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Barrday Teacher of Excellence Award Recipients Barrday would like to thank the members of our community who participated in the nomination process, for helping us recognize the valuable contributions of so many local teachers. We are all winners when teachers touch our lives in positive ways. From more than 90 nominations we had the difficult task of choosing the final 10. After great deliberation, we are pleased to announce the recipients for the 2001 Teacher of Excellence Award:
Mrs. Debbie Schwantz Woodland Park Public School Mr. Dave Varner St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School Mr. Mike Johnston William G. Davis Senior Public School Mr. Dick Petrie Southwood Secondary School Mr. Mark Woodfield Avenue Road Public School Mrs. Joyce Crone St. Augustines Catholic School Miss Anne Cherwonogrodzky St. Francis Catholic School Mrs. Luisa McLaughlin St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School Mr. John Macleod Galt Collegiate Institute Mr. Hugh Maclean Hespeler Public School Congratulations to all nominees and thank you to all nominators!
Quotes from nominations of each recipient
- Debbie Schwantz
"Mrs. Schwantz had us all write down on a sheet the things that we "cant do"! We gathered all of the sheets and put them into a box, then buried them at the back of our school in the wetlands, and without any looks at all, the rest of the year we were able to do everything and not say "I cant" once!"
- Dave Varner
"I developed a great admiration for Mr. Varner. This was not only through my eyes but also through the eyes, hearts and minds of his young students. He quickly became their hero as well as my own. . . Mr. Varner has donated, over the past 8 years, hundreds of hours, counseling kids, mediating with families, consulting with parole officers, writing reports, attending Court and endless hours of fundraising. He brings the best out in everyone he comes in contact with."
- Mike Johnston
"His student has gone from a low-esteem sullen rebellious teen in September to a young lady who is more confident, proud of her achievements who understands rules better and that I see smile more often. When my child leaves for school it is a relief to know that she is going where I know people care."
- Dick Petrie
"He constantly motivates his students. He always remembers all of the names of students in his previous classes and in the hallway you often hear him greeting them by name and asking them how they are. . . Even when a student doesnt understand the most simplistic idea, Mr. Petrie always treats them as if they are full of potential. Mr. Petrie does not treat every student as though they are another face. each one is special-each one is an individual.
- Mark Woodfield
"Mark is an excellent teacher, in every sense of the word. He is purposeful in his instruction of students, he modifies the curriculum as needed to better meet the needs of his exceptional students, he builds and maintains extremely positive relationships with his students and he is dedicated to the school, offering many extracurricular activities to students, showing leadership in many staff responsibilities areas and being a very positive influence on everyones sense of humour and fun. Mark lives a "Yes, they can!" attitude as it relates to student learning.
- Joyce Crone
"The tears in Joyce Crones eyes today were clear evidence that she had reached once again, the hearts and minds of another years group of little ones, as they in turn, had reached her heart. There are tremendous qualities, abilities, endurance and love in this woman. These qualities I am grateful to say, shine through the accomplishments of our children."
- Anne Cherwonogrodzky
" Miss Cherwonogrodzky, you have given my son the gift of wanting to learn. Your many awards grace our fridge door as a constant reminder that a child encouraged is a child that can accomplish anything. The world is his to discover because you took the time to guide his energies. Thank you for not condemning my son to a life of letting everything pass him by."
- Luisa McLaughlin
"Being very attuned to their needs, she inspires the students to do their best and encourages them to be the best they can be, thus opening up a world of possibilities that to them would previously have been out of reach. The students in turn place their trust in her and show her great respect. She is a woman of integrity."
- John Macleod
"Mr. Macleod is not only an educator, but also a mentor, a coach, a counselor and an inspiration to all that have sat before him. "Education", he said, "is a limitless opportunity that you can seize. Grasp your chance.""
- Hugh Maclean
"I remember when my oldest had Mr. Maclean in grade eight. She would come home and say some of the most outrageous things, the source, Mr. Maclean, of course. Yes, they were outrageous but accurate and unless you thought the thing through you wouldnt realize the accuracy. Physics is boring at the best of times, but that age would really present a challenge. True to form Hugh came up with a year beyond compare. "