Bio-Back Ground

Favorite place to relax, Long Beach-Tofino

My name is Shawn Ram and I am currently a Special Education Teacher at Connections for Learning. The program I teach in is a partnership with Bosco Homes, and our school is an offsite school in Parkland County, Alberta. The students within my school range between the grades of K-6, with a specific focus on students with severe behavioral, emotional and psychological concerns. Most of the students within our school have specific DISM-IV coding. 

I feel strongly, that educators including myself should use the most appropriate methods to engage students, and I am always receptive to informed decisions and ideas when discussing the “best practices” to ensure student success. I believe that all individuals can impart knowledge based on their understanding and expertise. This drives my own thirst for knowledge, with the belief that knowledge, understanding and interpretation, combined with objectivity improves the ability to facilitate and influence learning. 

I am a passionate and self assured individual, which is easily apparent in persona and within my teaching. It is my opinion that to be a successful educator, as individuals we should not only be innovative but also flexible, therefore constantly learning and attempting to apply what we have learned. My greatest example of this is transitioning from teaching high school students to teaching Early Years and Elementary students. This highlighted some of my other qualities such as adaptability, reflection, open mindedness and willingness to learn. 

In addition to many of the qualities that I have listed above, I believe that leading a stimulating lifestyle, while being committed in all aspects of life are excellent individual characteristics. This is very evident in my personal life, where if I am not working at Alberta Health Services, I am either working out, spending time with family or friends or my participating in my most favorite activity, spending time with my wife. 

Currently, my educational aspirations are to get into administration and leadership, with the future goal of becoming a Principal. I however, hold close the belief that to be an effective leader you must not allow others to lead with you, but that to always be informed you need to, as best as possible keep one foot in the classroom. I am also a strong advocate for the idea that progression occurs as mastery of skills occurs, which to me translates that once I have participated and learned the multiple aspects of one level of administration than personally I will be ready to move on to the next. 

I am from Edmonton, Alberta, even though my parents are originally from the Fiji Islands, in the South Pacific. I would interpret that my ability to influence people even exists within my family, as I am the eldest if three siblings all of whom are teachers. This does make for some interesting conversations during family functions.