Building a relationship with your students is the key to being a successful teacher, an idea shared by two Sooke school teachers who are at different points in their career.

Marion Stupich, otherwise known as Ms. S, graduated from the University of Victoria with an education degree, and has just began teaching full time at Sooke Elementary School this year.

Prior to her new job, she worked as a preschool teacher for three years, and then later worked as a teacher on call, also kinown as a TOC, around the Island.

Stupich taught kids of all ages while working as a TOC, but felt she was best suited to teach elementary students, as she likes the idea of having the same class year-round.

B次元官网网址淢y whole life IB次元官网网址檝e been working towards being a teacher,B次元官网网址� Stupich said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never wanted to be anything else.B次元官网网址�

Stupich was always drawn to becoming a teacher because she loves being in a learning environment.

B次元官网网址淚 want to help kids find what their spark is and give them the tools to chase after it,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭here are so many kids that donB次元官网网址檛 feel like they have a voice, and I want to show them what they can do.B次元官网网址�

On the other side of the spectrum is Edward Milne Community School principal Patrick Swinburnson, who is retiring this year after 36 years in education, but still shares the same passion for helping youth as Stupich.

B次元官网网址淢y favourite thing about teaching is making those connections with the students,B次元官网网址� he said.

Swinburnson, who began teaching in 1981, said technology has been the biggest change he has seen throughout his career, and believes it is great for education.

And while there have been giant leaps forward with the way things are done in the classroom, he said people remain constant, and highlighted the importance of building relationships with students.

B次元官网网址淚f you make your students feel like theyB次元官网网址檙e valued and welcomed, you will find everything after that is easy. YouB次元官网网址檙e behaviour management will be easy and student achievement will improve,B次元官网网址� Swinburnson said. B次元官网网址淪how your compassion right from the beginning, let them know that you care and your job is going to be so much easier.B次元官网网址�

Stupich is optimistic heading in to her career, saying she is a life-long learner, and wants learning to be a joyous thing for students as well.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 here first and foremost for the students. Kids have so much power and so much potential,B次元官网网址� Stupich said.

B次元官网网址淭he most divergent thinkers in the world are kindergartners, you give them a stick and they can see 50 different things and then theyB次元官网网址檙e told all through out school, B次元官网网址楴o thatB次元官网网址檚 a just stickB次元官网网址� and then they become an adult and they think B次元官网网址極K thatB次元官网网址檚 just a stick. ThatB次元官网网址檚 all it is and thatB次元官网网址檚 all it will ever be,B次元官网网址� kids still have this imagination that hasnB次元官网网址檛 been squished out of them yet.B次元官网网址�

StupichB次元官网网址檚 goals moving forward are to build strong relationships with her students, and to be a good role model.

B次元官网网址淚 know IB次元官网网址檓 going to fail at times, but thatB次元官网网址檚 okay because IB次元官网网址檒l learn from it. I try to see challenges as opportunities and I want my students to view things that way as well,B次元官网网址� Stupich said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just looking forward to really getting to know my class and seeing where they take me, thereB次元官网网址檚 so much potential for so much fun.B次元官网网址�