2004 Winning Teachers

June 10, 2004

While Ontario students await their final report cards, a group of teachers will be given honour roll marks tonight. Top classroom educators will be honoured as the Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) announce the 2004 OTIP Teaching Awards. Four awards are given each year to outstanding teachers in the categories of elementary, secondary, francophone and beginning teacher.

The following educators received the OTIP Teaching Award:

2004 Winning Teachers

June 10, 2004

While Ontario students await their final report cards, a group of teachers will be given honour roll marks tonight. Top classroom educators will be honoured as the Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) announce the 2004 OTIP Teaching Awards. Four awards are given each year to outstanding teachers in the categories of elementary, secondary, francophone and beginning teacher.

The following educators received the OTIP Teaching Award:

Beginning Teacher Category

Amy Lin

Oakville Trafalgar High School, Oakville

It’s hard to imagine how someone could pack in so much the a career that has lasted for less than five years of teaching. Amy Lin started teaching in 2000 and joined Oakville Trafalgar High School in 2002 as Head of Pure and Applied Sciences. She currently teaches data management.

Amy piloted a remedial Math program for Grades 7 to 9 and, ever dedicated to maths and sciences, she launched the first annual Halton District Student Data Analysis Fair. It’s a math fair for students to showcase their statistics projects. On her own initiative, she found sponsors for the fair resulting in more than $2,000 in prizes for the students.

Her calculus course was the first online course to be fully subscribed at the Board.

Her colleagues say she brings fun to the job, has a passion for teaching math and science, is always upbeat and brings a positive influence to the school’s atmosphere.

Elementary Teacher Category

Gisèle Dufresne

École Ste Marguerite Bourgeoys, Kenora

Gisèle Dufresne teaches Grade 6 at École Ste Marguerite Bourgeoys in Kenora. She is a selfless and tireless worker devoted to her profession.

So modest is Gisèle, that when told she would be honoured this evening, she tried to decline the award. We convinced her to reconsider and accept the honour on behalf of all the teachers who are as dedicated as she is.

It could be expected that, after 20 years in the classroom, the same teaching methods would be used over and over again. This is not the case. Gisèle, a leader in information technology at her school, uses IT in the classroom and cheerfully urges her colleagues to follow her example.

She leads professional development workshops at the board level to share her expertise.

Gisèle is also involved in school arts performances. Seeing a lack of French material for the immersion students, Gisèle has taken it into her own hands to adapt and write original material for students to perform.

As teacher-in-charge at Ste Marguerite Bourgeoys, Gisèle has earned the admiration of her colleagues and the respect of her students.

Secondary Teacher Category

Staci Neuts

Leamington District Secondary School, Leamington

We have in Staci Neuts a woman who steps happily into the most challenging classroom in Leamington District Secondary School.

Leading an “at-risk” class, Staci works with students with emotional, social and behavioural challenges. Her nominator, child and youth worker Mitchell Kay, says he’s learned plenty from Staci.

In spite of the many challenges in her field, Staci’s dedication to the students has led this educator to undertake even more tasks.

She was involved in creating and implementing a Low Grade German youth program for Mennonite children in the community. She took certification courses for coaching hockey this year to allow some of her students get their 40 hours of community service by helping to run practices.

And when another student was ill with a heart ailment, Staci routinely collected homework from all of his teachers, took it to the boy’s home and sat with him making sure he understood what was required with all of it before she left.

Staci also has two children of her own in whose lives she is very much involved.