Certificate of Achievement Recipients
Each of the 1998-99 Certificate of Achievement recipients are listed here by province, along with a short biography and a description of some of their award-winning teaching ideas.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Alphonsus Whiffen
Brother Rice High School, St. John's
Secondary technology, chemistry, co-operative education (computer studies)
Brother Whiffen's positive learning environment benefits both students and fellow teachers. It features 95 linked computers, two computer labs with Internet access and two advanced chemistry courses with a self-paced, computer-based curriculum. His students have also profited from connections he has built with local employers, which have resulted in a database of collaborative employment initiatives among school and community partners, student placements with local industry, and an information centre that provides access to career and labour resources on the web and to specialized software.
Nova Scotia
Sylvia Gunnery
Park View Education Centre, Bridgewater
Secondary English, program support
Ms. Gunnery uses her experience as a successful author of books for young adults to help students learn to write effectively and manage their lives. Students of all types - from aspiring writers to aspiring business people - learn language, critical-thinking and social skills and gain self-confidence in her classes. She has passed on the experience she has gained through Just Write! Ten Practical Workshops for Successful Student Writing and seven novels that help young adults deal with the many changes they go through during high school.
Charles McMillan
Truro Junior High School, Truro
Science
Mr. McMillan uses hands-on, minds-on activities and group work to teach students to think critically and act logically. His students learn they can exceed their own expectations by working together, by using technology and through special activities, such as think tanks and "brain sweatshops." Mr. McMillan is also active in curriculum development; the province chose him to field test new science curriculum and to review software used to teach science. He has also been invited to provincial and international science association conferences to share his expertise.
Quebec
Joan Conrod
Pontiac Protestant High School, Shawville
English and drama
Teaching students to speak and write clearly is Mrs. Conrod's primary objective. She guides students through activities such as public speaking, teaching vocabulary lessons, storytelling, debating and dramatizing novel sections. These activities inspire students to appreciate the English language and to develop and improve their listening and speaking skills. Her students regularly participate and excel in public-speaking and essay-writing contests. In 1997, one of her students was the first from Quebec in 77 years to win a prestigious essay contest.
Michel Desbiens, Jean Marmette, Johann Pichette and Colette Roussel
École secondaire de Rochebelle, Sainte-Foy
English, French, history, physics
These four teachers created an interdisciplinary program for 200 students. The students use new technology to create imaginary villages from various points in Quebec's history. They acquire methodical work habits, language skills and critical-thinking skills in the process. The teachers also created a researchers' association for students. To qualify for membership, a student must present an idea for a research project for approval, carry it out, present results and write up a report. The students respond eagerly to the projects, even though they require additional work and present additional challenges.
Liette Ménard-Demanche
École l'Avenir, L'Avenir
Elementary, all subjects
A visit to a professional recording studio gives Ms. Ménard-Demanche's students a chance to put their communication, music and technology skills to the test. This special activity is only one of many - including international projects conducted over the Internet and musical and theatre productions - that Ms. Ménard-Demanche uses to inspire and excite her students. Her skills with computers and their application to education have been widely recognized. She has given several seminars on these subjects, and her school board chose her to oversee the implementation of computers in six local schools.
Yves Potvin
École Leblanc, Laval
Elementary physical education
Mr. Potvin has never stopped inventing ways to motivate students and encourage them to take responsibility for developing and maintaining their bodies. He has them create and follow a schedule of activities and shows them how a good physical fitness regime can improve all aspects of their lives. Among other results, several students have won awards for combined success in athletic and academic pursuits, and Mr. Potvin has produced a website and book to share what he has learned with other teachers.
Sheva Strolovitch
Hebrew Academy, Côte St. Luc
Elementary language arts, mathematics
Responding to children is the key to Ms. Strolovitch's teaching. She created a program that successfully sensitizes children to the special needs of some of their peers. She treats teachers, parents, local organizations and students as a community of learners that she brings together with literature, films, writing experiences, discussions, interviews and dramatic presentations. The result is a learning environment that balances discipline and structure with nurturing and caring. Students acquire courtesy, independence and decision-making skills.
Gabrielle Tawfik
Trafalgar School for Girls, Montreal
Secondary math and science
Ms. Tawfik uses a wide variety of learning and assessment activities, such as labs, lectures, group work and simulations, to get girls excited about science. All her students - whether they learn very quickly or at a slow and steady pace - are encouraged to think and act as young scientists. She also helps design and review the curriculum by participating in curriculum committees, preparing provincial physics exams and helping review existing standards.
Charalambos Thomas
Centennial Regional High School, Greenfield Park
Moral and religious education, math, reading and computer science
Teaching a variety of subjects, ranging from moral and religious education to mathematics, reading and computer science, led Mr. Thomas to explore the role values play in education. The results include a CD-ROM resource for moral and religious education that Mr. Thomas created with the help of his students. The students located websites, developed artwork, did desktop publishing and created video clips. This work led to the launch of a web page competition and allowed students to become computer experts.
Ontario
Carol Adam
Lord Strathcona Public School, Kingston
Language, mathematics, science and technology, social studies, physical education, arts
Ms. Adam uses innovative projects, such as a study of levers based on a plowing match, to create an industrious workshop atmosphere in the classroom. Another project used a fundraising activity as the occasion to create the "Cheese Store." Students filled out order forms, estimated and tallied cheese weight and price, sorted cheese, restocked shelves, checked orders and delivered cheese to other classes. Ms. Adam also gives parents input into their children's education and uses alternative approaches to teaching to address different learning styles.
David Boyd
Appleby College, Oakville
Secondary English, writer's craft
Although he is an innovator who has successfully brought technology to the classroom, Mr. Boyd insists on a balanced approach centred on solid teaching. He believes that technology is not a substitute for a capable teacher using effective teaching methods. He focuses his efforts on promoting new methods of teaching and new ways of bringing creativity into the curriculum. A number of international publications have recognized his expertise. In addition, he is chairman of The Read In! Foundation, the world's largest on-line literacy telecommunications project with more than a quarter of a million participants in 16 countries.
William Costiniuk
Timmins High and Vocational School, Timmins
Social sciences
Mr. Costiniuk's students have won 11 regional law essay awards and a mock trial sponsored by the Canadian Bar Association, as well as several prizes in a stock market competition. They received solid training in these areas through hands-on activities Mr. Costiniuk developed. These include The Expert Witness, a program that allows students to learn about forensic science. It requires students to research forensic science, determine which laws and charges apply to a hypothetical case, solve problems such as calculating blood alcohol levels and appear as expert witnesses in a mock court.
Sholom Eisenstat and Tito Faria
Don Mills Collegiate Institute, North York
Visual arts design, principles of design and computer graphics, co-op career exploration, computer studies and computer problem solving, communications technology and technology support
These teachers believe in taking chances, so they always strive to do things in new ways. One prime example is a multidisciplinary program that integrates visual arts and technology to focus on project-based and real-life activities. It produces experienced graphic artists and animators sought after by industry. This teaching team has also established partnerships with technology companies and helped introduce technology into other schools in the board.
Suzanne Fortin
École Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire, Blezard Valley
Elementary, all subjects
Ms. Fortin's students are developmentally challenged and are legally blind or deaf. Many require special supports, such as diapers or tube feeding. All are in wheelchairs. Thanks to Ms. Fortin's efforts, the students have facilities and special programs to help them learn and live their lives to their full potential. These include the Snoezelen Room, a specially equipped facility that gives deaf and blind children sensory experiences using fibre optics, bubble tubes, music, padded cushions, and fans and vibrations.
Rick Hay
Whitney Public School, Toronto
All subjects
Mr. Hay believes that a good education starts at the very beginning. He uses Grade 1 to foster children's love of learning and study habits for future grades. His students find out that learning happens everywhere and lasts a lifetime, through a variety of experiences inside and outside the classroom and the involvement of home and community. Mr. Hay has also initiated innovative environmental activities and organized a program to make school and staff computer literate. He publishes the school website, which contains a weekly newsletter, an outline of classroom activities, lists of homework assignments and individual web pages.
Anne Hobbs
Waterdown District High School, Waterdown
TRY program, human relations, peer mediation
Some students need more than the standard curriculum offerings to succeed at school and Ms. Hobbs is there for them. For example, she created the TRY (Taking Responsibility for Yourself) program to give students extra help with interpersonal communications and personal development. The program also offers individualized, independent learning courses that can lead to a high school diploma. She also developed five new courses for area high schools and initiated a peer mediation program that later became a credit course in conflict resolution.
Louisa Howerow
Jeanne Sauvé French Immersion Public School, London
English
Ms. Howerow helps students connect to the world around them. She develops or seeks out opportunities for students to do this through writing, reading and speaking. Her students learn to see themselves as responsible, contributing members of society by participating in Remembrance Day, Black History Month, UNICEF and environmental awareness activities, among others. By the end of the school year, all students see their work read and appreciated outside the classroom. In 1997, the school won a regional award for highest pupil participation in a reading program.
Carolyn Humphrey, Jo-Anne LaForty and Lucia Sharp
O'Neill Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Oshawa
Science, biology, chemistry, physics, information literacy, English, library
These teachers focus on the needs of young women at risk of dropping out of senior science and math courses. They encourage these students to participate in courses and to become aware of the career opportunities a science background provides. The teachers also work closely with the private sector to provide opportunities for young women in science. Research has shown the teachers have progressed towards their goal of creating a climate of success in which young women are encouraged to pursue studies in science, math and computers in high school and beyond.
Donald Jones
Kenner Collegiate Vocational Institute, Peterborough
English, peer tutors, reading tutors
With the right program, most, if not all, students can learn to read. Thanks to Mr. Jones, that program now exists. The peer-tutoring program he created has turned things around for many students who struggled with reading, enabling them to go on to future academic success. He has successfully taken over classes with the worst attendance records and made them the best-attended classes in the school. His students have shown a huge improvement in marks for students previously at risk. During a three-year, unpaid leave, he worked with school boards across Canada to develop similar programs.
Peter Joong
Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute, Toronto
Mathematics and computer science
Mr. Joong spearheaded several innovative programs that have made the school one of the top few for math and computer science in Toronto. These programs include a multimedia techniques and design course, a specialized math course for technical students in grades 11 and 12 and a fast-track math course that compresses the curricula for grades 9 through 11 into two years. He acts as a facilitator and director of learning for these programs by providing constructive feedback on students' efforts and suggestions for further investigation.
Charles Lamarche
École secondaire l'Héritage, Cornwall
French, language in media, communications technology
Mr. Lamarche encourages students to motivate themselves by ensuring they understand that a project simulates a real-life situation and that the finished product will get some publicity or exposure. His students have completed many media projects, including a Radio-Canada television show called Flip Flop, advertisements for major companies, radio programs and documentary videos. Through his "Le conte pour enfants" project, Grade 10 students work with elementary students to write children's stories and then publish them and record them on cassette.
Wendy Maxwell
The Bishop Strachan School, Toronto
Elementary French as a second language
Ms. Maxwell integrates French education with drama and literature. Children work co-operatively in small groups that are organized so the stronger students in the group help the weaker ones. The program is interactive, participatory and repetitive, giving students plenty of opportunity to use and practise the language. Ms. Maxwell's achievements also include a highly successful program of language teaching based on storytelling and drama that helps students think sequentially in a second language, builds a rich, contextualized vocabulary, and promotes oral language skills and written skills simultaneously. Ms. Maxwell's students frequently place first in public-speaking contests, locally and provincially.
Michael Milhausen
Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School, London French and Spanish
Mr. Milhausen is the driving force behind the French immersion programs, particularly in curriculum development, at two secondary schools in London - Sir Frederick Banting and Sir Wilfrid Laurier. These programs help students acquire a second language by immersing them in the cultural milieu of the language, in the classroom and through educational travel and exchanges in Canada and abroad. He also initiated the practice of language immersion outdoor camping, subsequently included in Professor David Pratt's book, Terrific Teaching: 100 Great Teachers Share Their Best Ideas. He has received several awards for his work in immersion.
Frank Mustoe
University of Toronto Schools, Toronto
Secondary chemistry, physics, general science
Using simple to sophisticated technology, ranging from balloons and models to computer projections and spreadsheets for lab data entry, Mr. Mustoe provides a relevant and challenging learning environment that allows students to understand chemistry. He backs this up with a mentoring program that lasts well beyond graduation. His students are keen to participate and are top performers in competitions such as the Avogadro chemistry contest, the Chemical Institute of Canada contest and the Chemistry Olympiad.
Rodney Rychliski and Katherine Vanderhorst
Driftwood Park Public School, Kitchener
All subjects
These teachers ensure that each of their students develops the concepts, skills and attitudes they need to use the computer as an instructional and creative tool. They do this by making computers, video cameras and digital cameras everyday tools for students in the classroom and by creating a flexible learning environment. The students respond with inspiring, and occasionally award-winning, creations. A multimedia presentation on Olympic skaters created by two Grade 5 students - including original artwork, text, actor-based animation, claymation, virtual objects and Internet links - won an International Society for Technology in Education award.
Brian Taylor
Horizon Alternative Senior School, Toronto
Elementary mathematics, science, history, geography, computer studies
Motivation can only happen when students see a clear purpose for learning, says Mr. Taylor. He conveys purpose along with his teaching by using simulations with a game component that have specific goals and require students to learn a variety of facts and skills, including computer skills. Using these simulations gives his students opportunities to take charge, make decisions and feel successful.
Kendall Taylor
Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School, Peterborough
Geography
Inspiring students at all ability levels to seek the possibilities open to them is Mr. Taylor's goal. He does this by bringing a combination of humour, creativity and a sense of exploration to the classroom, and he uses computer technology and teaching methods that foster high-level thinking skills. Four of Mr. Kendall's students have placed first in the Royal Canadian Geographical Society's high school essay-writing contest, and two others have received honourable mention.
Elaine Vine
Vaughan Road Academy, Toronto
INTERACT program, Grade 11-OAC English, writer's craft
To fulfil their responsibilities to their students, teachers should, Ms. Vine believes, provide relevant, realistic curricula in a secure, respectful and comfortable environment. The INTERACT program is a good example of the way she lives up to this standard. Through her efforts, students with serious outside commitments, such as athletic or dance training, can schedule their academic classes in a flexible way. She maintains high standards and expectations for these students, and is able to make school interesting and challenging enough to compete with their first loves of sports, dance and drama.
Colin Williamson
Bridlewood Community Elementary School, Kanata
Music, mathematics, English
Mr. Williamson believes that some of the most effective learning takes place outside the traditional curriculum. As such, he feels his role as a music teacher should have a far-reaching impact on students. He believes that music is for all, not just a select few, and ensures students become accomplished musicians by the end of Grade 8. He also organizes and leads an annual three-day senior band trip during which students play at the Canada's Wonderland Music Festival and visit sites around southern Ontario. This trip is the highlight of two years of practice, fundraising and adherence to group expectations.
Manitoba
Spencer Duncanson
Sisler High School, Winnipeg
Choral music and dance
If you have a diverse group of students, you had better give them a variety of ways to communicate with one another, says Mr. Duncanson. Some of his efforts to broaden the range of student expression include a curriculum of jazz and ballet in partnership with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and a successful dance troupe for at-risk students. The dance troupe, Sisler's Most Wanted, won a silver ribbon in a competition five months after Mr. Duncanson established it, and the members have made significant personal and academic improvements since.
Hope Kideckel
Sisler High School, Winnipeg
Career education
Ms. Kideckel helps students direct their own education, make career plans and consider their goals. She introduced the career exploration program at Sisler, Manitoba's largest high school, changing the way students make connections between their school life and the "real" life awaiting them in the future. She has also established partnerships with universities and the private sector. In the past three years, more than 110 partners have signed on, enabling more than 1 000 students to participate in job shadowing or career internships.
Jim Mackay
Silver Heights Collegiate, Winnipeg
Concert and jazz bands
Silver Heights' secondary concert and jazz bands have become a way for students to strive for excellence and a source of pride, thanks to Mr. Mackay. Recognizing that music education goes beyond teaching notes and techniques, he teaches life skills and personal worth through music. As well as becoming excellent musicians, his students learn to value their special skills and to use them to support the entire group. Mr. Mackay has received a Band World Legion of Honour Award from the John Philip Sousa Foundation, which recognized him internationally as an outstanding band director.
Saskatchewan
Gloria Herauf
Yorkton Catholic School Division #86, Yorkton
Elementary music
Far from being a break from other subjects in the elementary school curriculum, Ms. Herauf's music classes feature high expectations and a stimulating and rewarding learning atmosphere. She developed and delivers a comprehensive music program that helps students learn basic structures of music with percussion and rhythm instruments, recorders and songs with hand movements. These classes challenge students while ensuring that music is enjoyable. Her program has prepared students for high school arts courses and spurred some on to careers in the arts.
Roger Morgan
Kincaid Central School, Kincaid
Secondary math, physics, computer science
Mr. Morgan trains students to develop self-discipline and monitor their own performance with adaptive assignments, which give them a choice of skill level and difficulty. These assignments accommodate various learners by presenting three levels of questions based on the same curriculum objectives. This system encourages personal responsibility in higher grades. Students in graduating classes have responded by bringing home an average of $9000 in scholarships and other awards annually over the last eight years.
Alberta
William Kao
McNally High School, Edmonton
Mandarin Chinese
For Canadians, learning Mandarin Chinese is a serious challenge. Mr. Kao helps his students learn this difficult language and ensures that their success gives them new-found confidence when tackling all parts of the curriculum and life's other challenges. The excellent performance of his students speaks for itself: a 98 percent attendance rate (school average 91 percent), a passing rate of 96.5 percent (provincial standard 85 percent) and a class average of 6.54 out of 7 in International Baccalaureate exams (world average 5.86 out of 7). As well, 58 percent of students receive a grade of more than 80 percent (provincial standard 15 percent).
Margie MacDonell
École Rocky Elementary School, Rocky Mountain House
Language arts, health, art, physical education, counselling
Besides reading and writing, children also have to learn how to get along with others. Ms. MacDonell created the Peaceable School Community Project to help students and teachers eliminate emotional, verbal and physical violence, inappropriate behaviour, bullying and discrimination. The provincial department of education has recognized her program as a promising practice. Ms. MacDonell's students were also chosen to join a nation-wide rally in Toronto to honour Nelson Mandela.
Julie Matatko
Elizabeth School, Cold Lake
Elementary language arts and social studies
Ms. Matatko helps make learning enjoyable and rewarding for her students by creating a stable atmosphere for them. She is aware of the culture of the community and open to students' views, and gives students candid, constructive feedback. She also keeps parents informed of their children's successes as well as concerns or problems. Ms. Matatko played a key role in the Northland School Division's Performance Assessment Project, designed to improve student achievement, by helping develop evaluation criteria and guidelines for test administration and by testing students in language arts and mathematics.
Clarence Samuelson
John Maland High School, Devon
Instrumental music and general music
To make music interesting and fun for students, Mr. Samuelson incorporates computer technology and music camps, and has advanced students teach beginners. He also offers competition opportunities as incentives to excel. This dedication to excellence has resulted in provincial, national and international music festival awards. Mr. Samuelson encourages students to excel in other areas as well; the top music students are typically on the honour roll or are top athletes, too.
Diane Seguin Hare
St. Mary's High School, Calgary
French and French language arts
Ms. Seguin Hare has been a vigorous supporter of French as a second language programs in Alberta. She initiated a tutorial system whereby French immersion students tutor beginning students and developed learning guides for both levels of students. She also formed a partnership with an elementary school through which Grade 12 students choose a language-related activity and teach it to Grade 1 students. As coordinator of the Extended French Department, she promotes the value of learning a second language, and has developed French as a second language programs and materials for the Alberta Ministry of Education.
British Columbia
John Buckley
Princess Margaret Junior Secondary School, Penticton
Physical education and student leadership
A student leadership course, a five-point marking system and an expanded range of physical education are some of the initiatives that Mr. Buckley developed to significantly improve student achievement and performance. He backs these up with an approach to teaching that ensures that students of all abilities can thoroughly enjoy their physical education classes. He also created guidelines indicating the scope and sequence of skills that should be emphasized in each grade. This gives the department a high degree of consistency, no matter who is teaching which unit.
Shain Chisholm
Burnsview Junior Secondary School, Delta
French immersion, humanities
Mr. Chisholm has developed programs to offer students a wide variety of engaging lessons encouraging the use of French. As a result, enrolment in French immersion is rising, which is not the case at other schools in the region. His students learn in a workshop setting that unites the raw materials of local, national and global concerns, problems and issues with curriculum outcomes. This helps students develop critical and creative-thinking skills and allows them to learn with a historical and global perspective.
Elisabeth Dawson
Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School, Vancouver
Geography and social studies
Ms. Dawson uses field studies to integrate physical and human geography through analysis rather than description. This approach promotes students' interest by having them study their own community and motivates them by emphasizing the practical. She also prepares students in the International Baccalaureate Programme (IBP) for stiff competition with others in 80 countries. These students consistently perform well on IBP exams. For example, between 1989 and 1998, the average grade was a 5 (the scale ranges from 1 to 7). In May 1998, seven students - a third of Ms. Dawson's class - received a 6, putting them in the top eight percent of IBP students around the world.
Antonio De Araujo
St. Patrick Regional Secondary School, Vancouver
English and choral music
The choral program at St. Patrick has grown in three years to six choirs with 50 percent of the student body participating under Mr. De Araujo's direction. The program has enabled students to affirm their talents and has given the extremely diverse school population a common enthusiasm. The senior choir won the gold medal in a prestigious American contest in 1998, placing it in the top 10 percent of high school choirs in North America. As a result of this medal, the choir was the first Canadian group invited to the National Invitational High School Choral Festival in Washington, D.C.
Richard Edwardson and Dawn Jetté
Walnut Road Elementary School, W. E. Kinvig Elementary School, Surrey
All subjects
These teachers have created a program that convinces students that the study of the ancient world, including human origins, is not irrelevant to their daily lives. Each unit is designed to be a "mini-adventure" and calls for a high degree of student involvement, self-discipline, responsibility, creativity and decision making. For example, one unit of the Odyssey program these teachers developed consists of a simulated archeological dig. This has attracted considerable interest, including a film the teachers produced in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada in the late 1980s.
Greg Murray
Eagle View Elementary School, Port Hardy
All subjects
Mr. Murray blends information, problem solving and social skills into meaningful activity to teach life skills to his students. For example, he brought the "Odyssey of the Mind" program to the school and champions it as an alternative to science fairs. The program encourages students to use creativity and ingenuity to solve problems, and emphasizes co-operation and respect. Under this program, teams of five to seven students solve design problems, such as building a load-bearing structure to balance weights, or small cars to break stationary and moving balloons.
Gerald Pennells
Brentwood College School, Mill Bay
Secondary biology and general science
Mr. Pennells puts himself in his students' place when designing lesson plans and instruction methods or adapting the curriculum. As a result, he emphasizes capturing and maintaining students' enthusiasm. One of the keys to doing so is to ensure that students have good equipment for scientific study. Mr. Pennells has also given students the opportunity to do advanced lab studies by establishing an education partnership with the University of Victoria and the Bamfield Marine Station, a facility operated by five universities. His students have responded well: they consistently rank high in provincial examinations, Advanced Placement results and national biology competitions.
Karen Shoemaker
Buckingham Elementary School, Burnaby
All subjects
Ms. Shoemaker helps her students reach their full potential as members of society by moulding the learning environment to students' needs. She builds on students' emotional health by having them take on new challenges, such as the Remembrance Day Poster Contest, poetry- and essay-writing competitions, scarecrow-building competitions and Christmas tree-decorating contests. The latter two are the result of partnerships Ms. Shoemaker has forged with local businesses. She has also become a key figure in bringing anti-bullying programs into the school and promoting them through class activities and school-wide presentations.
Dale Stevenson
Rick Hansen Secondary School, Abbotsford
Physics, calculus, science
Real problem solving is what happens when people leave the classroom and make their way in the real world, says Mr. Stevenson. With this in mind, he avoids a monolithic approach to learning and adapts the curriculum to free students from rigid timelines, enabling them to develop skills relevant to the real world. In addition, he brings together seemingly unrelated areas - such as humanities, science, history, math, astronomy and geology - for challenging assignments. The result has been highly successful Advanced Placement physics and calculus programs.
Peter Stigings
Magee Secondary School, Vancouver
Concert band and jazz ensembles
Mr. Stigings strives for excellence, encourages persistence and aspiration, and develops confidence in his students. He gives band members special responsibilities: overseeing extracurricular rehearsals, looking after the music library, and acting as assistant musical directors. In addition, his students work as peer tutors and counsellors for younger students in the program and for elementary music students. The net effect of all this has been a successful and popular music program with 30 percent of students enrolled.
Susan Woelke
Stu"ate Lelum Secondary School, Chemainus Native College, Ladysmith
English, history, art, career and personal planning
Ms. Woelke seeks to convince students who have not succeeded in the education system that they can learn. She has successfully developed a number of practical exercises to encourage reluctant First Nations' students to embrace learning. These include "Do-Use-Teach," during which insecure students are encouraged to practise and use their skills and to teach them to other students. "Catch the Chalk" makes students the teachers. Graduates of her classes have gone on to become teachers through the Native Teachers Education Program. Others are enrolled at the University of British Columbia or community colleges, or in business courses. Still others are employed in a variety of office jobs.