Premier’s Awards for Excellence in Education winners, finalists celebrated (flickr.com)

Media Contacts

Lindsay Byers

Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
Lindsay.Byers@gov.bc.ca

Ministry of Education and Child Care

Media Relations
250 356-5963

Backgrounders

Excellence in Education award winners, finalists

The following finalists and winners were announced and honoured at the ceremony for the Premier’s Awards for Excellence in Education on Friday, Oct. 14 at Government House.

Community engagement

  • Tom Craik, teacher, Ellison Elementary, SD 22 (Vernon) - Finalist
  • Alisha Parashar, past teacher, John Oliver Secondary, SD 39 (Vancouver) - Finalist
  • Sandra Richardson, vice-principal, Penticton Secondary, SD 67 (Okanagan-Skaha) - Winner

District leadership

  • Ivano Cecchini, executive director of facilities and planning services, SD 43 (Coquitlam) - Winner
  • Randy Jones, behaviour intervention service co-ordinator, retired, SD 67 (Okanagan-Skaha) - Finalist
  • Larry Mattin, director of instruction, SD 79 (Cowichan Valley) – Finalist

Extracurricular leadership

  • Joe Frew, teacher, Terry Fox Elementary, SD 34 (Abbotsford) - Finalist
  • Christina Horwood, teacher, Oak Bay High, SD 61 (Greater Victoria) - Winner
  • Jaswinder Sodhi, teacher, University Hill Secondary, SD 39 (Vancouver) - Finalist

Indigenous education

  • Birdy Markert, district principal of Indigenous education, SD 54 (Bulkley Valley) - Winner
  • Gordon Powell, district principal for Aboriginal learning, retired, SD 36 (Surrey) - Finalist

Outstanding new teacher

  • Rupinder Aujla, teacher, Ellison Elementary SD 23 (Central Okanagan) - Winner
  • Rob Bennett, teacher, Ecole Kelowna Secondary SD 23 (Central Okanagan) - Finalist
  • Carmen McDowell, teacher, Rutland Middle, SD 23 (Central Okanagan) - Finalist

Outstanding support – school community

  • Rolanda Lavallee, custodial manager, SD 54 (Bulkley Valley) - Finalist
  • Amelia Misak, community schools outreach worker, SD 36 (Surrey) - Finalist
  • Nicole Rishaug, student success team advocate, Mount Boucherie Secondary, SD 23 (Central Okanagan) - Winner

Outstanding support – teaching assistant

  • Edith (Lynne) Brissard, teaching assistant, Chetwynd Secondary, SD 59 (Peace River South) - Finalist
  • Bonnie Cheng, teaching assistant, David Lloyd George Elementary, SD 39 (Vancouver) - Finalist
  • Elaine Tattrie, teaching assistant, Gibsons Elementary, SD 46 (Sunshine Coast) - Winner

Outstanding team collaboration

  • Megan Kang (Team 1), teacher, Westcot Elementary, SD 45 (West Vancouver) - Winner
  • Meghan Stewart (Team 1), teacher, Westcot Elementary, SD 45 (West Vancouver) - Winner
  • Tricia Yurkowski (Team 1), teacher, vice-principal, Westcot Elementary, SD 45 (West Vancouver) - Winner
  • Sara Douglas (Team 2), music teacher, Chatelech Secondary, SD 46 (Sunshine Coast) - Finalist
  • Tom Kellough (Team 2), music teacher, Chatelech Secondary, SD 46 (Sunshine Coast) - Finalist
  • Corinne McWhinney (Team 3), district technology innovation co-ordinator, SD 22 (Vernon) - Finalist
  • Joshua Vance (Team 3), vice-principal, Kalamalka Secondary, SD 22 (Vernon) - Finalist
  • Timothy Agnew (Team 3), director of technology, SD 22 (Vernon) - Finalist

School leadership

  • Rick Chan, principal, Eastview Elementary, SD 44 (North Vancouver) - Finalist
  • Lisa Jamieson, principal, Janice Churchill Elementary, SD 36 (Surrey) - Finalist
  • Ian Levings, principal, Eugene Reimer Middle, SD 34 (Abbotsford) - Winner

Social equity and diversity

  • Beth Applewhite, district principal of equity, diversity and inclusion, SD 41 (Burnaby) - Finalist
  • Balroop Dhanoa, teacher/department head, social justice, R.E. Mountain Secondary, SD 35 (Langley) - Finalist
  • Nerlap Sidhu, teacher, Eugene Reimer Middle, SD 34 (Abbotsford) - Winner