Paul Keery

Name
Paul Keery
Grad Year
1980
Degree
BA
Program
History
Political Science
Role / Title
Teacher
Industry
Social Science, Education & Religion
Organization
MacLachlan College

Q: Briefly describe your current position and responsibilities, including challenges/rewards. How did you go about your job search upon graduating -- what strategies were most successful and why do you think you were hired?

I am currently a teacher. I have been involved in educational administration, focusing on integrating IT into classroom teaching, but now divide my time between teaching and writing. Teaching is an immense challenge, because students and the way they process information changes so rapidly. Keeping up with demographic and technology changes is essential.

Q: List the key positions you have held since graduation, and any post-graduate degrees/diplomas you earned after graduation. If applicable, list any other ways you are involved in your profession or in your community (member of a professional association, involved as a leadership volunteer, etc).

I hold an LL.B. degree, an M.L.I.S. in Information Science, and a B.Ed in Education. I have worked in private business in contract administration. Currently, my focus is on education, and I am an Apple Distinguished Educator, recognized for my ability to integrate IT into the classroom.

Q: What personal characteristics/skills are most important for success in your job/field?

Hard work and the ability to learn new things. The most important thing to learn is to learn how to learn - and to keep up with new methods of learning. One also has to learn to be comfortable speaking in classrooms; my job is to edutain to help students to get involved in their own learning.

Q: During your university career did any key experiences assist you in making your career choices? If yes, how so? (Internships? Extern Program? Volunteering? Student clubs? Summer job? Mentorship?)

Summer jobs were very helpful in teaching me what I did and did NOT want to do. During law school, I found summer internships were very helpful. Before I moved into teaching, I volunteered with a Literacy program in Peel, teaching mentally-challenged adults how to read; that convinced me to go into teaching.

Q: What have been the keys to your success? What advice would you give to students who wish to pursue a similar career path? If you had the chance to plan your studies and your career path again, what would you do differently (if anything)?

Recognizing that a person will do several things in his or her lifetime; the idea of one career for life has gone, because careers vanish quickly under the pressure of constant change. My advice is to learn how to learn, and to try different things until you find what you want to do - and don't be afraid to change if you find yourself doing something you don't want to do!