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West Kootenay Rural Teacher Education Program (WKTEP)

The West Kootenay Rural Teacher Education Program (WKTEP) is located in Nelson, BC and surrounding communities. WKTEP has a strong focus on rural and small school settings, recognizing that they offer exciting educational opportunities for teachers. There is also an emphasis on place-conscious learning with strong ties to local communities and school districts.

Program Overview

In September, teacher candidates will be assigned to a host school, mentor teacher (school advisor), and practicum classroom. Many placements will require teacher candidates to provide their own transportation. Teacher candidates will spend one day each week in their host school from October to the beginning of the extended practicum in February. Most weeks, teacher candidates will also be out in school settings with practising educators for our ‘in situ’ work. Three or more days each week, teacher candidates will engage in course work at the UBC WKTEP Learning Centre in Nelson or in various classrooms throughout the region.

Practicum Experiences

Teacher candidates will participate in three formal practicum experiences in their host schools:

• EDUC 315: 2 weeks + 1 day/week in Term 1
• EDUC 321: 1 day/week in Term 2
• EDUC 418/421: 10 weeks in Term 3 In addition, teacher candidates will take part in a Community Field Experience (CFE) for three weeks after the extended practicum.

Special Features

• Small cohort size encourages a personalized learning environment with a focus on developing a strong community of learners.
• Host school placements are individualized and support the unique strengths and areas of interest of each teacher candidate.
• WKTEP offers a variety of secondary teachable subjects including, but not limited to:
  • Math
  • English
  • Social Studies
  • Physics
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • French
  • Physical Education
  • Theatre
  • Visual Art
• Elementary and secondary candidates will experience a wide array of learning environments including multi-age and alternate settings with a strong focus on rural education.
• Many WKTEP instructors are practicing educators who bring practical experience and current pedagogy to their courses.
• Strong links with our four local school districts allow for shared professional learning opportunities alongside practicing teachers.
• A place-conscious lens on learning creates rich learning experiences with environmental, cultural, historical, and geographic contexts with place at the core.

Philosophy

WKTEP’s school-based approach is aligned with Ministry of Education goals, grounded in current research in teacher education, and focused on the particulars of the setting and its relationship to broader contexts, especially rural communities. Our place-conscious model is based on three elements: enhanced educational opportunities for pre-service teachers, enriched community connections, and embedded professional growth. What underpins these elements is the belief that teachers are most effective when they have a deep and nuanced understanding of the communities where their students live.

History

During the fall of 1989, in response to an anticipated teacher shortage, the BC provincial government made available funding to initiate teacher education programs in the regions of British Columbia that were distant from the degree-granting universities in Vancouver and Victoria. Following consultations with the three main BC universities, Selkirk College faculty member and Open Learning Agency manager Gerry Ehman determined that UBC was in the best position to offer such a program in the West Kootenays.

Calendar Dates

• 2025/26
  • Winter Session Term 1: September 2 – December 12, 2025
  • Winter Session Term 2: January 5 – June 5, 2026
  • Summer Session: June 8 – July 24, 2026

How to Apply

Admissions requirements are the same as the other Bachelor of Education Programs at UBC Vancouver campus.

Our Team

• Dr. Leyton Schnellert, Academic Lead
• Susanne Maguire, Site Coordinator (Elementary)
• Denise Flick, Site Coordinator (Secondary)
• Lori Barrett, Sessional Lecturer/Coordinator
• Melodie Rae Storey, Administrative Assistant
• Melanie Leeming, Administrative Assistant (currently on leave)