Recipient: Gord Dupuis

Gord has been teaching for 30 years, 24 of those years with grade 7 and 8s.  Presently he is teaching grade 8 English, math and history at William G. Davis.

Gord without hesitation said, “the kids inspire me”. He absolutely loves the grade 7 and 8 population especially their high energy and sense of humour. He says that so often adults see teens as just “here for a good time” but as you challenge them to think and write they can absolutely blow you away with their insights…their ability to see through to the core. Gord derives joy from leading his students in class discussions about big ideas and big questions and says it is them that often teach him.

Gord has had a profound influence on one of his student’s life. Her mom wrote:

Our daughter, now 19, who had numerous behavioural issues but was an exceptionally gifted writer, was fortunate enough to have had Gord Dupuis as her grade 8 teacher. Despite all her challenges, Mr. Dupuis was able to inspire her to write, even when she was at her lowest. While she often refused to participate and get other areas of her schoolwork done, in his class she flourished.

Towards the end of the year, I received a call from Mr. Dupuis advising that she was going to be the very first recipient of a literary excellence award…something he had initiated. He also asked that she write a poem for their Grade 8 graduation and that poem appeared on the program. I wish you could have seen the look on her face when she was called to the front of the auditorium to receive that award.

Her life path has not been easy but Mr. Dupuis kept in touch with her and kept encouraging her to write. Interestingly, she was recently invited to visit the Dupuis home. How many teachers, this many years later, would take the time to do that? Not many in my estimation.