Students in their final year of high school will now be able to get a head start on post secondary education through the certified Education Assistant program.
A new partnership between Okanagan College and School District No. 23 will allow grade 12 students to split their final academic year, spending the first half completing their grade 12 studies, and spend the final half of the year working towards the completion of an Education Assistant certificate from the Okanagan College.
For recent graduate Tiffany Walker, an early start in the Education Assistant certificate program has helped her realize a dream she’s long been chasing.
“I’ve always loved being with children and once I found out there was an established route to becoming an Education Assistant, I jumped on the opportunity – I’m very happy I did,” says Walker.
Like Walker, high school students who have excelled in their studies can apply to be a dual-credit student in their Grade 12 year.
The four and a half-month, full-time program is offered at George Elliot Secondary School in Lake Country.
It gives students the foundation, knowledge, and experience to work in British Columbia school districts as well as with special needs adults in group homes and individual families who have children that need assistance.
“I did my practicum at AS Matheson and it was the best part about the entire program,” says Walker. “The way the program and practicum were laid out made me confident that I had a solid foundation to really do well in the practicum.”
“School District No. 23 approached us to form a dual-credit partnership and help bring forward the next generation of Education Assistants,” says Valerie Banks, Program Coordinator at Okanagan College. “The demand for EAs is high within Kelowna’s school district, which requires all EAs to be certified.”
The Education Assistant certificate program is currently accepting dual-credit applications until Friday, Sept. 29th for the January 2018 intake.
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