A team of great people

Having been with LEARN's Shawville Office since its inception, I have been involved with many different projects from assisting with resource development to newsletters to scrapbook updates.  I am currently assisting with the LEARN Adult Services online tutoring service which has proven to be both challenging and rewarding.  I am always happy to see our organization grow and succeed. I'm a proud grandmother of three beautiful grandkids and in my spare time I very much enjoy attending various musical venues and adventures with my trusty Nikon.

I believe in the power of online learning to provide access and opportunities for all learners, and to level the playing field for students in small, rural, and remote English schools. I loved teaching middle school students for several years before moving into elementary school leadership. After transitioning into online learning in 2002, I learned to use online platforms, social media, and “Flipped” staff meetings to allow me to engage with online teaching staff and students around the province. Happiness at work makes us more productive - follow my weekly tweets #3happythingsatwork . I am a proud third-generation Quebec educator.

I have a background in engineering and made the transition to teaching in 2007.  At LEARN, I currently have two roles: online science teacher and secondary science consultant. I live in Ottawa with my husband and two children. In my non-working time, I am an avid reader, hippie-baker, and curling fan.

As an online teacher and consultant, I am pleased to be part of the dynamic and ever-evolving LEARN team. Through 15 plus years of experience teaching all sciences and math courses at the high school level, I have had the opportunity to be part of a pilot-project teaching online for another organization. Also, as I was completing my Master’s Degree, I sat on the student’s seat of online teaching and realized how different it was compared to in-class course.  Just because teaching is my favourite activity, I have also been a certified ski instructor since the age of 16. Needless to say, I was born with skis on just like all of my relatives from Finland.

I have taught Math at every level (sec. 1-5) for over 30 years. I was also a pedagogical consultant for CQSB. As well as teaching math online for LEARN, I was a vice principal at St. Patrick's High School in Quebec City where my responsibilities included supporting teachers with their professional growth plans. I have implemented the “Flipped Classroom” with my online classes and hope to spread the word about the effectiveness of this model to as many teachers as possible throughout the province.

I am the Recipient of the 2012 iNACOL (International Association for K-12 Online Learning) Award for Innovative Online Learning Practice.

I love to travel and being with my family.

An educator with over 32 years’ experience, I taught Science, Physical Education and Technology, worked as an Adult Ed Administrator up North,  and later moved south to teach and become an administrator at Pontiac High School, where our present office is for Online Services. I have been involved in online delivery development for the Province of Quebec for the last 17 years, first with DECN, where I worked as coordinator and then Director, in an effort to establish a working synchronous model for online delivery for the English School Boards.  In 2005, the amalgamation of services for technological resources, online services and printed material formed the foundation “LEARN”, where I presently hold the position of Director of Online Services.

My second love is music, and I play and sing in a band “A Certain Class”, with a group of 4 other women, all of whom have been involved in education, and many retired or close to it.  I love the great outdoors and many outdoor activities and adventures (snowshoeing, cross country skiing, nature walks, cycling, fishing, hunting, boating, and water activities).  I also love wood working and wood burning.  I enjoy reading and travel whenever possible.

I am a Mathematics and Science teacher. I am an enthusiastic learner, especially about edtech and how to use it well. Whatever I’m learning, be it edtech, history, or cooking, I prefer to learn with, as opposed to from, others, be it my students, friends or work colleagues. I love writing, reading, watching movies and gardening. I’m also an excellent whistler. No really.

I am a member of the LEARN’s Shawville Office. I support online students, schools and LEARN administration with any queries about courses, course materials and evening tutorials and homework help.  I enjoy helping families who need support with online resources or tutorials.  Need help getting your username and password?  I am the one to contact!

With a background in second language acquisition and online learning pedagogy, I have worked for LEARN since its inception. As part of an amazing team, I design and develop learning materials and online learning environments for both students and educators.

My motivation in life: raising three boys into thoughtful, healthy, inspired men… who will hopefully look after me in my golden years!  As well, a love of food, travel, words and music, guide me as I journey.