- Future Students
- Current Students
- Programs
- Programs of Study
- Undergraduate Studies
- Bachelor of General Studies
- Bachelor of Education as a Second Degree
- Minors
- Counselling and Human Development Minor
- Curriculum and Instruction Minor
- Early Learning Minor
- Educational Psychology Minor
- Learning and Developmental Disabilities Minor
- Social Justice in Education Minor
- Elementary Generalist Minor
- Environmental Education Minor
- French Education Minor
- Physical and Health Education Minor
- Secondary Mathematics Education Minor
- Secondary Teaching Minor
- Certificates
- Courses
- Teacher Education
- Professional Diplomas
- Graduate Studies
- Masters Programs
- MA, MEd in Arts Education
- MA, MEd in Counselling Psychology
- MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Children’s and Young Adult Literature
- MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Contemplative Inquiry & Approaches in Education
- MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Ecological Education
- MA, MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Educational Theory and Practice
- M.Éd. dans Curriculum & Instruction: Enseigner et apprendre en français: plurilinguismes, francophonies et éducation
- MA, MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Equity Studies in Education
- MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Imagination in Teaching, Schooling and Place
- MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Innovations in Mathematics Education
- MA, MEd dans Curriculum & Instruction: l'éducation en français en contextes de diversité (campus de SFU)
- MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Place- and Nature-Based Experiential Learning
- MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Post-Secondary (VCC)
- MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Science Education and Communication
- MEd in Educational Leadership: Post-Secondary (Surrey)
- MEd in Educational Leadership: Imaginative K-12 Leadership (Surrey)
- MEd in Educational Practice
- MEd in Educational Practice: Indigenous Pedagogy and Indigenous Inquiry
- MEd in Educational Practice: Practitioner Inquiry
- MA, MEd in Educational Psychology
- MEd in Teaching Languages in Global Contexts
- MA, MEd in Educational Technology & Learning Design
- MSc, MEd in Secondary Mathematics Education
- MA, MEd in Teaching English as an Additional Language
- Doctoral Programs
- EdD in Educational Leadership: Leading for Educational Change in the Yukon
- PhD in Arts Education
- PhD in Educational Psychology
- PhD in Educational Technology & Learning Design
- PhD in Educational Theory and Practice: Curriculum and Pedagogy Stream
- PhD in Educational Theory and Practice: Philosophy of Education Stream
- PhD in Languages, Cultures and Literacies
- PhD en langues, cultures et littératies (en français)
- PhD in Mathematics Education
- Areas of Study
- Program Comparision
- Masters Programs
- Programs in French
- Faculty & Research
- Indigeneity
- Community
- About
- News & Events
- Support Us
- Instructor & Staff Resources
- Work With Us
- Contact
Faculty of Education and You: Sunshine Willms
SUNSHINE WILLMS, A MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER.
Year Graduated: 2023
Program: Professional Linking Program (PLP)
Prior to joining the Faculty of Education, Sunshine Willms cultivated a background in business with an undergraduate and master’s degree and was planning to teach at a university. However, after taking a 10-year hiatus from work to start a family, Sunshine decided to pivot from the business world and explore teaching middle school. That is when she decided to acquire a teaching certificate.
“I had the opportunity to teach with a letter of permission at an independent school prior to obtaining my teaching certificate. After obtaining my teaching certificate, I began as a teacher on call and recently got hired into a continuing contract teaching middle school.”
“The PLP program made the most sense for me considering my academic background and the 16-month length of the program. It provided me with the ability to maintain my lifestyle and have a balance between school, work and family.”
“One of the learnings that I wanted to receive from the program was how to teach a classroom that is diverse in both their learning needs and who they are as people. I felt that the Faculty of Education did a good job of preparing me to step into a diverse classroom with various needs.”
“Talking about inclusion, diversity and First People’s Principles of Learning in the program emphasized and reoriented my thinking around the importance of education for future generations. It made me realize that change really does happen through education.”
“Through the program and my practicum especially, I realized how important it is to engage with students at their individual academic level and also to recognize many students come from difficult home situations and are bringing external variables into the classroom with them. As teachers, we must teach in an environment where the students’ upbringing, socioeconomic status and home life is taken into consideration when teaching and engaging with students.”
"My experience in the program provided me with the skills to excel in lesson planning, unit development, and a profound appreciation for the significance of formative assessment. I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how to effectively integrate formative assessment into my teaching practices and utilize it as a foundation for shaping future lessons.
“I received lots of validation from colleagues and my faculty associates, Daniel Vecchio and Amanda Ballard, in the program. It was a supportive and encouraging program to be a part of.”
“I advise future Faculty of Education students to be open-minded and to let go of any preconceived ideas about education and the world around them, that they may have. This will help guide you when thinking about who you want to be as an educator.”
Share your Individuality. Flaunt your Achievements. Unleash your Inner Educator! We invite you to share your experiences and journey with us. Click here to share your story.