BC Teacher Candidate | Eligible for TQS in April

Texw-téxtwt-ken re lleqmélt. I will be a strong teacher.

Hello! Weyt-k.

            My name is Rachel Dixon and I am from Kamloops, British Columbia. I am extremely grateful to be on these lands where I have been able to and continue to learn and grow as a person and as a student. I am lucky to live in Kamloops, BC and acknowledge the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc within Secwépemc’ulucw. I also want to acknowledge my own nation, Nlaka’pamux and the Ashcroft Indian Band in which I am able to connect with and share my own Indigenous identity. Through my learning, I take part in incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing and being and will always continue to integrate the First Peoples Principles of Learning, the TRC Calls to Action, and the BC Teachers Council Professional Standard 9 within my teachings.

            In April, I will be a certified teacher in British Columbia graduating from Thompson Rivers University. In 2022, I graduated Thompson Rivers University on the Dean’s list with a Bachelor of Arts degree, obtaining an English major, a Sociology minor, and an Aboriginal Studies Certificate. My studies during this time focused on the rights of women as well as the inequities of Indigenous peoples throughout history.

            While in the Arts program, I was a Varsity athlete on the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack Cheerleading team and went to Florida as Cheerleading Captain to compete and represent Canada in the World Cheerleading Competition. During my 4 years on the team, I was able to partake in many competitions and volunteering events where I was a role model for younger athletes.

            I started the Bachelor of (Elementary) Education Program in September 2022 and was given a seat in the Indigenous Cohort. There, I was able to connect with Indigenous students, faculty, and Elders and share my knowledge and experience with other students within the program. While being in the Education program, I focused my lessons within the classroom on experiential learning and holistic teaching methods. My focus surrounded around the teaching frameworks of the Circle of Courage as well as the Seven Grandfather Teachings.

            During the Education program, I had the opportunity to partake in practicums at Summit Elementary School in a Kindergarten class and a Grade 1 class, and Rayleigh Elementary School in Grade 4/5. I enjoyed being able to learn from the students, teachers, and staff at these schools and grow my interest and knowledge of the classroom. I was elected Cohort Representative during the first year of the Education program which allowed for me to take on a leadership role for my peers as well as attend Faculty meetings in which we discussed policies, planned student initiatives, and gave me the opportunity to represent my fellow classmates.

            When I am not in school, I am a private swim instructor within Kamloops and have taught many different ages and abilities of people since 2016. I work with the Canucks Autism Network as a support worker working with children and young adults with autism. I also spend time working at the Ashcroft Indian Band and helping out around the community.

            During my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and taking my niece and nephew out for adventures. Being an Auntie is extremely important to me and I enjoy sharing my knowledge with my niece and nephew and seeing them grow.

            Since I was in Kindergarten, I have always known I wanted to be a teacher and I was lucky enough to spend time volunteering in my Mother’s Kindergarten classroom over the years. I am looking forward to one day fulfilling my dreams of becoming a teacher and having my own classroom.

Kukwstsétsemc.