Long wait pays off for graduating teachers

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This article was published 15/07/2022 (1318 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Years of hard work, and a nearly three-year wait to celebrate, finally paid off for graduates of a specialized education program as they were cheered on by family, friends and members of their communities.

Graduates of Brandon University’s Program for the Education of Native Teachers (PENT) were lauded at a celebration dinner at the Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre on Friday, with 18 graduates being commended for their hard work.

The inn’s Grand Salon was filled with celebrants, highlighting the importance of the program for many northern and Indigenous communities.

The significance of the degree program was exemplified by one graduate in particular. Miranda Dysart of South Indian Lake was celebrating both her PENT graduation and her bachelor of arts degree. She also had the largest entourage — 33 people composed of family and members from her home community.

Dysart said she was getting a lot of good-hearted ribbing for having so many people come with her, adding they travelled 14 hours to be in attendance.

“I brought the whole of South Indian Lake with me,” she joked. “I am feeling very honoured over graduating today after six long years. It’s been a struggle, with studies and relocating to Brandon, just to be able to finish what I started.”

She explained that to get into the program, most students have to be experienced education assistants, and their community has to recommend them. Dysart said she comes from a long line of educators. Her husband, Oliver, aunt Virginia and uncle Arnold are all teachers. Her husband also took the PENT program.

While hard work, the program itself was an amazing experience, she said. The supports were very helpful, and she gave credit to director John Minshull and administrative assistant Bernice Galvin for keeping everyone organized and engaged in their work.

Dysart will be returning to South Indian Lake to teach the Grade 2/3 cohort at Thunderbird School.

Minshull said this degree program is more than just an upgrade for the students, it allows these communities to have more independence in their education system and have people from their communities train and return to educate the next generation.

“This program has been around for about 50 years. Schools in the North are facing teacher shortages, so this program allows education assistants to get their degrees, work in the classrooms while they study and, once they graduate, go back to their communities and work as certified teachers,” he said. “It’s produced over 700 teachers from the program.”

Minshull added there were 24 graduates, but some were unable to attend in-person. Graduates from 2020 and 2021, years when the university wasn’t able to hold graduation ceremonies due to COVID-19 restrictions, celebrated with the 12 graduates for 2022.

The program is not without its challenges. Students must move away from home for around four months and study for five years.

“Their willingness to do that speaks to their determination to do what it takes to get their degree,” Minshull said. “When they return, students are learning from their role models and local people.”

PENT is a community-based teacher education program of the faculty of education of Brandon University through the After Degree B.A./B.Ed. program in either the early or middle years area. A shortage of middle-years teachers with proper academic preparation in math and science led to the introduction of this teacher education program, the website said.

Students combine paraprofessional work in their community schools from September to April with courses at Brandon University from April to July, according to the university’s website. Student teaching is carried out during the school year with paraprofessional work. Most classes are taught by regular faculty at Brandon University.

The extensive internship is the most critical aspect of the program. Graduating teachers will spend approximately 40 months in schools before receiving their certification. During that time, students combine academic and professional study times to give themselves a better chance to transfer the theory they learn into practice in the classroom.

Selection of students for the program is left up to the sending community. However, students selected must meet the entrance criteria for the university.

Graduates from this program earn a B.A./B.Sc. and a B.Ed. degree, but they must apply to Manitoba Education for certification. Students from over 50 communities covering the entire province of Manitoba participate in PENT.

» kmckinley@brandonsun.com

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