April 1, 2011 Alberta teachers and principals honoured for inspiring students Edmonton... Alberta teachers and principals are being honoured as semi-finalists for the province’s teaching awards for inspiring Kindergarten to Grade 12 students and for their contributions to the teaching profession. This year, 135 semi-finalists are being recognized as part of the 2011 Excellence in Teaching Awards. They were selected from 326 eligible nominations. “Teachers make a valuable and lasting contribution to the lives of their students, and to the province as a whole. The Excellence in Teaching Awards program is our way to say thank you for a job very well done,” said Dave Hancock, Minister of Education. “I applaud all nominees for using their creativity and innovation to motivate students to succeed.” Award nominees must show leadership, demonstrate creativity and innovation, work collaboratively with colleagues, and create positive learning environments that motivate students to excel. &nbspNominations include statements of support from the nominee’s principal or superintendent, a teacher colleague and a member of the public. Semi-finalists and award recipients are selected by a committee made up of representatives from the education community. The program recognizes semi-finalists across the province at regional celebrations. In addition, semi-finalists can access up to $1,500 for professional development. From the 135 semi-finalists, 23 award recipients will be selected and honoured in Edmonton on May 28 at a dinner and awards ceremony. Twenty award recipients will be able to access up to $4,000 for professional development, while three teachers who receive the SMART Technologies Innovative Use of Technology Awards will receive a comprehensive technology package, which includes a SMART board. Alberta Education hosts the 23rd Annual Excellence in Teaching Awards with the support of the Alberta School Councils’ Association, the Alberta School Boards Association, The Alberta Teachers’ Association, the Association of Alberta Deans of Education, the College of Alberta School Superintendents, the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards, the Edmonton Journal, and SMART Technologies. Albertans have celebrated Excellence in Teaching since 1989, with more than 8,000 teachers nominated and more than 450 award recipients. For more information about the Excellence in Teaching Awards, visit www.education.alberta.ca and click on the teachers tab. -30- Backgrounder: 2011 Excellence in Teaching Awards Semi-finalists Media inquiries may be directed to: Tim Chamberlin Alberta Education, Communications 780-644-6821 [email protected] To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000. April 1, 2011 2011 Provincial Excellence in Teaching Awards semi-finalists Airdrie Scott Bloxham Bert Church High School Glyn Hughes George McDougall High School Jan Laubman Nose Creek Elementary School Luke Sandham Muriel Clayton Middle School Ardrossan Cindy Talaga École Élémentaire Ardrossan Elementary School Calgary Adina Belseth MidSun School Nadine Blum MidSun School Elaine Chan The Chinese Academy Anne Cunningham Belfast School Lisa Element James Fowler High School Martha Faulkner Westmount Charter School Phillip Field Colonel Sanders School Marc Fortin Western Canada High School Ann Gardner Henry Wise Wood High School Barbara Gerst École Elbow Valley Elementary School Dan Grassick Rideau Park School Conard Hales Central Memorial High School Lori Hogue William Aberhart High School Minaz Janmohamed Centennial High School Antigone Kollias Glenbrook School Nicole Lisafeld Bishop McNally High School Sandy Miller Westmount Charter School Paul Mulloy Central Memorial High School Robert Nixon Western Canada High School Frances Radsma Varsity Acres School Sarah Rogers Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School Leanne Shirtliffe Webber Academy Dorothy Voytechek John Costello Catholic School Kim Wallace St. Henry Elementary School Emily Wong Bowness High School Cayley Fay Mascher Cayley School Coalhurst Lisa Furukawa Coalhurst Elementary School Cochrane Kevin McGregor St. Timothy Junior / Senior High School Mélanie Vidal École Notre-Dame des Vallées Crossfield Tobey Daniels Crossfield Elementary School Michelle Muncaster Crossfield Elementary School Drayton Valley Shelly Cloke Evergreen Elementary School Drumheller Dan Hird Drumheller Valley Secondary School Edmonton Bonnie Baird Hillcrest School Noreen Baker W.P. Wagner School Janice Barton École J.H. Picard Catholic School Catherine Bawol Louis St. Laurent Catholic High School Denise Canning Academy at King Edward School Rosa Capozzi Norwood Child & Family Resource Centre Mary Ann Dobson J. Percy Page School Alicia Fenton St. Timothy Catholic Elementary School Charles Gachnang Rosslyn School Norma Hartley Aspen Program Julie Johnson A. Blair McPherson School Brad Kaminsky M.E. LaZerte School Shelley Kofluk M.E. LaZerte School Sarah Kolberg St. Clement Catholic Elementary / Junior High School Karen Linden Greenfield School Holly Macdonald Ross Sheppard School Darryl MacKinnon W.P. Wagner School Jill McNamee St. Vincent Elementary School Susan Meunier M.E. LaZerte School Kyril Mueller Greenfield School Tamera Murray Rosslyn School Lisa Nachtigal Crawford Plains School Erin Niawchuk M.E. LaZerte School Tannis Niziol Louis St. Laurent Catholic High School Heather Parrish M.E. LaZerte School Sarah Platero St. Maria Goretti Catholic School Martina Plumb Forest Heights School Christopher Postle Jasper Place High School Brent Ransom Old Scona Academic School Nicholas Riemann A. Blair McPherson School Karen Rosborough Strathcona School Pamela Schmunk M.E. LaZerte School Stefany Shinbine W.P. Wagner School Crystal Sinclair Bannerman School Vern Slipetz Louis St. Laurent Catholic High School Donna Smarsh St. Joseph Catholic High School Melinda Stevens École Our Lady of The Prairies School Heather Summers Windsor Park School Mike Tachynski Ross Sheppard School Judy Toews Prince Charles School Rhonda Tollefson Spruce Avenue School Melissa Yong Jasper Place High School Corrie Yusypchuk Harry Ainlay School Fort McMurray Peggy Rainville Fort McMurray Composite High School Sarah Scott Father Patrick Mercredi Community High School Grande Prairie Rick Gilson Grande Prairie Composite High School Hays Gilmour Farley Hays School High Level Leann Miller Spirit of the North Community School Lethbridge Anne Konynenbelt Immanuel Christian High School Medicine Hat Annette Graf St. Louis School Morinville Christina MacKinnon École Georges P. Vanier Okotoks Lauren Frandle Dr. Morris Gibson School Wayne Lorenz Good Shepherd School Olds Jane AtkinsÉcole Olds Elementary School Peace River Holly Crumpton Peace River High School Rainbow Lake Kimberly MacLeod Rainbow Lake School Kimberly MacLeod Rainbow Lake School Red Deer Corina Bussard Holy Family School Cathy Cameron St. Patrick's Community School Deborah Doyle Annie L. Gaetz Elementary School Colleen Favre Central Middle School Jilleen Labonte St. Patrick's Community School Terry Lakey Joseph Welsh Elementary School Fergus Lynch St. Patrick's Community School Pamela Maloughney St. Elizabeth Seton School Jennifer Mann École Secondaire Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School Adam Milner Hunting Hills High School Grace Page Joseph Welsh Elementary School Adrian Paolinelli St. Patrick's Community School Maria Sacha St. Patrick's Community School Joan Schmidt Maryview School Lynnsey Tetreau Holy Family School Jacqueline Weddell Holy Family School Riviére Qui Barre Jennifer Bruinsma Camilla School Rochester Howard Ruttan Rochester School Sherwood Park Diane Campbell Salisbury Composite High School Marnie Ferguson Lakeland Ridge School Brenda Lochtie Glen Allan Elementary Spruce Grove Marlene Denet Woodhaven Middle School Donna Nicholls Woodhaven Middle School Spruce View Teri Patterson Spruce View School St. Albert Carolyn Hunter Elmer S. Gish School Duncan Knoll Elmer S. Gish School Natasha Raad Sir Alexander Mackenzie School Amanda Saipe Elmer S. Gish School Raili Woollam Wild Rose Elementary School Sylvan Lake Angela Mueller Our Lady of the Rosary School Taber Crystal Carver W.R. Myers High School Maxine Schnoor W.R. Myers High School Turner Valley Laurita Muir Turner Valley School Valhalla Centre Cindy Mumert Valhalla Community School Wetaskiwin Candice Elliot Clear Vista School 2011 SMART Technologies Innovative Use of Technology Awards Semi-Finalists Calgary Andrew Sibley Bearspaw School Lethbridge Kathy Mundell G.S. Lakie Middle School Red Deer Rob Coumont St. Patrick's Community School Sherwood Park Gerald Chung Bev Facey Community High School Melissa Kerr Lakeland Ridge School Sharon Mittelsteadt Madonna Catholic School -30- Media inquiries may be directed to: Tim Chamberlin Alberta Education, Communications 780-644-6821 [email protected] To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000. 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