About

My name is Courtney Ridgway (nee Bailey), and I am currently a Full-Day Early Learning Kindergarten teacher with Trillium Lakelands District School Board. Even though I have taught everything from Kindergarten to Grade 8 over the course of my career, I find that I am drawn Kindergarten.

Maybe it is the fact that I have a hand in creating a lifelong love of learning for our youngest learners or that I am blown away by their natural curiosity on a daily basis that keeps me coming back day after day. It could even be that I am inspired by the innocent, and often hilarious, things they say that make me laugh on a regular basis. Anyway you look at it, I find Kindergarten students to be a powerful source of energy that I enjoy working with everyday.

Originally from the tiny hamlet of Oakwood, Ontario, I am the oldest of three and consider myself extremely blessed to have an amazing younger brother, sister and two incredible parents who support me in everything I do. Having grown up with small business owners (that's us...the first business listed in the Oakwood Photo Gallery section!) as parents, I feel that our parents were able to model and reiterate the fact that you need to work hard and be prepared for whatever life throws your way. For this, I am grateful as they have taught me that having a strong work ethic pays off and that by treating others the way you would like to be treated goes a long way.

In addition to these fantastic people, I also have my husband Jamie in my life to support and encourage me as well. Recently married, we hope to one day start our own little family, in addition to George my miniature Dachshund, and create a new generation of lifelong learners. A mechanic by trade, Jamie currently builds armoured vehicles, but many consider him a wealth of knowledge for all things vehicle related. Even though I know very minimal about vehicles myself, I am extremely proud of him and all that he can do.