Two Comox Valley educators have been announced as finalists for the inaugural Premier’s Awards for Excellence in Education.
Kirsten Tancon, a teacher at Highland Secondary School, was named a finalist for the Outstanding New Teacher Award, while Jeannine Lindsay, an Aboriginal support worker at Lake Trail Middle School, is a finalist for the Outstanding Support Award.
Tancon has been teaching in the Comox Valley for four years and she said she was honoured to even be nominated for the award, let alone be named a finalist. Tancon teaches Technology Education which includes woodworking, jewelry and intro to trades.
“One of my first great memories was when a young student asked if I could take photos of her using the bandsaw for the first time – I was very proud,” she said. “My goal in teaching Technology Education has been to broaden the demographic of students who take shop class, and I work to ensure that everyone feels welcome in my classes.”
Tancon said she is committed to life-long learning, creating genuine connections with students and helping students connect with their community. She adds that everyone has a place in the school and she strives to help students feel respected for who they are.
Lindsay said she has been working in the school district since 2002, but has been in this Indigenous support position for four years.
“I never thought in a million years that I would be nominated for an award like this. I love my job and it’s my passion,” she said. “Everybody’s indigenous to somewhere, not just native cultures and I think it’s really important for all our students to have a sense of belonging.”
She said her main goal as an Indigenous support worker is to help students learn about different people’s histories and cultures.
“Most importantly, we should be learning the culture from where we live, what land we live on.”
Lindsay is planning on going back to school to become a teacher in order to have her own classroom so she can teach the things she is currently helping students with.
The Comox Valley School District is happy to have two finalists in the first year of the awards.
“We are incredibly thrilled for our two education professionals. This is a testimony to their dedication and commitment to public education and is truly a reflection of the vision and values for which we all stand by,” said superintendent Dean Lindquist. “The recognition of our educational professionals is an honour and we are quite proud of Jeannine, Kirsten and all district staff who continue to support and deliver excellence in education for our students.”
The Premier’s Awards for Excellence in Education were launched this spring to honour the efforts of educators across the province and a total of 188 nominations were received for the nine categories. Each winner will receive $3,000 to go towards their professional learning, while an additional $2,000 will go to the school community.
The winners will be announced on World Teachers’ Day, Oct. 5, at Government House in Victoria.
To see the full list of finalists, visit https://bit.ly/2sRpZy7
