2005 Winning Teachers

May 11, 2005

Continuing the celebration of Education Week, Ontario’s top classroom educators will be honoured as the Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) announce the 2005 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:

2005 Winning Teachers

May 11, 2005

Continuing the celebration of Education Week, Ontario’s top classroom educators will be honoured as the Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) announce the 2005 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

Kimberley Snider

Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, Toronto

Continuing the celebration of Education Week, Ontario’s top classroom educators will be honoured as the Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) announce the 2005 OTIP Teaching Awards. Four awards are given each year to outstanding teachers in the categories of elementary, secondary, francophone and beginning teacher.

“I work with teachers every day,” said Richard Roy, Regional Manager for OTIP. “It gives me a particular pleasure to be able to celebrate these special individuals for their outstanding teaching practices. OTIP is proud to be the sponsor of this awards program.”

“Every teacher deserves to be recognized for their dedication to publicly funded education in Ontario,” said OTF President, Jim McQueen. “But this evening, we have singled out four outstanding teachers as representatives of the best of the profession.”

The teachers were nominated by students, parents and colleagues, each with a unique story of how the nominee works to motivate, challenge and inspire, gives selflessly of time and dedication and puts students’ needs first.

The awards recognize teachers who use innovative teaching methods, enthuse and engage students, reflect the multi-ethnic heritage of Ontario and encourage the creative use of technology in the classroom, among other criteria.

Elementary Teacher Category

Sandra Murray

Tecumseh Public School, Chatham

Sandra Murray teaches Grades 7 and 8 Mathematics at Tecumseh Public School in Chatham.

Her nominator for the OTIP Teaching Award says that she is a teacher who “challenges, inspires, supports, and cares for her students, colleagues and school community.”

Many of her colleagues sent in letters of support, and their comments echo the same glowing characteristics of this elementary teacher.

We also heard from parents whose lives have been touched by Sandy Murray. They particularly emphasize her ability to challenge and encourage her students to be the best they can be. One parent told us that Sandy Murray was “…the brightest, shiniest…” star teacher and “most deserving of a special award of recognition.”

We heard from the school board officials and Sandy Murray’s principal.

And we heard, as well, from former and current students:

“This teacher has a spark like no other teacher I’ve ever had, and that spark is the joy of teaching.”

“I look forward to seeing her every day, we have a lot of fun together and of course, I have learned a lot from her in so many ways.”

“Mrs. Murray is an outstanding teacher, fabulous coach, great role model and she is always involved in things at Tecumseh.”

“I just feel sorry for the students who won’t be able to have Mrs. Murray as their teacher next year, because she’s retiring.”

Secondary Teacher Category

Brent Robillard

Thousand Islands Secondary School, Brockville

Brent Robillard is an English and History teacher from Thousand Islands Secondary School in Brockville.

Brent Robillard is an educator who teaches by example. In his Writer’s Craft course he writes at the same time as his students – and what a lot of writing his students do.

The course includes the writing of a 30,000 word novella which is ready to be sent to publishers at the end of the course. Five of Brent’s students have had their work published.

A teacher since 1997, Brent is also a published writer and poet. His first novel Leaving Wyoming came out last fall. His real life experience in the publishing world has brought additional opportunities to his students.

Brent is an all-round teacher who participates in extra-curricular activities from exchange programs to tutoring to theatre productions. He is also active in his Federation and in his community.

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