Bio Resume for Susan James-Belanger I have wanted to be a teacher ever since I was a little girl.

I used to pretend I was a teacher when completing my homework in elementary school by setting my dolls around a table and drawing out my homework on a chalkboard. Practicing my cursive writing and math skills and explaining what I had learned in class that day to my pretend students. I modeled exactly what my teacher had done in the classroom that day. I taught junior cadets for many years through the Air Cadet program. Courses in metrology, the history of the Air Cadet League of Canada and the Canadian Forces, parts of an aircraft, citizenship, leadership, physical fitness, general aviation, drill classes, and basic survival skills. I was always very comfortable in front of the classroom and enjoyed sharing my knowledge and teaching the cadets the material outlined in the textbooks. In 1995 I completed a level one coaching course for soccer and coached for a couple of years. It was very rewarding because I was working with the kids in a kinesthetic capacity. I taught grade 5 catechism through my church for several years. I always choose Grade 5 because that was the year the kids made ornaments for the Jesse Tree. It was easy to form a bond with the children and see their creativity blossom through their ornament design. During advent the children would go onto the Alter during mass and hang their ornaments on the tree. The kids loved this activity and it was easy to keep them engaged in the weekly meetings. Since finishing high school, I have continued to learn and study and take on various teacher type rolls. I educated local vendors and taught evening classes through my previous employer as a sales consultant where I sold cosmetics, spa accessories, and other health and beauty products throughout the Maritime Provinces. As a certified Professional Bridal Consultant I educated couples on the rites, rituals, and common practices for the type of wedding they were looking for. It was very important to listen, understand, and build a meaningful relationship with the couples in order to plan and deliver a wonderful event on one of their most important days of their lives. Without those relationships, their weddings would not be a day of their dreams. There were many types of weddings including various religious weddings: Jewish, Catholic, East Indian, Baptist, as well as non-denominational events. I have planned

several business seminars, anniversary parties, and many other events where organization and maintaining control of a large crowd was extremely important. I feel that my planning and coordination knowledge and experience will be a wonderful asset to the classroom. I will be able to nurture and creative a wonderful relationship with my students and help them to flourish their learning into life long learners. The final aspect of my life that has lead me to embark on this teaching journey was my work through the school district. I worked within the school district for 4 years as a receptionist and educational assistant. I loved my job and being involved in the schools. During this time I realized that I needed to fulfill this dream of becoming a teacher. I left my on-call receptionist position with the school district and enrolled in the Bachelor of Organizational Management program at Crandall University in order to finish my undergraduate degree and pursue a teaching career through the Bachelor of Education program. I have finally realized where I need to be in my career. I need to be a teacher and work with the students to foster and create their learning, to challenge them and myself daily in order to become life long learners and appreciate all the lessons and experiences that education can bring them.