EARLY LEARNING TEAM LEAD

Hello, my name is Terri. I grew up on a farm in southwest Saskatchewan on Treaty 4 land. My family is Scottish and English. I have spent time in Arizona, North Carolina, and North Dakota. Before moving to the Yukon, I supported families as a Speech Language Pathologist in Cree and Dene communities in northern Saskatchewan.

I am excited to lead the Early Learning team. I walk along with learners on their journeys by supporting school staff and caregivers in the classroom, and on the land. I like to travel to communities to meet and learn from community members about their land, culture and relationships. I work to ensure this is reflected in their local instruction.

I aspire to give space for caregivers and learners to be seen, heard, and supported.

In addition to this work, I like to spend time outside cross-country skiing or camping.

EARLY LEARNING COACH

I am grateful to be an Early Learning Coach on the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation and Ta’an Kwach’an council.

I was born and raised in Toronto on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. I am of English and Scottish ancestry. Despite growing up in a busy urban neighbourhood, I often found myself exploring the banks of the local, often hidden, river system and delighting in the discovery of a rich natural world in the middle of a city.

I attended teacher’s college in Toronto and specialized in early years pedagogy at York University. After teaching in the inner city, I worked with Child and Nature Alliance of Canada to become a Forest School Practitioner. I used this training to start my own Forest School program in the same ravine that I explored as a child. In 2019, I ventured beyond the urban wild of Toronto to live here in the Yukon with my husband and two children. I have taught for the past five years in Whitehorse schools where I implemented play-based and inquiry-driven programs both in the indoor and the outdoor classroom. In the summers, I love to lead children in outdoor programming to connect them to the land and a sense of belonging.

When I am not guiding young learners in play and inquiry, you may find me on a ridge or riverbank with a stack of books and a journal. I also love Nordic skiing and playing in the forest with my children.