This year we welcomed 19 new teachers to our community schools and five new teachers to the Alberta Distance Learning Centre. We are deeply invested in ensuring our newest teachers are successful as they take their first steps into the teaching profession.
"Our students' success hinges on the success of the teachers working with them -- so we are very deliberate about how we welcome and orient new teachers to our school division," said Assistant Superintendent Mark Thiesen. In late August, new teachers participate in three days of orientation led by a seasoned educator. Based on Fred Jones Positive Classroom Instruction Training, these sessions cover classroom management skills, strategies for working with challenging students and effective planning and assessment. On an ongoing basis, the division's lead teacher team will work with the new teachers and the division will pair the new teachers with other teachers who have a similar grade or teaching assignment. "Our goal is to orient our new teachers with a culture of collaboration," said Thiesen.
Meet our new teachers
- Barrhead Composite High School
- Kirsten Jacobsen, Jr / Sr High Foods
- Cari Neudecker, Sr High Social Studies
- Michael Smith, Jr High Humanities
- École Barrhead Elementary School
- Gillian Bourgeois, Kindergarten
- Martha Friessen, Grade 4
- Dakota Gonnet, Social Studies/Phys Ed
- Presley MacDougall, Grade 4 French Immersion
- Eleanor Hall School
- Megan Boulanger, Grade 4
- Kent Johnson, Jr High Math/Phys Ed
- Albert Perreault, Jr High Social Studies/Options
- Pembina North Community School
- Nicole Wade, Grade 1
- R.F. Staples Secondary School
- Leane Buxton, Jr High Math/Phys Ed/Film studies
- Aaron Deas, Language Arts/Social Studies/CALM/Art
- Mike Edwards, Jr High Math/Phys Ed
- Teri Edwards, Pathway Program
- Lalenya Gasse, Sr High English/Film studies/Fitness
- Sunny Bend Colony School
- Kiersten Rasmusson, Generalist
- Swan Hills School
- Kara King, Grade 2
- Jeff Tomiak, Jr Sr High Math/Science
- ADLC Calgary
- Lori Goetjen Lienau, Sr High Math
- Lara Pedersen, Jr High Science
- ADLC Edmonton
- Lisa Larose, French Immersion Math/Science
- Janie Zwack, Sr High Art
- ADLC Lethbridge
- Angela Viola, Sr High Science
