Dean’s Community Engagement Series
Join Dr. Jan Hare, Dean pro tem, UBC Faculty of Education, for the third annual speaker series putting a spotlight on important questions and significant priorities that are engaging educators today.
This virtual session will feature Dr. Jeffrey Wood of Laurentian University, Aimee Blow of the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District, and Kirsten Deasey of the Sunshine Coast School District.
Together they will explore innovative approaches and practices that best support Early Years (0-8 years) learners, families and school communities. They will share research and experience on topics such as building inclusive early years environments, critically reflective teaching practices and pedagogies, enhancing supportive family structures, and transformative leadership approaches.
Event Details
Date: November 21, 2023
Time: 4:30-6:00pm PT
Format: Online via Zoom
Learn more about the 2023-2024 Dean’s Community Engagement Series
About Dr. Jeffrey Wood
Jeffrey is from Métis and settler ancestry and lives on the traditional lands of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek under the Robinson-Huron Treaty. He is a professor in the School of Education and the School of Indigenous Relations at Laurentian University and is the Early Learning Lead for the Moosonee and Moose Factory District School Area Boards. Jeffrey has been researching and working with young children for the past 25 years. His research interests include: early childhood education, early literacies, inquiry learning and Indigenous education. Jeffrey has been teaching at Laurentian University since 2005.
About Aimee Blow
Aimee Blow is a District Learning Coordinator and a specialized Kindergarten teacher with Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public Schools. She completed her Master of Education in Educational Leadership at Vancouver Island University in 2020. She has additional training in becoming a Pedagogist with the ECPN (Early Childhood Pedagogy Network), mentorship, Reggio Inspired practices, and emergent curriculum. She is known for her passion and dedication for our BC Early Learning Framework. In her roles, she engages in critically reflective and collaborative teaching practices. Aimee believes that we can collaboratively reflect on (re)defining our image of the child, the role of the educator in the Early Years (0-8 yrs) and inclusive early years environments, to better reflect our own local contexts.
About Kirsten Deasey
Kirsten Deasey, District Principal of Learning, Innovation and Childcare with School district No. 46 (Sunshine Coast) has been involved in the early years for more than 30 years, teaching preschool, kindergarten, inclusion and coordinating district early years, literacy, numeracy & curriculum E – 12 supports. Since 2003, Kirsten has worked with an inspired team of district and community based early years educators to develop and implement a continuum of support for early years children and families, using playful approaches designed to support our youngest citizens.
