A Life (well, half of a life) in Education
Forty years ago this month, I walked into my first classroom, guitar in one hand and a newly-printed B.Ed in the other. In hindsight, I one thing that I can say for certain is that, despite what was in my hands, I felt neither like a guitarist or a teacher. But there I was, supply teacher for the months of May and June, eagerly anticipating a full time position as a grade seven teacher that fall.
Now, almost 40 years to the day later, I’m packing up the many memories—the good ones, the not-so-good ones, the funny ones, the embarrassing ones, the humiliating ones and the uplifting ones—and moving out of the education space.
This profession has provided me with so many opportunities to learn and to grow, to build relationships and, hopefully, to touch a few lives along the way. For that I am extremely grateful.
I am also grateful for the many, many people that I have met in the years since my official retirement from the Dufferin Peel District School Board. Having the opportunity to work my way across this country working with the EdCan Network/CEA has been an honour. So many passionate and dedicated folks working at all levels of the system have inspired me to think, rethink and reimagine what this place called school could look like, feel like, sound like and, yes, even smell like!
12 years ago, we started to build the voicEd.ca community with the strong belief that if we were going to have any hope of changing the way we do education, we would have to change the way we talked about education. As voicEd.ca became voicEd Radio 8 years ago, the medium for those conversations changed, but the belief stayed the same.
Again, so many new connections, new learning and new opportunities for deep and vibrant conversations. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this work in any way: as creator, as guest, as audience. We’ve started to build something here that, I believe, is still important and valuable on Canada’s education landscape.
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I’m currently in conversation with some folks around the future of the network and I will be coming back with more information on that in the near future.
But, this post is really about the overwhelming sense of gratitude that I feel at this moment. My heart is full of appreciation for anyone who has, even in the smallest way, been part of this part of my journey. There are just too many to name; I’m doing my best to reach out to you individually, but it may take a while.
Come September, however, I will be a full time student at Emmanuel College at the University of Toronto, spending the second half of my life digging into some of the big questions that have been bouncing around in my heart and soul for most of my life. And that’s another post for another day.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Stephen
Retired Educator from Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board
8 个月Stephen… you are truly one in a million. I wish you health, joy and boundless curiosity and creativity in your next chapter. Slainte!
Educator focused on self-determined learning, emotional well-being and innovation.
8 个月Stephen, thank you for all your work in education. You have also had a positive impact on my personal and professional journey, and I’m thankful for the conversations we’ve had. I’m excited for you for the next half of your life!
Teacher Librarian at Grandview Heights High School
8 个月Stephen Thanks so much for all of your service to the national conversation on the importance of education and all those who serve in the system. It has been a pleasure collaborating with you! I hope the network and the radio continues and enjoy your studies. Remember to use your friendly Librarians to help you out. Reach out to me if I can help in any way. I birthed a Masters in 2020 and it takes a village to pursue Post Graduate studies. Be well!
President
8 个月Hey Steve Both of our boys and then our girls benefitted from your friendship and teaching ways (your talent in guitar and piano and organ - unsurpassed) as well as your caring and giving style. We valued you as a friend and are well aware of all you contribute to all you come in contact with. Your musical talent is unsurpassed and sharing your gift (right til the end for Ralph) was such a great gift to all of us. We need more people like you in this world,
Educational Consultant for Canada, ProLiteracy New Readers Press
8 个月Stephen, you have been a big part of my life for a not so long time. I will never forget writing an email to you a few days before Christmas Day 2022 to tell you about my podcast idea for incarcerated students and their teachers, and receiving your response 15 minutes later. From that moment, you have helped me to make the project a reality, and I've experienced nothing but your advocacy, kindness, expertise and friendship. You are an absolute gem of a human being. I hope to hear from you one day soon. All the Best, always.