.  I’m tired of re-reading it hoping to read something new.  Phooey.  A new story would be nice.  For the past two years, I’ve been quietly holding onto old ideas about myself.  I can’t seem to move forwards.  It’s like I’m stuck.  I’m ready to move on.  Right now, I am moving in a good direction but sometimes I feel tethered to what could have been.  Meh.  Life is full of choices.  I’ve made my decisions and feel good about them.  Looking back is painful and I hate the idea of guiding my life based on old beliefs.  There is no question I had lessons to learn.  I hope I’ve learned them.  Right now, it’s time to realize what is and say good bye hurt feelings.  Things are great and I’m optimistic of what could be.  The future is bright.  I am letting go.

SD46 Concert Tour 2012

Chatelech Secondary Band Concert

And so the tour begins… one of the most satisfying parts of my job as school trustee is touring schools and being a part of their Christmas Concert or Student Celebration as a spectator, supporter, and observer.  This year I had the great pleasure of visiting almost half of our schools on the Sunshine Coast:

1.  Chatelech Secondary Band Concert – December 13
2.  Davis Bay Elementary Concert – December 17
3.  Elementary SPIDER Gathering – December 18 (am)
4.  Kinnikinnick Elementary Concert – December 18 (pm)
5.  West Sechelt Elementary Concert – December 19
6.  Halfmoon Bay Elementary Concert – December 20
7.  Chatelech Secondary Talent Show – December 21

Not only do I feel fortunate to start and end with Chatelech Secondary, I was also able to visit most of the elementary schools that feed into this school.  Furthermore, I visited different schools last year during my 2011 Christmas Concert Tour… Cedar Grove Elementary, Madeira Park Elementary, West Sechelt Elementary, Roberts Creek Elementary, Elphinstone Secondary, and Pender Harbour Secondary.  School concerts reveal much about a school’s culture, values, and community.  Thank you to all of the schools who welcomed me into their schools this year to enjoy the music, the laughter, and the students.  I would like to note that we have an exceptional music program in SD46 with exceptional teachers.  Moreover, we have outstanding teachers, school principals, staff, parents, and volunteers who make these special events memorable for all.  Without community, these school events would not be possible.  As school trustee representing the SD46 Board of Education at these events, THANK YOU and congratulations to a job well done.

I Love My Job

Educational Consultant, Graduate Student, and School Trustee

Just the other day, I was texting with a couple of clients about scheduling and rescheduling tutoring times.  I was filled with joy when I realized that these students were advocating for their learning.  This is a fantasy of mine.  They were deciding what they needed to learn and when.  Student advocacy ROCKS!  Best of all, we were communicating in an honest and authentic way via Facebook, text, or in-person.  21st Century Learning at it’s finest.  This is only one aspect of my job.  Aside from tutoring secondary mathematics and chemistry, I give professional development workshops to teachers and give presentations at conferences on my academic work.  I love teaching teachers.  The experience is dialogical, engaging, and transforming.  Teaching teachers directly relates to another aspect of my job… my graduate studies.  What am I researching?  Professional Learning.  Totally crazy or what?  I absolutely love it.  My research is challenges me to assess my professional learning while exploring the learning experiences of other mathematics teachers.  At last, my job as school trustee rounds out my professional learning as graduate student and educational leader.  My studies in educational leadership lends itself to my role in governance.  I am learning more about the public school system from a different perspective and loving it.  Right now, I’m touring several schools in the school district to attend their Christmas Concert or student celebration.  I have a unique opportunity to connect with students, parents, teachers, support staff, administrators, and community members from more than one school.  What’s my main focus?  Student learning.  Love it!  As fragmented my job may seem, all three components seem to interconnect.  Certainly there are times when boundaries are blurred, but all-in-all… I LOVE MY JOB.  It’s been an amazing two years.  Who knows what’s next?  Once my degree is completed and my term as school trustee ceases, it will be another time to reassess.  As long as my job involves teaching, learning, and leading, I’m all good. 

Goodbye to a Hero

RIP Dr. Geoff Madoc-Jones, PhD – December 16, 2012

Just heard today that one of my heros passed away yesterday.  His name was Geoff Madoc-Jones.  He was infamous on the Sunshine Coast.  He taught English and English Literature here many years ago.  Some would consider him a trouble-maker.  Others would call him a change-maker.  I would call him a hero.  He pushed the boundaries, questioned authority, and did what he thought was best for students.  Eventually, Geoff became a Faculty Associate at Simon Fraser University, got his PhD, taught at the university, and played an administrative role in the Faculty of Education.  He was a philosopher.  He was passionate about education.  He just GOT IT and had very clear ideals about education.  Geoff’s trademark in education was pissing many people off.  He provoked teachers.  He challenged them.  He changed their practices.  For that, I admired him.  Geoff was an amazing man.  He taught me during my Masters of Education program on the Sunshine Coast in 1999-2001 and during my Doctor of Education program in 2008-2012.  Geoff was also a member of my committee.  He was my biggest cheerleader.  I appreciated his honesty, expertise, and willingness to help you become a better you.  I loved that about Geoff.  He never took any credit for his good-teaching.  As much as he appeared crazy, he was ultimately humble.  I will miss him immensely.  He has been instrumental to my academic endeavours and professional career as a teacher.  It brings me much sadness to hear this news.  RIP Geoff.  Thank you for being a great teacher, mentor, and friend. 

Amazing People

Friends… Pulling Together… (Photo by Ed Hill)

Do you know what?  I am surrounded by amazing people.  Who do you hang out with? Stop and look around.  Yesterday, I was overwhelmed by all the wonderful people who I hang out with.  First, check out this awesome photo.  I love paddling with people from the Gibsons Paddle Club.  We have so much fun on the water and even more fun at coffee.  Then I think about those I tutor and give professional development presentations to.  My clientele is absolutely awesome in addition to all those who support them.  I feel very fortunate to work with people who are passionate about teaching and learning, which leads me to the BCAMT.  I’ve just returned back from a BCAMT meeting in Vancouver this weekend and I appreciate the rich dialogue, critical thinking, and decision making process.  Leadership is shared and I love collaborating with like-minded people working towards mathematics excellence.  Of course, I am always grateful for my friends, family, former students, and teacher colleagues.  There are no words to describe the kind of relationships we have created and managed to maintain.  It’s absolutely incredible.  I am also truly fortunate to work with the students, staff, and faculty at SFU.  My experience at SFU has been transformational.  It’s been an opportunity to challenge ideas, share ideas, teach, learn, take academic risks, and meet great people.  At last, I would like to mention the SD46 Board of Education and those at the Board Office.  Another set of outstanding people I have the great fortune to work with.  I have a deep respect for these people and I love that we are all working towards a common goal.  We may disagree from time to time, but I disagree with my husband, daughter, colleagues, clients, etc. from time to time too.  It’s all good.  THANK YOU…  I feel very lucky.

Adult Learning

Photo by Ed Hill, Gibsons Harbour, Sunshine Coast

This is a cool pic… Thanks Ed.  I’m in the red life jacket with the cool transitions sunglasses.  The picture was taken this morning.  It was a cold but beautiful sunny day.  With frost on the canoes, a crew of 10 were pumped to paddle.  I was one of ten.  ME with members of the Gibsons Paddle Club outrigging.  Ask me a couple of years ago if I would ever be paddling in an outrigger canoe once or twice a week… HA… I would thought you were crazy.  First of all, I don’t even know how to swim.  One thing led to another and voila… here I am… with friends in the Gibsons Harbour.  New to the sport, I am always open to feedback.  In return, my paddle buddies have no hesitation to teach me a thing or two.  Adult learning ROCKS.  Whether if it is in the water or in the classroom… “learning just makes you a better you” (a quote from one of my students).  Now that’s cool.  Happy Learning.