Katie Kruger

Katie Kruger, Grade 3 Teacher
 
Personal Profile
I grew up in North Vancouver, BC where I attended Boundary Elementary School. I graduated from Mulgrave School in West Vancouver with an IB diploma. In 2011 I completed the Counselor in Training Program at Camp Qwanoes, which is where I met my husband, Dylan. During my time at UBC, I lived in Vancouver and attended Dunbar Heights Baptist Church, where I enjoyed singing on the worship team. My husband and I now live in Tsawwassen, and are members at South Delta Baptist Church.
 
Professional Profile
I earned my Bachelor of Education and my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of British Columbia. I have also spent a number of summers working as a Senior Counselor at Camp Qwanoes on Vancouver Island. My time working at Qwanoes helped me to discover my love of teaching and mentorship, and instilled in me a passion for Camp Ministry.
 
Philosophical Profile
For me, the purpose of Christian Education is to prepare children for life in Christ. It is acknowledging the sovereignty and lordship of God over all things, and creating a safe and nurturing environment where children can grow in their faith and personal relationship with Christ. At the core of my teaching philosophy and practice, I want to foster a positive classroom environment that has a strong emphasis on the major tenets of social emotional learning (SEL), that being self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Most importantly I hope to model, encourage, and develop empathy in my students. The Bible calls us to love one another as Christ has loved us (John 15:12). Furthermore, it says to “be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). In my teaching practice I intentionally choose resources and activities designed to spark genuine empathy and perspective taking. I believe that specific attention to this ultimately benefits the whole child and their relationships, and that this is something God intended. Promoting an SEL classroom is ultimately about creating environments for learning that are safe and supportive.