Certification Secrets: 2021 Education Excellence Award Recipient Stacey Gerrish on the REAL Job of Teaching Skiing
The “Certification Secrets” series features top instructors, examiners, and PSIA-AASI National Team members sharing their personal advice, experience, and insight on how you can start planning and practicing to reach your professional goals.
In the second installment of the series, PSIA-AASI Education Leader and Tea Talks Host Stacey Gerrish talks about having a sound strategy, utilizing the resources around you, and taking ownership of your own training to help you reach your goals.
Read the first “Certification Secrets” post with PSIA-AASI Eastern Examiner Bonnie Kolber.
Q: Why would you recommend to other professional instructors that they aspire to gain advanced certification or specialist credentials?
A: Going through advanced certification and specialist programs made me feel part of a larger, more professional group of like-minded people. It gave me street cred and definitely made me feel confident in saying, “teaching skiing is a REAL job!”
Q: How would you set up a strategy for members to achieve advanced certification or specialist credentials this season?
A: I recommend starting a study group of peers going for the same certification or credential. This can be both an on-snow group and an indoor or online group. It’s like having a workout partner. When you know you’re meeting someone at the gym, you show up. When you have a dedicated study group, you show up! And showing up and putting in the time to prepare yourself is key. Don’t rely on your trainers to do the work for you or to give you all the answers.
Q: What are some of the key resources – both personal and professional – that you would recommend to help guide them?
A: Seek out peers and trainers who are familiar with the current processes for whichever certification or credential you’re training for. Utilize the current materials, books, and videos found on the snow pros website, and definitely visit your regional PSIA-AASI website to be sure you know exactly what will be expected of you when you show up to your event. Study the assessment forms in advance.
Q: What are some of the key takeaways from your own certification/specialist story – both good and bad – and what did you learn from them?
A: I learned that some levels may seem easier to attain than others, and ultimately, it’s up to me to be as well prepared as possible. During the assessment event, be mentally focused and prepared to tune out any distractions.
Q: How do you build on your experiences if you don’t achieve advanced certification or a specialist credential the first time?
A: Study your feedback. And if you don’t understand your feedback, ask your examiner for more of an explanation. It’s easy to be upset, it’s understandable to be disappointed, and it’s humbling to forge ahead and learn from errors to be successful the next time.
Q: How do you build on your successes?
A: Humility and gratitude! Share successful tactics and training plans with your peers.
Q: What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started this journey?
A: I wish I knew it was going to lead to a lifelong career!
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Check in on the Tea Talks library to listen to free recorded interviews with Stacey and her guests from the world of snowsports.
