Dec. 9, 2016
Home's cool
Ashley Wright has neither the time nor the disposition required to mince words. A whip-smart, doggedly resourceful Chestermere-based single mother, Ashley has long moved mountains in pursuit of a sustainable and meaningful career, while diligently raising her two boys. Currently, she鈥檚 completing a through the Werklund School of Education.
Officially speaking, the program, launched in 2015, was designed to 鈥渁ttract students unable to commit to a residency-based program, and to allow them to gain teaching experience in the local communities they would serve.鈥 If you ask Ashley why she was attracted to the long-distance option, her answer 鈥 delivered instantly and unapologetically 鈥 cuts through to the heart of the matter: 鈥淚 chose this path because I missed my kids.鈥
Ashley graduated from Mount Royal University with a degree in Applied Child Studies in 2007, and has since worked as a childcare coordinator with Community Futures Treaty 7. Two years ago, seeking to expand her career opportunities, she returned to MRU where she took a full course-load and 鈥 ineligible for First Nation-funding for a second degree 鈥 also maintained a full-time job. 鈥淚 worked all day, then went to classes from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.,鈥 she says. 鈥淲ho took care of my boys? Everybody. But I felt so bad.鈥
When she first heard about the community-based BEd degree at U不良研究所, Ashley was disbelieving. 鈥淚 thought 鈥榃hat?! I don鈥檛 have to rush off to a classroom and miss supper with my kids?!鈥 鈥
Indeed, she doesn鈥檛. The program enables students to undertake approximately half of their studies online, with a two-week residency period on campus each summer, and face-to-face practicum periods in schools within their region. According to , dean of the Werklund School of Education, it鈥檚 been a cosmic success.
鈥淥ne of the first challenges in teacher education is to include adults who normally couldn鈥檛 be on campus full-time because they have commitments that can鈥檛 be left behind,鈥 says Sumara. 鈥淲e wanted a program that is accessible, inclusive and adaptable so these adults could achieve that degree 鈥 and, because of it, we now have a more diverse set of students with incredible life experience.鈥
Once graduated, Ashley hopes to teach First Nations kids and youth in 不良研究所 and the surrounding Treaty 7 First Nations. Down the road, however, she may teach teachers herself. 鈥淚 know I can build a career out of this degree,鈥 she says. 鈥淎nd, truthfully, I don鈥檛 see myself stopping at a BEd 鈥 I want to do an one day, and then a if I can afford it.鈥
Meanwhile, she knows that Dalen (15) and Brayden (13) are as happy to have her at home in the evenings as she is happy to be there 鈥 albeit busily studying beside them at the kitchen table. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e really respectful,鈥 says Ashley. 鈥淭hey see what I鈥檓 trying to do.鈥
Home, after all, is where the heart is. But it鈥檚 also where kids can watch their parent reach for the stars.
In 2013, David Werklund, a business leader with rural roots and a passion for education, made a $25-million gift to the University of 不良研究所 鈥 the largest donation to a faculty of education in Canadian history.
The community-based BEd Program is one of many innovative educational programs delivered by the Werklund School of Education.
This year, new student awards from both TransCanada and ConocoPhillips will enable community-based BEd students in even the most remote communities to travel to main campus for their summer residency.