The highest leverage strategy of educational improvement efforts is the development of staff capacity. In collaboration with the Cariboo-Chilcotin Teachers Association we are making significant investments in quality professional learning for educators in current, research-based practice to increase knowledge and confidence.
Some examples of the work of are:
- Shifting from one-off workshops to a robust learning series with successive professional development sessions and classroom learning rounds, time to practice and reflect in between, and a community of practice network to support one another
- Learning Series with exceptional BC, Canadian, and global leaders in numeracy, literacy, educational research, inclusion, resilience and trauma-informed practice.
- Common district assessments with support for learning how to administer them, analyze results, and use what is learned to plan for instruction
- District mental health plan
- Full program of support for new teachers in their first three years
Explore the ways we are LEARNING BETTER TOGETHER with support for professional learning in Cariboo-Chilcotin School District:
Professional Learning Rounds with Bryan Gidinski
Lake City Secondary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Lake City English department hosted Bryan Gidinski for another learning round. Teachers watched Bryan work with students in an English 10 First Peoples class and then spent time as a group debriefing the lesson, brainstorming ways to adapt the lesson for other classes, and sharing inspiring lessons they have created.</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/4e845409-438a-4f2f-88d3-e3284aac9a13?fingerprint=ppb20260318025516" alt="Professional Learning 1 Nara Riplinger" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/ac27359d-0b44-4db2-ad36-881fc9a65cc4?fingerprint=ppb20260318025514" alt="Professional Learning 2 Nara Riplinger" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>
Sharing the Wealth (of Experience!)
Lake City Secondary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Experienced teacher Jodie Mason takes time to share her engaging ideas around teaching Social Studies curriculum to early career teacher Keaton Smith and teacher-candidate Adriana Smith.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/1198e1f8-60e7-41b1-a3f5-b729551ecbcc?fingerprint=ppb20251217033715" alt="Sharing the Wealth Nara Riplinger" width="596" height="447" style="width:596px;height:447px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
Bryan Gidinski in the High School Classroom
Lake City Secondary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Lake City Secondary English teachers spent yet another meaningful afternoon learning from Bryan Gidinski. With his extensive knowledge and experience in the elementary classrooms, Bryan engaged all of our teachers- from teacher candidates who are not yet certified to 25+ years experienced teachers. Working and learning together makes Lake City a great place to be!</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/7155d9b6-00a5-4eac-9c22-54aedae2f753?fingerprint=ppb20251217034422" alt="Bryan Gidinski in the High School Classroom1 Nara Riplinger" width="315" height="236" style="width:315px;height:236px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/c9134200-abd0-4fb5-89b8-51ff5347336d?fingerprint=ppb20251217040230" alt="Bryan Gidinski in the High School Classroom2 Nara Riplinger" width="346" height="194" style="width:346px;height:194px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
Orange Shirts Symbolize Deeper Learning
Lake City Secondary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Staff and students wore Orange Shirts on October 26. The photo merely represents the deeper learning that occurred throughout the week, and that will continue to occur throughout the year, as educators work towards the 94 Calls To Action. Discussions around misrepresentation in movies, treaty processes, residential schools as well as cultural activities took place all week.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/5b324bf3-43cc-4780-8924-5fecc6ed86f7?fingerprint=ppb20251217034048" alt="Image Nara Riplinger" width="393" height="294" style="width:393px;height:294px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>
Lake City Educators Take Time to Learn Connection Activities
Lake City Secondary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Staff at Lake City Secondary spent part of the first day participating in some "Get To Know You" activities that they then used in their classrooms the first week of school.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Teachers, EAs, office staff, and custodians also wore Orange Shirts the first day of class to remind everyone that "Every Child Matters."</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/710d76b6-9674-4d72-b253-f0e563876d2a?fingerprint=ppb20251217034422" alt="IMG 0958a Nara Riplinger" width="518" height="274" style="width:518px;height:274px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>
Lake City Student Vote 2025
Lake City Secondary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Fahoum's Model UN club organized the 2025 Canada Student Vote. Students learned the basics of the electoral system in Canada and participated by voting.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/8182e186-1e1c-4644-861a-628f5d4e319e?fingerprint=ppb20251217034556" alt="Lake City Student Vote 2025" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/442269ae-4632-465a-a0ec-b98ade873fbc?fingerprint=ppb20251217033943" alt="Lake City Student Vote 2025" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></div></div><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
Teachers Benefit from Collaboration
Lake City Secondary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">French Immersion teachers, Mr. O'Keefe and Mme. Pritchard take time to plan for the coming year and how to incorporate more Indigenous resources into the French program. English aficionados Mr. Fahoum and Dr. Macwan observe a teacher candidate lead an English 12 lesson. Discussions during each of these sessions were professional, student-centered, and positive!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/9175cbf5-98c1-4bd3-951c-6ae608b74a8f?fingerprint=ppb20251217035006" alt="Teachers Benefit from Collaboration" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/f555c4a3-4510-4239-990b-f1c1f2b09442?fingerprint=ppb20251217040525" alt="Teachers Benefit from Collaboration" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>
New Teacher Candidate HIRED!
Lake City Secondary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our school was so pleased to welcome VIU teacher candidate, Mattias Aaslie. Robert Fahoum was the sponsor teacher for Mattias who is an English/Drama specialist. On his last 'official' day at Lake City, Mattias received word that he was hired on with SD27!</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/759f72bd-5d0f-5119-90ca-b0aac9af1306?fingerprint=ppb20251217034956" alt="3r5angvf.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div>
Mentorship is Alive and Well!
Lake City Secondary
<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Retired teacher, Barb Blewett, spends time helping new-to-us teacher, Maureen Newman-Buafo. The two have been partnered for a few months as part of the district's Learning Alongside mentorship program which matches new teachers with retired teachers.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/b989be10-a383-57d9-b92f-ce553199f68d?fingerprint=ppb20251217035632" alt="1hcftwo6.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div>