After 20 years in legal communications, Ksenija Vītola switches to teaching
Ksenija Vītola, former head of the Ministry of Justice communications department, is changing careers after nearly two decades to become a teacher at Salaspils 1st Secondary School through the "Mācītspēks" programme.
Latvian schools still face a shortage of teachers, especially in exact sciences, languages and technology. Some vacancies are being filled by people who enter the teaching profession after working for years in other sectors. One pathway is the "Mācītspēks" programme, which combines pedagogy studies with school work from the very first year.
This autumn Ksenija Vītola has chosen this route. For almost 20 years her professional life was linked to communications within the justice system. She led the Ministry of Justice's communications department for a decade and also worked at the Prison Administration, the State Data Inspectorate and the Constitutional Court. She began her career at the Administrative District Court as an assistant to the court chairperson.
In September, Vītola will face a classroom for the first time at Salaspils 1st Secondary School, teaching Latvian language and literature to students in grades 7 and 8.
The decision to change professions did not come suddenly. Vītola had previously worked with children and young people in interest education before joining the justice system. "It was exactly in working with young people that I realised I really have the ability to teach," she says. This experience prompted her to apply for the "Mācītspēks" programme.
Delfi spoke with Vītola about why she decided to become a teacher after such a long career in another field and what expectations she has for her first school year.
