W.R. Frose teacher Mary Kaliel has been named a Master Teacher.
Kaliel received the award at a surprise ceremony at the school on March 7, in front of all her students and fellow teachers.
“It was a surprise,” she said. “I’m honoured and shocked. I know a lot of other teachers who could have been named.”
Kaliel, who teaches Language Arts to students in Grades 5-8, said she never would have thought her work with kids would be recognized in this way. She simply wanted to help kids get a strong start in life through falling in love with literacy.
“In my job; it’s important that kids learn to love language,” she said. “It’s more than just reading and writing.”
A Master Teacher award is meant as a form of recognition of a teacher’s work in his or her school and the education field in general.
It’s usually awarded to those teachers who are considered leaders in education, and who advocate student improvement. In many cases, the honour goes to teachers who go above and beyond what they would normally be asked to do.
In order to be chosen as a Master Teacher, the individual must be recognized and nominated by his or her colleagues — it’s not something the recipient can apply for directly.
Pembina Hills school division trustee Sherry Allen presented Kaliel with the award, and spoke highly of the work Kaliel has done in her seven years working at W.R. Frose and other Pembina Hills schools.
“One of her greatest strengths is her keen desire to know each student and to target their specific learning needs,” Allen said of Kaliel. “She has amazing talents for motivating even the most reluctant learner as she provides a consistent, safe classroom environment.”
Kaliel said she’s always learning and willing to try new things. With communities becoming more diverse, she said it’s important to continue to look at new ways of teaching and work to improve her teaching craft.
W.R. Frose principal Darcie Eamor said she was happy to have been involved in recognizing an “amazing teacher.”
“She has the passion to know each student as an individual and target their learning needs,” she said.
Eamor also credited Kaliel with being instrumental in getting the school up to speed with the new technology the division has been putting into the schools over the past few years.
For Kaliel, the honour is a nice reward for her more than 20 years in education.
