New Faculty and Staff
Kathryn Ricketts has been working for the past 28 years in the field of dance and visual arts . Her work has been presented throughout Europe , South America , Africa , and Canada . Kathryn ran her own company ( ricketts dance co ) in Copenhagen Denmark for 10 years and later , a 3 year professional dance training program called MainDance , as well as her professional company Plan B Dance Productions . For the past 10 years Kathryn has been focusing on social / political issues in her work with schools , galleries , and community centers , using movement , creative writing and visual art as the languages . She completed her Masters at the University of British Columbia on the topic of identity and place with personal stories interpreted through embodiment . Her Doctoral degree at Simon Fraser University furthered this research into areas of literacy , embodiment , and cultural studies with a method she has coined Embodied Poetic Narrative . She has recently arrived from Vancouver where she was an associate member of the Faculty of Education and Faculty member in the Teacher Education Department at the University of Fraser Valley . Kathryn is excited to take up her position in the arts education program of the Faculty of Education with her focus in dance . She and her husband are thrilled to be in Regina and soon hope to produce a visual and performing arts series in their newly acquired loft in the John Deere Tractor Building .
Gale Russell has been involved in the teaching and learning of mathematics for more than 20 years . After completing a BSc ( Honours ) in Mathematics and BEd ( with Great Distinction ) at the University of Saskatchewan , she taught for 8 years in two rural Saskatchewan ( SK ) communities . During this time , Gale was a pilot teacher and then implementation leader for renewed Grades 10 – 12 mathematics in SK . Ultimately , these experiences led Gale to become the province ’ s first Educational Consultant for K-12 Mathematics . In this position , Gale worked with math teachers within the province as well as represented SK in interjurisdictional endeavours . During this time , Gale also received her MEd from the U of R . Rounding off nearly 12 years at the Ministry of Education , Gale authored the renewed mathematics curricula for Grades 2 - 12 as well as co-authoring the curricula for Kindergarten and Grade 1 .
Gale is now in the process of completing her doctoral dissertation in Curriculum Studies at the University of Saskatchewan , which is a theoretical study of an Indigenous worldview , mathematics , and the teaching and learning of mathematics . Gale has had publications within national and international mathematics education journals , is co-editor of a soon-to-be published book celebrating the first 50 years of the Saskatchewan Mathematics Teachers ’ Society , and was a contributing author in Probabilistic Thinking : Presenting Pluralistic Perspectives .
Recently stepping down as the president of the Saskatchewan Mathematics Teachers ’ Society , Gale has now taken on the role of journal editor for the society . In her spare time , along with spending time with family and friends , Gale dotes on her two dogs , Euclid and Chevy , and is gradually getting back to playing the bagpipes — a passion of 40 years .
Crystal Schmalle has been working at the University of Regina for 8 years . She has held positions on campus that have allowed her to work with students , faculty , and the University of Regina ’ s leadership team .
Crystal joined the Faculty of Education , Student Program Centre in August 2014 , taking on the role of Assistant to the Associate Dean of Student Services and Undergraduate Programs as well as Program Assistant to the Nipawin Cohort students . She has an Office Education Certificate from SIAST and is currently completing her Degree in Business Administration at the University of Regina . In addition to working full-time and being a part-time student , she is married , has two children , and is the Head Coach of her daughter ’ s soccer team . Crystal enjoys traveling , live music , and cheering for the Saskatchewan Roughriders . She is pleased to start a new adventure with the Faculty of Education and is looking forward to working with new colleagues and students .
Faculty of Education Education News Spring / Summer 2014 Page 19