North Okanagan Shuswap School District #83 is anticipating a number of retirements in the next couple of years, and graduates of Okanagan College’s Education Assistant (EA) program will be ready to meet the community’s needs.
“We’re at a point in time now where we have a significant percentage of our support staff at retirement age,” says Nora Kennett, district administrator of the school district’s student services. “Of course, we can never predict exactly when people will choose to retire – as each employee’s situation and choices are different – but it is safe to say that we will be looking to fill this gap in the next couple years.”
Kennett should know – she not only organizes practicums for students with the school district, but also sits on the college’s program advisory committee and is an instructor.
“I really value the link between Okanagan College and the school district,” she says. “This connection allows the college and the district to dialogue around important course content and what practical experiences these students should have to be successful in the role they will play in schools.”
Okanagan College’s education assistant certificate prepares graduates to work in the classroom with children with diverse and unique learning needs, including physical, cognitive and/or behavioural challenges. The program is a total of nine months and includes a 120-hour practicum.
Kennett says that although most education assistant graduates do go on to jobs within the school system, others have found employment within community agencies, such as the Shuswap Children’s Association.
With graduates eligible to apply for their early childhood educator assistant licence, some have chosen to take on roles in day-care and preschool settings. And others choose to work as behavioural interventionists focusing on supporting children on the autism spectrum.
Okanagan College’s Education Assistant certificate program is now accepting applications at the Salmon Arm campus.
For more information, call 250-804-8888, email csshuswap@okanagan.bc.ca or go online to www.okanagan.bc.ca/educationassistant.
