Joey McDowell (third from right) is joined by students and a colleague at The W.D. Sutton School at Vanier Children's Mental Wellness.
Providing a ray of sunshine through special education
It wasn’t until her mid 30s that Joey McDowell, BEd ’99, caught the teaching bug.
Up until then, McDowell had spent much of her adult life working in business alongside her husband.
When their son was old enough to attend school, McDowell would often volunteer there while he was in class. She always found herself curious about the kids who were sent to the office.
“I just thought what’s up with these kids and how can we do things differently?” McDowell said.
“It always broke my heart.”
Determined to answer the question herself, McDowell set herself on a path to the Faculty of Education, but getting there would be far from easy.
First, she needed to upgrade her Grade 12 math credentials. Second, she needed an undergraduate degree.
As a mature student, night school would have been the usual option, but this clashed with her schedule, so she convinced administrators at H.B. Beal Secondary School to take her in.
“I went to math class at 8:30 in the morning with all the other Grade 12 students. The teacher was a little nervous and I think the kids thought I was a narc or something,” McDowell joked.
“While I was doing that, I started university.”
Despite the busy schedule, McDowell excelled at Western, and even won the university’s Angela Armitt Gold Medal, which is awarded to the part-time student with the highest average in any undergraduate program.
Four years later, McDowell was accepted into Western’s Bachelor of Education (BEd) program.
Reaffirming a passion for special education
Joey McDowell, BEd' 99.
During her BEd, McDowell focused on special education and received a teaching placement at The W.D. Sutton School, a treatment classroom for students operated by Vanier Children’s Mental Wellness.
McDowell has fond memories of her practicum experiences, adding that she’s still close with an associate teacher who supervised her.
Immediately after graduation, McDowell began working full-time at W.D. Sutton and was finally serving the children she sought out to help all those years ago.
“I was really, really lucky in getting that job at Vanier because we had a lot of incredible training,” McDowell said.
“Our executive director was Barrie Evans. He brought in some highly acclaimed people — Bruce Perry, Ross Greene — I was very fortunate under his direction.”
At W.D. Sutton, McDowell’s students ranged from Grade 1 to Grade 6. While she admits the job had its challenges, McDowell says she loved every minute.
“I just adored them. I felt like I was a little ray of sunshine in their otherwise not so perfect lives,” McDowell said.
“I really enjoyed my time there. I learned a lot from those kids.”
The next chapters of McDowell’s career saw her teach Grade 3 classes and Grade 4 classes at Princess Elizabeth Public School and Lord Elgin Public School. .
She spent the tail end of her career working as a Learning Coordinator for Special Education at the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB).
“Everywhere I was, I enjoyed it, but I think being a Learning Coordinator for Special Education is probably the role that I feel most proud of,” she added.
Supporting the Mary J. Wright Child & Youth Development Clinic
McDowell stays connected to the Faculty of Education through her support of its Mary J. Wright Child and Youth Development Clinic (MJW-CYDC).
The Clinic is headed by Dr. Colin King, an Associate Professor with the Faculty of Education and a former colleague of McDowell’s from her time at TVDSB.
“There were often projects that we collaborated on, worked together on, and I had so much respect for Colin. He was remarkable,” McDowell said.
Functioning as both a research centre and a community clinic, the MJW-CYDC works by helping local children and families all while training the next generation of mental health professionals.
Through the Clinic, graduate students in Western’s School and Applied Child Psychology program under the supervision of licensed child psychologists provide high-quality and affordable psychological consultation, assessment, and treatment services to children and youth from three to 18 years of age.
For McDowell, the MJW-CYDC’s biggest strength is its ability to provide assessments, something that many families are unable to receive due to a variety of reasons, including financial barriers or lengthy waitlists.
“With these assessments, teachers can program students exactly where they’re at. Whether the child needs accommodations or modifications, assessments drive those factors,” McDowell added.
“The Clinic also provides workshops for parents and families to help them understand how best to support their children at home. I know how critical that work is.”
McDowell is now providing ongoing support to the MJW-CYDC through the Faculty of Education’s newly established Dean’s Transformational Leaders Circle.
Entrance into the Dean’s Transformational Leaders Circle requires an ongoing monthly gift of $50. Donors have the option to direct their gift to specific areas within the Faculty, such as the MJW-CYDC.
Leaders within the Circle receive special recognition from the Faculty, as well as exclusive invitations to special lectures and events hosted by Dean Donna Kotsopoulos.
“I think that this is a way to provide support that is doable for some people. I like the monthly contribution,” McDowell added.
Learning from those around you
When asked what advice she would give to aspiring teachers hoping to follow in her footsteps, McDowell has two words: “Be open.”
“Be willing to roll up your sleeves and just learn from the people who you are fortunate enough to work with,” McDowell said.
It’s a mindset that McDowell remembers putting into practice during one of her first practicum experiences, when she was a 41-year-old student working under the supervision of a teacher in his late twenties.
“I had life experience, I had parenting experience, and I was very comfortable in the classroom, but I learned so much from him about teaching,” McDowell said.
It’s equally important, McDowell says, to remember that the greatest lessons can come from those you’re teaching.
“Just be open to learning and really take your cues from your students,” she added.
“They lead you. They take you where you need to go.”
