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Voices of AHCOTE: Sheena Taillefer
The path to teaching isn鈥檛 always clear. Sheena Taillefer, a Kindergarten 鈥� her favourite grade to teach 鈥� and Grade 1 teacher at Taylor Elementary School, always loved school; unlike some, school was her favourite place to be but becoming a teacher was never the plan.
After graduating high school, Sheena took a few years off before exploring her options to study locally. At the time, her options were limited to nursing and teaching. Through consulting her aunt, a previous Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Educating (AHCOTE) graduate, Sheena chose the path to becoming a teacher.
Sheena completed a Bachelor of General Studies through 911吃瓜 (911吃瓜) while simultaneously completing the AHCOTE program; but the fun didn鈥檛 stop there! Immediately upon completing her education in December of 2007, Sheena found herself teaching a Grade 7 class at Robert Ogilvie Elementary School in Fort St. John which then led her to teaching Grade 7 and 9 at the middle school.
With her second child in daycare, Sheena made the switch to Taylor Elementary in 2014, 鈥淚 decided it was really a hassle to have to drive [to Fort St. John from Taylor] every day because I had my daycare in Taylor.鈥�
Reflecting on her AHCOTE experience, Sheena highlighted the importance of completing hands-on learning in the classroom through practicum experience, these practicums 鈥渞eally solidified that [teaching] is where I was supposed to be.鈥�
鈥淣ow that I鈥檝e gone on in my career, I鈥檝e started my 16th year of teaching and I鈥檓 also doing my [Master鈥檚 of Education] right now, so I鈥檓 doing a lot of reflection on how I got to this point in my life, and it鈥檚 really no surprise that I became a teacher when I look back at my childhood . . . I lived for school!鈥�
AHCOTE, according to Sheena, also provided incredible opportunities for her and her fellow students to build lasting relationships. Even now, Sheena and her AHCOTE friends stay connected as they鈥檝e experienced milestones together and apart.
鈥淲e made some close friendships . . . we鈥檝e all gone to each other's weddings and been around for each other's baby showers. And now we try to get together at least once a year to catch up!鈥�
Sheena has also had the opportunity to work with student teachers in their practicums and was able to re-experience the excitement of being a new teacher, 鈥淸student teachers] really make you take a look at what you鈥檙e doing, and if you鈥檙e doing them for the right reason. It really makes you reflect on your practices and how you can improve!鈥�
Stressing the importance of being open-minded and flexible, Sheena had shared some final advice for new teachers as they graduate from AHCOTE into a post-COVID world:
鈥淩ight now, it鈥檚 really important to not take the freedoms we again [in the classroom] have for granted, COVID as a teacher was extremely stressful and we have to remember the kids went through COVID as well, so we have to give the kids some grace . . . You have to be open-minded and easy, have the ability to be flexible and go with the flow if you have to change your plans quickly.鈥�
Most importantly, Sheena says 鈥渆njoy the time! Because it is a really unique program with the small cohort. It was a really enjoyable time for schooling.鈥�