UBC Student Kye Smith Makes Teaching Dream Come True

Kye Smith NITEP pic web

“I plan to pursue a Masters and PhD, but first I need to gain experience in the field. In my Masters, I hope to continue my inquiry into the overlaps and mutual benefits between indigenous pedagogies and self-regulated learning, which I’m hoping to practically implement through the development of what scholar Marie Bastiste calls a trans-systemic education system.” ~ Kye Smith, NITEP student at UBC

When she was young, Kye Smith nurtured a dream of becoming a teacher, and she made it come true with the help of NITEP. “It was always a dream of mine to attend UBC, but when I finished high school I didn’t have to the confidence to apply. NITEP was recommended to me by a classmate when I was in a bridging program at Simon Fraser University in 2010. The description of the program sounded like a perfect way to explore my identity while at the same time becoming an educator.”

“Many are called but few are chosen” is the old saying for work that demands total commitment. Kye spent a year coaching a variety of sports that gave her an inside perspective on a potential career. “I knew that I wanted to become a teacher after volunteering for a year when I was 18. I spent the year coaching girls soccer, field hockey, and basketball at the local middle school, and my connections with the students, teachers, and community inspired me to become an educator.”

Kye spent the next five years at UBC in the NITEP program, and she will be graduating in November 2015. When asked what the work load was like, she said, “The program requires ten days of practicum in years 1-3. The practicum experiences helped me to experience different educational settings, and develop professionally through workshops and conferences. The most helpful part of the practicum component was experiencing the different levels of education. I discovered that I preferred working in Middle Years education (6-8) in a middle school model in urban areas.”

Kye is month away from from receiving several graduation awards in addition to her diploma from NITEP. “Graduation is in November 2015 and is the recognition of a 5 year journey. I’ll be the first person in my mother’s family to graduate from post-secondary and the second in my father’s after my older sister. I’ve have been given the honour of speaking on behalf of the Elementary and Middle Years program at graduation and will be delivering a speech at awards night (usually the night before convocation).”

Kye Smith has been chosen to receive the Robert W Sterling Memorial NITEP Award, the Sharp Family and the Joan Ryan Award. “It is surreal that after all the challenges of the past five years that I have finally completed my Bachelor of Education and cannot wait to cross the stage in November. I could not have done it without the love and support of my friends, family, and NITEP community.”

The work force will be calling Kye after graduation and she want to find a school that is a good fit for her skills “teaching middle years humanities (integrated English Language Arts and Social Studies) in a school that is innovative, engaging and values the place of Indigenous ways of knowing and teaching to enhance learning for all students.”

Kye does hope to return to UBC someday, but she has her own agenda. “I plan to pursue a Masters and PhD, but first I need to gain experience in the field. In my Masters, I hope to continue my inquiry into the overlaps and mutual benefits between indigenous pedagogies and self-regulated learning, which I’m hoping to practically implement through the development of what scholar Marie Bastiste calls a trans-systemic education system.”

Kye has some practical advice to aspiring teachers, so they can prepare themselves for the demands of receiving a teachers diploma: “Remember to try and keep your life in balance. Take care of yourself as a whole person so that you are better able to see your students as whole people as well. It is difficult especially in your professional year, but you will be of better service to your students and community if you take care of yourself as well. Also, never forget you are connected to a community of support. Whether through faculty, peers, or colleagues, there is always reach out when you need assistance. Teaching isn’t about doing everything on your own; its about sharing ideas, lessons, and approaches. Connect with others.”