VIP Education Assistant – Nancy Van Sligtenhorst

Margaret Avenue Senior Public School 

Grade or subject ? Educational Assistant for Grades 7 & 8

Years of experience? 19 years

What inspires you? To see students “getting it”! When they are learning something hard and all of a sudden a light goes on and they understand it.

What is the best thing about being a EA?  I love connecting with and builinding relationships with the students.  Some of the students honestly just need someone to show that they actually are about what they have to say.

What is one of your hidden talents?  A long time ago, almost a lifetime ago, I used to perform as a clown.  Just at small events but it was a lot of fun!

If you could pass on any wisdom to your students, what would you share?  That it gets better! The things that seem really important at age of 12 or 13 will not really influence your life later on.

 As a teacher, what do you consider to be your greatest superpower?   Reading minds – able to anticipate behavious and de-escalate before anything gets out of control.

Please share some interesting facdts about you /  hobbies /  interests.   I love to travel. I have been to many countries and plan on seeing many more! Africa has been my favourite so far in my journeys. The people, the culture, the animals and the outstanding scenry is all amazingly beautiful. I hope that my next big adventure will be somewhere in Asia