Episode 48: A Conversation About Mentoring in Early Childhood Education with Kerry Drake

In this episode, ASCY’s Paola Hohenadel and Leslie Busija chat with Kerry Drake from Mohawk College about the valuable experience of mentoring ECE students during their placements in early childhood education programs.

Kerry is a Registered Early Childhood Educator and a Post-Secondary Professor at Mohawk College and McMaster University with a Masters of Education in Curriculum Studies and Leadership. As a Registered Early Childhood Educator, Kerry has had experience working with all age groups in child care centres, full day kindergarten classrooms, and before and after school programs, and still supplies occasionally to stay current in her practice. Altogether, Kerry has over 18 years of experience between the front-line field and post secondary settings.

Kerry is passionate about mentorship and the role that it plays in the future of our profession.

As a professor, Kerry creates student focused, innovative and inclusive classrooms that are delivered through a lens of diversity and equity

She challenges others to dive deeper into their understanding of children’s behaviours, to advocate for the field of early childhood education, and to build strong and authentic relationships. Kerry actively promotes being a reflective practitioner and motivates her students to become leaders in the field by engaging in life-long learners and by developing their ability to have compassion for others lived experiences.

The Mohawk College ECE Mentor Placement Support Hub https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/mohawkcollegeecefieldplacementpracticumsupporthub/ 

The general email for Field Placement Specialist (FPS) : earlychildhoodeducation@mohawkcollege.ca