Recipient: Cathy Vollmer-Ashley

School: Jacob Hespeler Secondary School

Subject: Student Activities Director and Guidance counsellor

Inspiration/Motivation for being a Teacher of Excellence:

Cathy believes that teaching leads her to becoming the best that she can be.  She is constantly learning and enjoys turning her learning into lessons for others.  She is passionate about young people and is fulfilled when she sees a quiet, inhibited youth turn into a confident and contributing young person.

Cathy’s nomination came from a colleague.  She wrote:

“Cathy is an exceptional teacher.  She is an extremely hard working, dedicated and student-centred teacher who always has her students’ best interests at heart.  They relate well to her, and feel comfortable approaching her for clarification or advice.  They are inspired to learn by her enthusiasm, encouragement and creative teaching techniques.  To her students she is an inspiration…a teacher whose influence increases their strength, confidence and ethical sense.  It is evident that she truly cares for them by the number of students who simply like to be around her.  She enjoys an easy but strong rapport with young people individually as well as in small and large group situations.  She has always made the point of putting students first and of constantly encouraging them to be all they can be.”