My name is Jenna Whyte, and I am a teacher candidate at the University of Northern British Columbia’s in the Education Program. I was born in Mackenzie, BC, and while I have lived in other places throughout the province, Mackenzie will always be considered home. I am a lifelong learner, artist, educator, and mother. My journey to becoming a teacher has been long and winding. In pursuing this goal, I attended UNBC, UVIC, TRU, and now I’m back at UNBC, where it all began. During this time, I have had the opportunity to work in health care, recreation, and education in different communities, alongside colleagues from diverse backgrounds and in a variety of roles.
I have been employed with School District 57 on and off for the last sixteen years and have been fortunate to teach kindergarten through Grade 12 in Mackenzie on a letter of permission and in the Indigenous Education department in Prince George. During this time, I have had the privilege of learning alongside students, families, colleagues, Elders, and community members. The relationships I have built and the experiences I have shared with others over the years have shaped how I think about education and the kind of teacher I hope to become.
I have always known that I wanted to be a teacher. While I have enjoyed other jobs and experiences, teaching has never felt like work. It is a passion of mine, and I know I am good at it because I have seen the difference I can make in young people’s lives. I want to help more young people recognize their strengths, build confidence, and see the possibilities within themselves.
I firmly believe learning happens through intergenerational relationships, movement, creating, stories, and the connections we build with one another and with place. I am especially passionate about learning about local ecology, traditional medicines, art, and education. I am also interested in the possibilities of land-based and community-based education, and in viewing education as a whole circle rather than something that happens only in a classroom.
When I visualize future classrooms, I see a place where students feel safe being curious, making mistakes, asking questions, and having the confidence to learn and grow. I believe that each student brings valuable knowledge and unique backgrounds into the classroom, and I want to create opportunities for those ways of knowing to be seen, valued, and heard.
I included this quote because it reminds me of the struggles and self-doubt I have experienced on my journey to becoming a teacher. After a staff meeting, I talked with a colleague who believed in me and valued my approach to education. He was highly respected by both staff and students, so his words meant a lot to me. He said:
“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.”
— Bertrand Russell
This conversation has stayed with me and reminds me that questioning myself doesn’t mean I’m incapable. It reminds me to stay open, keep learning, and keep growing.
