Palliser Regional Schools congratulates Danielle Booker, teacher at Vulcan Prairieview Elementary School, who is Palliser's finalist for the Alberta School Boards Association Edwin Parr Award for Zone 6.
The Edwin Parr Award recognizes outstanding first- year teachers who portray high levels of employee morale and commitment to student learning.
Booker teaches Grade 3/4. She has her bachelor of education degree from St. Mary’s University College in Calgary, as well was her bachelor of arts in psychology with honours in sociology from the University of Calgary.
Colleagues and parents describe Booker’s genuine and caring connection with students, infectious enthusiasm and use of a variety of activities and strategies to cater to student’s individual learning styles as key strengths she’s demonstrated this year.
A former learning assistant, Booker says she was exciting to organize her first classroom and she feels fortunate for all the collaboration, support and mentorship she’s received in her first year teaching.
“I remember being at the hiring fair at my university and being attracted to Palliser because of their first-year induction program,” she recalls. “It actually continues through three years of teaching and you get to meet and collaborate with those other teachers that are having similar experiences as you. I found it really beneficial.”
Principal Shane Cranston says while first-year teachers can feel overwhelmed by life in the classroom, Booker has enthusiastically volunteered for a variety of leadership roles, taking on extracurricular sports and math club after school, and serving as the school’s guide in the recent transition to Google.
“First and fore most the positive energy she has brought to our school, her classroom and throughout the building,” he says of what impresses him about Booker. “In her first year, she has grasped on to our literacy and assessment focus and we see it in her instructional practice on a daily basis.”
Booker possesses a confidence in the classroom that one might not expect from a beginning teacher.
“My journey to teaching wasn’t a straightforward path,” she says. “I knew I was interested in the brain so I did a psychology degree. . . then I was an educational assistant and got to work in the classroom,” she says. “I decided I would love to be a teacher and get to influence student learning. It’s really helped me with being comfortable and confident in the classroom.”
Two other beginning teachers were also recommended as Palliser’s finalist for the Edwin Parr. Congratulations to out to Kira Goodrich, teacher at Jennie Emery Elementary School in Coaldale, and Curtis Perrin, teacher at Picture Butte High School, for their work this year.
The Zone 6 Edwin Parr Award winner will be announced next month and each zone winner will be honoured at the ASBA annual fall conference in Edmonton.
Congratulations, Danielle!