Last month, two LRSD educators brought home something extra special to hang on their walls.
Shamrock School principal Karen Duffield and Victor Mager School teacher Rachel Robinson were recipients of this year's Excellence in Education Awards.
"It was so kind of some of my teachers to nominate me," Duffield said. "But it's really an award for all of us, because we've got a great team here and everybody's working really hard."
Duffield was this year's recipient of the Province of Manitoba's Outstanding School Leader Award, which recognizes the work Duffield has done to welcome students and staff merging from a nearby school and cultivate a feeling of belonging for all. The principal tackled difficult and delicate situations with grace and set up a student group to encourage and empower students to take the initiative to create positive change amongst their peers and community.
But in a demonstration of the qualities that garnered her the award, Duffield once again deflected credit to her team.
"Really what this award is about is working as a team and getting teachers on board, staff on board," Duffield said. "Our goal has always been to create and develop that sense of belonging for everybody, for staff and for students."
Principal Karen Duffield (front row, leftmost seat, wearing green blazer) and teacher Rachel Robinson (back row, right-most position, wearing pink sweater) are two of six Province of Manitoba Excellence in Education Award recipients.
Robinson won her award at a different point in her journey through education. The second-year teacher's efforts earned her this year's Outstanding New Teacher Award.
"It's a little awkward to be in the spotlight," Robinson said, "but it's very, very nice to be recognized, too."
Robinson said while the award is validating, she's focused on the journey ahead.
"It just makes me want to try that much more and that much harder to make sure I'm doing all the right things and making sure everybody feels included and happy and welcome."
Aside from an ability to build rapport with students and creating creative and interactive lessons, Robinson has worked to improve school culture through initiatives including Community Helpers, a student advocacy group that helps students become leaders by helping organize meals-to-go, spirit week, newsletters, eco-friendly activities, and otherwise respond to the needs of the school.
Robinson also created a Grade 6 skating program. She rustled up equipment donations and obtained grant funding to pay for transportation and ice time.
That hard work and commitment didn't go unnoticed. Two people nominated Robinson: a co-worker and a student.
She said she was grateful to her colleague for the support, but there was something extra special about the endorsement from her younger advocate.
"I didn't always know I wanted to be a teacher, but following in my grandpa's footsteps, I knew whatever I did, I wanted to do something where I could leave an impact," she said. "So, to know a student nominated me, and to know that I did leave an impact, is pretty huge."
Duffield and Robinson were two of six award winners. Recipients were chosen by a selection committee of representatives from the Manitoba School Boards Association, the Manitoba Federation of Independent Schools, and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Learning.
