Director's Welcome
To our valued community,
On July 2, 2024, I assumed my new role as interim Director of the Okanagan School of Education. In the short time I have been on the UBC Okanagan campus, I have had the opportunity to connect with many educators, learners, and lifelong contributors to the field of education — a truly vibrant and dynamic community.
It has been an exciting summer and start to the new school year. In July, our first cohort of 27 Doctor of Education students began their academic journey. On July 17, we hosted a discussion panel on teaching methods for English as an Additional (EAL) classrooms. This interactive event provided a wonderful opportunity for our EAL teaching community to come together. In early September, we held our annual Graduate Student Welcome and Awards night, where we celebrated our seven award recipients and welcomed our newest graduate students. We are looking forward to co-hosting the Research Forum on Educator Wellbeing in October. This forum is bringing teachers, instructors, administrators, education assistants, counsellors, and others across and within educational contexts to highlight research and work with the intention of supporting teacher wellbeing. If you are interested in learning more about AI and its impact on teaching and learning, I encourage you to register for the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture with Dr. Lilach Mollick, an online event on October 29.
As we approach World Teacher’s Day (October 5), this event causes me to reflect on the profound impact educators have on individuals and communities. At the School of Education, we are deeply committed to fostering an environment where innovative ideas flourish and where every one’s potential is realized. Our vision is to foster a thriving scholar-practitioner community, where we continue to cultivate educator’s knowledge in researching and teaching for decolonization, diversity, equity, inclusivity and innovation.
Whether you are currently studying, teaching, or applying your expertise in diverse ways, we are excited to support and celebrate your journey. Thank you for being part of the UBC Okanagan School of Education community.
Warm regards,
Dr. Kedrick James
Director, UBC Okanagan School of Education
University of British Columbia
Profile: Dr. Kedrick James
