Staff
A teacher at the Rimbey Elementary School was among six educators from Wolf Creek Public Schools (WCPS) to be recently nominated for an Excellence in Teaching award.
Vanessa Howey, who received her formal education at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, has taught Grade 6 at the local school for the past four years and began her teaching career in Hythe near Grande Prairie where she spent two years.
“I think I was nominated for the way I interact with students, the way I run my classroom, the relationships I have with the students and how I teach my lessons,” Howey said, adding her co-workers were thrilled to hear to news of the nomination. “They’re all happy for me and excited for me but again, it could be anyone of us here at the Rimbey Elementary School, not just me.”
Howey said the best and most rewarding part of her job revolves around her students, the interaction between both and especially upon the realization that the student has achieved the ‘eureka’ moment.
“The best part of being a teacher is being with kids every single day and it’s never the same. One day is not the same as the previous day and we learn new lessons every day about ourselves and about kids, and I think that’s the most exciting thing about being a teacher,” she said. “It’s a great moment when a kid ‘gets’ something, and not by me teaching it but when they discover it for themselves. That’s the best part of teaching. I’m honoured and appreciate the nomination.”
“These six individuals would be the first to tell you their success is predicated by a wonderful support structure inside their school and inside their jurisdiction. They would also be the first to tell you that they are not the only excellent teachers in Wolf Creek,” said Kurt Sacher, WCPS assistant superintendent. “They would be quick to try and deflect their recognition to the teachers next door, to the teachers on their professional learning team, or to the teachers they learn from in a district facilitated cohort.”