While many students pursue a degree in Education with the goal of teaching in the classroom, Miles Gargaritano (BEd ’15) pursued his degree with the goal of teaching in the workplace. As the Senior Director, Information Technology (IT) Operations at Loopio, a Toronto-based software company that supercharges response management, Miles utilizes what he learned in York’s Technological Education program to educate employees on how to integrate new information technology.
“I work in IT because I love to support people,” says Miles. “In an IT role, you need to have a passion to teach users how to navigate IT problems.”
It was this passion that originally led Miles into pursuing a Bachelor of Education degree. His introduction to York started at Centennial College, where he was completing a technical degree program. Robert Wager (now-retired), course director at York’s Faculty of Education, visited Miles’ class to offer the opportunity to study at York’s new Technological Education program in 2012. The program addressed the need for technical teachers across various industries.
“There was a need to get more technical teachers in the IT industry and there weren’t a lot of teachers that fell in that category at the time,” says Miles. “A few of us from my class registered and we became part of the very first cohort for York’s Technological Education program.”
Miles’ decision to study in the program culminated in an enriching learning experience that he values to this day, and he credits the program for helping him find his footing in the industry as a teacher.
“I was surrounded by a lot of educators and students that helped me find my niche within the education system,” says Miles. “I truly appreciated just how close we were to our course director, Robert Wager. He was in contact with us through the program and beyond. He would always connect us to potential opportunities and roles within education and acted like a mentor at school and after we graduated.”
Miles currently leans on what he learned at York to help him deliver information at the workplace effectively.
“IT can be difficult, but it’s not difficult when you are able to communicate to your team and employees,” says Miles. “The Technological Education program helped me broaden my scope and understand that everyone learns differently. I also learned about the leadership role that you need to play as an educator and how you need to present information effectively.”
In an ever-changing industry, disruptive technology constantly forces IT professionals to adapt, which creates streamlining challenges for educators in the IT workplace.
“With AI coming into the workforce, it’s very hard to introduce a new way of working to everyone,” says Miles. “My educational background has really helped. You’re not just showing someone how to use software, you're teaching someone how to work with a different ‘teammate’.”
As he currently plays the role of a teacher in his industry, Miles understands the need to be an active listener and play the role of a student as well.
“Throughout my career, I’ve always been learning,” says Miles. “One of the reasons I’ve been able to progress in my career, is that I always consider myself a student and I’m always balancing the student-teacher relationship that I have in my mind.”