Teaching What You Love

By: Allie Hearnden, STF Communications

At the end of the day, if I want it, I’m going to work for it.” That simple, powerful statement defines Bailey Schellenberg, who received her bachelor of education degree in 2019. It’s not just a motto; it’s a way of life. Whether she’s teaching equine studies and hockey skills through the Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre, mentoring young rodeo athletes or raising her daughter Maisy on a farm full of horses, Schellenberg is living proof that when educators teach what they love, they inspire.

From Farm Girl to Student-Athlete

Schellenberg’s story begins on a farm in rural Saskatchewan, where her love for animals and community was nurtured through 4-H and long hours spent with horses. That early connection to nature and responsibility laid the foundation for everything that followed.

“My parents will tell you that I was a big dreamer,” she says. “I always wanted to be in rodeo and be involved in that life.”

Her journey took a turn toward hockey when she moved to Melville to play competitively. There, she met two high school teachers who supported her through the challenges of leaving home and balancing sport and school.

“They played a huge role in my life,” Schellenberg recalls. “Just to be able to have their support meant the world. And I want to pay that forward.”

Finding Her Calling at the U of R

Schellenberg initially enrolled in nursing but quickly realized her heart was in education. She transferred to the University of Regina’s Faculty of Education, where she found her place and her people.

“I dove right into education and never looked back,” she says. “I just heard so many great things about the profs and the program and the placements.”

As a student-athlete with the Cougars women’s hockey team, Schellenberg learned to juggle five classes, a part-time job and a demanding athletic schedule. It wasn’t easy, but it was formative. She laughs as she recalls relying on both a phone and wall calendar to keep her days on track. “Every part of my day was scheduled,” she says.

University taught her more than just pedagogy. It taught her resilience, grit and the value of hard work.

“All the student-athletes know that it takes a lot of work and you have to want it. You have to be gritty. You have to be resilient. You have to be able to handle those late nights.”

Teaching with Heart at Sask DLC

In 2023, Schellenberg joined the Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre, a government-run online school offering K-12 education across the province. Her role? Teaching equine studies and hockey skills to high school students, two electives rarely found in traditional classrooms.

“It’s a different sense of teaching,” she explains. “We have asynchronous [classes] so kids can work at their own pace. My hockey kids that are playing in the WHL, they can work on assignments at night while they’re on the road.”

Schellenberg’s teaching is deeply personal. She knows what it’s like to juggle academics, athletics and life and she’s committed to helping her students succeed on all fronts.

“I think that education is so important for our kids today,” she says. “Getting a Grade 12 education and then moving on to university is so important job-wise and to be a contributing part of our society.”

Her classroom may be virtual, but her impact is real. By teaching subjects she’s passionate about, Schellenberg connects with students in ways that go beyond curriculum.

Rodeo, Motherhood and Mentorship

Outside the classroom, Schellenberg is a competitive rodeo athlete, a coach and a mom. After rekindling her love for horses, she began roping in 2021 and quickly rose through the ranks. In 2023, she won the Kakeyow Cowboys Rodeo Association breakaway roping title and trained her horse, Cindy, to become horse of the year. Their success earned her a spot at the 2024 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

Her days are full: teaching, training, mentoring and raising her daughter. But Schellenberg wouldn’t have it any other way.

“This is the dream,” she says. “Where we live, what we get to do every day and rid[ing] every day is incredible.”

Mentorship Through Passion

Schellenberg’s teaching extends beyond the classroom and into the rodeo arena, where she mentors young ropers, especially girls who, like her, are looking for role models.

“I wish I had a female mentor,” she says. “Girls and boys rope differently. The conversations I’ve had with those young girls and their parents, and I know that they look up to me. I really hope that I can be a light for them and just be a really good role model.”

She finds deep joy in watching her students succeed. “To watch them rope and actually catch one, it’s such an amazing feeling. It’s almost better than me catching.”

Her mentorship is rooted in empathy and experience. She knows the tears, the frustration, the hours of practice and she knows the triumph when it all clicks.

“I want to see those kids do better than me,” she says. “I want to see them beat me in their arena.”

THE POWER OF PASSION-BASED EDUCATION

Schellenberg’s story is a powerful example of what happens when educators teach what they love. Her passion for horses and hockey doesn’t just fuel her, it inspires her students, connects her to her community and shapes her legacy.

“I wouldn’t have any of this without my university degree,” she says.

She’s also shaping the next generation, starting with her daughter. “I want to teach Maisy to be kind and a light in this world and to be positive.”

In the classroom, on the ice and in the rodeo arena, Schellenberg is living proof that when teachers bring their whole selves to their work, they don’t just educate, they empower.

Watch Schellenberg’s story in the University of Regina’s Beyond Campus video series and see how passion-based teaching can change lives.

From Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation Bulletin – Winter 2025