Celebrating teachers on World Teachers’ Day – it’s never too late to pursue your dream profession!
Today is World Teachers’ Day, and in honour of the amazing work our teachers do every day, the district recognizes teachers across Surrey and White Rock – both established educators and those new to the profession – for their outstanding work with young minds.
Founded by UNESCO and held every Oct. 5, World Teachers’ Day honours teaching staff around the world for their tireless efforts in and out of the classroom. The annual celebration highlights the commitment, dedication, efforts and lasting impact of teachers on students in school and well after they graduate.
“Teachers are among the biggest influences in the lives of students, and we value all the ways they encourage, support and guide children and youth,” said Surrey Board of Education Chair Laurie Larsen. “Whether you’ve been with the district for decades or are just starting your teaching career, your leadership and expertise is important to the long-term success of each and every student in our schools.”
Grade 6/7 Woodland Park Elementary teacher Dana Scanlan may be new to classroom teaching, but she comes with a wealth of experience from her previous roles as an education coordinator with the Vancouver Aquarium and the Stanley Park Ecology Society. Scanlan, 46, started with the district in January 2022 – something she says she wishes she’d done a lot sooner.
“I felt like I was supposed to always do this, it’s just that life got in the way,” said Scanlan with a laugh. “I went through university saying, ‘I’m not going to be a teacher,’ and then I kept taking positions that were education-related.
“I was doing education around salmon at the aquarium and every job I took involved education and teaching school kids. A lot of my colleagues said, ‘Why aren’t you going to be a teacher?’”
In 2000, Scanlan decided to pursue teaching, but family life with four children postponed her studies until her youngest kids were in elementary school. Her career change also received a jumpstart of inspiration from her father, a lifelong learner who knew the value of education and the importance of teachers who can really engage with students.
“Four years ago, my dad was sick with cancer, and I’d talked about being a teacher for so many years,” she said. “When he was in hospice, he said to me, ‘You’d better go back to school and become a teacher finally,’ and I said, ‘You know what, I will.’ It was a sad story to that end but it was positive in that I finally fulfilled my dreams.”
In the last 21 months as a term teacher, Scanlan has taught numerous grade levels, starting with filling in for a leave of absence for a Grade 2 class, taking her practicum with Grade 7s, teaching Grade 4 students last year and settling into a Grade 6/7 class with Woodland Park this year.
While teaching has presented unique challenges with her career change, Scanlan said her previous jobs absolutely play a role in the flexibility of her teaching style and her ability to foster relationships with students.
“In my practicum, there was a kid who would cry during math – I started doing math a little bit differently where they’re standing and engaging with groups, and this kid went from not being confident with math to suddenly shining in this role,” she said. “It actually brought tears to my eyes.
“As teachers, this is what we’re here for, to help bring out those pieces of those kids that they didn’t know about. And if you can foster that, it’s so rewarding.”
Happy World Teachers' Day to our Surrey Schools educators -- we honour you today and every day!
If you’re interested in becoming a teacher in our district, look at our teacher postings at surreyschools.ca/careers
