5 Teaching Influences Presentation
Creating a slideshow on my five influences which made me want to become a teacher was a valuable exercise in defining my teaching identity and philosophy. Through this process, I reflected on how I want to connect with students, create an inclusive learning environment, and make education meaningful. The slides helped me articulate my values, such as fostering curiosity, encouraging experiential learning, and supporting student growth. I realized that teaching is not just about delivering content but about building relationships and guiding students toward their potential. This assignment reinforced my commitment to making learning relevant and engaging, ensuring that students see the real-world application of their education.
Current Resumé
Jonah-Hectors-2025-ResumeCertificates
Life Saving Instructor
Completing the Lifesaving Instructor course was a valuable experience that strengthened my teaching skills, leadership, and adaptability. It taught me how to break down complex skills, give clear instructions, and provide constructive feedback which is essential for teaching intermediate students. I learned the importance of engaging learners through hands-on practice and positive reinforcement, ensuring they build confidence and competence. This course also reinforced the need for patience, adaptability, and clear communication when working with diverse learners. The experience has deepened my understanding of effective instruction, which I can apply in both lifesaving courses and broader educational settings.
Spring-2024-CertsPool Operator 1
Completing the Pool Operator 1 course gave me a strong foundation in pool chemistry, maintenance, and safety protocols, allowing me to take on more responsibility at work. I learned how to balance water chemistry, troubleshoot equipment issues, and ensure a safe swimming environment for patrons. This course not only expanded my technical knowledge but also demonstrated my commitment to professional growth and being a proactive employee. By gaining these skills, I can contribute more effectively to my workplace, take initiative in problem-solving, and show my readiness for leadership roles in the workplace.
Pool-OperatorOccupational First Aid Level 1
Completing the Occupational First Aid Level 1 (OFA 1) course reinforced the importance of workplace safety and emergency response. I learned how to provide immediate care for injuries and medical emergencies, ensuring the well-being of both students and colleagues. This course highlighted my responsibility to create a safe learning environment, where I am prepared to respond to health concerns quickly and effectively. Beyond students, I recognize the importance of supporting my coworkers’ safety and well-being, fostering a workplace culture of care and preparedness. This training enhances my ability to be a responsible, proactive, and dependable team member.
WORK-SAFE-BCForum Posts
This forum post highlights the importance of critically examining whose values are prioritized in school spaces and reminds me of the responsibility I have as a future teacher to foster inclusive, culturally responsive environments. Kim Petrowski’s insistence on Halloween as a “Canadian” tradition reflects a narrow, Eurocentric perspective that overlooks the diverse cultural realities of students. As an educator, I must recognize the power dynamics at play and avoid privileging dominant narratives. This case reaffirms my commitment to honoring student diversity, questioning whose culture is being centered, and ensuring all students feel seen, respected, and included in school traditions and practices.
retryThis Indigenous pedagogy inspired selection of resources demonstrates a powerful commitment to teaching for equity, identity, and historical truth. Each one invites students to engage with justice-oriented themes while connecting deeply to personal and collective identities. As a future educator, I see how essential it is to include Indigenous resources like Powwow and Unsettling Canada in order to center voices that have been historically silenced and to honor the First Peoples Principles of Learning. These texts do more convey information, they provoke reflection, amplify lived experiences, and invite learners into meaningful action. Integrating Indigenous perspectives not only supports curricular goals across grades and subjects, but also fosters relational, experiential learning that is grounded in place, story, and responsibility. This is the kind of work that builds not just informed students, but compassionate and engaged citizens.
Jonah-HectorThis post reminds me how vital experiential learning is for deep mathematical understanding and teaching and learning as a whole. It is not enough for students to just get the “right answer”, they need to explain their thinking, apply concepts to real life, and make meaningful connections. Visual models like number lines and fraction circles support this by helping students see fractions as numbers, not just abstract parts. Real-world contexts like cooking bring fractions to life, making learning practical and memorable. When students measure ingredients or adjust recipes, they are learning by doing. This hands-on, reflective approach fosters confidence, curiosity, and a lasting understanding that goes beyond memorization.
Untitled-documentEmployment/Travel Opportunities
North and South Shuswap Community Resources Swim Lessons
Running swimming lessons in the Shuswap Lake was a formative experience that showed me I’m capable of managing the demands of teaching. Being responsible for multiple lessons each week, along with writing reports cards and progress updates, helped me realize I can handle the workload and pressure that comes with being an educator. Training new instructors and overseeing day-to-day operations taught me how to adapt quickly, lead confidently, and solve problems on the fly. Additionally, I learned the value of outdoor learning and ways that place can be involved in lessons. This experience strengthened my flexibility, time management, and communications skills, qualities that I now see as essential in both teaching and collaborating within a school community.
City of Kamloops Pool Deck Leader
As a deck leader for the City of Kamloops, I was responsible for managing instructors, organizing lesson schedules, and ensuring lessons and pool operations met a high standard. Overseeing their planning and supporting their development helped me see how vital clear communication and strong leadership are in maintaining teaching quality. This experience showed me that effective administration creates the conditions for great teaching and learning. I learned how valuable it is when educators and leadership work collaboratively. It helped me appreciate the balance of accountability and support, and how mutual respect between teaching staff and administration leads to a more positive, productive environment.
Public School in Palm Springs California
Spending three months going to public school in Palm Springs, California in Grade 5 was a formative experience. I transitioned from a predominantly white school district to a very multicultural one, and I was surprised by how different I was treated by some of the staff and students. This cultural shift opened my eyes to how identity, background, and belonging shape a student’s experience in school. It made me realize the deep importance of teaching all students with equal care, respect, and high expectations regardless of their ethnicity. Every child deserves to feel seen, valued, and supported in their learning. That experience continues to shape my perspective today.