A rewarding approach
Arcadia educator recognized for tailored, supportive teaching to students with autism
A tailored approach to teaching is making waves in Arcadia, thanks to Jennifer Surette.
Surette is a resource and learning centre teacher at École Wedgeport, where she offers very specific support to students with academic challenges. including autism. Her approach was recently recognized by Autism Nova Scotia, which awarded her the Sheelagh Nolan Award for Excellence in Teaching.
When she heard in December that she would be receiving the award from Autism Nova Scotia, Surette says she was blown away. She felt flabbergasted at first, then shocked and then honoured to receive the recognition and that a student/parent had nominated her.
“I work within a bubble with my students, doing my own thing, so it’s always nice to be recognized outside of that,” she says.
Surette said she’s grateful that a tailored approach to student support is being recognized.
“It can be hard work, but I’ve found it very rewarding to work with students who are struggling. Resource teaching and a tailored approach are a natural fit for that,” she says.
A fitting plan
Support looks different for each student, as Surette tailors her approach to each individual and their specific needs. Support from the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP) means she can work with students in class or in independent spaces where they are comfortable.
Surette says the objective of this flexible approach is working with each student not so they become dependant on their resource teacher, but rather, are building skills they can use on their own. Surette says collaborating with colleagues, students and their parents help ensure the tailored approach fits.
“Students with autism can have challenges and great strengths in different areas that can be pronounced. We tailor the approach and offer as little support as is required to foster progress, ensuring we have independent skills being built that are studentdriven,” says Surette.
Building lifelong skills
It didn’t take long for Surette to realize she would end up in resource teaching, even if it happened a little sooner than she’d anticipated. She remembers knowing she wanted to teach as soon as preschool.
“As soon as I could conceptualize teaching, I wanted to do it,” she says.
The trade is her dream job but it’s not without its challenges, whether within resource teaching or in group classes. Surette says she welcomes the hard work, particularly when it results in students who experience challenges and learning to work through them.
She feels this approach can be one for all students and the priority needs to be meeting students where they are.
“We work with them to set their own goals,” says Surette. “This method means we can work on what that specific student needs, what makes sense for them and what’s motivating and rewarding for that student.”
Surette says seeing students meeting goals, setting new ones, and meeting these as well is the ultimate reward for both her and the student, who she says is building skills they will use in life moving forward.
“Seeing them do things today they couldn’t do yesterday, seeing how that builds into further skills, whether academic, executive functioning or social skills, is really just hugely rewarding,” she says.