Recipient: Mark Hunniford

School: Galt Collegiate Institute (presently vice principal at University Heights)

Number of Years Teaching: 23

Grade: 9 through OAC

Subject: Student Activities Director, English, Drama, Media and Guidance

Inspiration/Motivation for being a teacher of excellence:

Mark only remembers wanting to teach.  He always respected his teachers and said that he didn’t have one that he didn’t like!!  As Mark looks back on his school experience he is thankful that each teacher he had taught him something, most importantly the value of giving praise and telling stories. Mark is famous for the lessons he gives through the stories he tells. 

One significant teacher in Mark’s life instilled in Mark that you can coach and teach at the same time.  This teacher also taught Mark how to laugh. 

To Mark, teaching means you live for the moment.  He says, “We don’t do it for the money, we do it for the students whose courage to learn and make life changes are totally inspirational.”  He walks around the halls of the school looking for the next inspiration.

Mark most definitely inspired his nominator who is one of his former students.  Of Mark she wrote:

Countless students seek out Mr. Hunniford when their world just doesn’t seem right, either for advice or because they know he will listen.  Mr. Hunniford is trusted because he never shuts his door on students or tells them to come back later.  Mr. Hunniford works with our Students Council.   Although some ideas proposed can seem farfetched Mr. Hunniford never criticizes or forbids them.  Instead he uses his lunch and after school hours to work with students to devise plans and figure out how an idea can work.  He attends every single school event and is often seen running around trying to get other teachers to help with supervision. 

Mr. Hunniford’s last venture at GCI was called the Stairway to Excellence.  It has been created to recognize GCI students who have gone on to achieve success.  He is encouraging us to sometime come back to GCI to find our names on the list.  GCI could not, and would not, be the same without Mr. Hunniford.  He has been very influential in helping students create memories during some of the best years of their lives.  He is a teacher who embodies R.W. Emerson’s quote: “The secret of education is respecting the pupil.”