Adult Upgrading

Adult Basic Education

student sitting on staircase in the vernon cafeteria

Kelowna Upgrading Instructors

Arthur Bakx

Adult Upgrading - Coordinator
Office: C Building 234A
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4927
AACP instructor Arthur Balcx

I joined OC's Adult Academic & Career Preparation department at KLO in 2012. Instructing courses in Chemistry, Biology and Math, I find most reward in engaging students in meaningful learning and helping them reach their goals. My academic interests include ecology, wildlife tracking, and nature-connected cultures. I am passionate about taking people - students, my children, or anybody else - outside and into the field, facilitating connection with the natural world.

Credentials:
M.Ed, Delft UT Netherlands
M.Sc, Chemical Engineering, Delft UT Netherlands

Barbara Bailey

Adult Upgrading
Office: C Building 275
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4878
AACP instructor Barbara Bailey

I have been with Okanagan College for 22 years, teaching English, Math, and First Nations Studies in the AACP program. I am also a member of Westbank First Nation, and I have held several positions with indigenous institutions.

Credentials:
MA, English, UBC
B.Ed Honours, Simon Fraser University

Cornelia Chang

Adult Upgrading
Office: C Building 285
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4460

Heather Crowe

Adult Upgrading
Office: B Building 216F
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4489
AACP instructor Heather Crowe

I have been teaching for 15 years in the field of Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and ESL. My research in my masters in Education was to understand how teachers belief systems effect instructional choices they make and how leaders can help change teacher's belief systems that are impinging on student's ability to reach their full learning potentials.

Credentials:
M.Ed, Education, University of Calgary
B.Ed, Education, University of Alberta
B.Sc, University of Victoria
TESOL Diploma VCC

Rene Dahms

Adult Upgrading – Literacy Instructor
Office: B Building 216B
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4244
AACP instructor Rene Dahms

I joined Okanagan College in 2004 as an Adult Literacy Instructor and worked initially at the Salmon Arm Campus. I was a founding member of The Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society (LASS) in 2009. I’m a people person so my favourite part of being an Instructor is the connection with my students. The things I love most in my life are my family, my chocolate Lab, Bear, travel, reading and the “pinch-me-I-live-here” moments of residing and working in Kelowna.

Credentials:
B.Ed, Emergent Literacy/Primary Program, University of British Columbia
BA, English and History, Simon Fraser University

Roy Lechner

Adult Upgrading
Office: C Building 234A
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 8233
AACP instructor Roy Lechner

I am an uninvited white settler who lives and works in both Syilx and Secwepemc traditional, never-ceded territories. This is a realization that is still dawning on me. I'm grateful to have been able to live much of my life in these valleys and for opportunities to learn more about the cultures of the First Peoples to live here. I have worked as a teacher in Botswana and in Japan, and has spent time in Germany, the Philippines, and India. I've had the privilege of teaching and learning from immigrants to Canada from many places on this globe.

Credentials:
Teacher's Certificate program, University of Victoria
B.Sc, Mathematics, University of Victoria
BA, Germanic Studies, University of Victoria

Jessica Morcom

Adult Upgrading
Office: B Building 236A
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4936
AACP instructor Jessica Morcom

I have been an instructor the college in AACP (adult education) since 2003. I teach Biology, Chemistry and intermediate math. My main motivator in my work is to see students reach their goals. This may be high school graduation or fulfilling the requirements for post secondary programs. It may take lots of stops and starts but eventually you can get there.

Credentials:
MEd, University of British Columbia Okanagan
BEd, Education, University of Regina

Steve Smith

Adult Upgrading
Office: C Building 255
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4655
Ugrading - Steve Smith

The mind is not a bucket to be filled; it is fuel to be ignited -- Plutarch.

Credentials:
MA, Trinity Western University
B.Ed, Education, University of Toronto
BA, Sociology, University of Guelph

Sofia Sookochoff

Adult Upgrading
Office: C Building 273
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4572
AACP instructor Sofia Sookochoff

I joined Okanagan College at the Kelowna campus in 2008. I teach Math 011, Math 012 and Computer Studies. My professional development interests include using technology-based teaching methods and resources to enhance learning, and researching the different introductory math skills students will require in their future programs. When not teaching, I enjoy skiing and biking with my family, and practicing yoga.

Credentials:
B.Ed, Secondary Mathematics and Science, University of British Columbia Okanagan
B.Sc, Mathematics, University of Northern British Columbia

Bob Vinek

Adult Upgrading
Office: C Building 272B
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4511
AACP instructor Bob Vinek

I earned my Engineering Degree at UBC Vancouver in 1987 and worked as an Engineer for 5 years before changing to teaching. I took my teacher training at UVIC and got my BC Teaching Certificate in 1995. I've been with Okanagan College since 2008, teaching Math & Physics in the Adult Academic & Career Preparation (AACP) Department and I love working with our Adult Students. In my off-time, I enjoy spending time with my dogs, listening to comedy podcasts, watching British crime dramas, and camping.

Credentials:
BAS, Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia
BC Teaching Certificate, University of Victoria

Richard Volk

Adult Upgrading
Office: B Building 211
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4353
AACP instructor Richard Volk

Richard (that/this) is a leacher and a turner.  That believes edgy-cation to be a positive experience that helps one define oneself more sharply.  Alternatively, edge-occasion ideally whets one until soaking or swimming (whichever comes first—and never saturates), but only if one hones the moment. Fo(u)r this, eddy-caters strop learning by being drips. For fun that picks, plucks, and makes trifles with sound spoons.  Words are precious to this.    

Credentials:
MA, English, University of British Columbia
B.Ed, Education, University of British Columbia
BA, English, Okanagan University College

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