Gardiner, Terry

When looking for an undergraduate program, I chose the School of ECE as it was then named, because I wanted an education that balanced theory and evidence-based knowledge with concrete hands-on experiences with children and families. This is exactly what I got … and more!

In the classroom, professors guided me in building a sturdy foundation in child development theory, curriculum construction, family and community support strategies and grounded policy development, while engaging with concepts and material in lively, challenging and fun ways. I can truly say that I learned important life lessons in preschool, not least of which is that positive and supportive approaches to guiding behaviour have a proven sustainable long-term impact. The placements offered me the opportunity to develop and apply professional skills in a range of settings from childcare, elementary school, children’s mental health agency, special-needs inclusion program to the provincial government.

Since graduation I have been an ECE in the preschool classroom and an early interventionist and this degree was also a terrific springboard to graduate study in social work where I trained as a child and family therapist.

The ECE program introduced me to an anti-bias approach, inclusion for individuals with special needs as well as a rights-based approach to supporting children’s well-being, all of which form the core of the human rights framework I apply in my current role as a Student Life and Equity Advisor working with graduate students, administrators and professors in higher education.

Critical thinking and innovative problem-solving are tools and essential products of my education which give me the confidence that I will be successful in almost any setting.