Students in our Teacher Education program include: Teacher Candidates (beginning teachers), Teachers & Other Professionals, and other post secondary students excited about education. Meet some of our exciting students!
Barbara Botter
Barbara Botter is a teacher candidate in our BEd Secondary - Chef Education Concentration Program. Barbara is a professionally-trained chef with over 20 years experience in the food and beverage industry. Teaching as a chef in Secondary schools is the next step in her very exciting career.
Christa DeClercq
Throughout Christa's life, she always found time for children. From babysitting and teaching gymnastics, to respite care and behavioural intervention for children with autism, her rewards were her time spent teaching and learning from children and youth. Deciding that teaching was what she wanted to do, Christa moved to Vancouver from Cumberland, BC to undertake her BEd Elementary (FLAGS) program.
"I am having a fantastic, enriching and positive experience and I know that I have made the right decision. I feel so fortunate for the opportunity to be a part of the UBC BEd program and I am so inspired to be a teacher and make a difference."
Talia Ellet
Talia graduated from UBC (2006) with a BA--major in History minor in English Literature and is keenly interested in creative writing and in learning new languages (Spanish and French in particular). She is now in the 12-month elementary BEd program, FLAGS (French Language & Global Studies) cohort. To prepare for the program, Talia spent five weeks at Laval University in Quebec City with the Explore program (Summer 2008). Talia says, "It was an extraordinary way to be immersed in French language and culture. I would like to teach abroad someday."
James Lavender
Prior to UBC’s Teacher Education Elementary (French Specialist) program, James was a Youth Worker for the City of Vancouver, and has worked with children of all ages, leading sports programs, running leadership courses, and coordinating a variety of arts related classes. He’s volunteered with special needs children and is strongly involved in his local community while active in sports and enjoying the outdoors.
"My choice to come to UBC and the support offered by staff, faculty, and fellow students has confirmed that I made the right decision. Based on the education I have received at UBC, I feel prepared and encouraged to take on the challenges and adversity which will be presented in the future."
Heather Llewelyn
Heather Llewelyn, when not busy singing gospel for the VOC Soul Gospel Choir, is a BEd Elementary student and "enjoying every minute of it." Heather is widely educated in Liberal Arts, Latin American Studies, Kinesiology, Asian and Canadian Studies, and English through SFU (2007). She is "looking forward to graduating in July and using many of the new strategies, and ideas and practices in my own classroom."
Theola Loi
Theola Loi began her Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition and Health at UBC without any ideas of where her degree might steer her. However, throughout her undergraduate experiences, she developed enthusiasm for rising food related issues such as healthy living and sustainability. Combined with her love for food, education and leadership, she was led to pursue a teaching career through UBC's Secondary Home Economics program. She hopes to inspire students through these ingrained passions to evaluate their lifestyles at an earlier age so that they may be a part of creating global change. In the distant future, she hopes to enter a branch of school administration.
Laura Rodrigues
Formerly from Portugal and Brazil, Laura chose UBC for her BA (2008) program, and now her BEd (Elementary). Her love of languages (Portuguese, English, French and Spanish), makes her a natural for the FLAGS (French Language & Global Studies) cohort.
"I love the people in my cohort and I've met some great and inspiring people in the BEd program (teachers, professors and classmates). This is an experience that is transforming me into the person I aspire to be."
Susan Sutherland
Susan Sutherland first moved to Vancouver in 2002 for undergraduate studies in the Faculty of Science at UBC. A year working as a nanny in Spain helped her discover her passion for languages and for working with children. Following the completion of her BA in French and Spanish (2007), Susan taught English in a small village in France. Susan is "looking forward to sharing my love of languages by becoming an French Immersion elementary teacher here in BC."
Joe Tong
"Home Economics is such a great vehicle for youth to acquire practical knowledge for the future. I have always been inspired to help youth gain these valuable skills that are often taken for granted. From cooking, sewing, family planning and financial planning, I feel as though I am equipping a future generation of independent and competent people, far from just the next Martha Stewart."
Lisa Yu
Lisa Yu obtained her BSc in General Biology and a minor in Psychology from UBC. As a resident of Coquitlam for the last 14 years, the Coquitlam practicum-based Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) elementary cohort was easy:
"I do not have to commute all the way to UBC when practicum starts. Currently, I am doing my practicum in a grade 4/5 Montessori classroom. I just finished teaching a poetry unit to my class in early January. My hope is to see students become self-regulated learners, motivated to monitor themselves and to learn."
Veronica Zych
Veronica Zych, a teacher candidate in the one-year Self Regulated Learning (SRL) elementary cohort, was born in Krakow, Poland and immigrated to Canada at the age of 6. Armed with her Bachelor's degree (SFU, 2007), Veronica came to UBC with a wide variety of volunteer experience with children: classroom and ESL teaching, face painting, summer support camps, and daycare work. Veronica, a highly active person in dance, music and other physical abilities, states:
"What draws me to teaching is my love for children and creativity. I have always surrounded myself with children throughout my life, and I love to create new things everyday. Helping a child grow in knowledge and experience is extremely rewarding. In addition, the thought of making my own lesson plans, creating educational games, and constructing a classroom full of colourful, empowering pictures and words, excites me."
Includes online application and all supplemental forms (see 
