Division selects its Edwin Parr Award nominee for 2019/2020 school year

Lethbridge School Division has selected its Edwin Parr Award nominee for the 2019/2020 school year.
At Tuesday’s Board of Trustees meeting, the Board approved the nomination for Jenelle Macdonald, a Grade 3/4 teacher at Fleetwood-Bawden Elementary School.
“Possessing teaching abilities well beyond that expected at her level of experience, there is no doubt that Jenelle has a bright future and there will be many years of students who are well served in her classroom,” said Fleetwood principal Craig DeJong. “She is relationship-centred and an integral piece of the teaching team at Fleetwood.”
On an annual basis, each school jurisdiction submits the name of one first-year teacher as its nomination for the Edwin Parr Award, which is sponsored by the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA). Nominees from Zone 6 jurisdictions will be recognized at the May 20, 2020 Zone 6 ASBA meeting. One nominee from the zone will then be selected as the zone nominee for the Fall General Meeting of the ASBA.
With many outstanding beginning teachers in the Division, it was certainly not an easy task to select a Division nominee, according to Associate Superintendent Rik Jesse, who in consultation with school principals, selects the Division’s nominee each year.
This year’s nominee said she has witnessed a lot of growth in her classroom since September.
“As a Grade 3/4 teacher, I am passionate about inclusive, concept-based education that promotes collaboration, inquiry and engagement in the classroom,” said Macdonald. “I try to make sure that I teach with different modalities so that all students can feel success and celebrate their diverse learning needs. At the beginning of this year, building a respectful and accepting classroom community was a priority, and I have been able to witness the positive impact that this has had. My students are so welcoming to everyone and I love watching them develop and grow into leaders.”