Edwin Parr Teaching Award Nominees Announced

Each year, the Alberta School Board Association (ASBA) accepts nominations from school boards, like ours, wishing to recognize outstanding first-year teachers. The award celebrates the legacy of Edwin Parr, a school board trustee and president of the Alberta School Trustees Association from 1956 to 1962. The award has been given annually since 1964.  

This year, our division received three nominations from school principals for first-year teachers who demonstrated excellence in positive relationships, instructional strategies, student assessment and evaluation, inclusive practices and contributions to the lives of students beyond the classroom. From these three nominees, one is selected as our formal nomination to the ASBA.

Our 2021-2022 nominees are:

Danyka Culbert, École Secondaire Highwood High School  

Nominated by Principal David Roberts, Danyka was nominated for her strong capacity to foster an inclusive learning environment where all students in her classes, and more broadly in the school community, feel safe, welcomed and cared for. Danyka’s strong relationships, her connection to students and the High River community, and her design for deep learning were all noted as strengths in her first year of teaching.  

Breanne Jamieson, C. Ian McLaren School

Nominated by Principal Stacey Swanson and Vice-Principal Judy Leyden, Breanne was nominated for her ability to recognize the needs of all the students and make accommodations for their learning accordingly, ensuring an inclusive environment for all. As part of her exemplary instructional practice, Breanne has skillfully adapted the design practices of learning for transfer, regularly uses “guides to success” as an assessment tool, and works with her students to create guides together so targets are clear and students can be agents of their own learning.   

Jordan Meyer, Meadow Ridge School

Nominated by Principal Rebecca Forchuk, Jordan was nominated for her excellence in fostering caring and learning-focused relationships with her students. Jordan’s ability to design engaging learning for her students which competently develops their knowledge, skills, and world views is noteworthy. Jordan has also shown significant capacity in contributing to school culture through extra-curricular leadership.

Our Board of Trustees and Executive congratulate each of the nominees for their commitment to student learning. Their passion for their chosen profession and deep caring for their students was highly evident in their presentations to the selection committee. The Board looks forward to celebrating each of the nominees at the annual Board Recognition Luncheon in June.  

Our 2021-2022 selected representative for the Foothill School Division

Foothills School Division extends its congratulations to Breanne Jamieson as the recipient of Foothills School Division’s Zone 5 Edwin Parr Award nomination for 2021-2022. With this nomination, Breanne will now represent the Foothills School Division at the zone level.

Breanne shared with her interview that her passion for education began at the age of 15 when she provided piano instruction in Okotoks. Other teaching experiences included volunteering with children in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, with an education program with the Vancouver Symphony, and in English Language instruction to students in China. All were experiences that solidified her passion and desire to earn a degree in Education. Breanne holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of British Columbia, a Masters of Music from Indiana University, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary. In her nomination interview, she praised school-based colleagues, divisional mentors, and her school leadership at C. Ian McLaren for supporting her early teaching success.