Marianne McTavish, Professor of Teaching, Language & Literacy Education
I am currently Associate Dean of Teacher Education in the Faculty of Education and I am responsible for overseeing the most comprehensive teacher education program in BC; the only program that includes all teachable subjects for secondary education in addition to an elementary and middle-years option. UBC has Canada’s only International Baccalaureate-recognized teacher education program and houses BC’s long running teacher education program for those of Aboriginal heritage (Indigenous Teacher Education Program). It is an 11-month program, leading to a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree and recommendation for teacher certification by the Ministry of Education’s Teacher Certification Branch (TCB). Enrolling over 760 teacher candidates, the program is predicated on social justice and responsibility (among other values), and has well-established links with school districts and communities across the province.
My years as a classroom teacher in two BC school districts (30+ years), my time as a sessional instructor in the Centre for Cross-Faculty Inquiry (Early Childhood) and as Professor of Teaching in LLED with a research focus in Early Literacy has allowed me to take a leadership role to: develop programs; liaise with school district officials, work with the British Columbia Teacher Federation executive, and the BC Teachers’ Council; write grants for obtaining Ministry and SSHRC Funding, liaise with faculty and coordinators; oversee UBC’s West Kootenay Teacher Education Program and liaise with the Okanagan School of Education; attract top quality instructors and project collaborators; maintain membership on important committees; and, participate in structured conversations that move UBC’s Teacher Education agenda forward. I am dedicated to continue enacting the vision, purpose and values outlined in UBC’s and the FoE’s strategic plans as we move to find dynamic new leadership to build on the solid foundation Dean Frank has provided.