ABOUT ME

My two favorite things in life are libraries and bicycles. Both move people forward without wasting anything. 

Peter Golkin

My Professional Journey

I am currently a Grade 7-9 teacher at Wildflower School in Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. Wildflower is a multi-age school with nearly 180 students.

After graduating from Queen’s University in Kingston, ON, in 1996 with a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Education, I headed westward to Vancouver, BC.

After a half a dozen years at St. George’s School in Vancouver, I moved to follow my muse, my heart, and love of the great outdoors to Nelson, BC. After a few years of sporadic employment that included working at the local ski hill, bagging items at a grocery store, volunteer firefighting, roasting coffee beans, and teaching as a teacher-on-call in Kootenay Lake School District #8, I settled into position at L.V. Rogers Secondary School. Shortly afterward, I accepted my dream position as teacher-librarian at the school. In this time I helped to retrofit the library towards a more inclusive, adaptive, and active learning space. A self-admitted technophile, I was an early advocate and adopter of technology to support learning in our district.

At this time, I also took up the responsibilities as second vice-president (advocacy) at the British Columbia Teacher-Librarians Association (BCTLA) where we resurrected a province-wide reading advocacy program, Drop Everything and Read (DEAR). In just three-years, DEAR expanded to reach more than 40 school districts and 350 000 students around the province.

Eager to explore and ready for a challenge, I filled the position of vice-principal at Trafalgar Middle School in Nelson. Following my heart and necessity to work more closely with students, I returned to the front lines as the school teacher-librarian and aboriginal education coordinator. I have been at my current school since September 2018.

My professional passions include applied design creativity and innovation, indigenous ways of learning and knowing, and the sheer joy and beauty of reading and writing.

An avid meditator and yoga practitioner, I have found the tools necessary to help manage my anxiety and stress.

You can find me on social media from time to time.

Twitter: @jyasinchuk   Facebook: Jeff Yasinchuk   LinkedIn: Jeff Yasinchuk