b'Teacher as LearnerCharlenes story as told to Shannon Timlick, Divisional Learning Team MemberCharlene (she/her) always knew she wanted to work in theIm a teacher and a learner in all areas.school system, and apart from a few years of teaching in Ontario, she has been a teacher in LRSD since 2005. Charlene gainedCharlene is proud that LRSD is doing a better job of giving knowledge and training in a multi-age environment, quicklyeveryone around the table an equal voice. She is happy realizing that schools needed to improve inclusion practices. Asparents voices are as important as administrators or teachers. a result, Charlene focused on differentiation and inclusion in herOur conversations about students with learning differencespost-baccalaureate courses. are more often about what a child can do than the barriers the child faces.Charlene is the Louis Riel Teachers Association Equity and Social Justice chair. She has spent 15 years with the ManitobaWhen asked, Where do we go from here? Charlene answers Association of Multi-Age Educators and participates in LRSDthat we need to look at the Individualized Programming working groups looking at diversity issues in policy.model. We need the feeling of inclusion and belonging to take precedence. Kids need to be in classrooms more often in an It took me a long time to get here, but I think my voice and skillsauthentic way. We need to find the pull in the room, and that bring value, she said.pull is usually their friends.Charlene contributes to feelings of belonging in her role byCharlene acknowledges academics are important but notes that making small but significant changes. Examples includeif we are not valuing kids for who they are and what they are substituting child for son/daughter in letters to families,bringing to the table, they will not reach their full potential in the looking at her class library and asking, Do I have books thatfuture we are supposed to be preparing them for.reflect the kids in my room and their core or extended family? and taking time to get to know her students, who they are and what they celebrate.14'