Case Study

Olga, 33, came to Canada four years ago. She obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics & Computer Science in Russia. She has been teaching at a high school in Russia for 5 years, and has done 6 years of research in Computer Science. Olga worked in the IT sector for 2 years since she arrived in Canada. Her English is fluent.

Olga was out of the workforce for a year when she came to AAAC. Olga realized that she needed a career change. She believed that her previous credentials and experiences were insufficient and felt she now had to switch to a new career path.

In a one-on-one interview, an AAAC staff analyzed Olga's credentials, experiences, skills and aptitudes. A number of possible Accreditation Action Plans (AAP) were outlined.

Olga's main problem was lack of self-confidence and inability to decide what she wanted to do. Her first AAP included attending a two-week FOCUS workshop for women. Two weeks later, Olga came back with a firm decision: she wanted to be a school teacher again!

Then the AAAC staff developed an AAP for Olga's certification process. As Olga did not have a Bachelor of Education degree from Russia, the AAAC staff suggested an Accreditation of the Teacher's Program. AAAC has helped Olga with the choice and enrollment in the program.

AAAC developed another AAP, which outlined accreditation processes for working as a Tutor of Mathematics, a Teacher Assistant or Camp Instructor. This AAP was designed to improve Olga's employability after the successful completion of the certification.

Olga is now enrolled in the Alternative Teacher Accreditation Program for Teachers with International Experience offered by Queen's University. Olga is volunteering as a Teacher Assistant and working part-time as a Tutor of Mathematics. She is striving for her teaching career in an informed way, and AAAC is sure she will succeed!