RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE - CAREY-LEIGH THOMAS

Describe your job in just under four sentences.

We always do things by keeping in mind of our next seven generations to come so by teaching our traditions and culture along with the Ontario curriculum, we are keeping our language and our culture alive and well. I love coming to school everyday and giving my best to each and every student, making them feel special because I know I could be the difference of whether they have a good day or a bad day. It is stressful at times because it isn’t a career/job where it is a 8:30 am – 3:00 pm job where you punch in and punch out, as a teacher, we are always taking our work home with us, preparing for the next day, writing 3 report cards in a school year that are done at home and buying things for the classroom outside of school with our own money. You want each and every child to succeed and all of the hard work that you put into them is all worth it when they get things and you hear, “I did it, I got it right, I understand and this is easy, Miss Thomas!”

Why did you start working in your industry?

Growing up, I had always loved school because I liked to challenge myself at a young age. I want to show students that school is fun and that they are safe and can strive to be whoever they want to be as they grow throughout the years. Also, playing baseball my whole life, I wanted to pass down what I have learned about the game to our younger generations and along the way I found that I really enjoyed teaching them everything that I had learned and experienced in my life time thus far.

What do you enjoy the most about your job? What aspect makes you learn the most while on the job?

When students run up to you to give you a big hug and flash a big smile and say, “HEY, MISS THOMAS!” When students thank you, notice and appreciate all of the hard work that you have put into something or into them on achieving a certain goal of theirs.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I see myself being a teacher who has permanent status and not a contract position. I also see myself playing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on the Sr. Women’s National Team if the Olympics committee allows softball to be put back into the games. Decision will be made this August 2016 whether or not they are allowing it back in.

What does success look like to you?

Success is not an accident. It’s a choice you make everyday to invest in your ability to be successful and reach your full potential. It’s never giving up and that’s a choice you make every day whether to give up or to keep going. It’s setting small goals to get to your big goals. It’s finding a way to make it work, if one way doesn’t work, you find another way, it just depends on how bad you want it. When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful.

What has been the most outstanding moment thus far in your career?

I love being a teacher because I get to see each of my student’s gifts even before they realize them and that’s so rewarding when I am able to help them realize their gifts and how to utilize them.

Do you volunteer? If so, where and why is that important to you?

Yes I volunteer. It is important for me to give back to my community especially when people ask me for help personally because that is what our people are all about, helping one another. I volunteer with an all-native fast-pitch girls team “HU Orange” and any individuals and parents who ask me to help their daughter or sons with softball skills, training or exercising. I also guest speak at special events when asked and help put on clinics. It is important to me because I can share my experiences that I have had with my teams or individuals and offer insight. I want to show them that I believe in them and that if they can see that I can do it, then they most certainly can too and that I can help them get there. I take both my school experiences (Syracuse University Division 1 Softball Team, McMaster University, Brock University) and softball experiences (Syracuse Softball, Jr. and Sr. Women’s National Team) to my volunteer events because I want to show them that the skills and lessons you learn in a sport, you can take that same mentality into school. All the hard work, dedication, work ethic, perseverance and never giving up in sports can easily be geared to how you approach school and becoming what you want to be when you grow up.

Do you have any advice for other Indigenous professionals in Canada?

If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough. Aim to be 1% better every day. Our younger generations are always watching, so be sure to always display being a good role model by always keeping a good mind.

What do you think is the most unique challenge for an Indigenous person in your industries?

The most unique challenge for an Aboriginal person in my industry is the lack of resources. We are always encouraged to teach the Native culture and use the Native language without our classrooms whenever possible but it is difficult to when there is no resources that are curriculum based for each grade level. The resources we do have are far advanced for grades K-3. There is a lot of time preparing your own resources and going out to find them yourself.

What made you interested in joining the Indigenous Professional Association of Canada and why would you encourage others to join?

What had made me interested in joining the Indigenous Professional Association of Canada is because I think any organization that is shining light on our Aboriginal people in not only a positive way to the world but also to give other Aboriginals motivation to want to do the same, I am all for it! I would encourage others because I believe this will help our Aboriginal people to grow because when we unite together, we are strong and this organization is helping our people head in the right direction for success.