Parents nominate NCPS teacher for national award

Creemore parent Jennifer Hayward has nominated Nottawasaga and Creemore Public School teacher Myrna Whitley for the Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence.

Hayward has been impressed with Whitley’s teaching skills and her commitment to the community, in school and beyond.

“I see how well those two kids have done and I just wish my older son had had her,” said Hayward.

Having heard about the federal teaching award, Hayward reached out to other parents for support.

She had no problem finding other people to support the nomination and ended up submitting letters from fellow parents Victoria Brulotte and Brian MacIntyre, although others offered to put their support in writing.

Whitley is being lauded for her innovative instruction, collaborative approach and embracing technology in the classroom.

Whitley currently teaches Grade 4 at NCPS, where she has spent 15 years of her 23-year teaching career.

Among the specific ways Whitley goes above and beyond in her role as educator: she initiated an outdoor learning pilot program and uses the school garden to teach students about healthy eating. Students make food using fresh ingredients from the garden, which they bring home to share with their families. In addition to coaching other sports, Whitley initiated the school’s hockey team and parents say they are very impressed when she attends hockey games outside of school to cheer on her students.

“Mrs. Whitley makes learning fun and entertaining and gets all the children involved,” writes Hayward. “When you enter her classroom you can feel the positivity in the children and how eager they are to learn.”

She said Whitley creates an inclusive classroom community environment in which every student has a place and no one is centered out.

Parents are also impressed with Whitley’s efforts to explore new techniques and technologies. She uses a number of programs and virtual classroom tools to share information within the classroom, even reaching out to other schools. She encourages her students to use social media to safely communicate with the wider community.

This year, Whitley has created three learning areas in the classroom, a teaching zone, quiet zone and a discovery zone to support different learning experiences.

Principal Alison Golding, in support of the nomination, said students are always eager to attend class with Mrs. Whitley, even on snow days.

“Myrna provides an environment for learning that encourages pupils to be problem solvers, decision makers, lifelong learners, and contributing members of a changing society. In order to build community and develop leadership skills, students in Myrna’s class are given opportunities to be part of the spirit squad, pizza helpers, kindergarten helpers and are assigned daily jobs within the classroom,” said Golding.

“Myrna is a lifelong learner who engages in ongoing professional learning and applies new knowledge to improve her practice. She seeks input from colleagues, consultants and other support staff and applies new learning to enhance her teaching. She participates in professional learning on a school level at a board level, as well as outside of the school.”

When the parents told her during a classroom brunch they wanted to nominate her for the award Whitley said she shocked and humbled.

“I held onto my tears until I was driving home. It is very powerful to have a group of parents believe in you and appreciate what you do everyday, I cried all the way home. It is also a huge motivator knowing that so many people believe in you, it drives you to do better. It certainly helps you relate to how a teacher can motivate a student by believing in them and making them feel appreciated. Everybody wants to feel appreciated, approval and acceptance,” said Whitley.

“I can’t say enough about the parents who supported this nomination. They have been so supportive of their children in terms of learning, socially and academically. They are a great group of individuals, which is reflected in their children… This is my most rewarding and greatest recognition I have had in my life, as the big stars say, just being nominated is my win.”

The Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence recipients will be announced in the spring.