Nominations are in and 10 Rocky View Schools (RVS) teachers have been selected as nominees for Alberta Education’s 2014 Excellence of Teaching Awards.
“It’s a great honour,” said George McDougall High School Teacher Greg Rankin, though he was quick to say there are many deserving teachers at the school.
Rankin was nominated along with other George McDougall teachers Jordan Harris and Jarret Hooper, Derek Keenan from Nose Creek Elementary School, Jenna Smith from Herons Crossing School, Grayson Adams and Kara Vincent from Glenbow Elementary School, Sarah Chung from Springbank Middle School, Nicole Godley from W.G. Murdoch High School and Kathryn Hryciw from Manachaban Middle School.
“I’m honoured to be even nominated and recognized,” Hooper said, “but I know so many other teachers that are deserving.”
Though both teachers seem to shy away from the praise, they both expressed an appreciation the awards exist.
“Quite often teachers deal with the issues and concerns of many different people. I think you have to be a very caring and supportive person to do this job,” Hooper said.
He added he doesn’t envy the judges who determine the winners.
“I think teaching is such a broad umbrella of tasks it becomes hard to determine what makes one better than all the rest,” he said.
In 2013, 14 RVS teachers were nominated for the award and three were recognized as winners.
The semi-finalists will be announced in late April, and the 20 teachers selected as winners will be recognized in May.
All nominees receive certificates of recognition, while the semi-finalist and winners get access to funding for professional development opportunities.
Semi-finalists have access to $1,500 for professional development and winners receive $4,000.
The Selection Committee that was tasked with selecting the 20 winners is made up of representatives from: Alberta Education, the Alberta School Boards Association, the Alberta School Councils’ Association, the Alberta Teachers’ Association, the Association of Alberta Deans of Education, the Association of Independent Schools and Colleges, the College of Alberta School Superintendents.
The awards have celebrated outstanding teachers and principals since 1989, have received nominations for more than 9,000 teachers and principals and honoured more than 500 winners.
“You don’t get into teaching for the recognition,” said Hooper.
