ENGAGE . INSPIRE . CONNECT
Welcome to REiL Learning with Katy Bigsby
Newly revised social emotional learning & proactive strategies e-learning sessions available through BC Recreation & Parks Association
Visit elearn.bcrpa.bc.ca for more information
Looking to integrate social emotional learning skills and creatively engage with the children and youth you work with?
REiL Learning is an educational consultancy supporting school, out of school, and community organizations that work with kids and youth in education, out-of-school, and recreation programs.
Through our well received workshops and tailored consulting engagements, we help school districts, schools, post-secondary institutions, recreation and community organizations design and deliver meaningful learning for all learners, particularly learners with notable social, emotional, and behavioral needs.
REiL Learning is a play on words for what is "real" infusing imagination and creativity into the experience of learning.
Featured in the BC Alternate Education Association newsletter
Vol 33, No. 2, Fall 2022
Featured on the podcast
S3E04 - Getting Engaged: Creating
Engaging Learning Environments for All
Visit the website.
Listen on: Spotify, Apple, or Google Podcasts
SERVICES
PROJECTS
Past educational consulting projects. Click images for more information.
CLIENTS
ABOUT KATY BIGSBY
Katy is the founder of REiL Learning, an educational consultancy that supports organizations integrate social emotional learning and build creative ways to engage all learners, particularly those with notable social, emotional, and behavioral needs.
Katy holds a master’s degree in educational leadership, specializing in adult education and brings a wealth of experience as a teacher, counsellor, adult educator, and sessional instructor at Vancouver Island University.
When Katy is not co-creating learning opportunities and trainings, she loves walking or biking on the Galloping Goose trail, spending time in her garden, reading, singing, and sitting by the fire in winter with family and friends or sipping a spritzy drink on her back deck in the summer.
We acknowledge and respect the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples on whose traditional territory we work and the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.
TESTIMONIALS
It was such a pleasure partnering with Katy at REiL Learning. From the beginning of our planning time together, Katy listened deeply and thoughtfully as she tailored a workshop for over 40 adult learners that work with kids and youth in education, out of school, and recreation programs. Her presentation was fun, engaging and responsive. The participants were so impressed by her knowledge and expertise and walked away feeling informed and inspired. I look forward to working with Katy again soon!
Sheri Brattston
Managing Director, Community Education
Burnaby School District
Working in partnership with Katy is a truly collaborative experience. Katy is responsive, respectful, and always maintains the learner at the heart of her work. The passion Katy shows through her work and modelling of being a teacher-learner is always present. Results are reflective of the desired outcomes and inclusive of diverse perspectives and ways of knowing. I always look forward to collaborations with Katy.
Christine Macer
Education Programs Manager
Katy Bigsby uses a Social-Emotional Framework to facilitate change with rapport and thoughtful intention. Her unique background in Education and Social Work lends itself to a creative and collaborative approach to increasing engagement in formal and informal education programs. Through her interactive approach, participants are given the opportunity to reflect on their practice and receive feedback in a safe and supportive environment. Katy models how self-care is foundational to fostering environments where youth feel valued and cared for. She provides relevant strategies and up-to-date research with immediate takeaways. Katy is knowledgeable, kind, professional and enthusiastic- I highly recommend her workshops for anyone working with youth and/or young adults.
Alex Inglis,
Health Promoting Schools Coordinator
School District 73 (Kamloops-Thompson)
I love the work of Katy Bigsby! Empowering facilitators to lead and empower students… important, powerful and hugely effective work.
As someone who works a lot with young people, I have been personally impacted and ‘upskilled' through participating in Katy’s training. Learning strategies to engage young people, in a respectful and meaningful way that thoughtfully enhances their lives was a great benefit to me!
And Katy’s effervescent style of imparting creative and practical strategies to facilitators and teachers makes the training and working with her a real delight. I can’t recommend her highly enough!"
Daniel Duggan,
Executive at Rhythm Resource Inc
I had the pleasure of first working with Katy through her role with the After School Sports and Arts Initiative that brought her to the rural communities of Haida Gwaii where my programs operated. She quickly understood the reality of our situation and was very supportive in advocating for changes that enhanced our programs. In following years, she continued to support me and my staff with program design and strategies for challenging behaviour through her consulting work. Her webinars became a staple training tool for all program facilitators. Katy was always a joy to connect with and encouraged me to better the programs as I envisioned them. Her care and understanding mixed with her creativity, passion for children’s well-being and informal learning made her a fantastic mentor.
Mariel McLeod
ASSAI coordinator 2017-2021
Haida Gwaii, BC
Katy was a critical support to our work with the After School Sport and Arts Initiative (ASSAI) and we deeply valued and appreciated her professional and excellent guidance and management of our project. We will miss Katy's sense of humour, intellect and contagious positive energy.
Sheila Wilson
ASSAI Coordinator
School District 46 (Sunshine Coast)
I have worked with Katy for several years and have found her compassion, empathy, and enthusiasm for
facilitating positive engagement for ALL learners encouraging and inspiring.
The Tillicum community program staff were fortunate to participate during the research and development process of the REIL Model while Katy was working on her Master’s degree at the University of Victoria. We continue to practice the tenants of this model: building rapport, encouraging learning through authentic engagement, fostering imagination and creativity as it evolves organically, and meeting our learners where ever they are. The REIL Model provides a concrete foundation to truly connect with learners where ever they are, and encourage growth and development in the best and most effective way possible for each learner from their own unique place.
Many of the after-school staff work as Educational Assistants at Tillicum as well. After their experience
working with Katy they suggested she present her Pro-Active Strategies for Challenging Behavior webinar for our in-school Professional Development in the fall of 2020 to teachers and support staff. That presentation was well received and stimulated much discussion, thought, and collaboration amongst staff. It has been particularly grounding and effective as we navigate the challenges of COVID.
Thank you, Katy!
Dianne Dennis, Program Coordinator
Tillicum Community School
Greater Victoria School District 61