Recipient:  Patsy Nunes       

School: St. Benedicts

Number of Years Teaching: 20

Grade: Grade 9 Active Learners, Grade 9 applied English and Grade 10 beginner drama

When asked why she thinks she has been successful in teaching, Patsy replied, “I think I’ve had success because I really and truly like my students.  I have a long string of patience which allows me to see little successes and then keep motivating the students towards large successes.”

Patsy knows that listening to her students is really important.  Listening to them helps them understand that they have ideas, purpose and insights.  Responding with empathy is also necessary so students know that they are understood, special and that they can talk to her about anything. 

Both of Patsy’s parents were teachers and now her oldest son is becoming a teacher.  Patsy’s mom taught special education for many years.  Every day she came home and said, “I can’t believe that they pay me for teaching!”  Patsy has learned from her parents to be flexible, to listen closely and to form relationships with her students beyond school.

Janet, one of Patsy’s colleagues, wrote this:

I sincerely believe that this award was created for Patsy.  Patsy is an inspiration to watch.  She is a high-energy person who just seems to find at least 25 hours in a day, and can magically make things happen.  She can produce a play, host a drama festival, take students on performing field trips, facilitate an improvisation club, run a dance crew, organize a tech crew, help colleagues, take a course to further her own knowledge, mentor young actors and run a family of five!  All at the same time and all seamlessly.

Patsy is a teacher who motivates her students to give their best.  She feels responsible for each one of her students as if they were her own child.  She always regards how the parents feel so she spurs the child on to give all they can, even when it challenges them to give more than they thought they were capable of. 

Patsy is a woman of integrity.  She never shies away from ‘rocking the boat’ when it should be rocked.  She challenges people to wake up to social injustices, sometimes in places our students have never heard of.  Drama is her vehicle to get her students’ messages out to people.

Patsy valiantly embraces the so-called ‘underdog’.  She coached our school’s Special Olympics soccer team, thrived when a belligerent student wrote a poem, and was delighted when a physically challenged student danced.  The successes of her students, no matter how seemingly big or small, she yells from the roof-tops with genuine pride and joy.