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Recipient’s Name: Catherine Gregory
School: Silverheights Public School
Subject Area: Grade 1
Number of Years Teaching: 40
Though she is in her 40th year of teaching, Cathy says that she wakes up every day wanting to go to work to see the kids and to do her job well. She loves teaching children in grade one. She said that the students are excited to be in grade one because it is a year of beginnings. They experience phenomenal growth in reading, writing, math and social skills. By June they have learned so much that Cathy describes the amount of development as ‘mindboggling’. Then she gets to welcome a new group in September and begin building again. Cathy enjoys building community and seeing the students form relationships with her and the others in the classroom.
Over the years it has been the hugs and smiles from students, the visits from past students, the annual raising of monarch butterflies and hearing parents say that their child loves being at school that has brought Cathy much joy.
Cathy has taught all three of Debbie’s daughters. Debbie wrote:
Cathy encourages her children to become risk takers and inspires them to “think outside the box”. Cathy’s motto is “Always do the best that you can do.” It doesn’t matter if someone else does something better than you—as long as you have done your best, that’s all she cares about.
Each of my three daughters has been impacted by Mrs. Gregory. My oldest now in high school still comes to visit her grade one teacher and volunteers for her on PA Days. My daughter in grade 6 is Mrs. Gregory’s classroom lunch helper and my youngest just finished a fun filled year with Mrs. Gregory.
When you reach Mrs. Gregory’s classroom you will see a sign saying “Every Child Matters” and she practices this theory daily inside her classroom. I know from experience that Cathy truly believes in each child, she has a positive approach to teaching offering her students tons of praise and encouragement to motivate them to do their best. She is an outstanding, knowledgeable and organized veteran—respected and admired by her colleagues, parents and students.
