My name is Jo Atkinson-Cornthwaite. I am part of the Trent-Queen's concurrent education cohort, which was taught by Dr. Deborah Berrill at the time. I graduated with a Bachelor of Concurrent Education in 1999, before Trent University had it's own Education program.
I straddled two Universities, two different philosophies of teaching and as a Gen Xer it was the perfect metaphor for my life.
I am so deeply grateful for my Queen's Education. B.Ed (concurrent) (99) My sister Sarah Atkinson-Schumacher is also a graduate of Queen's University B.A. (01) and LLB (03). I am now the first openly Queer local president of the Nanaimo District Teachers' Association and enjoy participating in the process of writing education policy and being a BC Teacher since 2003. My first 4 years were in SCDSB. I taught at Tecumseth North Public School-- which is now closed, near Alliston. I also taught at East Oro Elementary-- near Orillia. I started teaching early literacy-- Grade 1. I am K-12 certified and in British Columbia, which allows me to switch between grades without losing seniority, as there is only one public school Union in British Columbia. I did my Master's Degree in Special Education and focussed my teaching career around supporting marginalized children, youth and now adults as Local President.
This is my 27th year of teaching. I have two beautiful sons and an amazing life that I didn't think was possible at 20.
I am grateful for Alan Brunger in the placement office and the rest of the Queen's team at the time who helped me to see my place in the world.