The “2006 Excellence in Teaching Awards” celebrates outstanding teachers
Edmonton…The recipients of the 2006 Excellence in Teaching Awards Program have been selected and their outstanding contributions to Alberta’s students will be celebrated at a special awards ceremony in Calgary on May 6.
“Alberta has some of the best teachers in the world, and the Excellence in Teaching Awards Program provides us with a wonderful way to publicly recognize the excellent work being done by each of these recipients,” said Alberta Education Minister Gene Zwozdesky.
This year’s recipients were chosen from more than 440 nominations, an increase of 27 nominations over last year. A selection committee of representatives from Alberta’s education community had the difficult task of reviewing the nomination packages which included countless examples of the outstanding teaching currently taking place in classrooms across the province.
At the awards ceremony, 20 teachers will be honoured with a Provincial Excellence in Teaching Award and three teachers will receive a SMARTer Kids Foundation Innovative Use of Technology Award.
Since the awards program was established in 1989, 337 teachers have been honoured as recipients of an Excellence in Teaching Award.
The 18th annual Excellence in Teaching Awards is presented by Alberta Education with the support of the Alberta Home and School Councils’ Association, the Alberta School Boards Association, the Alberta Teachers’ Association, the Edmonton Journal, the SMARTer Kids Foundation and XEROX.
Backgrounder
2006 Provincial Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients
Ashmont
Rod Ayres, Ashmont Secondary School
Calgary
Paul André Jean Allard, Bowness Senior High School
Carmen Blayone, Mother Mary Greene School
Robert William Cocking, Chinook Park School
Martin Poirier, William Aberhart High School
Camrose
Marlene Louise Edwards, Learning Together Program
Edmonton
T. Scott Bezubiak, Ross Sheppard High School
Dan Cavanagh, Anne Fitzgerald Catholic School
Shou-Lan Cheng, Londonderry Junior High
Maureen Cimino, Jasper Place High School
Michelle Dupuis, St. Jerome Catholic Elementary School
Jennifer Grassick, St. Edmund School
Jeffrey Johnson, St. Brendan Catholic School
Howard Duncan Molstad, Ottewell School
Raffaella Montemurro, Virginia Park School
Deborah Jayne Stirrett, Ross Sheppard High School
Lorel Marie Trumier, St. Vincent School
Leduc
Morag Kathleen Brenneis, Storefront School
Manning
Willemina Teresa Gurtler, Manning Elementary School
Peace River
Karen Tang, Glenmary School
2006 SMARTer Kids Innovative Use of Technology Award Recipients
Busby
Doris Meinczinger, Busby Elementary School
Stettler
Darren Lorne Fleischhacker, Wm. E. Hay Composite High School
Vermilion
Ielah Jean Watt, Vermilion Elementary School
Selection Committee
The selection committee is made up of representatives from:- Alberta Education
- The Alberta Home and School Councils’ association
- The Alberta School Boards Association
- The Alberta Teachers’ Association
- The Association of Independent Schools and Colleges
- The College of Alberta School Superintendents
- The Council on Alberta Teaching Standards
- The Universities Co-ordinating Council
Awards
- Each eligible nominee receives a certificate in recognition of his/her nomination.
- Of all eligible nominations, the 134 award finalists, including the nine SMARTer Kids Foundation award finalists will be presented with a finalist certificate at a school or community event. Finalists were announced April 7, 2006.
- Twenty Provincial Excellence in Teaching Awards and three SMARTer Kids Foundation Innovative Use of Technology Awards are being awarded in 2006.
- Each recipient will receive a commemorative pin and award certificate. The school of each recipient also will receive a certificate honouring the school’s role in fostering teaching excellence. Recipients will be honoured at a dinner and ceremony in Calgary on May 6, 2006.
Eligibility
A nominee must be an individual who:- holds a permanent Alberta teaching certificate at the time of nomination;
- teaches (or supports the teaching of) courses as outlined in the Program of Studies or locally developed and approved courses for Kindergarten to Grade 12 during the 2005-06 school year; and
- works directly with students in a school setting on a daily basis (may be a principal or other certificated staff member).
NOTE: A former finalist is not eligible for nomination for three years after receiving a finalist award. A former provincial recipient is not eligible for nomination.
Criteria for Selection
The criteria for selection applied to all award categories. The selection committee looked for specific examples of:- How the nominee’s teaching or leadership excels at:
- fostering the development of students and their intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth
- establishing a stimulating learning environment
• motivating students to exceed their own expectations - attending to individual student needs
- working collaboratively with colleagues
- demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of subject matter and curriculum
- being involved in professional growth activities
- achieving positive results in student learning
- demonstrating care for the well-being of students and colleagues, thereby contributing to a positive school climate
- How the nominee’s teaching or leadership is innovative or creative in supporting student learning in one or more of the areas identified above.
Innovative or creative teaching that supports student learning may refer to:- introducing or applying successful or proven practices or approaches new to a classroom or a school
- adapting approaches advocated in the literature or elsewhere for specific contexts of teaching and learning
- championing a successful or proven approach throughout a school or school district/division
- developing teacher resources or materials that complement an existing approach
