Jennifer Rankin & Kirsten Ramsay - Lambton-Kent District School Board International Education
What is your official role at the LKDSB?
International Education Academic Coordinator. Essentially a Guidance Counsellour for International Students.
What subjects did you teach at CKSS? Spanish, History, Native Studies, Resource, Student Success and Guidance.
What made you decide to be a teacher growing up?
I did a Rotary Exchange in Mexico when I was 15. Then eventually decided to get a Spanish degree and teach Spanish. I was also always drawn to the role of a Guidance Counselor.
What inspired you to become the Interact Club liaison 10 years ago?
I had been on a Rotary Exchange, I volunteered with the District 6380 Exchange Program for over 10 years. I volunteered and planed events for both inbound and outbound students. At the time I started the club, I was a Rotarian with the Blenheim Rotary Club. I had taught in Brantford at school that had an Interact Club, which gave me the experience to introduce one at CKSS.
Linda Goldsmith mentioned you were also a GSE participant.
I was a GSE participant in 2006. Max Howell was our lead. 3 Canadians, 2 Americans on the team. We visited 19 communities in Peru over a 6 week period. Two of us spoke Spanish, we took turns speaking at the Rotary Clubs. As an educator I tour public and private schools and met with Second Language Teachers. What I found most interesting was how much some of the Peruvian teachers were able to do with so few resources.
What has been your favourite memory with the Interact Club over the years?
Wow, there have been a lot of great memories. My goal with the group was to always teach the students the process of getting involved to educating others, and actually creating change. Learning about networking, marketing, researching a cause etc. Showing them that with a good plan and passion they could accomplish a lot. We Day in Toronto was also always an exciting event. Students were able to meet other like minded students interested in helping out their schools, communities and internationally.
What is the purpose of the Interact Club being under the purview of the school board?
The club does not have to run through a school, it can be community based such as Junior Optimist Club or Junior Achievement. It is much easier to do with in a school if you have a dedicated Rotarian working with the students and club right in the schools.
So when you say you work with international students, do you mostly work with inbound students, or developing opportunities for current LKDSB students to travel internationally?
Both. I work with short term, long term, inbound, fee paying and reciprocal students. I also support and organize outbound opportunities with students as well. This year we did short term programs with partners in Taiwan, Sweden and France.
Which countries have international students been traveling to come study in Canada from?
For the 2019-2020 school year, we have students from 23 different countries placed in 13 different LKDSB schools.
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