About Me

Hi! My name is Mara Cox. I completed my Bachelor of Education – Elementary Curriculum in April 2021 at the University of Victoria, as well as my Professional Specialization Certificate in Information Communication Technology in November 2021 at the University of Victoria.

I am currently working as a K-12 TTOC in my hometown of Kimberley, BC. I am also working on completing my English Language Learners Post-Graduate Certificate at Queens University. You can check out what I am currently working on here.

I grew up in Kimberley, BC, a very active ski town located in the Kootenays. After I graduated high school in 2015, I was unsure of the direction that I wanted to pursue with my post-secondary education, and so I took time off to work, take a few courses at College of the Rockies, and travel. In the Fall following my graduation, I applied for and accepted a position as a Casual Education Assistant (EA) in SD6. This experience solidified my passion for education and working with children, and I realized my end goal of becoming an educator.

I continued to work as an EA for the next few years while balancing an assortment of courses, a couple other jobs, a small tutoring business working with about 10 students from grade 5-11, coaching a high school soccer team, a month of travel in Europe, and three months of travel in Asia. Through all of this, the excitement of stepping back into a classroom after a day, a week, or a month away never faded, and I knew that education was where I was meant to be.

I completed my first year of the Bachelor of Education program in Cranbrook, BC at the College of the Rockies. This was a great experience, but I knew that I wanted to venture out and explore the West Coast, and the University of Victoria was a perfect fit for me.

I completed my first practicum in a grade 1 classroom in Dalian, China at the Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals School. During this practicum, I collaborated with my teaching partner and mentor teacher to develop engaging and diverse lessons, use various assessment methods, and scaffold student learning. This was an incredible learning experience, and I really enjoyed the opportunities that I had to push myself outside of my comfort zone. I had planned to teach a grade 4/5 class in Yellowknife, NWT for my second practicum, but was unfortunately unable to do so in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2021, I had the opportunity to complete my final practicum in the remote Indigenous community of Kyuquot, located on the North West coast of Vancouver Island. I taught grade 1/2/3/4 at Kyuquot Elementary Secondary School. This practicum experience challenged me to differentiate my practice to meet the diverse needs that are found in a multi-grade, mixed-ability classroom. I really appreciated the challenge, as it has helped me to stretch and grow my teaching practice by utilizing new teaching strategies and supports. I also focused on implementing elements of choice into student-focused learning and using a trauma-informed lens to cultivate a safe and supportive learning environment.

I returned to China for the 2021/2022 school year to teach Grade 5 in Dalian at the Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals School in KaiFaQu. I really appreciated the opportunity to return to the same city and school system, and I had a fantastic year with my Grade 5 class.

I have a strong belief in an inclusive education system that promotes equitable learning opportunities for all students. I have a great enthusiasm for lifelong learning, and I believe that education should occur throughout a variety of environments. Various learning styles should be embraced in the classroom with an understanding that children learn in diverse ways. Each child is a unique individual that needs a secure, caring and stimulating environment in which to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. As an educator, it is vital to me that I remain receptive to any suggestions and critiques that will help my educational philosophy to grow and develop.