Good things are happening at St. Patrick’s Community School.
And the province has taken notice by awarding two teachers a 2011 Excellence in Teaching Award and another a 2011 SMART Technologies Innovative Use of Technology Award.
The annual provincial awards recognize the innovative and outstanding work teachers or principals are doing inside the classroom.
St. Pat’s teachers Jill Labonte and Adrian Paolinelli were two of 20 teaching recipients while Rob Coumont was one of three teachers who received a technology award for using technology in the classroom and teaching others.
Sylvan Lake’s Our Lady of the Rosary School kindergarten teacher Angela Mueller, and Joseph Welsh Elementary School teachers Grace Page and Terry Lakey also received excellence in teaching awards.
This year there were 326 nominations and 135 teachers/principals were named semi-finalists.
St. Pat’s principal Kathleen Finnigan admitted it was unusual to have three teachers tapped from one school and four within the Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools. Finnigan said the teachers are a testament to the outstanding work her team of teachers are doing at St. Pat’s and other teachers in the division.
“This just tells me we are going in the right direction with education,” said Finnigan.
St. Patrick’s Community School has had one award recipient in the last two years. Finnigan said her teachers are continuously finding creative and innovative ways to hook students on learning in the kindergarten to Grade 9 school.
Labonte, a Grade 3 teacher, has taught at the school for five years. Finnigan said Labonte has become a division leader for her ability to teach blended classes and her focus on reading comprehension.
As an example, Labonte uses videoconferencing to enhance her students’ writing skills by doing various activities with a Grade 3 class in Spruce Grove.
“We’re doing a lot of great things at St. Pat’s,” said Labonte.
“I think it is just constantly being able to learn and being able to change things in the classroom and make it better for the students.”
While the award was a pleasant surprise, Labonte said she is more proud of the increased reading abilities of her students. She knows not every student comes into a classroom reading at the grade level so she ensures her classroom is rich with books at different levels.
Grade 5 teacher Coumont has taught at St. Pat’s for five years. Finnigan said Coumont has been instrumental in turning his students into 21st century learners and into strategic thinkers.
For example, his students are blogging, creating on websites and using other technology in the classroom. Coumont is also a learning coach where he supports other teachers on various initiatives in the division.
“The students and I are trying to learn a lot of 21st century related skills,” said Coumont.
“I guess I have to thank the willingness and skills of my students and share this with them.”
As a Turning Points teacher Paolinelli works with students in Grades 5 to 9 who have behavioural concerns and struggle in a regular classroom in the Red Deer Catholic Regional Division.
He has taught at St. Pat’s for five years. Finnigan said Paolinelli’s hands on approach, interactive and cooperative learning techniques have made the difference for the students who cannot make it in some of those regular classrooms.
Paolinelli said he enjoys helping students feel safe and welcome in the school.
He said his relationship building with the students and his ability to establish a good rapport helped earn the award.
Award winners receive $4,000 for professional development.
The semi-finalists receive $1,500 for professional development. All recipients will be honoured at an awards dinner with Education Minister Dave Hancock on May 28 in Edmonton.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com