The undergrad program prepares graduates to teach trade skills in high schools across Ontario, helping address the growing need for technological education teachers.
York University has stepped up to address the growing demand for qualified technological education teachers, an urgent need identified by the Ontario government.
Since 2017, the university’s faculty of education has offered the bachelor of education (B.Ed.) in technological education (tech ed) program in 10 broad-based areas, helping to fill the critical shortage that is expected to worsen if left unaddressed.
Passion meets purpose
The B.Ed technological education program equips graduates with the skills and knowledge to teach in high schools across the province. It’s also designed to encourage trade professionals to combine their passion for their sector with their desire to teach.
This approach is exactly what attracted Camille and Chadwin Bartley to the program. The couple, who have been partners in life and business for nearly two decades, started their post-secondary education for the first time in fall 2024.
“My decision to become an educator stems from a desire to nurture and encourage young minds to pursue their passions fearlessly. I believe teachers play a pivotal role in shaping the future, and I am eager to take on this responsibility,” said Camille, who has been a hairstylist from the age of 16. She was also instrumental in inspiring Chadwin to pick up the clippers and learn the craft 15 years ago.
A key admission requirement, whether applying for the concurrent or consecutive program, the candidate must have work experience — along with industry licensing where applicable — in one of these areas: communication technology, computer technology, construction technology, green industries, hairstyling and aesthetics, health care, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing technology, technological design or transportation technology.
While the concurrent B.Ed. is offered to York students in a related degree program, the consecutive B.Ed. is open to those like Camille and Chadwin, who meet one of four eligibility criteria in a technology field aligned with the program.
Learning for impactful teaching
Having had the opportunity to work with local high schools and connect with school administrators who encouraged them to pursue teaching, the couple took the leap and joined York.
“Our teacher education will be impactful for students, and it’ll be beneficial for our lives as well,” said Chadwin.
He and Camille are already well-established in the industry, with a clientele that includes celebrities like Toronto Raptors player RJ Barrett. However, their passion is to promote barbering and hairstyling to youth as a skilled trade and a pathway to successful careers.
“I was in the music industry, managing artists, and I thought I could become Camille’s business manager. But it wasn’t practical, since she ended up working more than I did,” recalled Chadwin. Wanting to be an equal partner in every sense, he decided to become a hairstylist, gaining hands-on experience in the beauty industry.
Chadwin became an apprentice with Camille’s employer and eventually became a licensed hairstylist and barber.
“The rest is history. I bought my first clippers for about $300 … eleven months later, we opened up our first salon in downtown Brampton and we’ve been working together ever since.”
In 2018, the couple launched a charitable organization called the Bartley Skills Development Program. Through the charity, they have taught youth across the Greater Toronto Area barbering and hairstyling.
“We started noticing that a lot of students are coming wanting to learn how to do hairdressing and barbering, but it wasn’t provided in their local high schools,” noted Chadwin. “Because I became successful through the skilled trade, I’m now able to impart those skills to those who are interested in learning.”
Confidence in classroom teaching
Camille has a similar view.
“When I’m speaking to students and I see a young person driven towards the beauty industry, it really excites me to pass on the knowledge that I have,” she said. “Because I know how impactful it’s been in my life, and I know what it can do for someone that takes it seriously.”
For Camille and Chadwin, enrolling in the B.Ed technological education program is taking their community work to the next level, as formal teacher education will help them teach larger groups of students in a classroom setting with confidence.
“Though I know hairdressing — and I know it well — I need to learn the aspects of learning how to teach; that is, getting down to the level of a high school student and meeting them where they’re at. We needed this formal training to take the skills that we already have to the next level.”
They are excited about graduating next spring, crossing the convocation stage as their three young children watch their parents achieve what may be their greatest accomplishment yet.
Interested in the B.Ed technological education program?
Register for one of the following information sessions:
For more information please visit www.yorku.ca/edu/bed-tech.
