East York College hopes to dominate Premier’s teaching awards

School nominates record numbers for Premier’s excellence in teaching awards due in spring

by GEORGE KAGAME

If luck is on their side, East York Collegiate Institute is set to reap big in the 2008-09 Premier’s Award for Excellence in Teaching to be announced before the end of spring.

The college according to Susan Gucci Co Chair of the parent School Council has this year nominated the record number of nominations for the highly coveted teaching awards that recognize the effort of teachers in shaping the careers of students. This year Gucci says East York Collegiate has nominated four members of the teaching staff for the prestigious Teacher of the Year in Tom Northey, Joseph Wilson, Catherine Mattar-Hurlbut and Dale Vibert.

Should the competition for the teaching slot be too hot the school has also nominated other staff members in various fields where awards are up for grabs, these include Guidance and Team of the Year as well as entries in the race for sports activities.

Furthermore, the college has one of the best sports programs in Toronto with their senior Goliaths capturing the Toronto South Region Championship in football for the last two seasons, the school also boasts of achievements in the golf sport, hosting a charity golf tournament organized by the Friends of the Athletics Committee for the past five years. This year’s version will be held at the Summit Golf and Country Club in Richmond Hill.

Gucci said the teachers at the college are committed and passionate about the role they play in the lives of their students and the big entry of teachers in the prize nominations is testimony of the faith that parents in the community have in them (teachers). “The majority of the nominations were from parents at the school.....it speaks to the quality of the staff we are fortunate to have.”

East York Collegiate is a community school built on the strength and diversity of its members in 1927, Gucci said the school focuses on developing academic excellence, social responsibility, and the highest education and career goals foe each student.

The Premier’s Awards for Teaching Excellence recognizes outstanding educators who make exceptional contributions to improve student achievement and benefit their schools. Presented annually to teachers working within the public, independent or band school system, these awards provide students, parents, members of the community and other educators as well with an opportunity to celebrate those teachers who make a difference in the development of students to their careers.

An independent selection panel reviews the nominations and award recipients for this year will be announced in the spring. They will be honoured at a special event before the end of the school year.