I’m Amanda and I’m currently doing my Bachelor of Education at the University of Ottawa and having the time of my life.
After completing my undergrad in Psychology, I wasn’t sure what career path I wanted or if I wanted to continue with furthering my education. I was working in group homes for adults with disabilities and as an EA in school boards. I loved both of these jobs and knew I definitely wanted to work with and help people. I took an online graduate course in Autism and Behavioural Sciences from Algonquin College, as I worked full time. This program had a co-op placement with CHEO’s (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario’s) Autism Unit, providing IBI (Intensive Behavioural Intervention) and ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis) to young children with autism. This experience was incredibly valuable to me, teaching me the functions of behaviour and how to respond to them.
For the next 7 years, I travelled and moved around a lot, living in North Vancouver, Toronto and back to Ottawa. I continued to work with kids with autism privately and in IBI centres , worked for school boards as and EA and as a member of the emergency crisis team in the York District School Board.
Personal events in my life brought me back to my home in Glengarry three years ago. I’m so grateful to be back here surrounded by my family, friends and a caring community. The thought of going to teacher’s college was always a thought in the back of my mind, but I always told myself it wasn’t the right time. Now with a strong support system around me, I decided to apply to the University of Ottawa for my Bachelor’s of Education in the Primary/Junior Stream. When I received the admission offer on March 1, 2019, I was so happy and grateful that I began to cry. I know this is where I want to be for the rest of my life and to teach in a school here with the UCDSB.
I love kids of all ages and would be happy and grateful to teach any grade. However, at this time I feel drawn to the junior grades. Another position that I wonder about is LST/LRC, or part of the behaviour team as special education is something I care deeply about.
After completing my undergrad in Psychology, I wasn’t sure what career path I wanted or if I wanted to continue with furthering my education. I was working in group homes for adults with disabilities and as an EA in school boards. I loved both of these jobs and knew I definitely wanted to work with and help people. I took an online graduate course in Autism and Behavioural Sciences from Algonquin College, as I worked full time. This program had a co-op placement with CHEO’s (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario’s) Autism Unit, providing IBI (Intensive Behavioural Intervention) and ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis) to young children with autism. This experience was incredibly valuable to me, teaching me the functions of behaviour and how to respond to them.
For the next 7 years, I travelled and moved around a lot, living in North Vancouver, Toronto and back to Ottawa. I continued to work with kids with autism privately and in IBI centres , worked for school boards as and EA and as a member of the emergency crisis team in the York District School Board.
Personal events in my life brought me back to my home in Glengarry three years ago. I’m so grateful to be back here surrounded by my family, friends and a caring community. The thought of going to teacher’s college was always a thought in the back of my mind, but I always told myself it wasn’t the right time. Now with a strong support system around me, I decided to apply to the University of Ottawa for my Bachelor’s of Education in the Primary/Junior Stream. When I received the admission offer on March 1, 2019, I was so happy and grateful that I began to cry. I know this is where I want to be for the rest of my life and to teach in a school here with the UCDSB.
I love kids of all ages and would be happy and grateful to teach any grade. However, at this time I feel drawn to the junior grades. Another position that I wonder about is LST/LRC, or part of the behaviour team as special education is something I care deeply about.