2015 Winning Teachers

September 30, 2015

OTIP (Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) recognized three outstanding Ontario teachers with the OTIP Teaching Award for excellence on Tuesday September 29 at the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites.

The following educators received the OTIP Teaching Award:

2015 Winning Teachers

September 30, 2015

OTIP (Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) recognized three outstanding Ontario teachers with the OTIP Teaching Award for excellence on Tuesday September 29 at the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites.

The following educators received the OTIP Teaching Award:

Beginning Teacher Category

Sandra Dubreuil

W.H. Morden Public School, Oakville

Sandra was honoured with the OTIP Teaching Award for excellence in teaching in the Beginning Teacher category.

Sandra’s philosophy is that all students in her class, no matter their ability, should learn to enjoy music and recognize how it is such a large part of their lives. With music, they create memories, recalling senses, smells and feelings. This is the message she wants to get across to her students and her success in her first year reflects this philosophy.

Sandra was presented with many challenges, not the least of which was having some students who had little or no interest in instrumental music. Sandra created meaningful experiences for Life Skills students, gifted students, and students who come with little or no musical experience. For example, she connected students with those in other countries to learn about each other and play songs together. Some students composed full band compositions and additional parts to include new instruments in a piece. Sandra developed a computer game complete with the facility to compose music. In addition, she has reached out to the local music store so that the students in her classes can have access to instruments with free rentals. She consistently offers support before, during and after class for any student who wishes to take advantage of her time and coaching.

As stated in her nomination, “Sandra’s tireless efforts have given her students a real sense of pride in what they can accomplish.”

Elementary Teacher Category

Melanie Brown-Robson

Lakeview Public School, Grimsby

Melanie Brown-Robson was honoured with the OTIP Teaching Award for excellence in teaching in the Elementary Teacher category.

Melanie Brown-Robson has taught in elementary school for over 30 years, working primarily with disadvantaged students. As stated in her nomination, “Watching Melanie set up her classroom and seeing the way that she lays the foundation for each learning experience for her students is like watching a great master set paint to the canvas to create a spectacular masterpiece.”

And the masterpiece is that every student feels success and develops an enthusiasm for learning. Melanie lets students know that she believes in their ability to improve: in gym, building students’ health and well-being; in literacy blocks, small group instruction so that students view themselves as capable readers and writers; and in math, encouraging students to view errors as opportunities for learning. Melanie consistently searches for the individual key to help each student learn. She is constantly adapting her teaching methods to conform to the individual’s learning methods.

But more than this, Melanie has provided caring and counselling for students’ social needs and food when they arrived at school hungry, coached them in sports, and is there for them both during and after school.

She has an empathetic approach to her students, tempered with a strong work ethic, which she expects from and deliberately cultivates in all of her students.

Secondary Teacher Category

Jim Magwood

Lisgar Collegiate Institute, Ottawa

Jim Magwood was honoured with the OTIP Teaching Award for excellence in teaching in the Secondary Teacher category.

Jim has engaged students in his classes and beyond for over 15 years. As stated in his nomination, “he’s able to challenge the most gifted students, while also inspiring applied level students to reach farther than they ever thought they could and still be successful.”

The project for which Jim has gained renown is the annual Carleton Educational Space Simulation club or Space Sim, for short. The club, which meets every Friday night in a building near Lisgar, is composed of a diverse group of 25 to 50 students from varying backgrounds – everyone is welcome. The goal each year is to simulate a full space mission to a destination chosen by the club. In 2015, the destination chosen was Hyperion, a moon of Saturn. Students plan and build a full planetary surface, simulate a walk on the surface of Hyperion and conduct various experiments. The club builds a fully contained and outfitted “space habitat” in which six students live during the five-day, 24 hour a day simulation each spring. Students learn not only the intricacies of space and space travel, but also practical skills, such as painting, computer programming, drywall installation, and electrical engineering. But even more so, students develop key qualities such as sharing, teamwork, self-awareness and self-confidence.

Jim’s career in teaching sciences and numerous other skills is one to be envied. The fact that students nominated Jim with the support of colleagues and administration speaks to his excellence as a teacher.