Toby (left) and Bernadine (right) Boulet look to establish a new fund to support rural student teachers. (Photo: University of Lethbridge)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge couple creating fund to support rural student teachers, donations needed

Nov 25, 2024 | 11:55 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A pair of retired teachers looks to do their part to support the next generation of educators.

Toby and Bernadine Boulet hope to get Paving Roads to Success off of the ground. It is a fundraising initiative at the University of Lethbridge that would help third-year student teachers who are pursuing rural placements.

The two have more than 60 years of combined teaching experience. Toby says he taught for many years in Lethbridge and says we need student teachers.

“They are a massive part of our community, and we recognize that students in rural placements need help financially because they’re paying additional expenses,” says Toby Boulet. “Supporting our future teachers benefits everyone and we feel as though we have a responsibility to help. It’s what communities do, support each other.”

On the website for the initiative, it says many student teachers in rural communities struggle to face additional financial pressures.

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• 70% struggle to cover additional costs like travel and living expenses.
• 39% say growing financial obligations have affected their grades.
• There is a projected 37% decline in Alberta teachers in the next three years. The greatest impacts will be felt in rural communities.

Assistant Dean of Field Experiences Doug Checkley says rural student placements have positive impacts on those communities.

“When students spend a full 16-week practicum in a smaller community, the chances of them looking for employment there greatly increases,” says Checkley. “It’s a win for the students and a win for our rural partners who we are hoping to support in finding new teachers for their communities.”

Paving Roads to Success seeks to raise a total of $75,000 to establish the fund. Once operational, it would provide $1,000 bursaries to U of L Faculty of Education students who are completing rural placements.

More details on the fundraising program can be found on the U of L’s website.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now

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