TEACHER CREDITS EARLY EDUCATOR FOR ULTIMATE CAREER PATH
Former farm girl learns to go with the flow at Janus Academy
Calgary Herald, 17 Feb 2021, JACQUELINE LOUIE
Malorie Schwenk teaches Grades 1 to 3 at Janus Academy, a not-for-profit independent school in Calgary that focuses on the educational needs of children with autism.
Born in Coronation, Schwenk, 25, grew up on a family farm east of Castor, about a three-hour drive northeast of Calgary. After earning a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta, she taught for two years with Edmonton Catholic Schools and last year at Behaviour Therapy and Learning Centre, a preschool for students with autism in Calgary. Schwenk began teaching at Janus Academy last September.
Q: How would your best friend describe you?
A: Supportive, caring, generous, funny and adventurous. People who know me, know that I find laughter extremely important for my mental health, and I do my best to help everyone smile and laugh throughout the day.
Q: What would your students or staff be surprised to learn you like to do in your personal time or on a day off ?
A: My favourite thing is to go back to my parents’ farm and help out. One of my favourite times of year is in the spring when the cows are calving. I like seeing the calves and helping out in the springtime.
Q: What is the biggest challenge you face at school this year?
A: COVID-19. Adhering to all the policies while still trying to provide quality education to students with autism. I try really hard not to let any of the stresses of the pandemic affect my teaching. One thing I struggle with is teaching speech and communication without students being able to see my mouth. I also find it upsetting that students are going to go an entire year without seeing facial emotions.
Q: What does your school have bragging rights to?
A: I think what is really unique is how we create highly personalized goals for students to support them in their educational development. We offer low student-to-teacher ratios. Our classrooms are staffed depending on the needs of the students. I also think the way we strive to place students within peer groups and provide them with appropriate social interactions is really important, as well.
For the full article, please visit https://www.pressreader.com/canada/calgary-herald/20210217/282260963170197.