COCHRANE— Recognizing the excellent work of Rocky View Schools' teachers, two Cochrane Christian Academy members were nominated for a provincial first-year teaching award.
Cochrane Christian Academy Grade 1 teacher Christine Madore and Grade 5/6 teacher Karmen Green were nominated alongside winner Emma Uhlenberg of George McDougall High in Airdrie for the Zone 5 2020 Edwin Parr award.
It was amazing being nominated for the award, Madore said.
“I was shocked at first,” Madore said with a laugh. “As a first-year teacher you're trying your best and putting your best foot forward— I was really honoured… it was really humbling and amazing.”
The Edwin Parr award recognizes exceptional first-year teachers who go above and beyond for students and the community.
Madore said it was excited to be teaching Grade 1 because she loves early elementary.
“When I was in elementary school it was my dream to be a teacher,” she said. “I just always felt this draw to teaching, I love being with kids they’re always so excited to learn and always have such fresh ideas.”
Her first year has been “better than expected” she said, explaining that she loved every moment and the opportunities she had to collaborate with her teaching partner and students.
Madore said some of her favourite memories of the school year were planning theme days for the kids to celebrate. One of the most memorable was celebrating the 100th day of school which served as a way to have fun while learning math.
“It was always a joy to go to work,” Madore said. “At the end of the day you just want those kids to feel loved and know that they are in a safe space— Their ability to learn will just flourish from there."
The year had its challenges she said explaining that the trickiest moment came when the school was forced to close its door due to the COVID-19 public health measures.
Finding the silver lining in a difficult situation, Madore said she has been encouraged during the pandemic because the transition from the school to online learning was phenomenal because everyone was able to work together to manage an unprecedented experience.
The move to online learning also helped build connections between staff and parents, she added.
“It was awesome to have that different level of connection with parents— they engaged and persevered and really invested a lot in the learning,” Madore said. “It’s been a challenge but its been cool to see how the learning continued.”
Grade 5/6 teacher Karmen Green said it was an honour to be nominated for the Edwin Parr award.
“I was in complete shock, I was totally elated,” Green said. “It has been honestly the most amazing year,” Green said. “This class was an absolute blessing I couldn’t even imagine a better first year or a better start for my career.”
Green said she always wanted to be a teacher and chose to follow that path after having her daughter.
It has been an incredible experience building strong bonds with her students.
“We could sit down and laugh with them, cry with them, be real with them,” Green said. “We had a lot of really great times, fun times.”
It took intense organization managing a split grade, she said with a laugh but said the kids were a great group with a strong collaborative dynamic.
“We meshed so well together it ended up being very harmonious,” Green said.
The transition to online learning has been a challenge, she said, but coming fresh from university Green was able to draw on her experience as an online learner to help facilitate the new normal of at-home learning.
“I had some understanding of what it was like to learn at home, and to be accountable to yourself and motivate yourself,” Green said.
She added that it created an opportunity to build a deeper bond with students and their parents because there were more one-on-one learning opportunities.
Green said they were able to get more personal in learning and find the best way to help students thrive while working from home.
The Rocky View School Board of Trustees also recognized the staff excellence of teacher Richard Dupre of Building Futures Cochrane, teacher Janay Eccles of Cochrane High, secretary Brenda Hilling of Cochrane Christian Academy, teacher Carolyn Mcleod of Cochrane High and assistant principal Jennifer Yersh of École Manachaban Middle.
