Jeannie Armstrong - Superintendent of Learning: Special Education Services, Faith/Equity & Indigenous Education at the Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic School Board

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em><strong>Written directly from Jeannie:</strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Originally thought about Communications. Had the opportunity to be on local radio as a teenager and I really liked the experience.</span> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">One of my best friends was killed in a car accident a week before graduating high school and this experience changed my life.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following the devastation of this experience, I knew that I wanted to help other people but truly did not know how…..</span> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">Changed my direction to a degree in psychology and thought about pursuing a Ph.D. to help young people process grief and loss. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I had classes at Ottawa U from Monday to Thursday and would often travel home from Friday to Sunday to spend time with my family. On one of my trips home, I ran into my grade 6 teacher, Mrs. Yolkowskie. She encouraged me to come volunteer with her on days when I did not have class.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I said I would call her and did. I began volunteering at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School every Friday in Mrs. Yolkowskie’s special education class. I loved the experience. It was in this classroom that my dream of becoming an educator was born. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I finished my BA in Psychology and applied to Faculties of Education at Ottawa University and Queen’s. Between finishing my BA and starting my BEd, I married my husband (now 29 years). I chose Ottawa U because of its close proximity to home. I travelled back and forth that year to finish my BEd. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When I finished my BEd. there were few jobs. This was a time when few positions existed in the province so I supplied for a year until I received a contract with the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board. I worked in a rural school community and in a larger s