FOS Podcast - Simon's Stories
About the Podcast
Simon’s Stories is a platform for the various individuals within our thriving community of tutors, education professionals, settlement workers, administrators, students, families, and more to share their insights, struggles, experiences and support on the topics of education, diversity, academic practices, kindness, and children’s well-being and development. We strongly believe that these topics are a matter that is best addressed through the hearts of our community united in strength. Join us as our host, Brianna Condilenios, engages in a variety of different engaging and insightful conversations.
Simon’s Stories is brought to you by the Friends of Simon (FOS) Tutoring Program https://www.sfu.ca/fostutor.html that is run out of Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Education. We are a group-based tutoring program that provides literacy and numeracy support to newcomer and struggling students in the Burnaby, Surrey, and Tri-Cities School Districts in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada by employing university students as tutors. All tutors go through professional training provided by SFU Faculty of Education Associates.
Friends of Simon is a non-profit organization that is funded by multiple donors. If you are interested in supporting our work, you can go to https://www.sfu.ca/fostutor/donor_info.html
Podcast Credits
Host: Brianna Condilenios
Cover Art: Grace Han
Friends of Simon Website Manager: Grace Han
Podcast Episodes!
Episode 1:
Grace H. on Her Journey of Becoming an Emerging Educator and FOS Tutor
Sunflowers, drawing competitions, and science experiments.
Join us for our first episode where Grace shares with us her inspiration for becoming a teacher, how she got involved in Friends of Simon, and what has left a lasting impact on her work.
Credits for this episode:
Host: Brianna Condilenios
Guest: Grace Han
Sound Editing: Rea Chatterjee
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Episode 2:
Jaden and Mohammad Discuss Online vs In-Person Tutoring
Technical difficulties, relationship building, human connection, and backpack flinging. How can the format of our program shape the support we can offer to our students? Two of our FOS tutors, Jaden and Mohammad, discuss the challenges and areas of growth that come with tutoring online and in-person for both tutors and students from their experiences.
Credits for this episode:
Host: Brianna Condilenios
Guests: Jaden D. and Mohammad Ziaei
Sound Editing: Rea Chatterjee and Mohammad Ziaei
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Episode 3:
Exploring Vulnerability in Education
Self-doubt, communicating our struggles, and building trust. Does the perfect educator exist? How can we deal with the paradox of giving our best to students while showing them it is okay not to be perfect? Join us as Samantha, one of our tutors, and I dive into a conversation about helping our students thrive through vulnerability.
Credits for this episode:
Host: Brianna Condilenios
Guests: Samantha C.
Sound: Mohammad Ziaei
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Episode 4:
Even when Anna, one of our tutors, was in elementary school, her and her friends could identify which teachers cared and which did not. Today, as an aspiring educator, she recognizes the importance of educators who are wholeheartedly committed to both the academic and personal growth of their students. Furthermore, she recognizes the power of creative problem solving, and finding ways to meaningfully include children from different cultures in the classroom.
Credits for this episode:
Host: Brianna Condilenios
Guests: Anna Jang
Sound: Mohammad Ziaei
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Episode 5:
How Amber’s Interest for Education Grew Into a Passion Through Friends of Simon
Inspiring co-workers, a supportive community, and the collaborative nature of our tutoring approach.As a tutoring program, we focus on how our K-12 students grow - but how do our employees (university students) grow in the process? Listen as Amber, one of our veteran tutors, shares how her experience as a Friends of Simon Tutor in University helped her blossom as an educator with a special passion for teaching.
Credits for this episode:
Host: Brianna Condilenios
Guests: Amber Carrales
Sound Editor: Mohammad Ziaei
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Episode 6:
Eleni Speaks on Mental Health in the Education System
Why is it important to consider the social, emotional, and psychological well-being of our students when we teach them? Eleni fuses her teacher training background and personal experience as a child in school to approach the topic of mental health in the education system. Also, we discuss different strategies and considerations to keep in mind when incorporating mental health in the classroom. Get ready to learn!
Please note: Neither Eleni or Brianna are certified mental health professionals. They are approaching this topic from their backgrounds and experience in the field of Education.
Credits for this Episode:
Host: Brianna Condilenios
Guest: Eleni Papadoulis
Sound Editor: Mohammad Ziaei
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Episode 7:
Empowering Immigrant Youth with Michelle Tong
What factors influence how immigrant youth envision their futures? Michelle Tong has been working in a local school district to support immigrant youth as they adjust to school life in Canada. Today we talk about various challenges that teenage newcomers face from English language learning to various traumatic experiences. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of finding ways to empower immigrant youth so they can reach their goals and dreams.
Please Note: In this episode youth is referred to and defined as individuals that are between the ages of 13-18.
Credits for this Episode
Host: Brianna Condilenios
Guest: Michelle Tong
Sound Editor: Mohammad Ziaei
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Episode 8:
The Value of Education and the Story of Friends of Simon with our Founder, Paul Shaker
What is the value of empathy, human connection and role models in the art of teaching? How does training to be a teacher relate to a career in politics? Former SFU Dean of Education and Friends of Simon Founder, Paul Shaker takes us on a journey through California and North Carolina to share the story of how Friends of Simon came to be. We take a historical, psychological, political, and career-minded dive into how education impacts our society, and what role Friends of Simon tutors play in the equation.
Credits for this Episode:
Host: Brianna Condilenios
Guest: Paul Shaker
Sound Editor: Mohammad Ziaei
Paul Shaker is the founder of Friends of Simon, a Professor Emeritus, and a former SFU Dean of Education.
Learn more about Paul Shaker here:
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Episode 9:
A Professional Journey of Passionate Community Engagement with Trisha Dulku
What are different ways that we can support and engage with the children and youth in our community? Trisha Dulku, former Friends of Simon tutor and former FOS site coordinator, takes us through her education and career journey as a passionate and literacy-focused community advocate. Today we discuss helping children build resiliency skills and confidence skills. Additionally, we talk about the importance of being responsive to how world events have a very real impact on our local communities.
Credits for this Episode:
Host: Brianna Condilenios
Guest: Trisha Dulku
Sound Editor: Mohammad Ziaei
Trisha Dulku is the Strategic Initiatives Manager at United Way British Columbia.
Learn more about Trisha here:
Twitter: Trisha Dulku
Instagram: @OhTrishyFishy
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More episodes will be uploaded soon!