Rick Stiebel

B次元官网网址 Staff

After teaching different grades at the start of her career, Helena Ewald has found her comfort zone with Kindergarten and Grade 1 at Doncaster elementary.

Ewald is one of the three honorees from last yearB次元官网网址檚 Great Teachers feature, a Black Press Community Media initiative that highlights the great work of teachers in the Capital Region, sponsored by Staples Business Depot with support from Camosun College.

B次元官网网址淭eaching kids that age is rewarding in many ways,B次元官网网址� she noted. B次元官网网址淭hey really take to singing, dancing, learning, and sometimes just being silly. Other grades all have their good elements, but the age I teach are so open. I feel like IB次元官网网址檝e found what works best for me.B次元官网网址�

Ewald said her Grade 3 teacher left a lasting impression. B次元官网网址淪he had a long Greek last name that was difficult to pronounce so she let us call her Angela,B次元官网网址� Ewald said. B次元官网网址淪he was a bit of a hippie spirit and read to us a lot. That led me to love reading.B次元官网网址�

Although it was nice to be nominated for Great Teachers, Ewald believes there are B次元官网网址渉undreds of teachers out thereB次元官网网址� that are more deserving. She particularly enjoyed reading the comments parents included in their nominations. B次元官网网址淚t was really nice to read what a parent had to say about another teacher at my school,B次元官网网址� she added.

For Ewald, the rewards she gets from teaching extend beyond the classroom.

B次元官网网址淩eaching a student who is struggling and seeing the light bulb come on is very gratifying,B次元官网网址� she explained. B次元官网网址淢aking connections with families by teaching students and then their siblings that come through your class forms a connection with the family that extends out into the community.B次元官网网址�

If you would like to nominate a teacher who is making a positive difference in your childB次元官网网址檚 life, go to saanichnews.com/contests. Nominations close May 14.

If you donB次元官网网址檛 find Emma Cottier in the classroom, thereB次元官网网址檚 a good chance sheB次元官网网址檚 on the baseball diamond. Cottier, a Great Teachers honoree for 2016, is the softball coach for the Island U18 rep team.

B次元官网网址淚 guess you could say the classroom and the ballfield are my two homes,B次元官网网址� said Cottier, a Grade 6-7 homeroom teacher at Royal Oak middle school.

Last yearB次元官网网址檚 nomination caught her completely off guard. B次元官网网址淚t was completely unexpected,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 was very surprised that parents would take the time to write such kind words.B次元官网网址�

Cottier said sheB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渧ery fortunateB次元官网网址� to have the opportunity to teach in the same school district that she attended as a student.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a big fan of all the teachers I had growing up and I knew from a young age that this is what I wanted to do,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a huge honour to be working with some of my former teachers and sharing a mutual respect.B次元官网网址�

Cottier mentioned Jacqui Cunningham, her teacher at StellyB次元官网网址檚 secondary school, as the kind of teacher she aspires to be. B次元官网网址淪he provided so many opportunities for us,B次元官网网址� she explained. B次元官网网址淪he was always planning trips and activities that went above and beyond. IB次元官网网址檓 a big fan of my soccer coach in high school as well.B次元官网网址�

CottierB次元官网网址檚 approach to teaching combines personalized learning with choice and flexibility. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very tech oriented,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚t starts with building strong relationships. ThereB次元官网网址檚 times where you see that flexibility allows for more creative freedom. Every kid is different. You need to identify their strengths and weaknesses and provide opportunities for them to shine in their areas of specialty.B次元官网网址�

Tim Storm traces his inspiration to teach back to his high school rowing coach.

B次元官网网址淚an McFarlane was a student teacher at Brock University and volunteered to coach our high school rowing team,B次元官网网址� said Storm, a Great Teachers honoree for 2016. B次元官网网址淗e instilled confidence in us and was a major reason I started thinking about teaching. During my years as a competitive rower I tried volunteer coaching and really enjoyed it. The experiences I had coaching and being coached led me to go into teaching.B次元官网网址�

Storm said heB次元官网网址檚 been fortunate to have had the opportunity to be able to combine teaching and coaching throughout his career.

B次元官网网址淚 was really lucky that I could work in areas I was passionate about,B次元官网网址� said Storm, who retired in 2016 after 27 years at StellyB次元官网网址檚 secondary. B次元官网网址淚 coached rowing for 16 or 17 years and got to coach my own kids. It was a real treat to see them develop. And I got to teach global studies, earth science and law, all topics of great interest for me. If I had to teach subjects IB次元官网网址檓 not as passionate about I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have enjoyed it to the same degree.B次元官网网址�

The opportunity to try out new initiatives in the classroom played a major role as well, he noted.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a real transition,B次元官网网址� Storm said regarding the adjustment to retirement. B次元官网网址淚 miss the social aspect, interacting with students and colleagues every day. YouB次元官网网址檙e part of a purpose, something youB次元官网网址檙e accomplishing each day, creating great opportunities for young people. You have to find things in retirement to replace that.B次元官网网址�

A bike trip in France and excursions to the Grand Canyon and some national parks with his wife are at the top of StormB次元官网网址檚 list for retirement.

B次元官网网址淭he plus side of retirement is that you finally have time for those things. And thereB次元官网网址檚 no denying I donB次元官网网址檛 miss having to run for the 8:20 bell every morning,B次元官网网址� he added with a laugh.