As a novice educator, I embrace the opportunity to develop my knowledge, skills, and reflective practice as an educator through professional development with more experienced colleagues.  During my B.Ed. programme and my practicum, I participated in the following professional development opportunities:

• Dr. Gabor Mate, “How To Foster Resilience in Adolescents,” Sir Charles Tupper Professional Development Workshop, February, 2010.
• Dr. Stanley Kutcher, “Mental Health Curriculum Resource Training for Pre-Service,” UBC Workshop, January, 2015.

In addition to these workshops, I also participated in school planning days at my CFE and practicum schools.

I believe that Professional Development not only allows for the supportive, discursive exchange of ideas with a community of educators, it allows me an more empathetic understanding of students.  If I am asking students to risk learning, I must be willing to take those same risks; professional development  asks me to become a student and risk learning, to be vulnerable, to collaboratively learn new ideas and skills, and to return to the classroom with this newfound knowledge.  Professional development allows me to be a life long learner as I cultivate a reflective, inquiry based teaching practice.

Certificate of completion for Mental Health Curriculum Resource Training.