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Teachers have their own extracurricular activities. Some volunteer. Some write books. Others produce podcasts, create art or make music. Here are some endeavours undertaken by your colleagues.
BOOKS
Finding Aloha
In addition to teaching Grade 4, Jennifer Walker is a contemporary young adult and middle grade author. Her newest book, Finding Aloha, was released in February 2022. A fresh fiction, Finding Aloha follows 17-year-old Jess, who moves to Maui in hopes of making a new start only to be confronted with relationship complexities and a difficult choice.
Finding Aloha—as well as Walker’s first book, Within the Folds of a Swan’s Wings—are available on Amazon.
Jennifer Walker
Monsignor Fee Otterson Catholic School, Edmonton
jenwalkerauthor.com
Finch Books
Not My Emergency: The Double Life of a Volunteer Firefighter
For the last 21 years, Ian McLaren has worked to balance his role as a volunteer firefighter, school teacher/principal, husband and father in small-town Alberta. In Not My Emergency, McLaren recounts many of his most memorable calls. At the same time, the book focuses on his dichotomous life—trying to make the difficult transition from “regular life” to emergency scenes and back again while maintaining his sanity. Some of the stories are humorous, a few of them are tragic, and most have elements of both.
Ian McLaren
Eckville Elementary School, Eckville
@jianmclaren
Self-published, available on Amazon
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dawnelle Salant Photography
Dawnelle Salant began her teaching career overseas and was always taking photos of her adventures. Photography became a passion for Salant, with her interest shifting from travel photography to wildlife, landscapes and portraits. In 2019, she opened Dawnelle Salant Photography. Salant’s photography has been published in Landscape Photography Magazine, Ignite Magazine and Iconic Child Magazine.
Dawnelle Salant
St. Isidore School, Calgary
https://www.dawnellesalantphotography.com
TELEVISION
Cooking with Kyssara
A teacher, parent and creator, Anne Mueller set out to write and produce an uplifting, socially conscious, family-friendly program focused on teaching essential life skills. The result? Cooking with Kyssara, a mini-series hosted by Mueller’s 10-year-old daughter Kyssara. The show promotes nutrition, stories and poetry, and local businesses.
Created and directed by Mueller, who has previous broadcasting experience, Cooking with Kyssara has received several accolades—including Best Children’s Short Film at the 2021 Golden Leaf International Film Festival, and Audience Choice and Best Web/TV Series at the 2021 Vegas Movie Awards.
Anne Mueller
Substitute teacher, Edmonton
www.kyssaramueller.com
Now streaming on Telus Optik TV
What’s new with you? If you’d like to make a submission for publication in Who’s Out There?, email a summary (50–75 words) to section editor Lindsay Yakimyshyn at lindsay.yakimyshyn@ata.ab.ca.
