Susan M. Dykshoorn, EdD

Assistant Professor of Education
Teaching is a high calling, and I hope to create space for students to discover not only the wonders of the created world but the depth of God's love and purpose for their lives.

Susan Dykshoorn is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education. She completed her Bachelor of Education at Dordt College in Sioux Center, IA, as well as her Master of Education, with a focus on Curriculum and Instruction K-12. She completed her Doctor of Education: Curriculum and Instruction at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.

Before joining TWU, she was an elementary classroom teacher at Lynden Christian School and Abbotsford Christian School. She was a Lead Teacher at Christian Schools International’s Christian School Educators Science Academy for 4 years, wrote Bible and Science curriculum for CSI, and created School Curriculum with a Science and STEM focus for a local grassroots fundraising organization, Run for Water. Before her role as Assistant Professor and overseeing courses in curriculum, instruction, and assessment, Susan was a Faculty Associate in the Professional Year Program, teaching the Science and Math courses and supervising elementary teacher candidates working toward certification. She is passionate about equipping students and teachers with the pedagogies, practices, and tools needed to support student success in today’s school climate through literacy and numeracy education, SEL in education, project-based learning, and the immersion of inquiry and meaning-making practices in content areas.

  • EdD, with high distinction (Liberty University; 2025)
    • Dissertation: Recommendations to Improve Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum Implementation Practices…
  • MEd (Dordt College; 2005)
    • Thesis: A Study of the Effect of a Buddy Reading Program on the Reading Achievement and Attitudes…
  • BEd (Dordt College; 2000)
  • Christian Leaders Basics Certificate (Christian Leaders Institute)
  • Christian Leaders Bible Certificate (Christian Leaders Institute)

Expertise

Literacy, Numeracy, Curriculum, instruction, and assessment, Inquiry Learning, Math, Science, STEM, Project-Based Learning, Early Childhood, SEL in Education

Collaborator with Principal Investigator, Dr. Lara Ragpot, and Co-Investigator, Dr. Yu-Ling Lee, Trinity Western University. A group of kindergarteners’ psycho-motor skills in relation to early numeracy development: A cross-sectional study in BC, SSHRG Explore Grant

Recent Publications

Curriculum

  • Mulder, D. J., Unema, J., Feyen, C., Vos, B., Dykshoorn, S., & Kuiper, N. Walking with God and His People: Grade 7 Bible Curriculum (3rd ed.). Christian Schools International. https://store.csionline.org/products/walking-wi... (2008)
  • Koppendrayer, S., Dykshoorn, S., et al. And It Was Good: K-3 Science Curriculum (3rd ed.) (Unpublished curriculum). Christian Schools International. https://store.csionline.org/collections/and-it-... (2022)
  • Dykshoorn, S. Run for Water's Envision a Better World: Science and STEM K-8 Curriculum, Years 1, 2, and 3. Run for Water Foundation. https://runforwater.ca/schools (2019-2021)
  • Dykshoorn, S. Run for Water's Envision a Better World: Science and STEM K-8 Curriculum, Updated (Curriculum in preparation). Run for Water Foundation. (2026)

Publications

  • Dykshoorn, S. "Financial Literacy in the Elementary Classroom in Our Cashless Era." Christian Educators Journal, 65(3), 5-9. https://www.cejonline.com/article/financial-lit... (February 2026)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "Think Before Pressing Play: A Call for Hands-On, Experiential Learning Opportunities." Christian Educators Journal, 65(2), 17-21. https://www.cejonline.com/article/think-before-... (December 2025)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "Encouraging Classroom Management in One Word." Christian Educators Journal, 64(2), 11-14. https://www.cejonline.com/article/encouraging-c... (December 2024)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "Integrating Music in the Elementary Classroom Culture." Christian Educators Journal, 64(1), 39-42. https://www.cejonline.com/article/integrating-m... (October 2024)

Featured Speaker Presentations

  • Dykshoorn, S. "Literacy: Using Mentor Texts to Support Instruction." InspirED Convention, Langley, BC. (November 12-13, 2026)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "Project-Based Learning in the Elementary Context." Institute of Pedagogies for Deeper Learning Convention, Langley, BC. (August 24, 2026)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "Making Meaning Out of Content: Real-Life Applications to Content Areas." InspirED Convention, Langley, BC. (November 10, 2025)

Workshops

  • Dykshoorn, S. "Teaching Hands-On Inquiry-Based Science in the Elementary Classroom." InspirED Convention, Langley, BC. (November 8, 2024)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "Teaching SEL Using Picture Books." InspirED Convention, Langley, BC. (November 8, 2024)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "Teaching Inquiry-Based Science and STEM in the Elementary Classroom: Investigations and Hands-On Learning." Trinity Western University Korean Teachers Workshops, Langley, BC. (August 8, 2024)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "Incorporating STEM/ADST in the Elementary Classroom." InspirED Convention, Langley, BC. (November 9, 2023)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "Teaching Science in the Elementary Classroom: Investigations and Hands-On Learning." InspirED Convention, Langley, BC. (November 9-10, 2023)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "Working with Water: A STEM and Science Inquiry Approach to Learning About Water." InspirED Convention, Langley, BC. (November 10, 2023)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "Teaching Elementary Science Using the Process of Scientific Inquiry." InspirED Convention, Langley, BC. (November 10, 2022)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "STEM/ADST in the Elementary Classroom." InspirED Convention, Langley, BC. (November 10, 2022)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "Introducing Run for Water Science/STEM/ADST Curriculum." Run for Water Teacher Kick-Off Event, Abbotsford and Chilliwack, BC. (February 2020)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "Run for Water Science/STEM/ADST Curriculum." Run for Water Teacher Kick-Off Event, Abbotsford and Chilliwack, BC. (February 2019)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "Teaching Real Science Using the Process of Scientific Inquiry." InspirED Convention, Langley, BC. (November 7-8, 2019)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "The Water Crisis: Using Science and STEM to Teach About the Water Crisis in Ethiopia." InspirED Convention, Langley, BC. (November 7-8, 2019)
  • Dykshoorn, S. "Working with Water: A STEM and Inquiry Approach to Learning About Water in Ethiopia." InspirED Convention, Langley, BC. (November 7-8, 2019)

Affiliations & Memberships

  • Standard Teaching Certificate, British Columbia College of Teachers—Permanent; Member in Good Standing
  • Christian Educators of British Columbia Member
  • Schools Program Director, Run for Water
  • InspirEd Convention Planning Committee Member
  • Christian School Educators Science Academy, Lead Teacher (2019-2022)

  • EDUC 321 Curriculum Planning for the Classroom
  • EDUC 401 Assessment and Evaluation for Learning
  • EDUC 411 Early Learning Curriculum and Assessment
  • EDUC 455 Curriculum and Pedagogy K-8 Language Arts
  • EDUC 456 Curriculum and Pedagogy: K-7 Mathematics
  • EDUC 458 Curriculum and Pedagogy: K-7 Science