Hi! My name is Caitlin McCormick, and I am a teacher candidate at UNBC. My journey into education has not been completely straightforward, but I believe that each experience I have had along the way has shaped the educator I am becoming.
Teaching has actually been part of my life for many years. I began teaching dance as a teenager, and what started as sharing something I loved quickly became one of the most meaningful parts of my life. Working with students of different ages, personalities, abilities, and learning needs has taught me that there is never just one way to teach, or one way to learn. Some students need to see something, some need to hear it explained, some need to physically experience it, and others simply need someone who believes in them long enough for them to begin believing in themselves.
These experiences have strongly influenced the kind of classroom teacher I hope to become. I want to create a learning environment where students feel safe to ask questions, make mistakes, take risks, and be themselves. I believe that meaningful learning often happens when we are willing to become a little uncomfortable in life.
As a Métis woman, I am also continuing to learn about my own identity and my responsibilities as an educator within the context of reconciliation. I recognize that becoming a teacher requires ongoing learning, reflection, listening, and relationship-building. I hope to honour Indigenous perspectives and ways of knowing authentically while continuing to learn from the people and communities around me.
Above all, I want my students to know that they are valued as individuals. My goal is not simply to teach curriculum, but to understand who I am teaching. I hope to be an educator who leads with compassion, curiosity, flexibility, and a willingness to continually grow alongside my students.