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When Jeremy Gooding set out to launch a new career, he turned to two passions – fine arts and trades. But after years working with his hands, he discovered an even deeper passion – teaching.
“When I first graduated from high school, I had no idea I wanted to become a teacher. I ended up in the landscaping business and realized I had a skill teaching others how to do things.”
Gooding enrolled in Okanagan College’s Trades Technology Teacher Education program, which provides two years of trades and technology training ending with a diploma. Students then move to the second portion of the program – teacher training at UBC-O. From there, it’s into middle and secondary schools teaching the next generation.
“It’s a dynamic atmosphere,” said Gooding, who now works throughout School District 23 teaching everything from woodwork to automotive. “I like the hands-on part of it. You can be more creative in your teaching methods when passing skills and knowledge on to the students.”
On Wednesday, March 2, at 6 p.m. the College is hosting an information night for anyone interested in enrolling in the next intake of TTTE, which begins this fall in Kelowna. The info night takes place in the carpentry shop at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus.
The TTTE program covers health and safety, use of hand tools and power tools, followed by focused studies in electricity, electronics, mechanical fabrication, automotive service, welding, robotics and basic cabinetry.
Now operating in its fifth year, the TTTE program has seen its grads land in positions throughout the province, said program administrator Nancy Ankerstein.
“Outside of the Okanagan, Vancouver and Victoria, shop teachers are in short supply. There’s a significant demand.”
Ankerstein said it is important that secondary schools expose students to a wide variety of fields – including both academics and trades. Without that exposure, students may never realize their abilities and the opportunities they have for the future.
“There is a real need for skilled trades people in the workforce,” she said.
For more information about Trades Technology Teacher Education, drop into the March 2 info session at the Kelowna campus or visit the college website at www.okanagan.bc.ca and click on the links to programs and courses followed by the 2010-11 calendar.
