Educators, Partners Honoured During Education Week

NOTE: A list of Education Week award recipients follows this release.

Teachers, students and education partners from across the province gathered today, April 22, at Rocky Lake Junior High in Bedford to kick off Education Week.

It runs until Saturday, April 26, and has been celebrated since 1935 honouring the commitment from teachers and partners to students.

Lt.-Gov. J.J. Grant and Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Karen Casey presented the annual Education Week Awards to 23 teachers and four partners. This year's theme is Active Citizenship: Get Involved, Take Action, Be the Difference.

"Today we recognize the exemplary efforts of Nova Scotia's educators, and all those who work in partnership to ensure a prosperous future for the next generation of Nova Scotians," said Lt.-Gov. Grant.

Recipients are being recognized for encouraging students to be active in their communities and recognize the influential role they can have.

Recipients promote key aspects of active citizenship such as critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, participation, and using the Internet and social media responsibly.

"These educators are empowering students, giving them the tools to be leaders in their communities," said Ms. Casey. "Thank you for fostering active citizens in Nova Scotia."

Education Week is a co-operative effort of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union, the Nova Scotia School Boards Association, the Nova Scotia Federation of Home and School Associations, la Fédération des parents acadiens de la Nouvelle-Écosse, the Association of Nova Scotia Educational Administrators and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

The description of each recipient is available at www.ednet.ns.ca/educationweek2014 .

Following is a list of Education Week award recipients: Annapolis Valley Regional School Board

• Suzanne Greenlaw, Middleton Regional High School
• Melanie Miller, West Hants Middle School, Newport
• Cathy Reimer, Port Williams Elementary School, Kings County

Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board

• Theresa Halliday, St. Joseph Elementary School, Sydney Mines
• Janice Hanna, Riverview High School, Coxheath, Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Chignecto-Central Regional School Board

• Katherine Blois, Rawdon District Elementary School, Upper Rawdon, Hants Co.
• Dawn Chapman, Thorburn Consolidated School
• Sue Stevenson, Parrsboro Regional Elementary and Parrsboro Regional High School

Conseil scolaire Acadien provincial

• Weldon Boudreau, École Beaubassin, Halifax Regional Municipality
• Christian Demers, École acadienne de Pomquet, Antigonish County
• Mouna Westergard, École secondaire de Par-en-Bas, Tusket, Yarmouth Co.

Halifax Regional School Board

• Melanie Kennedy, Auburn Drive High School
• Debbie MacDonald, Prince Andrew High School
• Carol McGillivray, Halifax Central Junior High

South Shore Regional School Board

• Julie Ramey, North Queens Community School, Caledonia
• Krystal Snyder, New Germany Elementary School, Luneburg County

Strait Regional School Board

• Rob Allen, Strait Area Education Recreation Centre, Port Hawkesbury
• Edward (Eddie) Avery, Chedabucto Education Centre-Guysborough Academy, Guysborough
• Donna Machin, Richmond Education Centre-Academy, Lewisdale
• Theresa Thompson, Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School, Antigonish

Tri-County Regional School Board

• Amanda Brewer, Maple Grove Education Centre, Hebron, Yarmouth, Co.

• Andrea Mood-Nickerson, Forest Ridge Academy, Barrington, Shelburne Co.

• Jennie O'Brien, Digby Regional High School

• Ambrose White, New Waterford, Association of Nova Scotia Educational Administrators

• Alex Bruce, Halifax Regional Municipality, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

• David Smith, Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia Federation of Home and School Associations

• Melinda Daye, Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia School Boards Association