BEd French Pathways

Job Summary

This position is responsible for supporting and advising the BA (French) - BEd French Pathways students in their academic progress in their coursework, in their language development and in their field experiences in relation to the mission and priorities of the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies FCCS) and the Okanagan School of Education (OSE). This position will also assist in the ongoing development of the BA (French) and BEd French Pathways (including the dual degree option), particularly with relation to developing and implementing authentic cultural and linguistic learning opportunities and developing professional placements and experiential learning programs and liaising with community partners.

This position entails working closely with the BEd French Pathways Coordinator, the French program coordinator and advisor (including the dual degree option), with BEd instructors, French instructors/professors, and with the Field Advisor team. As a University representative in schools and communities for the FCCS and OSE, the position also entails being part of a team charged with facilitating connections among teacher candidates, practicing teachers, faculty, and community partners, purposefully bringing theory and practice together to enlarge and deepen professional knowledge.

Organizational Status:

This position reports directly to the OSE BEd French Pathways Coordinator and the Director of Undergraduate Programs and works in close relationship with faculty and staff within the Bachelor of Education program and across the Okanagan School of Education.

The Okanagan School of Education includes 16 full-time faculty, sessional lecturers, as well as adjunct faculty members ranging from 10-20 per year. The graduate program comprises approximately 100 students pursuing Masters (MA, MEd) and doctoral programs. The undergraduate program comprises approximately 140 post-bac students pursuing a B. Ed. degree over 16 months (and starting in 2026W: 11 months). Additionally, there is coursework for ongoing professional development throughout each year, including Community Field Experience. The Okanagan School of Education offers intellectual community and supports for educators across all phases of their professional growth. Faculty maintain active and ongoing research programs. Faculty research grants support the employment of student researchers, both graduate and undergraduate students. There are 3 BCGEU and 3 Management and Professional staff supporting the operations and administration of the Department.

Work Performed:

Pedagogical Advising (Coursework) and Language Development Support

• Collaborates with the BA French Coordinator, BEd French Pathways Coordinator, and Block leaders and instructors, regarding BEd Blocks’ French components and students’ progress

• Advises and supports the BA (French) and BEd French Pathways candidates in their academic program and coursework

• Designs programs and open-source teaching resources in French for French language teachers with pedagogically appropriate materials, including the development of resources with Indigenous content and approaches embedding First People’s Principles of Learning, in consultation with Indigenous scholars and educators in the Okanagan School of Education and/or the community.

• Plans, organizes, and facilitates, as needed, a Community Field Experience.

• Organizes and facilitates French language workshop series and social activities to support (BA French) French Pathways candidates’ French language development

• Collaborates with UBCO’s team with sociocultural events on and off campus

Field Experience Supervision and Advisory

• Collaborates with the field advisor team regarding the co-planning/co-assessment process in all BEd field experiences and related courses (advisory), orientation and induction activities, mentor recruitment and follow-up, and partnership development.

• Collaborates with the field advisor team regarding the communication and logistical information required to develop and sustain the field experience partnerships.

• Shares responsibility for the BEd French Pathways students. This includes advising, mentoring, and assessing teacher candidates regarding their field experiences as well as collaborating with and supporting mentor teachers and school administrators.

• Advises students on field experiences and provides formative and summative feedback.

• Collaborates with teacher candidates, interns, mentor teachers, school district personnel and community agencies regarding field experiences to clarify policies and expectations.

• Develops professional placements and experiential learning programs in schools and liaise with community partners.

• Facilitates the development of a collaborative, inclusive, inquiry-oriented professional learning culture with partner schools/school districts

  undefined.

Communications and Admissions

• Develops documentation and communications assets aimed at improving the discoverability of health, wellness, diversity, and linguistic resources for Francophones and French learners on UBCO campus and in BC Interior.

• In collaboration with program coordinators and faculty, department and area/program advisors advises students on French programs admission, including BA-Bed dual degree.

• Assesses BEd French Pathways applicants’ admission dossiers.

French Pathways Development

• Conducts analysis on the needs of students for services and programs that lead to educational projects or initiatives; Conducts needs assessment amongst educational stakeholders in the field (sponsor teachers, principals, directors of instruction) to support French Pathways retention, delivery and recruitment.

• Oversees the administration of Ministry Funding for French Pathways within the Okanagan School of Education, develops financial strategies and ensures the maximum use of financial support.

• Prepares statistics for reporting to inform marketing, recruitment and budget decisions (Monitor French BEd program enrolment and graduation numbers).

• Prepares statistics and summary for the Ministry of Education reports on funding.

• Develops opportunities for French pre-service teachers to gain Community Field Experience in French milieu either in BC, Canada or internationally.

• Develops and/or revises and/or translates policies and guidelines for any French-related components of the Bachelor of Education program.

Other

• May collaborate on other duties with the BA (French) Coordinator, BEd French Pathways Coordinator and the OSE Director of Undergraduate Programs.

Consequence of Error/Judgement:

This position plays a critical role in assessing and monitoring the progress of teacher candidates throughout the program and providing them with ongoing feedback. This position must be willing to give formative as well as summative evaluative feedback both verbally and in writing. This position also collaborates with and seeks guidance by collaborating with instructors and the field advising team under the supervision of the Director of Undergraduate Programs with regard to the feedback to be given and the options to be provided to teacher candidates with regard to progressing through the program.

This position must be willing to give negative feedback to the teacher candidate if indicated. Inappropriate judgment or unwillingness to provide constructive feedback can harm the teacher candidate’s progress in the program and/or result in difficulties in subsequent practice settings. Incorrect or inappropriate decisions may adversely affect teacher candidates and directly affect the reputation and credibility of the Okanagan School of Education, Faculty of Education and of UBC, locally, nationally and internationally.

Supervision Received:

Works autonomously under the supervision of the Director of Undergraduate Programs, with input from the other Directors within the Okanagan School of Education. All decisions and work conducted by this position is subject to review, approval and supervision by the leadership team within the Okanagan School of Education.

Supervision Given:

The Director of Undergraduate Programs and the other members of the leadership team are also available regarding policy and its application to assessing teacher candidate performance. It is expected that this position will work as a member of a team and will provide support and mentorship to other team members as appropriate.

Education/Work Experience:

Minimum

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.

• Minimum of one to two years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred

• Master-level degree in Education is strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated relevant classroom practice/experience.

• Preference will be given to applicants with instructional leadership experience in school settings.

Skills:

- Candidates must be fluent in French and English.
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Off-campus work may take place within clusters of schools in the following schools districts: SD 83- North Okanagan/Shuswap, SD 22: Vernon, SD 23: Central Okanagan, and SD 67- Okanagan/Skaha.