Kristie has a passion for Early Childhood education. She holds an Early Childhood certificate, Infant/Toddler and Special Needs certificates, a Bachelor degree in Child and Youth Care, and a Provincial Instructor diploma.
“I love working with children and their families,” she says. “Before I started teaching with the College, I worked for the East Kootenay Supported Child Development program for fifteen years. Working with children who require extra support, especially those who display challenging behaviour, is a key interest for me.”
In 2017, she began teaching in the Child, Youth, and Family Studies program at the College, primarily in the Early Childhood Education program.
“I enjoy sharing my knowledge of, and love for, working with young children. It’s also very rewarding to help students discover new ways of thinking about, or doing, things.”
The Child, Youth and Family Studies programs are all offered fully online. As a result, Kristie has quickly learned to adapt to the unique learning needs of online students.
“Sometimes the only time students can work on assignments is late at night or on weekends so it has been important to incorporate that knowledge into my courses,” she said. “I also try to incorporate video instruction into most assignments so I can connect more with the students and provide them with little tips that they may not pick up from the written instructions.”
When not teaching, Kristie likes to spend time at the lake with her family, reading, playing cards, going for walks – and impressing people with her skills at 80s music trivia.
To her students, or any students considering a career as an early childhood educator, she says, “Right now is an exciting time in the field. There is a shortage of trained educators and working as an early childhood educator is a very fun and rewarding career. Having the right training can make all the difference in your abilities, and provide a boost to your confidence. Now is a good time to invest in your career.”