Meet Kenzie Rushton and Kari Sirup

Kenzie Rushton and Kari Sirup have recently joined the Galileo Educational Network as Education Consultants and took the time to provide some insight into the paths that brought them back to campus.

Kenzie Rushton

Kenzie Rushton completed his Master of Education (MEd) in Educational Leadership in 2011, during which time he worked with Werklund’s Pat Tarr. 

“I connected with Dr. Tarr looking at the question of how the Reggio Emilia Philosophy of Education, which has its roots in Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten classrooms, could inform the practice of a high school science teacher,” explains Rushton.

This collaboration lead to a co-presentation at the 2014 IDEAS conference.

Prior to joining the Galileo Educational Network, Rushton was Curriculum Leader for Junior High Science and Math at Terry Fox School as well as Acting Learning Leader for the Science Department and Learning Leader for Professional Learning at Centennial High School.

Why did you choose to study at the Werklund School of Education?
Great program for Educational Leadership.

How does your degree help you in your work today?
It has been through my Masters work that I gained a much greater understanding of what professional learning is meant to be and how impactful it is on the learning experiences of students. I was exposed to ideas that transformed my practice as a teacher and a leader of learning. It was a major turning point in the way I think about education. As a result, the way in which I work today has been transformed by my experience at the University of Calgary during my graduate program.

Please provide some insight into the daily duties of your current position.
As an Educational Consultant with the Galileo Educational Network I have become immersed in a collaborative work environment were I co-design and facilitate job-embedded professional learning opportunities for teachers and leaders of education for a variety of different school districts here in Alberta. We as a group strive to bring the theory of educational research into practice, helping teachers and leaders uncover the power of the research. Essentially acting as a bridge between research and practice. In addition to this work I am also involved in co-designing, co-presenting and contributing to the research work of the Werklund School of Education through the IOSTEM project.

How did you come to be involved in the Galileo Educational Network?
I have been working with the Galileo Educational Network as part of the High School Learning Leader Series with the Calgary Board of Education for the past two years. Last year I had the opportunity to become part of the design team for these sessions and worked closely with Candace Saar and Dr. Barb Brown. My move to become part of the team came in the form of an invitation on the part of the staff at the Galileo Educational Network. The invitation was humbling, I am so grateful for the opportunity. They have been so welcoming as a group and based on my experience have a culture of learning that many groups could aspire to create in their organizations, a clear indication of the culture here at the WSE.

What is it about the WSE that keeps you coming back in these different roles?
It is the collaborative nature of the work, the high value of research informed practice and the intellectual engagement that has been created for me through this work. It is the openness of the people, the sense of professionalism and the vision to create a better place for all learners and in turn leading to an more democratic society. It is a real pleasure to work with this particular group. 

 

Kari Sirup

Two-time Education alum Kari Sirup finished her Bachelor of Education (BEd) in 2003 with an international teaching experience in China before returning to Calgary to teach at the Calgary Girls’ School, Greystone Centennial Middle School and Capitol Hill School.

Sirup says she came to teaching through her love of photography.

“Before I knew that I wanted to be a teacher I studied photography at the University of Calgary. I ended up taking a Developmental Art course simply because it fit with my timetable. That was the turning point for me. I started opting for curriculum development courses over studio classes and jumped on the joint degree program offered at the time.”

Sirup completed her Master of Education with a focus on eLearning and Inquiry in 2014 before joining Galileo where she assists schools associated with the Partner Research Schools initiative to expand their teaching practice. 

Why did you choose to study at the Werklund School of Education?
I am from Calgary so the decision to complete my BEd here was easy. The joint degree program that existed between the Faculties of Art and Education was appealing and made the transition to a second degree convenient. In terms of Graduate Studies, the Interdisciplinary MEd is a pretty unique program for the flexibility that it offers. The opportunity to specialize in more than one area and take courses online was a huge factor, as was the option to complete my studies over the course of six years. I was able to strike a balance between work, family and school that I don’t think would have been possible otherwise. 

How does your degree help you in your work today?
In my work with Galileo, I rely heavily on understanding how inquiry, assessment and technology can be used to deepen student learning. Galileo actually provides professional learning on discipline based inquiry, so having completed graduate courses in that vein has proven useful. In my work with Galileo I am constantly reflecting on how ongoing formative assessment can be used to foster deep understanding and how digital technologies can be used to enhance communication and learning to engage students in work that is authentic to the discipline.

Please provide some insight into the daily duties of your current position.
As a consultant with Galileo I spend most of my time collaborating with colleagues to design professional learning. I also work in schools with educators interested in pushing their practice forward.

How did you come to be involved in the Galileo Educational Network?
I came to be involved with Galileo through professional learning at the school level. I was fortunate enough to spend most of my career in schools that worked closely with Galileo and I became familiar with the organization and mentors over the years.

What is it about the WSE that keeps you coming back in these different roles?
As a student, the diverse options that the WSE offers appealed to me for the flexibility they provide. Joint-degree programs, International practicum options, and online graduate studies are options that I personally pursued. 
Additionally, because the WSE maintains close relationships with schools and teachers throughout the city, I always felt somehow connected to the University long after I graduated. Through various research projects, professional learning with Galileo and my work as a mentor teacher, I maintained ties with the WSE which made my decision to return as a graduate student easy. Working as a consultant with Galileo feels like a natural extension and culmination of my graduate studies.