I am passionate about making education more inclusive and accessible through combining traditional approaches to teaching with contemporary modes of storytelling.

Photo by Jeremy Fokkens, 2023.

Kelsy Norman: Educator, Visual Artist, and Storyteller

I am a Calgary-based educator, visual artist, and storyteller currently working as a secondary Humanities teacher with the Calgary Board of Education.

I had a decade-long career as a graphic designer before pursuing an education degree. I’m a self-taught filmmaker and podcaster who is passionate about using these modern modes of storytelling to make education more inclusive and accessible. My 2018 Calgary history video series was praised for bringing a fresh look to the past, finding a new audience for old stories through the use of online video. My current audio project, Speeding Bullitt: The Life and Films of Steve McQueen, has a growing global audience of over 3,000+ listeners per month, who are classic film fans hungry to learn more about the Hollywood icon through a mode of storytelling that had never before been used to tackle the star: podcasting. I believe that these new ways of storytelling are meant to work together with traditional ways of teaching and learning to remove knowledge barriers, and to create a richer, more valuable educational experience for both students and teachers.

I earned my BEd from the University of Calgary in 2018, my BA in English from the University of Calgary in 2014, and my diploma in Applied Craft from the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design in 2001.

My e-mail address is kjnorman@cbe.ab.ca (school) or kelsynorman@gmail.com (personal).

Teaching

I became a teacher to be a positive force of good in the lives of young people; an empathetic agent of change who can provide guidance and structure in an academic setting. I build strong relationships with students by engaging in meaningful interactions with them, approaching every situation with respect and kindness. I believe in creating an inclusive learning environment, sensitive to the needs of my diverse students, and conducive to rich learning experiences that transcend the classroom.

I received my Bachelor of Education from the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary in 2018. Upon completion of my degree, I was hired by the CBE as a substitute teacher in the spring of 2018, securing a teaching job and a probationary contract that summer. A continuous contract followed the next year, and I obtained my permanent professional teaching certificate in June of 2020.

Teachable Subjects

Over the past five years, I have taught the following secondary school courses:

Grade 7: Social Studies, English Language Arts, Health and Life Skills, Physical Education, and Film Studies

Grade 9: Social Studies, English Language Arts, Health and Life Skills, Art, and Design Thinking

High School: Digital Photography 20 and 30 (practicum)

I enjoy teaching English Language Arts and Social Studies, and my passion and expertise for art, design, filmmaking, and film studies would be beneficial to high school students in a Career and Technology Studies classroom setting, with a focus on courses within Media, Design and Communication Arts, as well as courses within Fine Arts, such as Art and Film Studies.

In the Media

  • Toronto Star Steve McQueen’s “Bullitt” chase scene still remains the best of the best

  • Toronto Star Remembering the legacy of Steve McQueen

  • CBC News Teacher explores Calgary's history through YouTube documentary series

  • CREB Last, but not least

  • Daily Hive Video takes historic dive into some of Calgary's oldest buildings

  • Livewire Calgary filmmaker tackles Lindsay’s Folly in new mini documentary

Various and Sundry

  • Lake Wylie Public Library, Clover, South Carolina Virtual guest speaker for Steve McQueen’s The Sand Pebbles, August 2023 and
    Steve McQueen’s The Great Escape, February 2024

  • St. George Living History Productions Virtual guest lecturer for
    The Steve McQueen Story, July 2022 and The Making of Bullitt, November 2022

  • CDLI Kelsy on Open-Mindedness in Education

  • Village Ice Cream Kelsy, salted caramel

  • Next Big Thing guest speaker, 2019

  • Jane’s Walk Calgary tour guide, 2019

  • Antyx Community Arts volunteer, 2016 - 2018