Lakeland Catholic has nominated Alexandra Shapka for the 2022 Alberta School Boards' Association (ASBA) Edwin Parr Award.
The award is presented annually to first year teachers from across the province who excel in their field.
Shapka is a first year Kindergarten teacher at St. Dominic Elementary School in Cold Lake. She grew up in Bonnyville and attended Lakeland Catholic Schools. She completed her Bachelors of Elementary Education with Distinction at the University of Alberta.
Shapka said she was "inspired by many people" in her life to become a teacher.
"I was encouraged by professors and classmates to pursue the path of teaching, as well as my many family members who themselves are teachers. I became a teacher because I am passionate about helping educate and shape the minds of our future generations to better our society and world," she said. "I want to be a teacher who students will remember in their future with fond memories, about how Ms. Shapka helped make their days a little brighter and view school more positively, just like how my teachers influenced me."
What Shapka loves most about teaching is how everyday is different, and the relationships she builds with her students.
"It's amazing to see them grow and develop over the course of the school year," she said. "It's definitely rewarding."
Shapka was chosen as this year's ASBA Edwin Parr nominee because of her unwavering dedication to her students, and her eagerness to expand her knowledge, build relationships with other staff, and share her faith.
She takes an experimental learning approach when it comes to teaching her students, never hesitating to sit with them whether it involves instructing an activity or participating.
"I'm not afraid to immerse myself with the students," Shapka explained.
In addition to her role as a French Immersion teacher, Shapka is an active member of the LCSD Collaborative Response Team, she sits on the LCSD Mental Health Matters Committee, and is the coach of her school's Grade 5/6 volleyball teams.
"Alexandra was a clear choice to be nominated for the ASBA Edwin Parr Award. She demonstrates exemplary skills, dedication, a joyful pride in her students' successes, and is a passionate advocate of Catholic education. We congratulate Alexandra on her nomination for this distinguished award," said Superintendent Pamela Guilbault.
The award will be presented during the ASBA's fall conference.
