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Shawnigan Lake School invites graduates to join its Teaching Internship Programme for the 2026/2027 year. Interns will teach, co-teach, develop curriculum, cover absences and engage in cocurricular activities while residing on campus.
Successful candidates gain classroom experience in a boarding-school community, with a school-year salary of 29,524 CAD, single-occupancy room and board, and health and dental benefits. A second year fellowship is possible by invitation.
Shawnigan Lake School is a leading independent co-educational boarding school for ages 12-18 (grades 8-12) on Canada’s beautiful west coast. Our world-class facilities situated on a stunning 270-acre campus include ten boarding houses, a theatre, film lab, an observatory, salmon hatchery, rowing crew house on the lake, dance studio, state of the art learning commons and library, recording studio, and robotics lab. Our diverse, inter-disciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
Shawnigan Lake School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff (and volunteers) to share this commitment. Candidates will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with previous employers and a vulnerable sectorcriminal record check.
Shawnigan Lake School is committed to the development of new teachers and is looking for dynamic Teaching Interns to begin work at the start of the 2026/2027 school year.
The Shawnigan Teaching Internship Program is an exciting opportunity for graduates considering a career in education. Teaching Internships are offered annually on a one-school-year basis to recent university graduates and has been designed to provide aspiring teachers with the support and training they need to become exceptional practitioners both in and outside of the classroom.
Successful candidates will have the opportunity to teach, co-teach, learn from experienced colleagues, develop curriculum, cover during absences, and engage in our vibrant cocurricular programs. They will also enjoy the many exciting opportunities that a boarding school provides while residing on campus and engaging fully in the program and community. The experience and learning that will be gained from Shawnigan’s unique community and immersive boarding environment will prepare any new teacher for their career ahead.
Teaching Interns receive a salary for the school-year contract ($29,524 for Sept 2025-June 2026 school year rate), single occupancy room and board, as well as health and dental benefits.
While Teaching Internships are one school year in length, there is an option to extend for a second year at the invitation of the Head of School and Head of Academics and Leadership Development. The second year takes the form of a Founder’s Fellowship with the trainee teacher invited to takeon study for teacher training or a BC Independent School Certification. The aim is to offer oursecond year trainee teachers the further opportunity to develop their teaching craft andreflect on their professional experiences through a structured program of training, and tosupport them in becoming excellent practitioners.
Many of our Teaching Interns go on to complete their formal training qualifications.
As a Teaching Intern you will:
Shawnigan will offer:
Ellen Orchard, with degrees from Trinity College Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast andpreviously a member of our Teaching Intern team and English Department, writes of herexperience:
'I came to Shawnigan knowing that I was interested in teaching but was unsure if I wanted topursue teacher training. I'm so grateful to have been given classroom experience this yearbecause it has solidified what I only previously suspected: that I love teaching. As a TeachingIntern, you will substitute teach in multiple departments, but will have one department thatyou are more closely affiliated with. I've been lucky enough to be a co-teacher in the Englishdepartment, helping design units, give lessons and mark assessments for our AP Literatureclasses. As this role also involves acting as a Residential Assistant in a boarding house, youwill get to know a lot of your students very well outside of the classroom, which makes theteaching all the more enjoyable.'
Positions usually start at the start of the academic year but we welcome applications throughout the year.
We express our appreciation to all applicants for their interest in this position, however only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Shawnigan Lake School is an equal opportunity employer committed to establishing an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment for all. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or any other basis protected by applicable law.