Behind KG Education are two passionate educators that grew up in the same small town. Both Devon and Leah were fortunate to be raised in the tiny, rural community of Kenton, MB. They have been best friends and collaborative teaching partners for more than a decade, and their passion for learning, sharing, and mentoring others has only grown stronger. Known by many as the “Kenton Girls”, they are excited to scale up their impact by offering a variety of professional learning opportunities for fellow educators. Learn more here!
Leah Obach
Leah Obach is an educator from rural Manitoba. She has taught early years, middle years and high school, and acted as a technology coach for her school division. She has a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology and Design. Leah is passionate about improving education through strong classroom practice, ongoing professional growth and collaboration with fellow educators. She strives to engage students in meaningful learning experiences, while fostering the development of timeless skills. Leah has been recognized for her commitment to best practices in teaching. She has represented Canada as a Microsoft Innovative Expert Educator and she is proud to now be designated a MIEE Fellow. Leah is the recipient of the 2016 ManACE Educator of the Year Award, the 2012 CDW Canada Teaching with Technology Award and the 2012 Microsoft Partners in Learning Global Forum first runner up award in Extended Learning Beyond the Classroom.
Leah offers presentations and workshops on the following topics:
- Coding & Computational Thinking
- Project-Based Learning
- Creating in the Classroom
- ICT integration
Follow Leah on Twitter @LeahO77 or visit her classroom blog, The Passionate Educator.
Devon Caldwell
Devon Caldwell is a Kindergarten teacher at Oak Lake Community School in Manitoba, Canada. She is also a PhD Candidate in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction (Early Childhood Education) at the University of Victoria. Her research interests focus on technology and young children. Devon is passionate about infusing technology to foster collaboration, inclusion, and innovation among students, teachers, and their local and global communities. In 2009, she graduated from Brandon University with a Master of Education degree in special education. Devon participated in both the 2008 and 2012 Microsoft Partners in Learning Global Forums, and her collaborative project with colleague Leah Obach won first runner up in Extended Learning Beyond the Classroom (2012). In 2014, she attended Microsoft Education Global Forum in Spain, and her Learn-a-thon team received first place in the gender equality category with the project, A New Toy Story. Honours include designation as a Microsoft Innovative Expert Fellow, Canadian Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence, Early Years Teaching Excellence Award from her school division, and ManACE Educator of the Year Award. Recently, Devon worked with a provincial team to revitalize the kindergarten support document, A Time for Learning, A Time for Joy. Devon is an enthusiastic contributor to online professional learning communities and loves mentoring educators and pre-service teachers.
Devon is also a certified hatha yoga teacher who immersed herself in a 200-hour registered yoga teacher training in September 2015. She completed a month-long intensive course in Transformational Hatha Yoga, studying under Michelle Kaminski and Marita Mittag. In 2017, Devon completed a 60-hour yin yoga teacher training with Monica Angelatos in Winnipeg and a 20-hour restorative training with Jules Payne and Jennifer Piercy in Victoria. She shares her passion for yoga by teaching classes at her home studio in Kenton and kids’ and adults’ classes in surrounding communities.
Devon is a frequent presenter at conferences on the following topics:
- play-based learning topics (including literacy, numeracy, and fine motor development through play)
- project/inquiry-based learning
- technology infusion in early years
- yoga and wellness practices for healthy schools, children, and staff members
Follow Devon on Twitter @india0309, Instagram @india0309 @devoncaldwellyoga, Pinterest, and explore her blog at Kindergarten Diva