September 19, 2026 – Fall 2026 Term

Wow. It’s my 9th season at the university. It’s truly a new year. My kid is graduated from the nursing program, she is working full-time, and she has bought her own place and living independently. AMAZING. I could not wish for anything better for her, and she continues on with her journey into adulthood. For me, I’ve just started teaching EDUC 394 at the university and have made several changes to the course because it has changed days, there’s less time, and I am returning back to e-portfolios as an assessment tool in this course. I’m not sure why I do that to myself. Actually, I know why. Teaching is also about design. I like to tinker and make the most of the course. I am grateful that this might be the sixth time I am teaching this course, and I know that the students are never the same, but the course (and myself) also changes. Of course, there are some aspects that remain consistent, so folks from year to year could have conceptually similar experiences. What’s different from year to year is the nuance, the order, the pace, and the weather.

I have already taught my first class of EDUC 394 last Monday, and we are already pivoting. I have a tendency to over plan (just in case), but also you don’t know who the students are until you meet them. The nature of creating the course syllabus months in advance and not knowing the students create a beautiful opportunity for the disclaimer at the end of the course syllabus, “dates/times/topics are subject to change.” This disclaimer serves an exemplar for teaching. You have to be reflexive and reflective to adapt to your class and their needs. Of course, the job is to meet and achieve the course outcomes, but how you get there cannot be accurately predicted on the course syllabus. This year’s cohort is about 10 students larger. The room looks packed, and well, how the class moves will be different from last year… and that’s ok. All is good. The class is going very well.

Another twist to my job assignment this year, which was a last minute change, was working with teacher candidates during the 10-week practicum. It’s been about 4-years since I have worked as a practice evaluator (faculty associate) at the university, and I did not expect to return to practicum any time soon. That said, here I am. The “pods” for each practice evaluator was recently announced and I have 8 elementary candidates and 2 secondary candidates to supervise. Ten students is a healthy load, and I look forward to supporting and supervising this crew along with teaching on Mondays with the teacher candidates who’ve just entered the program. It will be a busy term. I am also working on a few research projects, as PI or co-investigator, and I need to get some of my own single author projects out (of which I do not prioritize, and I should). This term will be busy.

A few other changes to my teaching assignment this year is that I am not teaching any graduate study courses. We have just started the new MEd cohort in Inclusive Education, so I am not part of that initiative this year, and I am teaching courses in the spring and summer in 2027. They are new courses to me: (1) ADST in the Elementary Years; (2) Career Education (Secondary). So, I do not have a non-teaching term this year to focus on writing and research. I had the last two years doing that, so maybe it’s a good thing to teach all year, despite what the Collective Agreement states. As I’ve been told, my position is precarious. Yes, I had to look that up… LOL. (AI Overview: Precarious means not safe, unsteady, or likely to fall, fail, or get much worse.) PS. Google highlighted the definition. Oof… it’s bleak!

((Deep breath)) It’s not the time to feel comfortable, but rather, be open to what’s ahead. I have accomplished a lot in the last 8-years and my kid is on her way. I can only feel satisfied, and I feel very grateful for all of the people I’ve met along the way. I’ve learned so much about myself, what I can do, and what’s possible. I am stronger than I thought I was. I too am living alone, in my place with my cat, and I am financial independent. For that, I am grateful. I love to teach, I love to learn, and I love to meet new people. I get to do that. And you know what, it is most likely that I will do the same thing in the next thing that I do. As I look back, teaching, learning, and meeting new people were key aspects of my professional work.

So, staying and being in the present are important. Life is good. I will keep an open mind, focus on my health and happiness, and adapt or PIVOT when/where I need to. Life is not for me to take too seriously, but to enjoy and savour. I feel like I have finally arrived, and as I look back at my life/career span, every 7-8 years seems like a prime time for change, so I’m open. What’s different this time is, I’m not scared.