Education News | Page 15 our classrooms and alongside our students it allows us to give students a brave space to be themselves , to feel acknowledged , respected , safe , welcome , empowered , and above all , loved . I became a teacher to change the world and ignite more love ." The teaching profession is all about loving relationships , says Kiah , " I think that content is really important and obviously the foundation , the curriculum , but relationships , that ’ s how we make change . When your students respect you and they listen to what you say , and what you say is about any of the EDI or mental health topics , they ’ re going to listen to that and take it to heart ."
On her internship , it was relationships that kept Kiah energized : " Those relationships really fueled me . A lot of times I would have students come to me and open up about their mental health struggles . They knew they could talk to me and we would figure it out , or I would walk them to guidance . I felt every single day I was there , it was for a purpose . I was doing what I was supposed to do ."
A highlight for Kiah while an Education student , and one that has given her a taste of what it is like to influence change , was an opportunity in 2021 , when she was chosen as the sole student representative for the U of R President ' s transitional committee . " That was something I will never forget . Being the student chosen out of all the students at the U of R . I was shocked . To be on a committee with Dr . Jeff Keshen , someone with so much authority , was really impactful for me . And not only to be on that committee , but to actually have real conversations about reform at the University , and BIPOC representation , just to have those conversations was so memorable . I felt like I was just one step away from making a change ."
Kiah is still evisioning her next steps that she hopes will lead to change in schools . She is planning to extend her initial plan for mental health days : " I ’ ve been thinking about creating a larger scale , more generalized non-profit that works to do the same thing , with the eventual goal of the mental health days , but to create PD opportunities , resources , funding for mental health / first aid , all of that encompassed , and add in EDI , too : an organization that could really push the boundaries and make these issues a priority in schools ."
Even though she is brand new to the profession , Kiah has successfuly pitched a change in her current school that works toward daily calls to action and truth and reconciliation . She is excited to continue to grow in her EDI practices as she moves through her career with Regina Public Schools .
is simply done through love .... I became a teacher to change the world and ignite more love ."