News Releases
March 31, 2009

134 Alberta teachers recognized for creativity and innovation in classroom

Edmonton... The 2009 Excellence in Teaching Awards Program is recognizing 134 creative and innovative teachers as award semi-finalists for their exceptional work in Alberta’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 classrooms. Semi-finalists were selected from 365 eligible nominations from across the province.

“Teachers and principals connect with hundreds of students every day, providing support and mentorship that helps shape the lives of Alberta’s youth,” said Education Minister Dave Hancock. “These awards celebrate the teaching profession and shine a light on the important efforts of teachers and principals to inspire students to enjoy learning while working toward their goals.”

Nominees must show leadership, demonstrate creativity and innovation, work collaboratively with colleagues, and create positive and stimulating learning environments that motivate students to exceed their own expectations. Each nomination includes statements of support from the nominee’s principal or superintendent, a teaching colleague, and a member of the public.  Semi-finalists and award recipients are selected by a committee made up of representatives from the education community.

The program honours teachers across the province and encourages them to further develop their skills by providing funding for their professional development. Semi-finalists are invited to a special celebration that includes an afternoon of professional development and a dinner, and they can access up to $1,500 for additional professional development. Twenty award recipients can access up to $4,000 for professional development and are formally honoured at a dinner and awards ceremony with the Education Minister. The three teachers who receive SMARTer Kids Foundation Innovative Use of Technology Awards will receive a comprehensive technology package, which includes a SMART board. This year’s 23 award recipients, who are selected from the 134 semi-finalists, will be honoured in Edmonton on May 30.

“The Excellence in Teaching Awards give the community a chance to thank teachers for their positive contributions to students’ learning experiences, said Hancock. “I applaud all nominees and semi-finalists for their hard work in classrooms across this province and encourage them to continue with their unique and effective teaching methods.”

Alberta Education hosts the 21st Annual Excellence in Teaching Awards with the support of the Alberta School Councils’ Association, the Alberta School Boards Association, The Alberta Teachers’ Association, the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards, the Edmonton Journal and the SMARTer Kids Foundation.  Albertans have celebrated Excellence in Teaching since 1989, with more than 8,000 teachers nominated and more than 400 award recipients. For more information about the Excellence in Teaching Awards, visit / and click on the teachers tab.

Backgrounder

2009 Provincial Excellence in Teaching Awards Semi-finalists

Barrhead

Ian Wallace  Barrhead Composite High School

Bonnyville

Jacey Burkholder  École Notre Dame High School

Brooks

Roger Cowan  Brooks Composite High School

Calgary

Susan Ashley University School
Barbara Bannon Olympic Heights School
Nicole Brayton Westmount Charter School
Daniel Buchanan Harold W. Riley School
Dominique Cayouette Chinook Park School
Emily Chick Discovering Choices - Start (Bowness) Outreach
Michelle Deen St. Anthony School
Ted Doram Bowness High School
Valerie Fuchshuber William Reid School
Patti Gillespie Noble  Westmount Charter School
Suzanne Hasiuk St. Sylvester School
Susan Inhaber Terrace Road School
Michele Kelly St. Rita School
Erik Leung Bishop O'Byrne High School
Leslie Lewis Grant MacEwan School
Rona MacEachern  Westmount Charter School
Alexander Mckay  Banting and Best School
Cathryn Miller Dr. Gordon Townsend School
Paul Monaghan Westmount Charter School
Jayne Mueller St. James School
Derek Rakowski University School
Deirdre Richardson Sunalta School
Darlene Selby  Tom Baines School
Robb Sherman John XXIII School
Evelyn Sobremonte Bishop McNally High School
Merrilie Stonewall Cochrane High School
Julie Stover Glenbow Elementary School
Kerry Urban William Roper Hull School
Stephanie Vannus Annie Foote School
Greg Weir Lester B. Pearson High School
Greg Woitas St. Vincent de Paul School 

Edmonton

Jennifer Allen  Highlands School
Janelle Benedet  Oliver School
Ronda Borchert George P. Nicholson School
Rosanne Boutin  St. Clement Catholic School
Margaret Bujold  École J.H. Picard Catholic School
Jodi Burak Archbishop Oscar Romero Catholic School
Frank Candido M.E. LaZerte School
Heather Chorley  Dan Knott School
Melanie Colistro St. Lucy Catholic School
Jacqueline Connolly Leason Good Shepherd Catholic School
Marianne Darlet  École J.H. Picard Catholic School
Janet Davies-Davis Austin O'Brien Catholic School
Claudio Delcioppo Ben Calf Robe: St. Clare Catholic School
Greg Dowler-Coltman Victoria School
Charney Erickson M.E. LaZerte School
Marcel Evaristo St. James Catholic School
Diane Fischer Harry Ainlay School
Erminia Fuerderer St. Joseph Catholic School
Lisa Hailes Anne Fitzgerald Catholic School
Joyce Holden Duggan School
Linda Jarman Garneau School
Yanick Jean-Proulx Harry Ainlay School
Susannah Killey Archbishop Oscar Romero Catholic School
Margaret Klaray  Ottewell School
Anuradha Kurup Avonmore School
Jennifer Laroche Dovercourt School
Andrea Larsen Minchau School
Guy Leclerc École Frère Antoine Catholic School
Jianyi Li-Mitra Ross Sheppard School
Daryl Lyseng Braemar School
Susanna Makale Ben Calf Robe: St. Clare Catholic School
Susan McKenzie-Robblee Crestwood School
Dean Michailides Balwin School
Angela Paskevich Archbishop O'Leary Catholic School
Marlene Paziuk M.E. LaZerte School
Deborah Pennyfeather Ottewell School
William Robertson Ross Sheppard School
Rosanna Saccomanno St. Anne Catholic School
Amy Sanders Concordia High School
Marcie Syme George P. Nicholson School
Marian Thompson  Menisa School
Aurel Ulliac  H.E. Beriault Catholic School
Corey Whaley  M.E. Lazerte School
Linda Wight Brightview School 

Forestburg

Linda Coutts  Forestburg School 

Fort McMurray

Jeff Clow  St. Martha School
Sheldon Dahl  Fort McMurray Composite High School

Grande Prairie

Clinton Pollon  Montrose Junior High School
Jay Smith Grande Prairie Composite High School

High Level

Susan Richards  Spirit of the North Community School

High River 

Bruno Payette  École Senator Riley School

Lethbridge

Karen Bourassa  Mike Mountain Horse Elementary School
Zahra Foroud Lethbridge Montessori School
Denis Potvin St. Paul Elementary School
Lynn Saler St. Patrick Fine Arts Elementary School

Medicine Hat

Beverly Fuñe  St. Michael's School

Okotoks

Trish Draper Dr. Morris Gibson School
Mariette Mos John Paul II Collegiate
Carmen Ostafichuk  Holy Trinity Academy

Olds

Thomas Christensen Olds Junior-Senior High School 
Amanda King Horizon Alternate Program
Marilyn Wallace  Olds Junior-Senior High School

Picture Butte

Jane Boras Dorothy Dalgleish School
Natalie Townshend Picture Butte High School

Ponoka

Lois Spate  Ponoka Elementary School

Red Deer

Sanduo Cai Hunting Hills High School 
Tania Diletzoy École Secondaire Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School
Kathleen Finnigan St. Patrick's Community School
Dennis Gerwing  St. Thomas Aquinas School
Grant Gosse  St. Patrick's Community School
Ramona Knudslien Westpark Middle School
Curtis Lansing St. Thomas Aquinas School
Sheena McNiff-Wolfe École Secondaire Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School
Moira Milne Annie L. Gaetz Elementary School
Darla Mora Joseph Welsh Elementary School
Theresa Moseson  Holy Family School
Karen Vanderwater Annie L. Gaetz Elementary School

Rimbey

Dale Ewanchuk   Rimbey Junior Senior High School

Seba Beach

Norma Peck  Seba Beach School 

Sherwood Park

Therese Dach  Sherwood Heights Junior High School 
John Lobe Strathcona Christian Academy Elementary
Karen Lundin  Lakeland Ridge School

Spirit River

Ian Sewall  Peace Academy of Virtual Education

Spruce Grove

Gerry Smithaniuk  Woodhaven Middle School
Kevin Tokarsky Woodhaven Middle School

St. Albert

Angela Lockhart  Paul Kane High School
Daryl Price Paul Kane High School

Taber

Teresa Hansen Armada Colony School
Michelle Sawchuk D.A. Ferguson Middle School

Tilley

Janice Jensen   Tilley School

Two Hills

Ryan Morey   Two Hills Mennonite School

2009 SMARTer Kids Innovative Use of Technology Awards Semi-finalists

Nathan Clark   
Melina Akins    
My Nguyen      
Trenton Lunde  
Terry Godwaldt    
Jacqueline Klatt   
Sherri-Lynn Fricker   
Joshua Hill    
Arthur Pendle 
Bowden Grandview School, Bowden
Corpus Christi School, Calgary
CBe-learn, Calgary
Grand Centre Elementary School, Cold Lake
Queen Elizabeth School, Edmonton
Rutherford School, Edmonton
Fort Saskatchewan Elementary School, Ft. Saskatchewan
Langdon School, Langdon
Hunting Hills High School, Red Deer