The Full Story
About ME
Hi! My name is Melissa Steinke.
I am a mother of three, a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, and a friend. I am also a lifelong learner and a passionate educator.
River Valley, Edmonton, Alberta
After a ten-year career in Urban Land Development and the birth of my third child, I stayed at home for several years. It was then that I discovered a profound love and connection to Early Learning and Childcare.
In 2015, I graduated with Distinction from MacEwan University’s Early Learning and Child Care program. My first role as an Early Childhood Educator was at the University lab school, Early Learning at MacEwan (ELM). In 2018 I transitioned to the role of Curriculum Facilitator at Terra Centre for Teen Parents, later advancing to the position of Manager in 2020. That same year, I began facilitating the Flight course (Alberta’s Early Learning and Care Framework) which provided opportunities to explore different teaching methodologies and deepen my pedagogical practice.
I continued my studies, graduating with Distinction from MacEwan’s Bachelor of Applied Human Services Administration program and earning the Dean's Medal for Academic Excellence in 2022. I later graduated with High Distinction from the University of British Columbia's Master of Education in Early Childhood Education. I began my teaching career at NorQuest College in 2022.
My grandmother, Monica Hughes, a science fiction author for youth, significantly inspired me, influencing my love for children’s literature and instilling in me the perseverance to pursue my passions. Her commitment to storytelling shaped my love of children’s literature and instilled in me a belief in perseverance and creative expression.
Outside my professional life, I enjoy spending time in my garden, exploring national and provincial parks, camping, and playing board games with friends and family. I find peace and rejuvenation in the mountains, where I feel most at home.
Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park, British Columbia
Haines, Alaska
RE-FRAMING
WHAT I KNOW
I have become increasingly aware of my Western worldview which influences the value I place on certain ideals, including post-secondary education. This realization pushes me to critically reflect on the Eurocentric dynamics embedded in my environment and to challenge dominant discourses that may unconsciously guide my thinking.
As an educator, I am striving to become more aware of the privileges that have shaped my journey, and the power embedded in my position. This requires an ongoing process of examining my teaching practices, interrogating hidden biases, and fostering inclusive learning spaces.
I recognize the importance of embracing new ways of teaching, knowing, learning, and doing. This includes unveiling hidden curriculums and integrating perspectives that expand beyond those dominantly constructed through white patriarchal constructs. In practice, I am committed to deepening my understanding of diverse philosophies of early learning that reflect the richness of human experiences; to uplifting marginalized voices within my teaching and curriculum design; and to intentionally create spaces for the stories and perspectives that have been otherwise silenced and made invisible (Moss, 2019).