Where to Start? I suppose some context will help frame this post. I have just returned from 4 Days in Ottawa Ontario, attending the 29th Annual Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence. In June I was informed I was a recipient but informed that I had to keep a Secret till October when It would be announced. I was so excited to be one of the recipients of this prestigious award. As part of being a national recipient of the award, I travelled to Ottawa to meet with other teachers from across the country. Over the time in Ottawa, I not only met these wonderful educators, but we got to share our best teaching practices and connect with each other about projects and stories from our classrooms. We attended an awards ceremony that had us all beaming with excitement and support for one another, and got to meet some very special guests.
Framing The Experience:
My flight out on Tuesday morning had me leaving the house at 3:30am, it would be a long day of travel. I spent a good amount of time on the plane trying to finish a presentation on my best practices, summing up a fair amount of time spent thinking over the last few weeks trying to collate what I thought were the most impactful aspects of how I approached teaching. When I arrived I had a list, and so obviously that was enough done to warrant taking a nap. It was refreshing enough that when I woke up an hour later I was able to begin patching together a slideshow. 11:30 am hits and we have a presentation together that feels like it will cover the topics I had wished to talk about.
Wednesday Morning I get myself together at 6am, (3am again BC time) and head over to the ISED (Innovation, Science, and Economic Development) offices where I am to meet the other recipients. I show up at the building and get greeted by name in the lobby, feeling impressed, I am issued a pass and given instructions on how to use it for security. Beth, the main organiser, came to greet me and ushered me up to the meeting room, it felt very official, and then we walked into the room where today’s event would take place. It was the type of place where international delegates would go to for a very important meeting or press conference. There were little microphones at each seat, and flags on the desk and in the corner, a video and photography team mulling about, and each seat had a very nice and very official looking name tag. This is when It would begin to click in how special this award really was beyond what I had already come to. The view out the window was the library and main block of parliament. It was a stunning view.
When I first took my seat I was a little nervous. I had that voice of self doubt running through my head, wondering if I was even qualified to be in this room. But It soon disappeared and did not return. I quickly began talking and engaging with the other recipients, talking about science, maths, robotics and inclusion and hurdles we faced. The group bonded really well, we connected in such a personal and deep way with one another. I think this set the tone for sharing and connecting over the following days. We had an opportunity to introduce ourselves and share a bit of who we were and where we came from, and we added personal anecdotes of what this meant for us. This deep and personal sharing around our teaching practices built a connection that became really important. We would later learn that we were the most socially and emotionally connected group that had ever gathered to received the award.
Day 1 The Experience and Connections:
Over the course of the day we each gave a 20 min talk on our best teaching practices. Although we each approached it from a slightly different angle, there were some themes that really resonated among us. The first commonality I would note, was a true commitment and dedication towards inclusive, representative, and socially responsible education. It was so refreshing and exciting, to hear these concepts not only being talked about but demonstrations of how they were being enacted in class and through lessons. What was more, was the impact and inspiration that students were taking from these lessons. There were teachers who actively working to help create change in how teachers perceived Black students and culture and people in society, so that more Black representation, inclusion and social understanding of systemic challenges were reflected in the classroom. Some talked about the impact of second languages on education and how that influenced a sense of belonging and subsequent impact of engagement and participation in the classroom for students. There were a range of topics but inclusive education would be repeated throughout!
My talk focused on having fun in the classroom, the role of connection, belonging, and representation as important factors to students engagement in class. We also spoke about my students projects and the impact having fun had on them but also the importance that teachers also have fun! It was well received and delivered with the perspective of story, a delivery that resonates well in indigenous pedagogy .
The second commonality, I would note was the use of innovative, hands-on, project based learning. This was everywhere, no one was doing worksheets and few were using textbooks. As a teacher who discovered the impacts of project based, hands-on learning on my own, and while facing resistance to this approach from some of my colleagues. There was a point in my teaching over the last few years when I began to question, if this method I was so passionate about was really as impactful as I thought. I believed it was but I did not see anyone else really doing this type of teaching. This past week has changed any sense of hesitation towards the use of Project based learning. It was so truly affirming to see so many other teachers who were approaching education in this way, and also teachers who were being recognized nationally across the country for this approach. I had found my people, a cohort of educators that shared this perspective and were embracing it!!!
As the discussions carried on with teachers from around the table mingling, chatting and inquiring a third perspective came to light. This perspective would hold that educational reform was well overdue and antiquated (but still embraced) teaching practices were not only ineffective but also harmful for students. The fact that these teaching practices were standard place and commonly taught on how education should be delivered, was an issue we would gather around and agree needed to change. Carrying back to the second commonality, we would talk about the potential students had when given the opportunity to pursue projects from a place of passion and interest. The success and impact that projects had on student engagement, learning, connection, and application of knowledge was echoed by the teachers I spoke with. How these projects would regularly engage the student who was often difficult to engage using traditional teaching practices.
Finally: The use of, engagement with and embracing, learning through engagement with technology. Less so for the younger students but highly across all other grades.
Collaboration, It’s going to happen! As we spoke it evolved naturally from the bonds and shared perspectives of whats next, what can we do to keep this energy going, to change education and share the perspectives we have developed? A number of ideas have been floated around, PodCasts, to running our own schools, to developing PD summer programs. I have left this week with a handful of new friends who are eager to collaborate, gather and share as the years come.
I assume it goes without Saying that these teachers are among some of the most passionate educators I have ever met! Their effort, thoughtfulness, intention, and determination towards teachers shine through!!
The Ceremony:
The group was excited as we met up at the National Arts Centre, a few run throughs rehearsing how the ceremony would go, as the nerves began to build! We were sent off for group photos and then called back to start the event. At this point I was so excited but also so nervous, and increasingly aware that my emotions were running high, the last thing I wanted was to burst into tears at the videos and pictures of my students. I missed them and missed teaching them, they were inspiring. I had family friends and colleagues back home watching the live stream. The Prime Minister walked in and the Ceremonies began. Some introductions about the event occurred and suddenly I felt calm. In that moment there was pride and strength and still excitement. The time had come and we were feeling ready. It was a wonderful experience seeing the video and hearing description they had drawn up from the letters of support. We were each called up on stage and got to shake hands with Justin Trudeu, be congratulated by the Prime Minister and pose for a photo holding our certificate. It was over in a moment and it represents an experience I will hold onto for a lifetime. Being presented with an award from the Prime Minister was an experience, but it really represents so much more. It will be a defining memory of the trip where I met 18 other amazing educators and educator teams, where we shared and celebrated each other’s teaching practices, where we upheld innovative approaches to teaching, where we shared stories of our students’ success, where we made new friends that when we left we could not imagine not seeing each other again! We learned so much, and I can’t wait to keep the connection and energy going!!!
During the reception, I was surprised to find out that a contingent of guests were there from Indigenous Services Canada, who had come out to the event specifically to support me. This was a really nice experience, I had a wonderful time talking with them and sharing all the exciting projects my students were working on. They were even able to get a couple of photos of me talking with the Prime Minister at the reception.
My time in Ottawa at the Prime Ministers Awards for Teaching Excellence was a truly incredible, humbling, inspirational, and amazing experience. I am so thankful for the opportunity to meet and share with some of the greatest teachers from across the country! Without the students who bravely came along with me in classroom through a different method of teaching and learning, and the administration who saw the vision and supported me through it all(including the nomination), I know we would not have been able to receive this inspiring award of accomplishment. Sending a Very Special Thank You to the Students and Teachers at the Siksika Nation High School.
In the following Days I would learn that the Justin Trudeau’s Instagram account would post a picture of me and a few of my fellow recipients.
