Marylin Raymond 2013

Marilyn’s dynamic teaching career began with her employment at Okanagan College in 1983.

Marilyn Raymond’s participation in the development of ASE has been extensive, at both OC and at the provincial level. Initially Marilyn focused on program development at OC, at this time the new department had no course descriptions, no course outlines or suggested resources. Marilyn took a leadership role in developing these materials. She began building a solid foundation through the use of grants and her own initiative to create curriculum and materials in literacy units, math units, poetry units and Human Relation units all of which she shared with her colleagues. It seems strange now but it was an important step forward when ASE course descriptions were included in the College calendar.

Marilyn’s innovative ideas are obvious in the inclusive course guidelines; designed to accommodate as many diverse students’ needs as possible while providing the opportunity for students to learn to the best of their ability. Another example of her resourcefulness is her use  of APSD funding which ensures access to education for students with additional physical barriers.

She led the movement to integrate ASE students into regular OC classrooms, so students with cognitive disabilities would be able to further develop their vocational and educational goals through trades and other certificates programs. This initiative required expert communication skills, diplomacy, persistence, assertiveness and sometimes calmness under fire. She supported both the instructors and the ASE students who were in those integrated programs.

Later Marilyn foresaw the need to keep up with trends; as a result she recently initiated and supported new course and program ideas for our students. She guided the department in creating 2 inclusive certificate programs and 3 additional ASE certificate programs. Now ASE students have the right to graduate and the honour of participating in the convocation ceremonies which Marilyn proudly attended to celebrate with ASE grads and their families.

In addition to Marilyn’s long list of achievements is the number of committees where she has worked to represent ASE and OC.

• Curriculum Proposal Review Committee – AFP
• DRN – Disability Resource Network
• Developmental Deans and Directors of Education as requested by AFP Dean
• ASE Articulation Committee
• ASE Program Review Committee – 2007 (Provincial)
• ASE Advisory Committees
• Education Council
• Education Council Nominating Committee
• FACE Leadership Committee
• Curriculum Committee
• Planning, Priorities and Development Committee
• The Diversity Team -produced a paper about Human Rights and diversity issues at OUC
• Disruptive/Violent Behavior -developed guidelines for dealing with violence and disruption
• Supported Inclusion – Chair of an internal OUC committee with representatives from all areas which focused on the development of our SAME Program (Supported Access to Modified Education) and the Inclusion Policy which has since been approved by Education Council
• ASE Best Practices – Institutional practices related to persons with disabilities
• Disability Services Advisory Committee

Marilyn’s participation at the provincial level, to support the education of ASE students is

evident in her document on the Provincial Initiatives for Inclusion. While she wrote material for Okanagan College, she was also active at the provincial level and wrote important studies for the Ministry of Advanced Education including: Critical Literacy: Empowering Students with Cognitive Disabilities.

• Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology and the Centre for Curriculum, Transfer and Technology, 1999
• Supported Inclusion: A Curriculum Modification Guide for Making Post-Secondary Curriculum Accessible for Students with Cognitive Disabilities
• Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology and the Centre for Curriculum, Transfer and Technology, 1999
• Adult Special Education Assessment Course Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology and the Centre for Curriculum, Transfer and Technology, 1994
• Adult Special Education Educational Research and Needs Assessment Project
• Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology and the Centre for Curriculum, Transfer and Technology, 1992

Throughout Marilyn’s dynamic career her teaching has been based on the educational principles of inclusive education and to support students’ individual learning needs. These principles are the comer stones of Marilyn’s classroom teaching and are established in the departments’ beliefs in student centeredness. This begins with each individual student participating in intake interview to assess their learning needs, a process designed and updated by Marilyn to pave the way for greater student success. This belief follows through to her classroom where students are set up to do their very best because her clear instructions and engaging materials take into consideration the level of competency of every student, their learning needs, and their interests.

Her passion for creative writing is obvious in her love for teaching literacy, from the materials she uses in the classroom to help each students experience the thrill of creative writing to their delight as they share their stories and poetry. We see her interest in her own continued learning as she tries new and innovative technology in the classroom. Students benefit from her willingness and flexibility as she incorporates new materials and approaches to her classroom strategies in the field of adult learning.

As chair, Marilyn’s leadership has been evident in her ability to support ASE personnel and facilitate department development, harmony and mutual respect. She has always been availably to provide input, help us resolve an issue or question, whether it is about students, teaching strategies, the department, or something personal. She was always able to support us with our unique and sometimes complicated needs and requests. She supports our exploration of new initiatives, whether it’s a new course idea, like Science; writing a history book for our students; creating a brochure for employers or planning a special event for our students.

She encourages us by example to collaborate and share our resources and knowledge internally, and facilitates our participation in professional development activities provincially and globally. In the past she organized annual retreats for the ASE Department where the instructors shared work they had developed and she facilitated discussions.

Marilyn, as chairperson has demonstrated honesty in her interactions with associate deans, portfolio deans and campus deans. We have depended on her extensive working knowledge and vision to guide us through the maze of policies, procedures and plans as challenges arise and changes occur. She has been sincere and open in her communication, seeking clarification and getting all the information needed, without assuming. ASE is in the forefront of Okanagan College’s growth and development because Marilyn makes sure we are known to the Okanagan College Leadership Team as well as Deans and Directors. Her goal is to keep ASE moving forward, pushing the envelope while maintaining positive working relationships with co-workers and the administration.

Marilyn has built a foundation of collaboration between ASE, other OC departments and community agencies. Our students have benefited from being included in other OC departments such as Trades, ESL or Continuing Studies as they further their studies. Marilyn encourages us to partner with community agencies, such as Community Living B.C. and Canadian Mental Health. She supports ASE in partnering with groups like the Kelowna Art Gallery and Shuswap Writer’s Festival.

She has transformed the lives of hundreds of students who have attended ASE at OC in the last 30 years by empowering them through literacy and learning to live more independently, to have relationships and seek careers. Through her leadership, Marilyn has transformed the lives of the instructors and liaisons in the ASE Department. Marilyn’s dedication to teaching students with diverse-abilities and as an advocate has shaped ASE at Okanagan College and its four communities. The Dean’s Report (2013) states that “the ASE Department is well regarded at Okanagan College” and this could not be entirely possible without the strong leadership abilities and professionalism that Marilyn delivers.