Thanking Whitecourt teachers for the impact they have on local children and their parents

When it comes to teachers, “thank you” is not enough. With that in mind, I posted in a Whitecourt Facebook group and invited local parents to share their stories about teachers from the community. Here are some of the many comments that flooded the post. Parent Francine McGrath sang the praises for two Pat Hardy teachers. “Mrs. Webb is an amazing person! She is the most patient and kind teacher. Also, Ms. Danks! We are just a few weeks in, and she has been such a calm, kind and huge help with my son.” McGrath said that Mrs. Moon, who no longer teaches at Pat Hardy, was a huge help last year. “She was a Godsend to us! I want them all to know that they are all appreciated so very, very much!”

Jenna Wilson also shared her experiences with two Pat Hardy teachers: Mrs. Vesely and Mrs. Haug. “These amazing ladies helped so much with my son Daxton, who suffers from anxiety. When no one else listened to our struggle, they took the time to understand and adjust. Daxton not only improved socially but because they addressed those issues, he excelled academically! These ladies need to be appreciated more than they are,” beamed Wilson. “Thank you, Mrs. Haug, for noticing our struggle! We would not be where we are today without you! Thank you, Mrs. Vesely, for your tremendous support and encouragement. You taught Daxton confidence and courage, two things he lacked. You are a gifted teacher, and we are lucky to have had you,” typed Wilson.

Parent Holly Morey gave a shoutout to Mrs. Finan. “You can tell that she loves the children she works with every day. I could not ask for a better teacher for my boy.” A second parent, Carolyn Budden Penney, joined the praise. “I second Mrs. Finan. She had my son in grade two. He is in grade eight now, and she still asks about him. She is very loving and motherly. She was the best teacher he ever had, and we all love her to pieces!” Nia Davio spoke highly of Mrs. MacRitchie, calling her the kindest soul. “I wish she could teach my kids through all their grades!”

Charity Foster-Wilkins said that Mrs. Simmons at Pat Hardy was terrific with her daughter Kierra and called her “an inspiration for all teachers!” Christine Bevans commented that Robyn Foster, an EA at Pat Hardy, was integral to easing her mind. “She takes any worry about sending my type 1 diabetic child to school. Without her, I do not think I could have sent him back this year with all the COVID rules in place.” Foster said that being mentioned by a parent was a surprise. “Just making a little difference in their day to day life is huge for me. The main goal is to see growth and progress for our students, and when that is reached, it’s a great feeling for all.” Foster was quick to share the love in return. “We truly are lucky at Pat Hardy to have a lot of amazing educators.”

Several teachers from St. Mary’s were given shoutouts by parents, including Mrs. Barnes and Ms. Novelletto. Kristy Lovdahl said that her daughter Lily loved them both. Lily is now in Ecole St. Joseph’s and said that her favourite teacher is Ms. Plouffe. “She makes all the kids feel the same. Struggling with ADHD is difficult enough but having a teacher who makes me feel like it isn’t something that makes me different in a bad way, but makes me special in a good, positive way, is awesome! Plus, she always has the best suckers,” said Lily.

Ashley Kelly wanted Madame Bianca at St. Mary’s to know that she is amazing! “She is the most kind-hearted person!” Sara-Mae Sears agreed. “Madame Bianca and Madame Stacy have been wonderful influences. Not only have they developed great strategies to teach children another language, but they have always greeted my daughters enthusiastically in and out of school.” Mrs. Britt, also from St. Mary’s, received accolades from parent Michelle Bain. “She is always excited to see the kids in the morning. My daughter Gracie is so happy to go to school because she loves Mrs. Britt!” Melissa Code joined the chorus of parents by publicly thanking Madame Caroline. “She was wonderful throughout the pandemic. She provided extra support whenever needed. I want to thank her for providing routine during the pandemic. She is so kind and helpful.”

Tasha Kenwell-Smith singled out Mrs. Weber from Ecole St. Joseph School for supporting her son. “My son has had her for the last three years, and she is truly amazing. She is always pushing him to do his best and is such a positive role model for him. Just last week, she sent me the sweetest email about how proud of him she is. A lot of his success in Junior and Senior are because of her.” Parent Jessie Lee thanked three Ecole St. Joseph teachers, Mrs. Plouffe, Mrs. Kazamer, and Mrs. Stubbs, for helping guide her children.

Central School teachers mentioned on the post included Ms. Diotte, who was thanked for her patience and caring nature. Mr. Landry was another popular mention with parents acknowledging his friendly personality, positive spirit, and love for teaching. Jocelyn Glidden said that she would always remember Mrs. Camps at Central School. “I felt like she truly understood my son and always strived to provide him with opportunities to excel both academically and socially.”

Ms. Chichak at Percy Baxter received mention for her infectious smile, positivity, and dedication to her students. Ms. Brus was mentioned for being a passionate, caring, and supportive teacher. Up the road at Hilltop High School, Mrs. Keay was called out as a gifted mentor. “She is so passionate about her job to teach, support, and mentor young people and is a beautiful person inside and out,” gushed Sandra McKenzie Beuker. “She goes above and beyond as a teacher and mentor to the students, especially the grads,” raved Tammy Dickson. “She is never appreciated enough!”

Hilltop graduate Nikita LaCroix shared her appreciation for Mrs. Christianson, one of the school’s secretaries. “She helped me keep going when things got difficult and allowed me to see that I was important and that even though I was going through tough times, I shouldn’t give up on my goals of graduating high school and attending university. It seemed impossible, and I was ready to give up. Mrs. Christianson helped me see the light when everything else seemed to be dark.” LaCroix said that she would never forget the impact Mrs. Christianson and the Hilltop teachers had on her life. “I’ve been to over ten different schools growing up, and the staff at Hilltop are the ones that accepted me for how I was. They gave me hope and helped me believe in myself.”

Mrs. Woodford, a math teacher at Hilltop, was thanked for her kindness, and when asked what her favourite part about teaching is, she said something profound. “I love knowing that I get to be a support system for a class even if it is only for a small part of their day, for a fraction of their life. I remember the journeys of my students forever, long after I am forgotten.” Though we cannot name each teacher or share a story from each classroom, we hope that this smorgasbord of comments helps sprinkle a little love to all local teachers and school staff. We see you. Thank you.