Waterloo Region District School Board

Steven Lipskie, a teacher at Sunnyside PS and a Master of Education graduate from Brock University, has been awarded the Margaret Haughey Masters Award by the Canadian Association for Study of Education Administration. Steve's thesis was written on "Developing a Deeper Understanding of Educational Change." Brock University submitted Steven's Masters thesis for the award and it was judged the best in Canada.

Three Waterloo Region District School Board teachers have been honoured with Stewart Awards for Teaching Excellence: Don Bieronski, a computer, business, chemistry and physical education teacher at Preston High School, was awarded the Grant R MacDonald Award; Robert Douglas, a retiring English and film teacher from Eastwood Collegiate Institute was given the Finlay G Stewart Memorial Award; and John McLelland, a music teacher at Bluevale Collegiate Institute, won the Douglas W Turnbull Memorial Award.

Lynn Zammit, co-ordinator of the Choices for Youth Program and Restorative Justice Project for the Waterloo Region District School Board has been awarded one of the inaugural Victim Services Awards of Distinction by the Attorney General of Ontario for exceptional support and dedication to youth and other victims..

Nancy Kidd, a teacher at Bluevale Collegiate Institute, received the Mentor Award at the 19th annual Kitchener Waterloo Arts Awards & Movable Feast. There were 45 nominations received from the public.

Maedith Radlein, Principal at NA. MacEachern Public School has been honoured by Focus for Ethnic Women for her accomplishments in the field of education and her contributions to the community through outstanding efforts in volunteerism. The Focus for Ethnic Women group is a non-profit provider of services and support to immigrant and refugee women. It has addressed the physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual needs of women who are new to Canada for the past 20 years.

Jack Nahrgang, a teacher at Huron Heights SS, has won second prize in the “Telling Our Stories” provincial writing contest. The contest had entrants explore the impact of Ontario public libraries. Mr. Nahrgang’s story, “It Should Have Been Skates” was chosen from over 750 submissions and judged by 15,000 public votes from across Ontario.

Preston High School has been named the 2007 Barrday School of Excellence. Of the nominations received and reviewed, Barrday selected Preston High School as the recipient for the second year in a row; last year the school received the inaugural award. To be eligible for the honour, a school has to have had a teacher win a Barrday Teacher of Excellence Award. The school received $10,000 from Barrday representatives during a presentation at the school. It will be used to enhance educational programs for Preston HS students. Barrday Inc.

Ryan Hume, family studies department head and grade 12 economics teacher at Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School, has been awarded the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) 2006 Excellence in Education Award for Promotion of Sustainable Practices.

Each year Barrday, a Cambridge business, recognizes ten inspirational teachers in the City of Cambridge, with $1,000 Teacher of Excellence Awards. This year Waterloo Region DSB teachers won eight of the ten awards. The teachers were recognized for consistently demonstrating excellence, integrity, respect and innovation as they influence young people in Cambridge. We are very proud of our staff and would like to congratulate the following teachers:
Reta Beall - grade 5 and 6 teacher at Silverheights PS

In November, Helen Turner, principal at Grand View PS in Cambridge, was a guest speaker at the Fire Marshal's Public Safety Council 14th Annual Public Fire and Life Safety Educator's Conference. Last year Helen receivecd an Ontario Fire Marshal award for her work in promoting fire and safety training in her public school classrooms over the past decade.