HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC SCHOOL DIVISION
Teacher and Educator at The Children of St. Martha School Receives Excellence in Catholic Education Award 2023/2024

Superintendent Ken Sampson is pleased to announce that Mrs. Nicole Wilson, a teacher and educator at The Children of St. Martha School, has been selected as Holy Spirit Catholic School Division's recipient for the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta's (CCSSA), "Excellence in Catholic Education Award" for 2023/2024. The award recognizes Catholic educators in Alberta who "are passionate about Catholic education and the students they teach, inspire their students, and demonstrate commitment to Catholic education and teaching excellence." 

Mrs. Wilson is not only passionate about being an educator but also about the Catholic Faith which, she believes, can be integrated into everything we do. "For me, teaching is not just about teaching. I became a teacher because I wanted to teach in a Catholic school because that's where I feel God is calling me to. I truly believe that we're actually called to prepare these students for eternity and when we put Christ at the centre of all that we do, including in our teaching and students in their learning, that everything else will follow and so then they will be set up in their life because they're discerning where God is taking them. All of the subjects that they learn, whether it's numeracy, literacy, social science, fine arts, physical education, those are all gifts from God and what they do with that is their gift back to God. I'm very passionate about that and feel that this is a calling for me to be here doing what I'm doing."

Mrs. Janet Clamp, Principal at The Children of St. Martha, says that the work Mrs. Wilson does is recognized across the community, including her fellow teachers, students and even parents. "Nicole is a very important part of our community. She is the go-to person when other staff have questions about Faith or wondering about how to do anything. Nicole has a very natural and loving way to approach her students in moments of joy, moments of hardship and moments of discipline. She always talks things through a Faith lens and how that can help them. Nicole is very deserving of this award and she goes above and beyond what we would want in the ideal world for Catholic Education. It's not just her way of being, it's not just how she teaches religion class but Nicole is able to continually, through all subject matter, talk about and guide her students in ways of justice and love and compassion and empathy. It's who she is and then, in turn, becomes part of who her students are." 

Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Ken Sampson, says the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division is lucky to have a teacher like Mrs. Wilson. "We are privileged to recognize Nicole for tireless work in supporting so many children at the Children of St. Martha School in thoughtful and loving ways.  Nicole's pastoral approach to people in general, and to students in particular, is highly commendable.  Exemplifying the essence of Catholic Education, her commitment to shaping the hearts and minds of our students is unwavering."

Mrs. Wilson will be honoured at the CCSSA's upcoming SPICE Conference on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Please join the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division in congratulating Nicole Wilson for being selected as our recipient of the "Excellence in Catholic Education Award."