Teachers as Learners

We are in the business of teaching and learning, and we strive to develop in our students a passion to be life long learners. So it makes sense that we as teachers model that passion for our students.

This past weekend was a clear example of how dedicated our staff at Cypress Park was to continuing their own learning journey for the benefit of our students. On Saturday we descended on Mulgrave School to meet with IB teachers from across the Lower Mainland. Our local IB schools were represented, Cypress Park, West Bay, and Ecole Cedardale as well as our colleagues from IB independent schools. We met to discuss and collaborate on a number of topics including math, music, new curriculum, Kindergarten, aboriginal education, anxiety, questioning techniques, and many others.

Many of our teacher leaders facilitated workshops and shared their expertise and experience. They were risk-takers in that they stepped out of their comfort zone of teaching young children to teaching their peers. It was evident in the sessions that I attended that our teachers from Cypress Park have much to offer and that we are leaders in our field. What I loved about Saturday’s professional development was that teachers from a variety of different affiliations both from the public and private sector and across a number of different districts came together because they have a passion for what they do. The discussions were engaging, dynamic, and helped us to move forward in the important work we are doing. Teachers volunteered to speak and facilitate workshops because they truly want to share their innovative practices to help move our education system forward. They recognize that they all have achieved great things in their schools, but are not content to rest on their laurels. They want to continue to push our education system to be the best it can be, regardless of which school they call home. Between sessions teachers were networking and connecting and continuing important discussion about teaching.

We are so fortunate to work in a school district that continues to have extremely high student performance. The work that Cypress Park teachers are doing in and out of the classrooms to make sure this remains true in an ever changing world is something of which I am very proud.​