Each year, the Alberta Teachers' Association awards a gold medal to the student at each of the four faculties of education who attains the highest general proficiency in the final two years of a Bachelor of Education program.
The specific awards are known as the Marie-Louise Brugeyroux Gold Medal (Faculté Saint-Jean), the Milton Ezra LaZerte Gold Medal (University of Alberta), the Clarence Sansom Gold Medal (University of Calgary) and the William Aberhart Gold Medal (University of Lethbridge). These awards are administered by the student awards office affiliated with each institution and are generally awarded at convocation ceremonies in the spring.
Earlier this week, the University of Lethbridge celebrated the achievements of its 2024 graduating class at Spring 2024 Convocation, and an intern teacher from Nicholas Sheran Elementary School earned one of the prestigious ATA awards.
Hayley Bedard, a PSIII student at Nicholas Sheran, was awarded the ATA's William Aberhart Gold Medal in Education.
Bedard completed her PSIII in the winter semester, 2024 in a Grade 5 classroom at the school, and according to Nicholas Sheran principal Aaron Fitchett, the school knew right away that she was a teacher they'd like to bring back.
"Almost immediately after completing this last semester, Hayley was added to our substitute teacher list and was hired into a Grade 2 maternity leave position here at Nicholas Sheran," said Fitchett. "Hayley was the successful candidate for the extension of this maternity leave contract as well, so she will return to Nicholas Sheran Elementary School in the fall of the 2024/2025 school year, rejoining the Grade 2 teaching team.
A general social sciences/Indigenous education major, Bedard is widely regarded as an emerging teacher who will change the field of education. She achieved a near perfect GPA in the classroom at the U of L, while her Professional Inquiry Project, focused on increasing student engagement through thinking routines, received top honours.
Bedard showcased her intentional planning and reflection, commitment to relationship and trust building, and willingness to adapt to the needs of her students throughout her highly successful PS III internship at Nicholas Sheran Elementary School.
"Throughout her internship, Hayley committed herself to fostering and maintaining effective relationships with students, parents and guardians, support staff in the school, and of course her teaching colleagues," said Fitchett. "Through her empathy and genuine caring for others, Hayley facilitated trusting relationships in a short time, which is necessary as a beginning teacher. Our school and students benefitted from Hayley's commitment to demonstrating consistent fairness, integrity and respect to those around her."
Fitchett added Bedard was responsible for teaching a diverse group of students, whose learning needs, social-emotional skills and English language acquisition skills were quite broad.
"Despite the complexity of the learning outcomes she planned for, Hayley found ways to make learning real and relevant for each unique student in her classroom," he said. "Finding ways to use appropriate universal and targeted strategies and supports to meet the learning needs of all students were skills that Hayley entered her internship with, and she has taken time to continue her own professional growth and learning."
November 23, 2024
