College welcomes John Wright as Teacher Education Program coordinator

WHITEHORSE – Yukon College is pleased to announce John Wright as the interim coordinator of the Yukon Native Teacher Education Program (YNTEP). Wright has long supported the program and brings over 40 years’ experience as an educator, including 16 years as Principal of Elijah Smith Elementary School, to this role.

“I am very familiar with the Yukon Native Teacher Education program. Many YNTEP students have taken their practicums at Elijah Smith Elementary over the years, and close to 20 graduates were hired as teachers during my time both there and at Whitehorse Elementary before that,” said Wright. “YNTEP produces strong teachers who are culturally sensitive to the unique challenges of teaching in Yukon.”

The YNTEP coordinator is a part-time position responsible for liaising with University of Regina (UR) to ensure each student is on a path to graduate, working with Yukon schools to arrange student practicums, and developing and maintaining relationships with Yukon First Nation governments, Yukon Education and Yukon teachers to enhance the profile of the program.

Wright also plans to reach out to YNTEP alumni and find ways of involving them in the program. This could be through class discussions or alumni taking on a mentorship role.

”We are thrilled to have John working with our students.  He brings a wealth of experience with K-12 education in the Yukon after his many years of active involvement.  This can only benefit our students and ultimately the students they will be teaching in Yukon’s classrooms,” said Dr. Deb Bartlette, Vice-President Academic and Student Services.

Earlier this year the college announced several changes to YNTEP following recommendations from a 2012 program review. These include advanced courses for the teaching of reading, and shifting from courses that focus on the technical approach of how to teach, to courses which focus more on what it means to be a teacher, what makes a good teacher, and a reflection of biases one brings into the classroom.

Yukon College and UR are in the final stages of developing new 5 year agreement which gives Yukon College more direct governance of the program while building a stronger direct relationship between the college and the Faculty of Education at UR. The agreement will also see the college exporting some Yukon cultural elements to UR programs for the first time.

Interest in the YNTEP remains strong with 10 first year students starting classes this month. Seven of the 10 new students are First Nations. In 2011 YNTEP had an intake of 12 students, and in 2010 eight new students joined the program.